TV Cheddar

Month: November 2022

  • Alexa and Carlos PenaVega: ‘Hallmark has become a second home for our family’

    Alexa and Carlos PenaVega: ‘Hallmark has become a second home for our family’

    Calling Hallmark “a second home for our family,” Alexa and Carlos PenaVega announced that they have signed a deal to star in and produce multiple films for Hallmark Media.

    In a joint statement to Deadline, the couple said Hallmark has been wonderful to work with.

    “Over the last four years,” they said, “they have given us opportunities to grow as actors and producers all while raising our children, even if it means having the family on set!”

    “Alexa and Carlos PenaVega have become an important part of the Hallmark family over the years and we couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership with them,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media. “Whether starring together or headlining their own movies, the energy, creativity and passion they bring to each project is infectious and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”

    Carlos and Alexa PenaVega will star in the Hallmark movie Love in the Limelight
    Carlos and Alexa PenaVega in Love in the Limelight. (Image: Crown Media)

    Alexa and Carlos Pena Vega

    Both Alexa and Carlos got their start in show business as children. Alexa made her debut as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kid movie franchise in 2001. She went on to guest star on TV shows such as Unsupervised and Royal Pains and appeared in the movies Hairspray, Broken Hill, and The Devil’s Carnival.

    Carlos starred in the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush. He released his first solo album in 2014.

    The pair met at a Bible study group and were married in 2014. They have three children together: Ocean King PenaVega, Kingston James PenaVega, and Rio Rey PenaVega.

    They have published two books with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. What If Love is the Point: Living For Jesus in a Self-Consumed World was released in June 2022. Ocean’s World: An Island Tale of Discovery and Adventure was released in October 2022.

    Hallmark movies

    Alexa starred in the Hallmark movies Destination Wedding, Christmas Made to Order, and Taking a Shot at Love. Carlos headlined A Midnight Kiss. The two co-starred in Enchanted Christmas (2017), Love at Sea (2018), and Love in the Limelight (2022). They also appeared together in Hallmark’s Picture Perfect Mysteries, which the network recently canceled.

    In a joint statement, the couple said they have enjoyed their work with Hallmark.

    “Developing projects alongside them has been a highlight of our careers thus far. We are thrilled to be able to continue creating content that is family friendly and current while maintaining its core values that we love so much. Hallmark is special and we are looking forward to many more projects together.”

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  • Pascale Hutton shares throwback photo of Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart

    Pascale Hutton shares throwback photo of Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart

    Pascale Hutton gave Hearties a treat when she posted a throwback photo of former castmate Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart.

    The black-and-white pic, which she posted on her Instagram account, shows Hutton, Loughlin, and actress Erin Krakow posing outside a restaurant.

    “If you’re missing #WCTH tonight — here is my gift to you!” Hutton wrote in the caption.

    Fans responded with enthusiasm.

    “I hope they bring Abigail back! WCTH is not quite the same without her!” one fan wrote.

    “Love seeing you all 3 back together ❤️🙌 bring Abigail back please 😍,” wrote another.

    https://web.archive.org/web/20221208203322/https://www.instagram.com/p/CeJna_sp8Ot/

    Will Loughlin be back?

    Loughlin played Abigail Stanton on the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart for six years. Her character, who lost her husband and son in a mining accident, acted as a mentor to Erin Krakow’s Elizabeth.

    The cast and crew were in the middle of shooting the show’s sixth season when news of Loughlin’s involvement in a college admissions bribery scandal surfaced. Production halted while writers and producers decided what to do. They eventually wrote Loughlin off the show.

    Some fans approved of the move. Others were upset and wanted her back. In a June 2021 interview, Brian Bird, the co-creator of the series, said he was open to having Loughlin on the series again.

    “If anyone should return to Hope Valley, it should be Abigail,” he said.

    Appearance on When Hope Calls

    Loughlin surprised fans when she made an appearance on When Calls the Heart’s spinoff series When Hope Calls. During the show’s 2021 Christmas special, Loughlin reprised her role as Abigail for two episodes. When fans asked Hallmark if Loughlin would be back on When Calls the Heart, the network was quick to respond.

    “Hallmark Channel has not cast Lori Loughlin in any current projects, including When Calls the Heart, nor do we have any plans to cast her in the future. She was cast by GAC Family, a wholly separate cable network not affiliated with Hallmark Channel or Crown Media Family Networks,” read a statement from the network.

    At this point, it is unclear if When Calls the Heart will be back for another season. Hallmark has already canceled three of its series. Good Witch aired for the last time in July 2021. Home and Family had its final episode in August 2021. And Chesapeake Shores is currently in production for its sixth and final season.

    Fans have made it clear that they want more When Calls the Heart.

    “Season 10! Season 10! Season 10!” one wrote on the show’s Facebook page. “#WCTHS10! #Hearties10 #Hearties (more like, 20 more seasons!!)”

  • Alicia Witt gets a pleasant surprise at her post-mastectomy checkup

    Alicia Witt gets a pleasant surprise at her post-mastectomy checkup

    Hallmark star and breast cancer survivor Alicia Witt got a pleasant surprise recently while waiting to see her doctor.

