Céline Dion’s Grinch skit is a blueprint for holiday content that actually lands
Céline Dion didn’t just post a festive selfie; she staged a one-woman holiday short. On Dec. 24, the singer dropped an Instagram video fully costumed as the Grinch-green fur, Santa coat, full prosthetics-delivering a brisk, character POV monologue by a fireplace with her dog in frame. The script hit familiar beats (an overbooked calendar, “even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn’t allow it”) with modern winks (doom-scrolling in bed), then pivoted to her lane with a wry burst of “All By Myself.” She capped it with a tidy caption punchline: “Silent night? Not on my watch.” The nod to Jim Carrey’s iconic turn-top of mind again thanks to his recent behind-the-scenes anecdotes-gave the bit cultural shorthand without feeling derivative.
What this means for creators: seasonal tentpoles still work, but not as generic “happy holidays” posts. A character POV + micro-script combo can outperform a montage-especially when you layer three elements Dion used: nostalgia (a universally recognized character), specificity (a list of absurd-yet-relatable obligations), and brand signature (her voice as the twist). The key takeaway here: one set, one camera, tight writing, and a caption that completes the joke is enough. Pets as secondary characters and a single iconic lyric can make the moment meme-ready without chasing a trending sound.
Worth noting for brands: you don’t need celebrity-level prosthetics to apply the format. A lightly costumed archetype (the last-minute shopper, the frazzled party host) with a scripted calendar read can carry a Reel or Short. Keep it native-vertical framing, quick cuts, 20–40 seconds-and let the caption be the rim shot. If you borrow from well-known IP, stay firmly in parody/tribute territory and clear what needs clearing. The bigger picture: feeds continue to reward recognizable narrative hooks that feel personal over polished promos. Posting on Dec. 24 also highlights timing strategy-late-cycle holiday content can capture attention as competitors go dark. For social teams, this is a reminder to prewrite character POV scripts for every tentpole on your calendar, from Halloween to big sports weekends, and slot in a brand-specific flourish that only you can deliver.