What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! November 20 - 26, 2022 TV FEATURE BY SARAH PASSINGHAM TV Media E veryone, please wel- come to the stage the latest true crime-based drama miniseries, "Welcome to Chippendales!" Premiering Tuesday, Nov. 22, on Hulu, the series stars Kumail Nanjiani ("The Big Sick," 2017) as Chippendales founder Somen "Steve" Baner- jee, following the entrepre- neurial businessman as he builds his male revue empire and becomes embroiled in shocking crimes along the way. The storied history of the Chippendales dancers begins in 1979 when Banerjee at- tempts to bring in more female patrons to his Los Angeles club by introducing a male striptease troupe into the club's social calendar. When the concept takes off, Banerjee enlists the help of club pro- moter Paul Snider, portrayed by Dan Stevens ("Legion") in "Welcome to Chippendales," who flips the idea to another choreographer. Snider's in- volvement sets off a series of events that leaves several peo- ple in the Chippendales orbit dead. The choreographer Snider lets in on the revolutionary new exotic dance format, Em- my-winning producer Nick De Noia, is portrayed by "The White Lotus" star Murray Bartlett, whose character is yet again doomed from the start in "Welcome to Chippen- dales." The miniseries is based on the true events documented in the book "Deadly Dance: The Chippendales Murders," by K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca, so for those who have yet to read the book or old news releases, please beware of spoilers ahead. After several tenuous years as business partners, with De Noia handling the company's touring performances and Ba- nerjee fuming over the legally binding cocktail napkin con- tract they signed, De Noia is killed in his New York City of- fice in 1987. Given the nature of their relationship, Banerjee is high on the suspect list. It won't be long, however, until tragedy strikes nearly ev- ery person involved in the ear- ly Chippendales days, leaving devastation that has had true crime fanatics' eyeballs glued to the story for decades. There is so much more to the story than the business dealings between Banerjee, Snider and De Noia, and the rest of the cast filling in the "Welcome to Chippendales" tale is packed with Hollywood star power. Annaleigh Ashford ("American Crime Story: Im- peachment") plays Banerjee's wife, Irene; Juliette Lewis ("Yellowjackets") stars as pas- sionate Chippendales patron Denise; Quentin Plair ("Ro- swell, New Mexico") takes on the role of Chippendales danc- er Otis; stage and screen star Andrew Rannells ("Black Monday") portrays a club in- vestor; Robin de Jesus ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") is Banerjee's accomplice, Ray Colon; and Nicola Peltz Beck- ham ("Bates Motel") stars as Playboy model and actress Dorothy Stratten. Bentonville Acupuncture 5 x 5 continued on page T10 Kumail Nanjiani in "Welcome to Chippendales" Cuffs and collars Did you know those images are available for purchase? IT'S EASY! Just go to nwaonline.com, click on "Photos" in the top menu bar and use the search to fi nd the photo you want. Then just click "Purchase" for sizing options. You can also have the image put on a coff ee mug, mouse pad, key tag, holiday ornament and more! Did you see a photo in our newspaper or on our website that you would love a copy of? Check it out!