    “didn’t expect to see one of my favorite movies i’ve ever been a part of while i waited for my post-mastectomy checkup,” wrote the actress, author, and musician in an Instagram post.

    On the wall, a television was showing her 2013 Hallmark movie A Very Merry Mix.

    “What a Godwink,” wrote fellow Hallmark star Nikki De Loach in the comments section.

    Alicia Witt

    The actress revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a unilateral mastectomy following six rounds of chemotherapy at the end of 2021. She kept the news to herself until after she finished treatment, even though she was in the public eye following the death of her parents in their Massachusetts home in December.

    “i did not want to share this journey until i received the good news,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “i needed to spend every bit of my energy focused on healing. a handful of closest soul companions were my confidantes, my lifeline and my refuge. as i’ve told them — i have no idea how i would have made it through without them.”

    She called the experience a blessing.

    “These last six months have been the absolute strangest i could ever have imagined,” she wrote. “And amidst this, the biggest of blessings.”

    Alicia Witt reveals breast cancer diagnosis on Instagram
    (Image: @aliciawitty/Instagram)

    Breast cancer diagnosis

    According to Witt, in the fall of 2021 doctors removed a lump from her breast and performed a biopsy.

    “A lump i was told by multiple practitioners, including the one who performed my biopsy, was ‘likely’ nothing to worry about — more on that, and the anomalies we need to look out for, in a later post,” she wrote.

    On November 4, she received a call from her doctor.

    “Everything else came to a grinding halt as i began a crash course on all i would need to learn,” she said.

    Alicia Witt and Mark Wiebe in the 2013 Hallmark Christmas movie A Very Merry Mix-Up.
    A Very Merry Mix-Up (Image: Hallmark Media)

    A pleasant surprise

    In her most recent Instagram post, Witt said she is still cancer free.

    “all is 100% well by the way – thank you god!” she wrote.

    Having one of her favorite Hallmark movies on the TV while she waited was a happy coincidence.

    A classically trained pianist, Alicia Witt made her onscreen debut in the 1984 movie Dune. She went on to star in the CBS series Cybill and had parts on The Sopranos, Friday Night Lights, and The Walking Dead. She has made several movies for the Hallmark Channel, including Christmas at Cartwright’s (2014), and Christmas Tree Lane (2020).

    In A Very Merry Mix-Up, which premiered in 2013, she co-starred with Mark Wiebe and Lawrence Dane.

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  • No cable? No problem. Here are all the ways you can watch Hallmark movies without a cable subscription.

    No cable? No problem. Here are all the ways you can watch Hallmark movies without a cable subscription.

    Hallmark fans without cable, rejoice! You can still get your Countdown to Christmas fix. Hallmark has announced a partnership with the streaming service Peacock TV. This means Hallmark fans can watch their favorite network at a fraction of the cost of a full cable subscription.

    Between Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas, Hallmark will release 40 new movies during the holiday season. The films include sequels to Hallmark favorites and will star network regulars such as Alison Sweeney, Andrew Walker, Erin Cahill, Tyler Hynes, Kimberly Sustad, Marilu Henner, and Paul Campbell.

    Watch Hallmark without cable

    It has become even easier than ever to watch Hallmark without cable. Hallmark Media recently announced it has partnered with Peacock TV. The streaming service will have a Hallmark hub on its home page, with the network’s shows and movies available on demand.

    “As we continue to make Peacock a premium streaming destination, Hallmark is exactly the type of brand we want to align with,” said Kelly Campbell, president of Peacock and Direct-to-Consumer at NBCUniversal, in a statement to Deadline. “Through this groundbreaking partnership, we’re giving Hallmark viewers a unique viewing experience while continuing to grow our audience, boosting engagement across both brands.”

    The Hallmark hub on Peacock will feature live simulcasts of all three channels with some material available on-demand streaming the next day. A library of Hallmark movies will also be available.

    “We’re proud to enter this partnership with Peacock and bring our widely beloved Hallmark content to their subscribers,” said Wonya Lucas, president and CEO of Hallmark Media. “The opportunity to provide our devoted fanbase access to all three of Hallmark’s linear networks will allow our audience to continue to grow and connect in meaningful ways.”

    Peacock subscriptions can be paid on a monthly or an annual basis, starting at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. (Premium subscriptions cost more.)

    What's on the Hallmark schedule this weekend? New Christmas movies including Inventing the Christmas Prince
    Inventing the Christmas Prince (Image: Hallmark Media)


    Other ways to watch Hallmark without cable

    Hallmark content is also available on the streaming service Philo. Subscriptions are $25 per month with no contract required.

    The streaming service Frndly TV also has Hallmark shows and movies available, with subscriptions starting at $6.99 a month.

    The Hallmark Movies Now app has annual subscription plans that allow users to view Hallmark content for $4.99 a month.

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  • Ten Hallmark Christmas movies based on books

    Ten Hallmark Christmas movies based on books

    Countdown to Christmas is on, which means Hallmark Christmas movies are playing around the clock. Though many of the stories in these films are original, some are adapted from bestsellers by authors such as Debbie Macomber, Nancy Thayer, David Baldacci, and Nancy Naigle.

