The second best time of the year is right around the corner. Hallmark has released a teaser for Christmas in July, its month-long holiday programming event. The 30-second clip shows scenes from some of Hallmark’s most popular Christmas movies, including Three Wise Men and a Baby, A Holiday Spectacular, Haul Out the Holly, and We Wish You a Married Christmas.
Hallmark released the clip on its Twitter page.
“Attention team Kringle!” read the message that accompanied the video. “#ChristmasinJuly is coming soon! Indulge in candy cane ice cream and iced hot chocolate as we bring you a spectacular month of beloved holiday movies.”
Christmas in July
Hallmark has been running Christmas movies during the month of July since 2012. The programming event has become so popular that the network even creates new movies to premiere during Christmas in July.
In 2021, Hallmark debuted Crashing Through the Snow, starring Amy Acker and Warren Christie, during Christmas in July. Last year, three new movies had their debut during the event, including My Grown-Up Christmas List, starring Kayla Wallace and Kevin McGarry, Campfire Christmas, starring Tori Anderson and Corbin Bleu, and Christmas in Toyland, starring Vanessa Lengies and Jesse Hutch.
Countdown to Christmas
In an interview with E! News, a Hallmark exec said the summer movie event gets audiences ready for the end-of-year holiday season.
“We are always discussing more ways to make our programming events special,” said Randy Pope, senior vice president of programming and development. “We like to look at Christmas in July as a gift to our viewers who are excited for Countdown to Christmas. It’s a sneak preview of what’s to come starting in October.”
Hallmark has not announced whether any new movies will premiere during this year’s Christmas in July event. However, the network has already finished at least three Christmas movies since January, including A Mystic Christmas, A Biltmore Christmas, and Christmas Goals.
Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp reunite in new Hallmark movie The Dancing Detective: Deadly Tango
Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp will once again put their dancing skills to use when they reunite in the new Hallmark movie The Dancing Detective: Deadly Tango.
Chabert has been posting regularly about the movie on her Instagram, sharing photos and even videos from the set.
“Good morning from Malta!” she wrote in one post. “I’m really enjoying filming in this beautiful place. Very thankful for this experience!”
New Hallmark movie
Chabert plays a no-nonsense detective named Constance Bailey. According to a synopsis from Hallmark, Constance “insists on doing things her way, which usually means doing everything alone. She gets results, but her inability to keep a partner is holding her back in her career.”
When the CEO of a global ballroom company is murdered on the eve of a major company event, Interpol sends Detective Bailey to investigate. To go undercover, she must pose as a ballroom dancer. The only problem is she has two left feet.
She is forced to team up with charismatic and free-spirited British dancer and actor Sebastian Moore (Will Kemp), who poses as her husband. Though he has good instincts for solving crimes, everything he knows about detective work he learned from television. As he teaches Constance about ballroom dancing, she teaches him the realities of investigating a case.
But as the list of suspects grows, Constance must learn to trust her partner if she is ever going to solve the murder.
Reunited
This is the third movie Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp have made together. In 2019, they starred in Love, Romance & Chocolate together. They also showed off their ballroom dancing skills in the 2020 Countdown to Christmas movie The Christmas Waltz.
Chabert was candid about the difficulty she had learning to ballroom dance. (Though we can all agree she nailed it.)
“Having so much fun learning to dance,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “It’s such a challenge!!!!”
Kemp, on the other hand, has had a long career as a dancer. He attended the prestigious Royal Ballet School in England before joining Matthew Bourne’s dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures. During an appearance in Swan Lake, Kemp was spotted by the head of Paramount Studios. He appeared in a commercial for Gap and then snagged a role in the 2004 movie Van Helsing.
The Dancing Detective: Deadly Tango will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Friday, June 2 at 9/8c.
Seriously? Entire cast of Ride goes on Facebook Live ahead of series finale but still no word on Season 2
The stars of Hallmark’s rodeo show Ride did a Facebook Live appearance ahead of the Season 1 finale but one major question was left unanswered: Will there be a Season 2?
Nancy Travis, Beau Mirchoff, Jake Foy, Sara Garcia, Tiera Skovbye, and Tyler Jacob Moore all answered questions about their characters and the show’s various storylines. But the Friday afternoon appearance ended without any announcement about Season 2.
Not that fans didn’t ask.
“Praying you have season two coming out love this show,” wrote one fan in the comments section.
“As soon as we have more information, we’ll be sure to post it on our FB page,” wrote the page administrator for Hallmark Channel. “Thank you for reaching out.”
Canceled or renewed?
Fans have been speculating for weeks as to whether the series would be renewed. Some have even suggested the current strike by The Writers Guild of America could affect production.
But Hallmark has not commented at all, except to say an announcement will come soon.
Ride
Ride premiered on Hallmark Channel on March 26. It was the second of two new series to premiere on the network in 2023. The Way Home, which starred Andie MacDowell and Chyler Leigh, had its debut in January.
In Ride, Nancy Travis stars as Isabel McMurray, the matriarch of a rodeo dynasty. Isabel, who lost both her husband and her oldest son to bull-riding accidents, is struggling to decide whether she can afford to hold on to her family’s Colorado ranch.
Her son Cash (played by Beau Mirchoff) wants to become a professional bull-rider to raise money for the ranch, but Isabel is terrified something will happen to him. Instead, she connects with a wealthy family that may be interested in buying the land from her.
In addition to Travis and Mirchoff, the show stars Jake Foy as the family’s youngest son, Tiera Skovbye as former rodeo queen Missy, the widow of Isabel’s oldest son, and Dylan Neal as the patriarch of the family interested in buying the ranch.
Fan reaction
Fan reactions to the series have been mixed. Some say it’s the perfect new show for Hallmark and a great alternative to the TV show Yellowstone.
“It’s like Yellowstone without the swearing and murder,” one wrote on Facebook.
Others struggled to get interested in the storyline.
