Wondery has orderd a second season of Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ kid-centric series ” ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Podcast” as the Amazon-owned podcast network expands its roster of kids and family entertainment.
” ‘Tis the Grinch” features “Saturday Night Live” star James Austin Johnson as the famously conniving Christmas skeptic serving as the snarky host of a variety show. Celebrity guests try to persuade the Grinch to warm up and embrace the spirit of the season. The series is part of a wave of new projects from Dr. Seuss Enterprises, which oversees the management of media rights to the library of iconic works by author Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss’ 1957 book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has become part of the fabric of the holiday season, along with its 1966 adaptation as an animated TV special.
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“The Grinch told me that he found being a talk show host was a surprisingly satisfying experience! Sure he was a curmudgeon on set, but ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast’ gave us all a chance to see the Grinch cracking jokes and hobnobbing with celebrities in a totally new medium,” said Marshall Lewy, Wondery’s chief content officer. “We look forward to bringing him back for more Grinchy snark next holiday season.”
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Season 1 of the series bowed in November, with 10 episodes airing weekly through Dec. 18. ” ‘Tis the Grinch” podcast cracked Apple’s list of top 50 titles shortly after its release. Season 2 is slated to premiere in late 2024. The strong response to Season 1 is a sign that programming for kids and families is a ripe arena for podcast publishers. ” ‘Tis the Grinch” is the second title that Dr. Seuss Enterprises has produced for Wondery following “The Cat in the Hat Cast.” More titles are in the works, Wondery and Dr. Seuss executives said.
“We are delighted by listeners’ positive reactions to Season 1 of ” ‘Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast,’ ” Susan Brandt, Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ president-CEO. “James Austin Johnson has a fresh, unique take on the character in this new medium that fans of all ages and generations can enjoy. We look forward to continuing our partnership with a second season.”
Season 1 of ” ‘Tis the Grinch” has featured such guests as Patton Oswalt, Seth Meyers, singer Meghan Trainor, Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson East, WWE’s Cody Rhodes and former “SNL” trouper Bobby Moynihan. Chloe Bailey is set to appear on the Dec. 18 finale.
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