    Since we love reading almost as much as we love watching cheesy TV, here is a list of movies based on books and links to where you can find them.

    Nantucket Noel
    Nantucket Noel (Image: Hallmark Media)

    1.Let it Snow (Nantucket Noel)

    Sarah Power and Trevor Donovan starred in the film adaption of this charming book, which Hallmark titled Nantucket Noel.

    Power plays Christina, a third-generation resident of Nantucket who runs a toy store on one of the town’s wharves. Struggling with the recent death of her mother, Christina finds out that a developer is planning on tearing down her wharf and she begins a campaign to save it from demolition.

    Right before Christmas, a handsome businessman named Andy (played by Donovan) visits the island with his daughter. He and Christina connect but she becomes upset when she finds out Andy’s father is the developer trying to destroy the wharf.

    Author Nancy Thayer said she believed Hallmark chose her book to adapt into a Christmas movie because it has a message of hope.

    “This is a deeply positive book,” she said in an interview with the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror. “My concept of the world is yin/yang. It is half good and half bad, and I think we all have to do what we can to make it 48 percent bad and 52 percent good.”

    Nancy has written more than 30 novels and has a great website, which can be found here.

    The cast of Hallmark's The Nine Lives of Christmas
    The Nine Lives of Christmas (Hallmark Media)

    2. The Nine Lives of Christmas

    Based on a novel by the same name, The Nine Lives of Christmas tells the story of a stray cat who wanders into a fire station and ends up bringing together a handsome firefighter and a veterinary student.

    Sheila Roberts published the book in 2014 and Hallmark adapted it into a movie later that year.

    The film version of The Nine Lives of Christmas was so successful, Hallmark released a sequel, The Nine Kittens of Christmas, in 2021.

    3. A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

    Every single title in Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle series has been turned into a movie by Hallmark. Earlier this year, “Debbie Macomber’s A Mrs. Miracle Christmas” debuted on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, with Caroline Rhea starring as the magical woman who swoops in and helps people restore their faith and Christmas Spirit.

    Debbie Macomber’s A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

    4. Dashing Through the Snow

    Also by Debbie Macomber, this story follows two strangers who agree to share a rental car when their flight home for Christmas is canceled. The movie version stars Meghan Ory and Andrew Walker.

    The book gets high marks on Amazon and Goodreads from people who claim they usually don’t read romance novels.


    5. Christmas Joy: A Novel

    Christmas Joy is by bestselling author Nancy Naigle, who has had several of her titles adapted into Hallmark movies. Christmas Joy tells the story of a career-focused woman who takes a leave of absence to run her family’s farm at Christmas time. The movie version stars Danielle Panabaker and Matt Long.

    Naigle is a prolific writer (check out her website here). Her novels Sand Dollar Cove, Hope at Christmas, and The Secret Ingredient have also been adapted into Hallmark movies. She also wrote the book versions of the Christmas in Evergreen Hallmark movie series.

    "The Christmas Train" (Image: Crown Media)
    The Christmas Train (Image: Hallmark Media)

    6. The Christmas Train

    The Christmas Train was written by David Baldacci, another Hallmark favorite. The book chronicles the journey of a disillusioned journalist who is forced to travel from Washington to Los Angeles by train in time for Christmas.

    The film version starred Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Danny Glover. One of his other novels, One Summer, was adapted for the screen by Hallmark Movies and Mysteries in 2021.

    7. Silver Bells

    Bestselling author Luanne Rice published Silver Bells in 2004 and Hallmark adapted it into a movie starring Anne Heche and Tate Donovan a year later. The story follows widower Christy Byrne, who travels from Novia Scotia to New York City every year to sell his homegrown Christmas trees. He makes a special connection with a woman who hasn’t celebrated Christmas since the year her husband died.

    Countdown to Christmas starts this weekend on Hallmark. A December Bride will air
    A December Bride (Image: Hallmark Media)

    8. A December Bride

    A novella in the Year of Weddings series by Denise Hunter, A December Bride follows Layla, who was jilted by her fiancé for her cousin. When she finds out her ex and her cousin are planning their own wedding, she enlists the help of a friend to pose as her new boyfriend. But things become complicated when the pair develop feelings for each other.

    Jessica Lowndes and Daniel Lissing starred in the 2016 film version of the book.

    9. The Christmas Cottage

    Based on the novel by Samantha Chase, the Christmas Cottage follows Lacey Quinn, who must decorate her best friend’s family’s cottage for her upcoming wedding. She doesn’t believe the legend that any couple who spends the night in the cottage together will end up together forever. Still, she does get a little nervous when the bride’s brother arrives and they become snowed in.

    Merritt Patterson and Steve Lund starred in the 2017 film.

    "Finding Father Christmas" (Image: Crown Media)
    Finding Father Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

    10. Finding Father Christmas

    The first in a series of three novellas by Robin Jones Gunn featuring the character Miranda Carson, Finding Father Christmas chronicles Carson’s search for her father, which takes her all the way to London.

    Erin Krakow played Carson in all three of the Hallmark movies in the series, Finding Father Christmas, Engaging Father Christmas, and Marrying Father Christmas.