“Too many characters,” another wrote. “Too much going on. The back stories are hard to follow.”
Ratings
Ratings for Season 1 of the series have varied greatly from week to week. Episode 1 brought in around 1.3 million viewers. Episode 9, on the other hand, had around 830,000 viewers.
Hallmark’s other new series, The Way Home, had between 1.3 and 1.7 million viewers per episode.
The Season 1 finale of Ride will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, May 28 at 9/8c.
Hallmark gives fans a first look at new Aurora Teagarden
Hallmark has released photos of the mystery Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New. The film will star newcomer Skyler Samuels in the title role, with Marilu Henner reprising her role as Aida Teagarden, Aurora’s mother. Rounding out the cast is Kayla Heller as Aurora’s friend Sally and Evan Roderick as her friend Arthur.
New Aurora Teagarden
The Aurora Teagarden movie series, which is based on the books by author Charlaine Harris, premiered in 2015 with Aurora Teagarden Mystery: A Bone to Pick.
Actress Candace Cameron Bure played the role of Aurora “Ro” Teagarden, a librarian with a fascination for true crime who solves murders in her small hometown.
There have been 18 movies in the series, including:
Aurora Teagarden Mystery: A Bone to Pick (2015)
Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2015)
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2015)
The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2016)
Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2017)
A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2017)
Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2018)
Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (2018)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game (2018)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Game of Cat and Mouse (2019)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries:n Inheritance to Die For (2019)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play (2019)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Heist and Seek (2020)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reunited and It Feels So Deadly (2020)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: How to Con a Con (2021)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Til Death Do Us Part (2021)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Honeymoon, Honeymurder (2021)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted By Murder (2022)
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New
In the new Aurora Teagarden movie, Skyler Samuels stars as Ro, who has just graduated from college and returned to Lawrenceton. While applying for grad school programs and trying to settle on a thesis, Ro works as a teacher’s assistant in a crime fiction class. She also waits tables at the local diner.
In her free time, she discusses cases with her friend, a local police officer named Arthur (played by Evan Roderick), and helps her friend Sally (played by Kayla Heller) plan her wedding.
But when Sally’s groom fails to show up for the rehearsal dinner, Ro and Arthur set out to find him. They find the groom but also discover a dead body, and Sally’s fiancé becomes the prime suspect in the case.
About the cast
Skyler Samuels shared the news of her new role on Instagram. In a post that included a photo of her with Tegaarden’s trademark auburn locks, she wrote, “Surprise…I’m the new Aurora. … So excited to be joining the mysterious and fun world of Aurora Teagarden. Let the mystery solving begin!”
Skyler Samuels got her start on TV working for the Disney Channel. She had roles on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, That’s So Raven, and The Wizards of Waverly Place.
She has also appeared on the TV shows American Horror Story: Freak Show, The Rookie, and Scream Queens.
Samuels recently starred in and executive produced the television movie The Gabby Petito Story. She also starred in Lifetime’s Switched Before
Evan Roderick starred as Officer Nick Anastas in the TV series Arrow. He appeared in the Hallmark movies Garage Sale Mystery (2018), A Tale of Two Christmases (2022), and Autumn in the City (2022).
Kayla Heller played Tegan Wickhem in the TV series Superman & Lois and Selena Durov in The Order. She has also appeared in the Hallmark movies The 27-Hour Day, Good Morning Christmas, and SnowComing.
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Friday, June 9 at 8/7c.
Jesse Hutch and Lily Gao star in the Hallmark movie The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey
The Hallmark movie The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey will premiere this weekend as part of the network’s Memorial Day lineup. The movie, which stars Lily Gao and Jesse Hutch, is part of a series originally released on Hallmark Movies Now.
The Love Club movies follow four women who make a pact always to help each other out when they have relationship trouble. The first film in the series, The Love Club: Nicole’s Pen Pal, starred Brittany and Bristow and Marcus Rosner. It premiered on Hallmark Channel in February.
Bristow starred as Nicole, a newly engaged interior designer who starts to wonder if she should be with her mystery college pen pal, whose letters she has kept. When she calls on the Love Club for help, they help her track down her pen pal (played by Marcus Rosner) in a mountain lodge. According to a synopsis from Hallmark, “Along the way, Nicole encounters romance, comedic imposters, female bonding, and plenty of mishaps until ultimately, the letters help lead her to her true love.”
Hallmark movie
The Love Club is one of two new series introduced by Hallmark that feature a group of friends who help each other in matters of the heart.
In 2022, Hallmark introduced the first of The Wedding Veil movies. Starring Lacey Chabert, Alison Sweeney, and Autumn Reeser, The Wedding Veil followed a group of college friends who reunite every year in a different city. During a trip to San Francisco, they discover an antique wedding veil that is rumored to bring true love to its owner.
In the first movie, Lacey Chabert’s character finds true love. In the second movie, The Wedding Veil Unveiled, Autumn Reeser finds her soulmate. In the third, The Wedding Veil Legacy, it’s Alison Sweeney’s turn to fall in love.
The movies were so well received that Hallmark made three more in 2023: The Wedding Veil Expectations, The Wedding Veil Inspiration, and The Wedding Veil Journey.
The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey
In The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey, Lily Gao stars as Sydney, a food blogger and former track star who still holds a torch for her college boyfriend. When she runs into him unexpectedly, she finds out he will be running in a Valentine’s Day 10k. She signs up for the run and then calls on her friends from the Love Club to help get her ready.
But when she is paired up with a local restaurant owner (Jesse Hutch) for the run, she finds she might be chasing after the wrong man.
About the cast
Lily Gao has appeared on the TV shows The Handmaid’s Tale, Letterkenny, Second Jen, Transplant, and Chapelwaite. In 2022, she starred in the Great American Family movie Catering Christmas alongside Daniel Lissing and Merritt Patterson.
Jesse Hutch played Luke Bailey on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. He has also appeared on the shows Heartland, Arrow, Once Upon a Time, Smallville, and Batwoman.
