For Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, there were several uncomfortable moments watching actresses portray them in a new biographical film about their singing group, TLC. But it was especially strange to watch Lil Mama, who played the role of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes - the third member of the Grammy-winning R&B group who died in a car crash in Honduras in 2002. “She totally came into character,” Chilli said of Lil Mama, who wore contacts to mimic Left Eye’s distinctively large, dark pupils. “It was kind of scary.The resemblance was just crazy at times.” Alongside Lil Mama, Keke Palmer stars as Chilli and Drew Sidora as T-Boz in the film, CrazySexy-Cool: The TLC Story, which premieres Monday on VH1. The two-hour movie chronicles the trio’s rise to fame, their drama-filled love lives - including Left Eye burning down the house of lover and former NFL player Andre Rison - group spats and financial struggles. “You never know how you look to someone else until you see for yourself,” T-Boz said. “It was weird.” TLC debuted more than 20 years ago and became one of the best-selling female groups of all time.

A New Hampshire waitress who picked up the lunch tab of two National Guard soldiers affected by the federal government shutdown has been repaid - more than 300 times over - by television star Ellen DeGeneres. Sarah Hoidahl, a waitress in Concord, N.H., wanted to do a nice thing for the soldiers, so she recently picked up their lunch tab. It cost her $27.75. On Friday, DeGeneres squared the tab and then some, giving Hoidahl $27.75 in cash and a check for $10,000. DeGeneres caught wind of Hoidahl’s act of kindness when the New Hampshire National Guard posted a picture on its Facebook page. DeGeneres also gave her a 50-inch television.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 10/20/2013