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  • Danica McKellar will put her dancing skills to use in a new film for Great American Family

    Danica McKellar will put her dancing skills to use in a new film for Great American Family

    Actress Danica McKellar says she will put her dancing skills to use in a new film for Great American Family.

    “I can’t give you a lot of details yet, but I’m working on one that involves some dance, which is a lot of fun,” she said during an interview with The List. “I haven’t done a lot of dancing since ‘Dancing with the Stars’ several years ago, but I love it. And it’s just a fantastic fun exercise and art form all at once.”

    McKellar, who recently moved to Tennessee with her family (read all about it here), made headlines when she announced that she had signed an exclusive contract with Great American Family, a new network started by Hallmark Media’s former CEO Bill Abbott. As part of the deal, she will star in and executive produce four movies for the company.

    Her most recent movie, Christmas at the Drive-In, is playing during the Great American Christmas lineup.

    The actress said there’s nothing better than making romantic, feel-good films for viewers.

    “Romantic comedies go all year round,” she said. “And I think what audiences love about Christmas is this feeling of nostalgia and family and traditions and warm fuzziness. Really, what we want is that warm fuzziness.”

    Danica McKellar in the GAC Family original movie The Winter Palace, which will premiere Saturday, January 8 at 8/7c.
    Danica McKellar in the Great American Family original movie The Winter Palace. (Image: Great American Media)

    Making the switch

    McKellar first appeared on the small screen as Winnie Cooper in the ABC program The Wonder Years, which ran from 1988-1993. After finishing the series, she went on to study mathematics at UCLA.

    In her work as an undergraduate, she helped author a mathematical-physics theorem, the Chayes-McKellar-Winn theorem. She has written 11 books about math and runs a website devoted to the subject.

    She continued her acting career as well, making guest appearances on The West Wing and the The Big Bang Theory. Over the years, she has appeared in the Hallmark romcoms Crown for Christmas (2015), Christmas at Grand Valley (2018), and Christmas at Dollywood (2019). She also starred in Crown Media’s Matchmaker Mysteries series.

    In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the actress said she was excited when Bill Abbott approached her about working for Great American Family.

    “So when he was getting ready to launch this new network, I was thrilled that he reached out to me to sign a multi-picture deal as an actress and executive producer,” she said.

    New network, new role

    McKellar said she having a lot of fun in her new role at Great American Family.

    “I’m executive producing and acting in these movies, and I have a little bit more creative say,” she said. “And so, it was really fun to be more hands-on and helping to make more creative decisions, not just in the script, but also just random things, like the props or whatever, just being more involved.”

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  • John Travolta congratulates his sister on her Hallmark Christmas movie debut. ‘She always wanted to be in a Hallmark Christmas movie!’

    John Travolta congratulates his sister on her Hallmark Christmas movie debut. ‘She always wanted to be in a Hallmark Christmas movie!’

    John Travolta gave a shout-out to his sister, Ellen, on Instagram, congratulating her for her Hallmark Christmas movie debut.

    “My sister Ellen always wanted to be in a Hallmark Christmas movie and had so much fun making it!” he wrote on his Instagram. “Watch Haul Out the Holly!”

    Ellen Travolta co-starred with Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown in the Hallmark Christmas movie Haul Out the Holly, which premiered as part of Countdown to Christmas 2022.

    John Travolta congratulates his sister on Instagram for her Hallmark Christmas movie debut in Haul Out the Holly.
    (Image: Instagram/@johntravolta)

    Hallmark Christmas movie

    In Haul Out the Holly, Lacey Chabert stars as Emily, a woman who returns home during the holidays after a bad breakup with plans to just relax. But when she arrives, she finds out her parents (played by Carrie Morgan and Peter Jacobson) have plans to go out of town. Just when Emily resigns herself to binge-watching Christmas movies on her own for the week, she finds out she is expected to take her parents’ place in the neighborhood’s holiday festivities.

    Wes Brown co-stars as her old friend who is now running the HOA in charge of the Christmas events. When she doesn’t share his enthusiasm for the holidays, he issues her parents an HOA citation.

    To work off the penalty, Emily gets involved and finds herself competing with the neighbors, played by Ellen Travolta, Melissa Peterman, and Stephen Tobolowsky.

    Dream come true

    John Travolta was quick to promote his sister’s work, sharing a photo of the movie. In his Instagram feed, he shared a photo of himself with Ellen and their sister Ann taken in 1976.

    “Thanks for always being by my side!” he wrote.

    Ellen Travolta was born in New Jersey in 1939. She had roles in the television shows Medical Center, All In the Family, Happy Days, Visions, One Day at a Time, The Love Boat, Welcome Back, Kotter, Joanie Loves Chachi, and Quincy M.E. From 1987 to 1990 she co-starred with Scott Baio in the series Charles in Charge. She has also appeared in the movies Grease (1978), The Basket (1999), Lonely Hearts (2006), Falling Up (2009), Mistrust (2018), and The Untold Story (2019).

    Haul Out the Holly is her first movie for Hallmark Channel. (We hope it’s not her last. She was fantastic!)