He starred in the Hallmark movies Let It Snow (2013), Harvest Moon (2015), and Christmas in Toyland (2022).
The Love Club Weekend Lineup:
Hallmark will air all four movies in the Love Club series this weekend.
The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, May 27 at 8/7c.
On Monday, May 29, Hallmark will air all four Love Club movies back to back:
2/1c The Love Club: Nicole’s Pen Pal
4/3c The Love Club: Sydney’s Journey
6/5c The Love Club: Lauren’s Dream
8/7c The Love Club: Tara’s Tune
A Hallmark Christmas movie with ties to Mystic Pizza is in the works
A Hallmark Christmas movie is being filmed in Mystic, Connecticut. A Mystic Christmas, which features businesses throughout Old Mystick Village, will also star someone from the 1988 movie Mystic Pizza.
Chris Regan, whose family owns the property where much of the filming took place, told a local news station about the connection to the Julia Roberts movie. The landmark shopping center has been used in several Christmas movies, including Lifetime’s A Very Nutty Christmas (2018).
Hallmark Christmas movie
In Mystic Christmas, an animal expert gets a call for help from an old friend and ends up taking a job that puts her in the path of an ex at Christmas, according to the Tumblr account for SleepyKittyPaws (also known as Ho! Ho! Holiday Viewing). It stars Patti Murin and Dan Albertson.
The movie was filmed at various locations in Olde Mistick Village, a shopping center designed to look like an 18th century New England village.
Several other Hallmark Christmas movies have already been filmed in locations around the U.S. and Canada.
Filming began on A Biltmore Christmas in January. In the romantic comedy, Bethany Joy Lenz plays Lucy, a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to write the script for a remake of the beloved holiday movie His Merry Bride, which was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
As Christmas approaches, Lucy travels to the Biltmore Estate for research. She joins a guided tour of the house and finds herself drawn to a beautiful hourglass on display. When she accidentally knocks it over, she finds herself transported back in time to 1947 as the cast and crew prepare to film His Merry Bride. Lucy does her best to navigate an unfamiliar place as a woman out of time, charming some and raising suspicions of others.
Kevin McGarry recently finished making Christmas Goals, a hockey-themed movie, in British Columbia. The movie, which is set in Idaho, also stars The Bold and The Beautiful star Kim Matula.
Mystic Christmas
Olde Mystick Village shared photos on its Facebook page of crews shooting scenes for Mystic Christmas. Scenes for the movie were also shot at the Mystic Aquarium.
Patti Murin has starred in the Hallmark movies Holiday for Heroes (2019), Love on Iceland (2020), To Catch a Spy (2021), and In Merry Measure (2022).
A release date has not yet been given for Mystic Christmas.
Mountain views and not a Spanx in sight: Nancy Travis weighs in on the perks of starring in Hallmark’s epic rodeo series Ride
Nancy Travis loves being part of Hallmark’s rodeo series Ride. In a recent interview, the actress touched on all the things she enjoys about being part of the show. High on the list are the location (they shoot on a working ranch in Alberta), her co-workers, and the show’s storylines. But wardrobe tops it all.
“Oh my God, I just want to say, what I love, love, love about this part is it’s completely Spanx-less,” Travis told People magazine. “It’s such a joy to just work in jeans and shirts, and it can be dirty and don’t have to be pressed. So Isabel has maybe a dozen pairs of jeans. But it’s sort of like cowboy boots. I mean, once you have a pair that fits, that’s the pair you wear over and over again. And the more worn in, the better they are.”
Nancy Travis
A native of Queens, Travis worked on Broadway before landing her breakout role in the 1987 box office hit Three Men and a Baby. She went on to star in the movies Internal Affairs (1990), Air America (1990), Passed Away (1992), Chaplin (1992), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Greedy (1994), and Fluke (1995).
Travis has also appeared on the TV shows Almost Perfect, Becker, Last Man Standing, and The Kominsky Method.
Ride
Ride premiered on Hallmark Channel on March 26. In the show, Travis plays Isabel McMurray, the matriarch of a rodeo dynasty. Isabel, who lost both her husband and her oldest son to bull-riding accidents, struggles to decide whether she can afford to hold on to her family’s Colorado ranch.
“Every actor craves big stakes, and it comes down to what are you willing to fight for and how are you going to fight for it and what matters,” Travis said in an interview with The List. “For Isabel, her family matters. Even though the ranch is her big focal point and passion in her life, and the family is very much a rodeo family, and that’s a very big factor in their lives, she’d take a bullet for her family and will claw somebody’s eyes out to protect them. That’s what drives her.”
Learning on the job
Travis said she had a lot to learn when she took on the role of Isabel.
“I had no prowess when it comes to horseback riding,” she told People. “The most complex horseback riding I had ever done is maybe on a trail ride where I’m on some very old horse that just follows the one in front of it and carousels.”
New episodes of Ride air on Hallmark Channels on Sunday evenings. Check your local listings for start times.
Cindy Busby uncovers romance and history in new Hallmark movie Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance
Cindy Busby will star in the new Hallmark movie Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance. In the film, she plays Lauren, a museum curator who is in a race to find a treasured Anasazi vase.
In a Facebook Live appearance to promote the movie, Busby talked about special the park is to Lauren, who spent a lot of time there with her mother when she was growing up.
“Zion holds a very special place in Lauren’s heart,” Busby said. “She knows that this adventure…would be something her mother would take to heart.”
New Hallmark movie
Love in Zion National is part of a series produced by Hallmark Channel to showcase the beauty of America’s national parks. Love in Glacier National, which starred Ashley Newbrough and Stephen Huszar, premiered earlier this year.
In Love in Zion National, Busby plays Lauren, the assistant curator at the Denver Museum of Natural History. She is thrilled when the museum receives a donation from a wealthy benefactor of three Anasazi wedding vases. However, the benefactor’s nephew (played by Bourke Floyd) is challenging the donation, saying the valuable pieces should stay in his family’s collection.
