Dateline NBC – Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!"

Read by: Keith Morrison
Release Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In a festive holiday departure from Dateline’s usual true-crime programming, this special episode features veteran journalist Keith Morrison narrating the beloved Dr. Seuss classic, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" Morrison’s recognizable, dramatic delivery brings a new dimension to the story of the Grinch, Whoville, and the meaning of Christmas, making this reading as engaging for adults as it is enchanting for children.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Grinch’s Disdain for Christmas (01:00–03:00)

• The episode opens with Morrison setting the scene:
  “Every who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville did not.” [01:02]
• The Grinch’s mysterious dislike of the holiday is explored:
  “The most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.” [01:19]
• Morrison artfully delivers the Grinch’s motivations, setting up his plan to stop Christmas from coming, despite the joy it brings to others:

  “I must find some way to stop Christmas from coming!” [02:10]

Hatching the Devious Plan (03:00–04:15)

• Morrison’s narration conveys the Grinch’s cunning inspiration and resourcefulness:

  “Then he got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea.” [03:40]

• The Grinch improvises a Santa disguise and recruits faithful dog Max, transforming him into a ‘reindeer’ with a red thread and horn.
• The first steps towards his plan—to steal Christmas—are set in motion.

The Christmas Heist (04:15–07:00)

• Morrison dramatically walks listeners through the classic sequences:
  • Sneaking down chimneys.
  • Taking gifts, decorations, and the ‘Who feast’.
• Highlight: Cindy Lou Who’s Encounter
  • The Grinch is confronted by a toddler:

    “She stared at the Grinch and said, Santy Claus, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree? Why?” [05:30]

  • The Grinch’s smooth deception is noted:

    “He thought up a lie and he thought it up quick.” [05:35]

The Grinch’s Triumph… and Surprising Defeat (07:00–09:00)

• Morrison delivers the build-up as the Grinch waits, expecting Whoville’s sorrow:

  “They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming… their mouths will hang open a minute or two and then the Who's down in Whoville will all cry. Boo hoo. That's a noise… that I simply must hear.” [08:00]

• Instead, the community’s response is profound:

  “But the sound wasn't sad. Why, this sound sounded merry. It couldn't be so, but it was merry. Very.” [08:27]

• The Grinch’s realization:

  “He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming. It came. Somehow or other, it came just the same.” [08:37]

The True Meaning of Christmas (09:00–10:00)

• Morrison’s tone softens as he delivers Dr. Seuss’s timeless insight:

  “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” [09:22]

• The Grinch’s transformation emphasized with signature poetic charm:

  “And what happened then? Well, in Whoville, they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day.” [09:32]

• The story concludes with the Grinch’s wholehearted embrace of the holiday:

  “And he, he himself, the Grinch, carved the roast beast.” [10:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I must find some way to stop Christmas from coming!” — The Grinch [02:10]
• “Did that stop the old Grinch? No. The Grinch simply said, if I can’t find a reindeer, I’ll make one instead.” — Narration [03:57]
• “She stared at the Grinch and said, Santy Claus, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree? Why?” — Cindy Lou Who [05:30]
• “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” — The Grinch [09:22]
• “And what happened then? Well, in Whoville, they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day.” — Narration [09:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:00 – Story begins, introducing Whoville and the Grinch’s hatred of Christmas
• 03:40 – The Grinch hatches his “wonderful, awful idea”
• 05:30 – Encounter with Cindy Lou Who
• 08:00 – Grinch anticipates Whoville’s sorrow, but hears them singing
• 09:22 – Grinch’s realization of the true meaning of Christmas
• 10:00 – Grinch’s heart grows, he restores the holiday

Tone and Presentation

Keith Morrison applies his trademark gravitas, lending suspense, warmth, and a touch of humor to the reading. The language remains faithful to Dr. Seuss’s original rhymes, and Morrison’s pacing draws out the tension, mischief, and eventual revelation.

In Summary

This special holiday episode offers a warm, nostalgic respite from Dateline’s usual fare, highlighting the enduring message that the meaning of Christmas is found not in material gifts, but in community and generosity of spirit. Keith Morrison’s narration adds an enchanting, memorable quality, making this reading a treat for listeners of all ages.