Oct. 1, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET
NEW YORK – Taylor Swift apparently “binges” their episodes. Kelly Clarkson dubbed them “the Rolling Stones of true crime.” And a minimum of one of many correspondents counts each Kaley Cuoco and Amanda Seyfried as mates, because of the present.
To borrow a couple of catchphrases from one correspondent, there is no “mendacity like a sidewalk” on this story and definitely nothing “hinky” about this piece both. However in a uncommon second, 4 of the correspondents of “Dateline NBC” (Fridays, 9 p.m. ET/PT) are within the USA TODAY studio in New York Metropolis collectively, selling the thirty fifth season of the primetime newsmagazine present: Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison, Blayne Alexander and Andrea Canning. Dennis Murphy, the longest tenured correspondent, and anchor Lester Holt additionally return for Season 35.
The sequence’ recognition has spawned top-rated podcasts and a dwell “Dateline” occasion in Nashville final 12 months. All 4 correspondents notice that they are all “virtually all the time” engaged on one thing “Dateline”-related.
“We simply comply with the bouncing ball,” Morrison, 79, says.
Morrison, maybe probably the most identified (and often-imitated, together with earlier on this story) correspondent, has been with the present since 1995. Relating to the true crime style, he opines, “I imply, it isn’t going wherever.”
And that is factor for followers, who watched extra minutes of “Dateline” than another newsmagazine present or true crime present final TV season. These followers additionally pushed the “Dateline” podcast into the highest 20 listing of Spotify’s all-time most-streamed chart. The showcast (a TV present in podcast kind) simply hit 2 billion downloads.
It is also a constructive factor for Morrison, who teases that this season he’ll air a narrative 14 years within the making. “Some instances, some tales, do not get resolved,” Morrison explains. “The priority lasts, the puzzle lasts.”
“We’re on the mercy of the prison justice system and trial schedules,” Mankiewicz, 71, provides.
Like Morrison, he is additionally been with “Dateline” since 1995. Mankiewicz says that the workforce generally begins work on tales, particularly prison instances, earlier than any costs are filed. After a suspect is known as, the work continues till the conclusion of the trial.
“Usually we will wait till the top as a result of police and prosecutors often will not discuss to you till there’s been a verdict,” he says. “And likewise the viewers needs to know what occurred.”
What occurs on Season 35 of ‘Dateline NBC’
Along with Morrison’s story that he began work on in 2012, Season 35 of the newsmagazine present covers the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist assaults, the Luigi Mangione homicide case and the lethal Texas floods that came about in July 2025.
Holt, who has anchored “Dateline” since 2011, additionally finds himself out within the discipline extra since stepping away from the “NBC Nightly Information” desk. Chatting over the telephone, the veteran journalist jokes {that a} “nightly” present has its restraints however now there’s “no excuses” for staying dwelling. He is additionally having fun with the added duties of podcasting. Holt, who spent a lot of his early profession in radio, thinks its “enjoyable” that “Dateline” and different retailers are returning to audio-centric content material.
“Generally our existence are such that we need to hear, that we do not essentially have the main focus to sit down down and watch a conventional program,” Holt, 67, says. “That is what I really like about podcasting, is we are able to form of stretch our wings in several instructions.”
Along with the “showcast,” there are a handful of “Dateline” podcasts: Holt, Morrison and Mankiewicz every host a number of reveals. Holt reveals that when your complete workforce is collectively in the identical room, often an annual incidence, one of many matters is commonly what every individual is engaged on.
“We’re all form of a part of a mutual fan membership,” he continues. “We had some enjoyable conversations this previous week with the workforce round. And we discuss quite a bit concerning the concerning the fan response.”
How do ‘Dateline’ correspondents unwind after demanding tales?
The “Dateline” workforce is well-aware of the present’s place within the popular culture lexicon, partly as a result of it is virtually inescapable.
“My spouse and I can be sitting there watching one thing and abruptly I will hear a ‘Dateline’ reference and I form of look over to her,'” Holt says. “And there it’s once more, individuals who will make comparisons and use us as a degree of reference.”
The present has spurred loads of references and impressed parodies. Additionally it is partly the topic of a brand new movie: “Primetime,” which stars Robert Pattinson as a fictionalized model of former “Dateline” correspondent Chris Hansen, who gained notoriety for his “To Catch a Predator” segments. Holt, who solely labored with Hansen a couple of years, says he could attempt to see it in some unspecified time in the future in theaters.
However that is true crime that the journalists are overlaying, from fraud to kidnappings to homicide. Canning, who has been with the present since 2012, remembers one story that gave her nightmares.
“It was a conman who had faked his personal loss of life and gone to Scotland from America,” the correspondent, 53, remembers. The individual was Nicholas Rossi, who previous to his loss of life in June would e-mail Canning. “He was accused of raping ladies and every kind of fraud and horrible issues. He would attain out to me out of the blue, even when he was extradited again to America.”
For Alexander, who joined the present in 2023, it is not one explicit story that stays together with her however relatively the “uncooked emotion” that she encounters when interviewing households who’ve been affected by the crimes at hand.
“Understanding that individuals are being weak with us, that they are opening as much as us, they’re trusting us with this crucial a part of their life,” Alexander, 49, says. “It is actually humbling in a manner.”
“Dateline” definitely has an viewers who enjoys escaping their every day lives and coming into the worlds wherein the correspondents report on. However how do the correspondents themselves unwind?
“‘Actual Housewives’ for us, proper?” Canning jokes as she turns to Alexander. “We spent plenty of time speaking about ‘Atlanta.'”
As the 2 correspondents converse about which cities they watch, do not watch or are considering watching, Morrison and Mankiewicz look off as if their colleagues are talking a international language. Apparently there’s additionally a “Dateline” group chat for the franchise, which Alexander invitations Morrison to hitch.
“I would have to look at one among them first,” he replies.
Then Mankiewicz joins the dialog. “‘The Actual Housewives of Atlanta’ had an episode known as ‘Maintain on to Your Weave,'” he says. “I noticed it on the health club!”
And would you take a look at that! Like a thief within the night time, even once they’re not on the present, the “Dateline” correspondents have the capability for retaining us on our toes.