Lauren develops a theory that there is a fourth vase and becomes determined to track it down so that the entire set can be returned to the Pueblo Nation.
Cindy Busby
In her Facebook Live appearance, Busby talked about how confident Lauren is that she can find her way around the park. But that confidence is misplaced and she soon finds herself lost.
She is found by park ranger and native Puebloan Adam Proudstar (played by David Gridley). Though at first he is skeptical about her motives for finding the vase, he soon begins to trust her motives. He even introduces her to his grandmother, who grew up in the park and knows where to look for the vase.
About the cast
Cindy Busby is a Hallmark fan favorite, having appeared in two different series for the network: Cedar Cove (as Rebecca Jennings) and When Calls the Heart (as Marlise Bennett). She has also starred in the Hallmark movies A Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love, Heart of Down Under, Wedding March 5: My Boyfriend’s Back, Chasing Waterfalls, Romance in the Air, and Marry Me in Yosemite. She also starred in Joy for Christmas, which premiered on Great American Family (the new network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott) in December 2021.
David Gridley starred in the movie The DUFF (2015) and appeared on the TV shows Pretty Smart, The Last Ship, and Team Kaylie.
In a recent interview, he talked about how much fun it was to shoot Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance.
“One of the big things that got me excited about the movie was the fact that it was shooting in Zion,” he told the website Just Jared. “I’d never been to that part of the country before, so that was a big, big draw for me. Then just being part of telling the history of the Anasazi people and being able to do research on that to understand their lifestyle.”
Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, May 20 at 8/7c.
A new face is joining the cast of When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart is getting a new cast member. Actor Billy Christos Jr. has been posting photos to Instagram from the set of Hallmark’s hit series.
“Hello my name is Toby. I’m on the set of my new TV show. Can you guess the show?” he wrote in a post.
Apart from his character’s name — Toby — Christos didn’t share much information. Some fans have speculated that since he is a child, Christos will be one of the students at Hope Valley’s school.
A new face
Christos has had roles in the TV shows Peacemaker and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He will also appear in the soon-to-be-released series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
The actor wasted no time sharing photos from the Hope Valley set.
“My very first day on the set of When Calls the Heart and I was sharing a scene with this acting legend,” he wrote in the caption of a photo with Jack Wagner, who plays Bill Avery in the series.
“I loved hanging out with one of the nicest guys in Hope Valley, the Mayor,” he wrote in the caption of a pic with Ben Rosenbaum, who plays Mike Hickam.
He also shared pics of himself with Johanna Newmarch (Molly Sullivan), Amanda Wong (Mei Suo), and Erin Krakow (Elizabeth Thornton).
In one sweet post, he shared a photo of the set with the caption, “Sometimes when I’m on the set of @wcth_tv and I look around, it feels magical with a lot of history and a lot more stories to unfold…”
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart is Hallmark’s longest-running original series. The show, which is based on the novels by Canadian author Janette Oke, follows the small mining community of Hope Valley. It premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014 and soon developed a loyal following.
In a recent interview, Erin Krakow said she feels so fortunate to be a part of the series.
“People have asked me over the years, do you ever get bored playing the same character on a show that has been around for this many seasons? And the answer is really no,” she told TV Fanatic. “I mean, one because I just have a great time with our cast and crew. But, two, because Hallmark and our writers and showrunners over the years have given me a great gift in that Elizabeth has never become stagnant. It isn’t repetitive. It’s a real honest depiction of a woman going through these various chapters in her life.”
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will premiere on Hallmark Channel on July 30.
Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison are back in a new Hannah Swensen mystery
Everyone’s favorite baker-turned-detective Hannah Swensen is back. The latest movie in the series, Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, will premiere this weekend.
“Can’t wait to share the latest Hannah installment with you all!!” wrote Sweeney, who stars in the franchise, in an Instagram post featuring a poster from the movie.
Fellow Hallmark star Benjamin Ayres responded in the comments.
“Sweet Tooth Truth Sleuth!” he wrote.
New Hannah Swensen mystery
Fans were thrilled when Sweeney posted a photo from the set of the new mystery in March on Instagram.
“…We can’t wait to enjoy another delicious whodunnit with you all,” she wrote.
Carrot Cake Murder is the seventh movie in the popular series, which is based on the cozy mystery books by Joanne Fluke. The other films include:
Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (2015)
Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery (2015)
Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery (2016)
Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe (2017)
Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts (2016)
Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2021)
Sweeney stars as the owner of a small-town bakery who has a knack for solving mysteries. Cameron Mathison stars as Detective Mike Kingston, Swensen’s fiancé. Barbara Niven plays her mother, Delores.
Carrot Cake Murder
In Carrot Cake Murder, a skeleton is discovered amid the rubble of a building undergoing renovation. Much to the dismay of her fiancé, Detective Mike Kingston, Hannah begins to investigate the case on her own. As she tries to piece together the events that led to the murder and tries to learn the victim’s true identity, Hannah even calls on her mother Delores as she works to bring the killer to justice and uncover the truth.
Canceled series
Fans were relieved to hear that the series is continuing. Hallmark recently canceled another popular mystery series, Murder 101.
Jill Wagner posted a message on Instagram with the news.
“The End,” she wrote. “@polahaha thank you for being such a good friend and partner in this amazing ride. I’m proud of what we created buddy. @robinthomasactor you made being your daughter easy. Thank you for lending your talents to our show. To @prestonvanderslice, the best Robin to my Batman! To all the crews over the years…the show was built on your backs! Thank you!!!”
Mini Hannah Swensen marathon
Hallmark Movies and Mysteries will air two other Hannah Swensen movies in the lead-up to the premiere of Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.