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  • Jesse Metcalfe is returning to TV in new Lifetime series

    Jesse Metcalfe is returning to TV in new Lifetime series

     

    Actor Jesse Metcalfe, who played Trace Riley on the Hallmark shows Chesapeake Shores, is returning to TV. The actor will star in the V. C. Andrews Dawn Cutler Series, a set of movies for Lifetime that will also feature Donna Mills, Fran Drescher, and Brec Bassinger.

    “So excited to be a part of this amazing cast, playing ‘ORMAND LONGCHAMP’ in the new @lifetime movie series by the iconic author V.C. Andrews!!!” Metcalfe wrote in an Instagram post.

    The post, which was “liked” by more than 9,000 people — including Hallmark’s Randy Pope — featured an article from Deadline about the new series.

    Jesse Metcalfe returning to TV

    Metcalfe has made several appearances on television since he announced in 2021 that he was leaving the hit Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores.

    He competed on Season 29 of Dancing With the Stars and made an appearance on the British show The Masked Dancer. He also starred in the romantic comedy Harmony From the Heart for Great American Family, a new network started by the former CEO of Hallmark, Bill Abbott.

    The cast of Chesapeake Shores.

    The actor revealed in 2021 that he was leaving Chesapeake Shores shortly before production began on Season 5.

    “I just felt that there wasn’t really anything else I could do with the character,” he said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

    Metcalfe made his final appearance on the show during the second episode of Season 5, which aired on August 22, 2021 His character, Trace Riley, left town after a quick goodbye to Abby O’Brien (played by Meghan Ory). When she asked him where he was going, he said he wasn’t sure.

    “I think there’s something missing inside of me,” Trace said. “I tried to find it in my music. I tried to find it with us. Now I’m going to try to find it in myself.”

    Working with Lifetime

    Metcalfe got his start on television in 1999, when he began playing Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the soap opera Passions. He went on to star in Desperate Housewives and the re-boot of Dallas.

    In 2015, he starred in the Hallmark Christmas movie A Country Wedding. He followed that with Christmas Next Door during Hallmark’s 2017 Countdown to Christmas. Metcalfe has also played retired Boston PD Detective Jeff Jackson in the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery series.

    Earlier in the year, Lifetime’s parent company, A+E Networks, acquired the rights to author V. C. Andrews’ library of bestselling novels for screen adaptation. Over the summer, 10 million viewers tuned in to see the limited Lifetime series Flowers in the Attic: The Origin.

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  • Tyler Hynes wants a rom-com resurgence. We are totally okay with this…

    Tyler Hynes wants a rom-com resurgence. We are totally okay with this…

    In a recent interview with Southern Living magazine, Hallmark star Tyler Hynes said he wants to see more good ol’ fashion romantic comedies getting made.

    “I mean, that’s essentially what we’re doing at Hallmark,” he told the magazine. “We’re doing these movies back to back.”

    Hynes watched quite a few romcoms over the past year. Over the holidays, a friend suggested he check out some of Hallmark’s movies. He did and then moved on to Meet Joe Black, Notting Hill, and Fifty First Dates.

    Tyler Hynes

    “I even went back to She’s All That,” he said.

    Hynes has been open about his appreciation for what Hallmark does for fans of all things sweet, romantic, and heartfelt. (Like us.)

    “I’m really happy that Hallmark has carved out this niche and kind of revitalized this genre,” he said.

    Hynes has starred in several Hallmark movies, including It’s Christmas Eve, Winter in Vail, Falling for You, It Was Always You, and My Boyfriend’s Back: Wedding March 5.

    In an interview with Hallmark to promote Sweet Carolina, Hynes talked about the importance of connecting the story with the audience.

    “I hope that they take away from this movie that it is okay to make mistakes,” he said. “It is okay to fail at things, and that, in failing at things, it’s the only way to find yourself succeeding.”

    Three Wise Men and a Baby

    Hynes recently co-starred with Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell in the Hallmark Channel film Three Wise Men and a Baby. The Christmas comedy was the most-watched cable movie of the year, according to Nielsen ratings.

     

  • Congratulations to Andrea Brooks! The When Calls the Heart star is expecting her second child.

    Congratulations to Andrea Brooks! The When Calls the Heart star is expecting her second child.

    Andrea Brooks is pregnant with her second child. The When Calls the Heart star revealed she has been filming Season 10 of the show while expecting.

    “At this point, I feel like I could almost write a book on how to hide a pregnancy on television,” Brooks said during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “This is the second time I’ve shot a season of When Calls the Heart while pregnant — the last time was Season 7 — and I am forever grateful to Hallmark Channel, our writers, showrunner, directors and producers, for all of their continued support!”

    Andrea Brooks is pregnant

    Brooks, who plays Dr. Faith Carter on Hallmark’s hit series, gave birth to her daughter, Viola, in December 2019. In an interview shortly before Viola’s birth, Brooks said she was trying to keep a level head.

    “I’ve been attending my pregnancy classes and trying to avoid spending too much time on Google,” Brooks said. “I’m already a worry-wart, and sometimes the internet keeps me up worrying about some pretty strange things.”

    “At this point, I feel like I could almost write a book on how to hide a pregnancy on television.”

    Andrea Brooks Tweet

    When Calls the Heart cast

    Brooks said her co-workers have been incredibly supportive.

