Hairspray Live! college sophomore Maddie Baillio, as her first professional role. In November 2016, it was announced that Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winokur (who portrayed Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film and the Broadway version respectively) would make cameo appearances; Winokur and Lake appeared as employees of Mr. Pinky's boutique. Darren Criss served as an on-air host, hosting a half-hour "Countdown to Hairspray Live!" show on NBC with Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes, as well as behind-the-scenes reports throughout the live broadcast. Oreo, Reddi-wip, and Toyota broadcast live, themed commercials during "Hairspray Live!"; Oreo's ad featured the character of Corny Collins,
Tracy Beaker on reading lists for schools, so boys will be involved in the classroom. "The Story of Tracy Beaker" has been UK libraries' most-loaned book between 2000 and 2010. In its description of Tracy, an article for the "Herald Scotland" states: "Though her life is bleak, Tracy is funny, imaginative, articulate and hopeful, like all Wilson's heroines." A "Liverpool Echo" article describes Tracy as "a heroinea cult character who could be played by any actress." Winifred Robinson, writing in a "Daily Mail" editorial, criticised the character and suggested that behaviour such as her outbursts were influencing children to act in a