Here is a schedule for the evening of Friday, May 19:
5/4c Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts
7/6c Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
9/8c Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Great American Media and Pure Flix to merge
A new network founded by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott is merging with Sony’s faith-based streaming service Pure Flix. Great American Family announced that the two will join forces to create Great American Adventures, a streaming service featuring family- and faith-based entertainment.
“In a media environment where programming and distribution business models are in a constant state of flux, this agreement provides a rare opportunity to maximize our potential with the expertise, market knowledge and content creation capabilities of a world-class partner like Sony Pictures,” Abbott said in a statement. “This merger will allow us to further our commitment to original, quality content and makes Great American Media and Pure Flix leaders in a large and under-served market.”
Family-friendly entertainment
Leaders at both Great American Family and Pure Flix spoke to the importance of promoting family-friendly entertainment in the current market.
“Family-friendly entertainment remains an important segment of the industry, and merging these two entities will create the greatest opportunity to achieve more scale for Pure Flix as it continues to build its subscriber base,” said Ravi Ahuja, chairman of global television studios and corporate development for Sony Pictures. “Bill and the Great American Media team have been successfully leading the Great American Family and Great American Living brands, and we believe they have a winning plan to take Pure Flix to even greater heights.”
Pure Flix
The Pure Flix streaming service emerged from a production company founded in 2005 by David A. R. White, Michael Scott, Russell Wolfe, Randy Travis, and Elizabeth Travis.
The company has produced such titles as The Wager, Home Beyond the Sun, In the Blink of an Eye, Sarah’s Choice, A Greater Yes: The Story of Amy Newhouse, The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith, Holyman Undercover, and Samson.
In 2020, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired the streaming service portion of the business and continued the company’s mission of promoting family-friendly and faith-based movies and TV shows.
Great American Family
In June 2021, former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott announced he had partnered with Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partnership to purchase two cable networks in a deal Bloomberg estimated at $90 million. Great American Media began broadcasting in September 2021 on two channels, which were originally branded GAC Family and GAC Living.
The networks were eventually rebranded as Great American Family and Great American Living. They began producing original content both for television and for an app called Great American Community.
What does this mean?
The deal still needs regulatory approval. If it goes through, Great American Media will retain a controlling stake in the merged company, with Abbott as CEO, and oversee the day-to-day management of all multi-channel family and faith media brands.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
12 fascinating facts about Daniel Lissing (because he’s awesome)
It’s been nearly 10 years since Aussie Daniel Lissing made his debut on Hallmark Channel as the original Hunk in Red Serge on When Calls the Heart. The actor became a favorite among Hearties for his portrayal of Mountie Jack Thornton, who fell for schoolteacher Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Erin Krakow) in one of the network’s sweetest romances. (And it’s Hallmark we’re talking about, so that’s saying something.)
Though the actor left the show at the end of Season 5, he continues to be a favorite among fans.
Since he’s super cool — and we miss seeing him on the show — here are 12 facts about the actor, musician, producer, and businessman:
1. He was a soap star in Australia
Before moving to the United States, Lissing appeared on the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He is one of many actors who had roles on the show before embarking on a career in Hollywood. Heather Ledger, Isla Fisher, Chris Hemsworth, and Melissa George also appeared in the series.
2. He is a talented musician
Lissing told Entertainment Tonight that he played and sang in bars in Australia before making the move to the States. He focused on acting after he arrived, but he continues to play guitar and sing. Here’s a clip of him singing a duet with his When Calls the Heart co-star Erin Krakow:
3. Speaking of Erin Krakow, Lissing said he would love to work with her again
“About two or three years ago, I sent a big proposal to Hallmark pitching a Christmas movie with Erin and I in modern day, and they didn’t think it was the right time,” he said during a 2020 interview. “Maybe it is now?”
(Well, Hallmark? Is it?)
4. He left When Calls the Heart for personal reasons
Fans were shocked when Lissing’s character, Jack Thornton, was killed at the end of Season 5, especially since he had just married Elizabeth (Erin Krakow).
When asked about his decision to leave the series after so many years, he made it clear the specifics would remain private.
“Circumstances arose for me where I needed to leave When Calls the Heart for reasons that are very personal to me,” he said in a Facebook Live event. “I went to Hallmark and they were nothing but supportive of me. I went to the girls and they were nothing but supportive of me.”
5. He doesn’t regret his decision to leave When Calls the Heart…
In a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Lissing talked about how different his life would be if he had stayed on the show. For one thing, he might never have met his wife, who he fell for on a trip to Iceland. (She is from Poland originally, but they met in a Reykjavik bar.)
“It’s funny the way the world works,” he said. “If I had stayed on the show, and been there during season 6 and shot and all that kind of stuff, then I wouldn’t have met Nadia, you know? And I wouldn’t be getting married and I wouldn’t be at this place in my life where I feel really in line with what I’m meant to be doing personally and professionally, so no regrets at all. …How can I look at my future wife and say, ‘Oh, I should’ve stayed on this job?’ She’s my life, you know? That’s my personal life and that’s exponentially more important to me than a job.”
6. ….but he does miss his Hallmark family
In the same ET interview, Lissing said he loved his time at Hallmark.
“It is a family, and that aspect of things I really miss,” he said. “I love all the cast and the people at Hallmark. My time with Hallmark was nothing but positive and I’m truly grateful to be a part of it.”
7. He is open to reprising his role as Jack Thornton (kind of)
He did it once, appearing as the spirit of Jack Thornton on When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas in 2021.
In an interview, he said it was emotional to be back in his old costume, though the boots were killer.
“I forgot how hard the boots were to put on! So, I was like, ‘Oh yeah! That’s right. The boots!’ You forget that stuff,” he told Entertainment Tonight.
But once he was back in his mountie uniform, he got all the feels.
“I am so grateful to have played [Thornton], because that character was a really big part of my time, and my life, for a span from 2013 to 2021,” he said. “That’s a long time to do it. There was a break in between, and it was just for this; for this one moment again with Jack. I felt a lot of gratitude.”