    “The major benefit of being a part of a show that’s been on-air for nearly a decade is the tight-knit community we’ve formed as a cast and crew,” Brooks said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It’s been so exciting to see so many people from our show grow up, get engaged, get married, and start families. We also have a LOT of parents on our show. I’ve had so many meaningful conversations on set about preschool, babies, parenting, and balancing it all. Pascale Hutton is always able to answer any question I have about raising kids and I’m always so appreciative of her advice. Also, the costume department left me an adorable crochet baby hat in my trailer the other day.”

    Andrea Brooks with her daughter, Viola. The Hallmark star is expecting her second child.
    Andrea Brooks with her daughter, Viola. The Hallmark star is expecting her second child. (Image: Instagram/@andreakbrooks)

    It’s a boy!

    Brooks said she is expecting a boy at the end of the year. She has a list of possible names in mind but it is constantly changing.

    “Viola, on the other hand, has already named the baby!” she said. “If we’re not careful I’m afraid she might sign the birth certificate on our behalf.”

    As for cravings, Brooks said she has been eating lots of hummus and veggies and drinking hot chocolate. During her first pregnancy, she craved pickles, eggnog, and Subway sandwiches.

    “Erin Krakow still texts me pictures of subs to this day because it was such an integral part of my last pregnancy,” she said.

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  • Everything we know about Season 7 of Chesapeake Shores

    Everything we know about Season 7 of Chesapeake Shores

    Will there be a Season 7 of Chesapeake Shores? Hallmark Channel wrapped up the sixth season of its hit series Chesapeake Shores on October 16. The finale was jam-packed with plot developments. Kevin and Sara have their baby, Evan proposed to Abby, Mick turned the family business over to Abby, Luke and Bree broke up and kinda got back together, and Megan and Mick got remarried.

    Most fans were thrilled with the way the story lines wrapped up.

    “Absolutely BEAUTIFUL ending to a stunning series!” wrote one Chessie on Facebook. “I sobbed my heart out.”

    Some have already decided that six seasons isn’t enough. There are already two petitions on Change.org asking for Hallmark — or Great American Family — to renew the series for Season 7.

    Season 7 of Chesapeake Shores

    Chesapeake Shores has been a staple of Hallmark programming since it premiered in 2016. Based on the best-selling books by author Sherryl Woods, the show followed a single mother (Meghan Ory), who returns to her small coastal hometown following a divorce. She is immediately thrown back into the drama of her large family and she reconnects with ex-boyfriend Trace Riley, who was played by Jesse Metcalfe. The show also starred Dianne Ladd as the family’s formidable matriarch, Nell O’Brien, and Barbara Niven and Treat Williams as Abby’s parents. Brendan Penny, Emilie Ullerup, Laci Mailey, Jessica Sipos, and Andrew Francis also starred in the show.

    Fans are petitioning for Season 7 of the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores
    Fans are petitioning for Season 7 of the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores.

    For six seasons fans watched the O’Brien family navigate the ups and downs of their lives. Metcalfe dropped out of the series shortly before filming began on Season 5. After his character left town, a handsome, eccentric billionaire (played by Robert Buckley) turned up in Chesapeake Shores. He eventually won over Abby with his charms.

    ‘Comforting and entertaining’

    Some fans have decided that more seasons of the show are needed. So far, two petitions have been started on Change.org to save the series.

    “‘Chesapeake Shores’ is a family-friendly, family-oriented, comforting and entertaining show that we’d love to see renewed by Hallmark Channel or picked up by another network (Great American Family?)” reads the text of one of two petitions on Change.org. “It’s perfect for the entire family to watch and has an extremely loyal following, even as it closes out its 6th year. For anyone who thinks you can never go home, this show inspires otherwise. And in these trying times, people need this type of uplifting programming to remind them of what’s important. We’re hoping that the producers will either convince Hallmark to change course and renew them for a 7th season, create a spinoff with many of the same characters, or else convince another outlet to pick them up.”

    The text of the second petition reads, “For six seasons we have followed the O’Brien family and seen them through many ups and downs. The show can’t end now. Not when there are so many stories left to tell such as Jess and David having a baby and Connor and Margaret representing Dennis Peck for his trial. Please sign this petition so we can see this and so much more. We need this show back. If not for more seasons than at least for a few movies.”

    The petitions can be accessed here and here.

    Chessies, what do you think? Do we need more of the O’Brien family?

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  • Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be ‘electrifying’

    Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be ‘electrifying’

    Erin Krakow and Pascale Hutton promised fans that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will be one of the best.

    “It’s going to be one of the most engaging and electrifying seasons yet,” Krakow wrote in an Instagram post.

    “That’s a wrap on the Coulters (all three of them),” wrote Hutton, alluding to her character’s pregnancy on the show. “Oh Hearties — do we have a season for you!!!!!!”

    Season 10 of When Calls the Heart

    Filming has finished on Season 10 of the hit Hallmark series. The show’s stars have been sharing photos and videos from the set on MacInnes Farms in Langley, British Columbia. (The farm has a great Facebook page, which can be found here.)

    “That’s a wrap!” called Jack Wagner in a short video with co-star Kevin McGarry.

