The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat facts for kids

The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (also known as The Cat in the Hat Gets Grinched) is a 1982 American Emmy Award-winning animated musical television special and crossover starring the two characters created by Dr. Seuss, who also wrote and produced the special: The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. It premiered on May 20, 1982, on ABC and would be DePatie and Freleng's final Dr. Seuss special. The songs were written by Sesame Street composer Joe Raposo.

Plot

The Grinch wakes up in a good mood one morning until his reflection in the mirror speaks to him prompts him to repeat the "Grinch's Oath" reminding him of his evil side, and he then leaves to prove himself. Meanwhile, the Cat in the Hat goes on a picnic. Their paths cross when the Grinch can't get his car around the Cat's, and things quickly escalate into a fierce car chase after the Cat unintentionally insults the Grinch by calling him "Mr. Greenface."

The Cat returns to the safety of his house, but the Grinch follows him there to demonstrate a device he has invented, a "Vacusound Sweeper" that scrambles all sounds within a 50-mile radius, including the Cat's voice. Back home, the Grinch decides to upgrade the sweeper into a "darkhouse", an anti-lighthouse that spreads beams of darkness.

The Cat becomes upset with the Grinch's hijinks and has a psychiatric session with him in a thought bubble to find out what makes him so mean-spirited. He gets nowhere with the imaginary Grinch (though he is briefly triggered by the memory of his deceased mother), so the Cat then decides to go over and have a talk with him. The Grinch makes it so dark that the Cat can't see where he's going, and he crashes his car when he passes a "Dead End" sign. The Grinch decides to liven things up by changing the beam of darkness to persimmon pink.

The Cat takes refuge in a nearby restaurant, while the Grinch sends beams that make things change colors, and literally and crazily come to life; his hijinks result in confusion all over the restaurant. The Cat is now furious with the Grinch and ponders to himself how he can change the Grinch, eventually finding an idea and rallies up everybody in the restaurant to follow him to the Grinch's house. There, he leads everyone in a song to remind the Grinch of all of the love he received from his mother and implore him to change his ways and be a better person. Before the Grinch can get to the darkhouse to scramble it, he collapses in grief over the memory of his mother (whose spirit comforts him) and dismantles the darkhouse.

The next morning, the Grinch is again happy. When the reflection tries to turn him evil again, Max reveals he left the Vacusound Sweeper intact and scrambles the reflection's words.

Voice cast

• Mason Adams as The Cat in the Hat / Narrator
• Bob Holt as The Grinch / Waiter / The Grinch's Mother
• Frank Welker as Max / Waiter / Additional voices
• Joe Eich as Chef

Musical numbers

1. "A Beelzeberry Day" – The Cat
2. "Relax-ification" – The Cat
3. "Master of Everyone's Ears" – The Grinch
4. "Most Horrible Things" – The Grinch
5. "Psychiatry Song" – The Cat
6. "Remember Your Mother" – The Cat / Chef / String Quintet / Waiters/ Male Quartet Singers

Awards

1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.

See also

In Spanish: The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat para niños