But Lissing made it clear he would only return for brief appearances (as opposed to rejoining the cast), which makes sense because his character is — um, well — dead.
8. He is more than just a pretty face
When Lissing arrived in the States at the age of 30, he focused on his acting career. When he was successful, he used the money he earned to invest in several companies, including a plant-based fast-food restaurant called The Burger Patch.
His wife is also a smart cookie. When the pair first met, she had just — at the ripe old age of 25 — finished earning a master’s degree in business.
You go, girl.
9. Yeah, he is married (sigh)
Daniel and Nadia tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2022. The pair had originally planned a wedding in Bali but had to reschedule because of COVID.
11. He is a huge supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs
The rugby team is one of the oldest in Australia and has a massive and devout following.
In an interview for the team’s Facebook page, Lissing became emotional talking about how much the team meant to him.
“That was our happy place growing up,” he said.
12. He is not just a Hallmark hunk
Before joining the cast of When Calls the Heart, Lissing played Navy SEAL James King in the series Last Resort. He also starred opposite Victoria Justice in the MTV show Eye Candy.
During his time on When Calls the Heart, he had a recurring role in Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. Since leaving Hallmark, he has guest-starred in the TV shows S.W.A.T. and The Rookie.
In 2021, he starred in A Christmas Star for Great American Family. In 2022, he played opposite Merritt Patterson in Catering Christmas. We are keeping our fingers crossed that he makes an appearance on the network’s 2023 Great American Christmas.
Tamera Mowry-Housley stars in new Hallmark movie Dream Moms
Tamera Mowry-Housley will star in a new Hallmark movie that pays tribute to moms just in time for Mother’s Day. Dream Moms, which also stars Chelsea Hobbs, Roger Cross, and Andrew J. Hampton, will also feature original songs sung by Mowry-Housley.
In an Instagram post, Hallmark Channel teased the movie with a photo of Mowry-Housley and Hobbs.
“Danielle @tameramowrytwo and Claire @chelseaxhobbs learn that it’s never too late to become who you were meant to be,” reads the caption.
New Hallmark movie
In Dream Moms, Mowry-Housley plays Danielle, a one-time off-Broadway performer and former backup singer. Danielle lives on the Upper East Side with her husband, a successful attorney, and her daughter, who is poised to become a professional ballet dancer.
Danielle’s brother RJ (played by Roger Cross) introduces her to Claire, a former professional dancer who is a single mother and a bookkeeper. The two hit it off and RJ decides they should enter a televised nationwide talent show. Though the women are hesitant at first, they soon decide to chase their Broadway dreams a second time.
Make Her Mark
In an Instagram post, Mowry-Housley mentioned that the movie was the first in a series of films produced under Hallmark’s new Make Her Mark program. Founded by actress and filmmaker Ashley Williams, the program promotes mentorship between experienced and aspiring female directors.
“Hallmark is a brand built around giving to and connecting with others, and the Make Her Mark program is our gift of opportunity experience, coaching, and guidance for such deserving and talented women in our field,” said Wonya Lucas, president and CEO of Hallmark Media in an announcement at the Television Critics Association Summer Tour 2022. “I hope one day, when she accepts her Emmy or Peabody or Oscar, that she fondly remembers that Hallmark Media gave her that first shot…and then she pays it forward.”
Dream Moms
Dream Moms was directed by Jessica Harmon, who was shadowed by actress Crystal Lowe (yes — that Crystal Lowe). The Signed, Sealed, Delivered star will now direct a film of her own for Hallmark.
Lowe posted regularly from the set of Dream Moms, sharing a series of video clips and photos with the caption, “Damnnnnnn I am gonna miss these wonderful people. These movies are crazy, fast and furious! I always feel like I’m going to Summer Camp when I get to do this. You make great friends and lasting memories then you have to go home…till next time my friends!
About the cast
Tamera Mowry-Housley rose to fame with her twin sister Tia Mowry on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister. In 2013, she became a co-host of the TV show The Real alongside Adrienne Bailon, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, and Jeannie Mai.
She has starred in the Hallmark movies A Christmas Miracle (2019), Christmas Comes Twice (2020), The Santa Stakeout (2021), Girlfriendship (2022), and Inventing the Christmas Prince (2022).
Chelsea Hobbs starred for two seasons on the ABC series Make It Or Break It. She has appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Supernatural, unREAL, and The Good Doctor.
Hobbs has starred in two series for Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. She played Jackie Shawl in the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries and Jenny Taylor in A Ruby Herring Mystery: Her Last Breath. In 2022, she co-starred with Jonathan Bennett in the Countdown to Christmas movie The Holiday Sitter.
Dream Moms will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, May 13 at 8/7c.
A first look at Hallmark’s new movie The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost starring Jodie Sweetin and Stephen Huszar
Hallmark has released previews for its new movie The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost starring Jodie Sweetin and Stephen Huszar. In the clip, Jodie Sweetin stands onstage in the spotlight, wearing a sequined evening dress and bright red lipstick.
“She’s about to go from center stage to the scene of the crime,” a narrator says.
Jodie Sweetin
Jodie Sweetin announced she would be working with Hallmark again during an appearance on Instagram.
“I was very quiet in February,” she said. “I was in Toronto working, I was doing a new Hallmark movie which is gonna come out this spring. It’s a mystery movie, so something a little bit different. There is no Christmas in this one. It’s a Hallmark mystery movie.”
The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost
In The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost, Sweetin plays a glamorous nightclub singer named Jane DaSilva. When there is a death in her family, she returns to New York, only to find out she has inherited a non-profit detective agency.
Though she is hesitant to get involved, she takes on her first case under the guidance of her Aunt Sadie (played by Paris Jefferson) and Detective John Cameron (played by Huszar).
The client (played by Danielle Smith) is trying to help her mother, who has lost her savings to a multi-level marketing scheme.
Preview
In a preview posted on the Hallmark website, Jane (Sweetin) receives encouragement from John (Huszar) when she begins to doubt her ability to solve the crime.