    In the post that accompanied the video, Wagner wrote, “S10 in the Books!! Incredible to be a part of such a magical show. I hope you all enjoy S10….”

    Sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy

    In another post, Krakow quoted her onscreen character.

    “Elizabeth Thatcher once said ‘For what is life but a bittersweet mixture of sadness, wonderment, hope, and joy.’ As we wrap our 10th season of @wcth_tv, I’m feeling all of those things and more! 10 seasons of stories & memories, friendship & love, and laughter & tears. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and pride!”

    She also thanked Hallmark for continuing to produce the show.

    “Thank you @hallmarkchannel for continuing to be such champions of WCTH; we still have lots more stories to tell! Thank you to our crew & cast for your friendship and for all of your hard work this season! And of course thank you to our #Hearties for your unwavering support and passion – we wouldn’t be here without you!”

    Season 11?

    Andrea Brooks, who is pregnant with her second child, hinted at the possibility of Season 11.

    “Bumping my way across the finish line! Last day of shooting for season 10,” she wrote. “Could not have done it without all the support from this incredible cast and crew. Love you guys to pieces. Thank you @hallmarkchannel for continuing to allow us to tell stories from Hope Valley. Season 11 would be… heaven?”

    Andrea Brooks hinted at Season 11 of When Calls the Heart
    (Image: Instagram/@andreakbrooks)

    When Calls the Heart premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014. Based on a series of books by Canadian author Janette Oke, the show followed a wealthy woman, Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow), who moved to a small Canadian mining town to work as a teacher. She fell in love with and eventually married a mountie — short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police —named Jack Thornton (played by Daniel Lissing).

    The series has had its share of controversy. At the end of Season 5, Jack Thornton was killed shortly after his wedding to Elizabeth. In Season 6, two men were brought in to replace him, and they vied for Elizabeth’s hand until she chose between them in the Season 8 finale.

    Many fans were upset when Elizabeth chose businessman Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) over Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry). Some vowed never to watch the show again.

    In August, Hallmark Media Exec VP President of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly told reporters at a press event that Season 10 of When Calls the Heart would premiere in the middle of 2023.

  • Trevor Donovan calls Candace Cameron Bure ‘kind and passionate about her faith’

    Trevor Donovan calls Candace Cameron Bure ‘kind and passionate about her faith’

    Actor and producer Trevor Donovan called fellow Great American Media star Candace Cameron Bure “kind and passionate about her faith.” In a recent interview with Variety, Donovan addressed the controversy that arose among some fans when Bure said her new movies for Great American Family will “keep traditional marriage at the core.”

    “I feel people should be and believe what they want, as long as they are kind and accepting of others,” Donovan told Variety. “For those of you who have followed me since 90210, you know my heart and character. No matter who you love, no matter what your race or religion is, you matter.”

    He added, “Through mutual respect and acceptance, coexistence is possible. Based on the few months I have known Candace, I have found her to be kind, and passionate about her faith.”

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    Candace Cameron Bure’s comments

    Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Merritt Patterson will headline new Christmas movies for Great American Family in 2023. (Image: Instagram/@candacecbure)
    (Image: Instagram/@candacecbure)

    Some fans took offense to a statement Bure made in a recent Wall Street Journal article. When asked if the new network she is partnering with will feature same-sex storylines, Bure said her movies will keep traditional marriage at the core.

    The head of the network, former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, also answered the question, saying anything is possible.

    “It’s certainly the year 2022, so we’re aware of the trends,” he said. “There’s no whiteboard that says, ‘Yes, this’ or ‘No, we’ll never go here.’”

    Both Bure and Abbott said the network will be focused on telling more meaningful stories. Bure joked that her kids have even come to recognize some of the cliches that have become part of Christmas movies.

    “My own kids have said, ‘Mom, are you leaving the big city and going to the farm, meeting the love of your life?’” Bure said. “Those are all fun things that we love, but we see over and over and over.”

    Trevor weighs in

    While many fans had no issue with Bure’s comments, some rom-com fans and celebrities were offended and accused Bure and Great American Media of bigotry.

    When Donovan, who has also signed a contract with Great American Media, was interviewed for Variety, he talked about tolerance and complimented Bure on her kindness.

    Donovan rose to fame playing Teddy Montgomery on the TV series 90210. His character came out as gay in the third season and eventually married his partner in a Las Vegas ceremony.

    He went on to guest star in TV shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Melissa & Joey, and Drop Dead Diva. In 2017, he starred in the Hallmark Channel movie Marry Me at Christmas. He made a handful of Hallmark movies — including USS Christmas, Snowcoming, and Nantucket Noel — before announcing that he would be working with Abbott’s new network.

    In his recent interview, Donovan said he was inspired to join the new network because of the support Abbott gave to his anti-bullying program Upstanders while they were both with Hallmark. He also said he looks forward to producing content.

    “It has always been my goal to create films that bring people together without being overtly political or religious, and I will continue to do so,” he said. “And sometimes, in future rom-coms, I’ll play the naive country boy who finds love in the big city or saves his family’s farm. Stay tuned!”

    “Through mutual respect and acceptance, coexistence is possible. Based on the few months I have known Candace, I have found her to be kind, and passionate about her faith.”