“You’ve already impressed me a few times,” John says.
“Those were flukes, all of them,” Jane says.
“Look, my advice? Do it your own way,” John says. “Care about the people involved.”
About the cast
Sweetin played Stephanie Tanner on the hit TV series Full House from 1987 to 1995. She had guest roles on the TV shows Party of Five, Brotherly Love, and Yes, Dear. In 2016 she joined her former Full House cast mates for the reboot Fuller House. She also appeared on Season 22 of Dancing With the Stars.
Sweetin has starred in several romantic comedies for Hallmark, including Finding Santa (2017), Entertaining Christmas (2018), Love Under the Rainbow (2019), Merry & Bright (2019), and A Cozy Christmas Inn.
Stephen Huszar
Stephen Huszar has appeared on the TV shows Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, The Flash, iZombie, and Letterkenny.
He played Jake Killian in the Ruby Herring Mysteries series on Hallmark. In 2021, he joined the cast of the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores. He has starred in the Hallmark movies Time After Time (2011), Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Bone to Pick (2015), Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017), Return to Christmas Creek (2018), My One & Only (2019), A Homecoming for the Holidays (2019), Time For Us to Come Home for Christmas (2020), Undercover Holiday (2022), and Love in Glacier National (2023).
The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Friday, May 12 at 9/8c.
The Price is Right model emerges as standout star in Hallmark movie When Love Springs
Hallmark’s movie When Love Springs premiered over the weekend, and fans were quick to respond to the male lead, The Price is Right model James O’Halloran.
“Can’t wait to see James O’Halloran in another movie!” wrote one viewer on Facebook.
“Wow, you can add him to the Hallmark Hunks list!” wrote another.
The Price is Right
O’Halloran, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, worked as an industrial designer before pursuing his dream of becoming an actor.
He acted in Australian shows and movies including Twenty Something, Offspring, and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart before moving to Los Angeles in 2014. He won a nationwide talent search to become the second male model on the game show The Price is Right.
During his first appearance on the show, he graciously thanked viewers for their support.
“The first thing I wanted to say is a huge thank to everyone who voted,” he said. “It’s so amazing to be here. I can’t thank you enough.”
Best job ever
During a recent interview on the Hallmark Happenings Podcast, he talked about how much he enjoyed his work on the game show.
“You go there and people are having the best day of their life and I get to be part of that,” he said.
Since starting on the show, O’Halloran has also been able to pursue acting roles in television and film. He recently finished shooting a horror movie starring Glenn Close called The Deliverance. He has had guest roles on The Young and the Restless and Notorious, The Catch, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
When Love Springs
O’Halloran starred opposite fellow Aussie Rhiannon Fish in When Love Springs.
In the movie, Fish played Rory, a junior PR executive who recently had her heart broken. When she joins her parents and sister on a trip to a quaint bed and breakfast, she runs into her ex. In a panic, she pulls the hotel’s future owner, Noah (played by O’Halloran), into an embrace and pretends he is her boyfriend.
Though Noah is surprised, he soon opens up to Rory about his own problems. His father is considering selling the hotel and Noah has invited a travel blogger to review the place in a last-ditch effort to save it. Rory offers her advice as a PR specialist to help him save the place.
Breakout star
Though fans lauded both stars on social media, many said O’Halloran needs to join Fish as a regular on Hallmark.
“James O’Halloran did a great job and [I] hope to see more of him,” wrote one fan. “Saw him on The Price is Right recently and he had a speaking part, his Aussie accent was pretty strong but not a hint of that in this movie. Amazing how actors can do that.”
Dylan Neal returns to Hallmark — this time as the bad guy — in rodeo series Ride
Dylan Neal is back on the Hallmark Channel. The actor, who co-starred with Andie MacDowell in the Hallmark series Cedar Cove, has taken a role on the rodeo show Ride.
“I hope you’ll check out Hallmark’s new TV series called RIDE,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “…I have a recurring role on this show playing a different character than you’re used to seeing me play on this network.”
Neal plays Daniel Booker, the head of a wealthy oil family that is looking to buy the ranch from Isabel McMurray (played by Nancy Travis).
Dylan Neal
Neal has a long working relationship with Hallmark. In addition to playing Jack Griffith on the series Cedar Cove, he wrote and co-starred in the Gourmet Detective Mysteries movies.
He’s also starred in the Hallmark movies Looks Like Christmas (2016), Truly, Madly, Sweetly (2018), and Christmas She Wrote (2020).
In 2021, the actor moved to Portugal with his wife and two children. In an Instagram post, he told fans about his love for the country.
“It seems like the whole world is moving to Portugal right now — and for good reason,” he wrote. “Whether it’s the world-class beaches of the Algarve (those caves!), or Lisbon, Porto, Braga or the Silver Coast — Portugal and its citizens make it such an inviting and beautiful country.”
He added that he wasn’t retiring.
“We’ll be back in North America for work (Hallmark has my number) and to visit friends and family regularly,” he wrote.
Rodeo series Ride
Hallmark’s new series premiered on March 26. Starring Nancy Travis, Beau Mirchoff, Jake Foy, and Tiera Skovbye, the show follows a rodeo family trying to hold onto its Colorado ranch.
Matriarch Isabel is ready to sell to the Booker family, though she faces resistance from her sons. They begin to warm to the idea after meeting Gus Booker (played by Tyler Jacob Moore), Daniel’s son. But when Daniel shows up, his curt manner catches them off guard.
Cedar Cove
In a 2022 Instagram post, the actor talked about his long working relationship with Hallmark.
“Cedar Cove was Hallmark’s first ever TV series and while we only lasted three seasons, I made a lot of friends on that set and at the network, where I later created the Gourmet Detective series and a few other movies with my wife, Becky,” he wrote. “I’ve learned a lot while working with @hallmarkchannel and @hallmarkmovie and I’m grateful for the memories.”