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  • A trailer for Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home raises questions among fans

    A trailer for Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home raises questions among fans

    Hallmark’s new TV show The Way Home is set to debut in January and already fans have some questions. The network released a trailer for the series, which will star Andie MacDowell and Chyler Leigh. When it posted the clip to social media, fans immediately responded.

    “Every time we get interested in and devoted to a series it gets canceled,” wrote one fan in the comments section.

    “No more series for me,” wrote another. “I just start watching then they cancel them.”

    Other fans commented on how similar the show seemed to other Hallmark series.

    “A mysterious and beautiful woman with magical powers? Sounds like Good Witch to me,” wrote another.

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    Hallmark’s new TV show

    The Way Home follows the lives of three generations of women – Kat Landry (Leigh), her 15-year-old daughter Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) and Kat’s mother, Del (MacDowell). More than 20 years prior, tragic events prompted Kat to move away from her small, Canadian farm town of Port Haven. She and her mother became estranged for reasons Kat has never shared with her daughter.

    With Kat’s marriage coming to an end and having just been laid off from her job, she decides to return home after receiving an unexpected letter from Del urging her to come back. Although Alice is not happy with the decision, Kat and her daughter arrive at her family’s farm, though the reunion isn’t what Kat had envisioned. As the three generations of women slowly work on finding their footing as a family, they embark on an enlightening – and surprising – journey none of them could have imagined.

    Though Hallmark has been vague with many details, the network shared that time travel is a big part of the story.

    “What if you could see your family before it was broken?” says the narrator in the trailer Hallmark released. “What if the only way forward is to go back?”

    The series is being written by the mother-daughter team Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke. The pair, who wrote the script for the Disney Channel movie Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, have also collaborated on the award-winning series Heartland.

    MacDowell’s return to Hallmark

    From 2013 to 2015, MacDowell starred as Judge Olivia Lockhart on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. Based on the books by Debbie Macomber, the show followed the residents of a small town on Puget Sound in Washington State. The ensemble cast also included Sarah Smyth, Dylan Neal, Teryl Rothery, Brennan Elliott, Barbara Niven, Cindy Busby, and Jesse Hutch.

    Hallmark canceled the series after three seasons. In the past two years, Hallmark has canceled two other series. Good Witch ended after seven seasons. Chesapeake Shores finished after six. Fans have been trying to get both series back on the air.

    “I’m so disappointed the great series we had were canceled,” wrote a fan on Facebook. “I wish another channel would pick them up the actors didn’t want their series to end.”

    “Sounds interesting, looking forward to it. Please give it a chance before canceling,” wrote a fan.

    The Way Home will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, January 15 at 9/8c.

  • Paul Greene hints at a return to When Calls the Heart

    Paul Greene hints at a return to When Calls the Heart

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    Paul Greene may return to When Calls the Heart. The actor, who played Dr. Carson Shepherd on the hit Hallmark series, says he has discussed with producers the possibility of coming back.

    “There have been talks about some different approaches to completing that storyline or expanding that,” he said during a recent interview with TV Insider.

    A return to When Calls the Heart

    Greene played Dr. Carson Shepherd on When Calls the Heart from 2017-2021. His character first arrived in Hope Valley to work on the railway. After an injury left him unable to go back to his old job, he got work at Abigail’s Cafe. He became close to a local nurse, Faith Carter (played by the awesome Andrea Brooks), though he never revealed that he was a doctor.

    When Abigail’s adopted son Cody became sick, Shepherd correctly diagnosed him with appendicitis and performed an operation that saved his life. He finally admitted that he was a trained doctor who had stopped practicing medicine after the death of his wife.

    He eventually became the town’s doctor and began courting Faith Carter. She eventually left town to pursue her medical studies in Chicago. When she returned to Hope Valley, the two picked up where they left off. Carson Shepherd was ready to propose when he got word that he had been accepted into a prestigious surgical fellowship in Baltimore.

    He accepted the fellowship and left Hope Valley — and Faith Carter — far behind.

    In the off-season

    Fans were hoping to see Carson Shepherd return in Season 9, but apart from a few mentions by Faith, he wasn’t on the show.

    During a May 2021 appearance on “The Bubbly Sesh” podcast, Greene said he wasn’t sure if his character would come back.

    “A lot can happen in the off-season,” he said. “There’s a big-time jump in between seasons. Faith’s character became a doctor in the off-season. There’s so much that can happen.”

    Busy year

    In his most recent interview, Greene said he’s loved being part of When Calls the Heart, but that he is also busy with other projects. Greene has two Christmas movies coming out this season. In the CBS film Fit For Christmas, he co-stars with Amanda Kloots. In Great American Family’s I’m Glad It’s Christmas, he will share the screen with Gladys Knight and Jessica Lowndes.

    “When you’re on a series, you might be able to sneak in one or two things,” he said. “I loved being on it, but there are so many other projects I wanted to do. I helped produce a pilot. I’ve been involved in a film for two years that I’m proud of. If I was on a series, that all wouldn’t happen. I also had a baby and was able to be there for the whole pregnancy. I would never give up any of that for extra seasons. I have my gift…I make music, I have a podcast. I’m writing a parenting book. I try to be as present for all the little things.”