Long career
Dylan Neal played Dylan Shaw on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from 1994 to 1996. From 1998 to 2003 he played Doug Witter on the series Dawson’s Creek.
Neal has made appearances on CSI: Miami, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 90210, Arrow, and JAG. He has also had a recurring role on the popular Canadian series Murdoch Mysteries as Sergeant Jasper Linney.
TV show featuring When Hope Calls star Morgan Kohan headed to The CW
A Canadian TV show featuring Morgan Kohan of Hallmark’s When Hope Calls is coming to The CW. The network announced it will begin airing Sullivan’s Crossing, which premiered on CTV in March 2023.
Based on the bestselling books by author Robyn Carr, who also penned the Virgin River series, the series also stars Hallmark favorite Chad Michael Murray and Scott Patterson of Gilmore Girls fame.
Morgan Kohan
Morgan Kohan starred in When Hope Calls, a spinoff of Hallmark’s popular series When Calls the Heart. In the series, Kohan played Lillian Walsh, who is reunited with her long-lost sister, Grace Bennet (played by Jocelyn Hudon). The two open an orphanage in the small town of Brookfield.
The series ran for one season on Hallmark Channel in 2019 before being picked up by the new network Great American Family in 2021. Great American Family produced a two-part Christmas series that included guest appearances by When Calls the Heart cast members Daniel Lissing and Lori Loughlin.
A native of British Columbia, Kohan graduated from the Triple Threat Program at Randolph College for Performing Arts. She has appeared in the movies Kitty Mammas, A Whirlwind Wedding, and Love on Harbor Island.
Sullivan’s Crossing
In Sullivan’s Crossing, Kohan plays Dr. Maggie Sullivan, a Boston neurosurgeon who returns to her small hometown after her business partner is indicted for fraud and she is charged with negligence.
According to a synopsis from Fremantle, “Maggie rekindles old friendships and builds new ones with the local residents, including a handsome newcomer, Cal Jones (Murray), who only serves to complicate her life further. As Maggie works on clearing her name and reputation, she is forced to confront her painful past, as she attempts to reconnect with a side of herself she had long forgotten.”
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray has appeared in six movies for Hallmark, including The Beach House (2018), Road to Christmas (2018), Write Before Christmas (2019), Love in Winterland (2020), Sand Dollar Cove (2021), and Angel Falls Christmas (2021).
In an interview with the website Culturess, Murray said he loves working with the network.
“I just feel like the world needs more and more good-hearted family content, right? I really, truly believe that,” he said. “…And so when these stories come across my table, I just try to find something where I know that I can identify with the character so I can bring his best foot forward. And that’s really what speaks to me.”
Audience favorite
The series already has a strong fan base in Canada. When The CW announced on Instagram it would be airing Sullivan’s Crossing in the U.S., Canadian fans were quick to respond.
“USA fans, you’re going to love this new TV drama!!” one wrote in the comments section.
“It’s a hit on CTV in Canada, and I am sure fans will enjoy it on The CW!” wrote another
Sullivan’s Crossing will premiere on The CW in the fall of 2023. We will update this story when a release date becomes available.
A fake romance becomes the real deal in new Hallmark movie When Love Springs
Rhiannon Fish and James O’Halloran find romance in the new Hallmark movie When Love Springs. The movie, which will premiere as part of the network’s Spring Into Love lineup, tells the story of a fake romance that turns real.
In the movie, Fish plays Rory, a junior PR executive who recently had her heart broken. When she joins her parents and sister on a trip to a quaint bed and breakfast, she runs into her ex. In a panic, she pulls the hotel’s future owner, Noah (played by O’Halloran), into an embrace and pretends he is her boyfriend.
Though Noah is surprised, he soon opens up to Rory about his own problems. His father is considering selling the hotel and Noah has invited a travel blogger to review the place in a last-ditch effort to save it. Rory offers her advice as a PR specialist to help him save the place.
New Hallmark movie
When Love Springs was shot on location in Brisbane, Australia.
In a recent interview with Digital Journal, O’Halloran talked about how much he enjoyed working with Fish.
“Rhiannon is an absolute sweetheart, and she is a veteran in the romantic comedies genre,” he said.
He says he hopes fans enjoy the story.
“I hope people have a laugh with this movie, and I hope they enjoy a beautiful, classic love story, which is simple and earnest. I hope it puts a smile on their face, that would be ideal for me,” he said.
About the stars
Canadian-born Australian actress Rhiannon Fish made her debut in the popular Australian shows Neighbours and Home and Away. She starred in the American series The 100 and had roles in the romantic comedies For the Love of Chocolate and A Love to Remember. Hallmark audiences will know Fish from her roles in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made and the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: How to Con a Con. She also appeared in the Hallmark movies You’re Bacon Me Crazy, and The 27-Hour Day.
James O-Halloran is an Australian model and actor. He has appeared in the Australian productions Twenty Something, Offspring, and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. He moves to the United States in 2014 and soon after became the second male model to appear on the game show The Price is Right. He has appeared on The Young and the Restless, Notorious, The Catch, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
When Love Springs will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, May 6 at 8/7c.
INXS
Good news! A new Curious Caterer movie is in the works
A new Curious Caterer movie is in production at Hallmark. The mystery series, which stars Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker in the leading roles, premiered last year on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries to rave reviews.
Though DeLoach and Walker have kept quiet about the production, a listing on an industry website showed that a television movie titled Curious Caterer: Last Suppers was recently shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.
New Curious Caterer movie
Curious Caterer: Dying For Chocolate debuted on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries in 2022. The movie starred Nikki DeLoach as Goldy Berry, a single mother and small-town Colorado caterer. When her friend dies under mysterious circumstances, Goldy joins forces with Detective Tom Schultz (played by Andrew Walker). According to a synopsis from Hallmark, the two end up “discovering a hidden recipe for murder.”
A second film in the series, Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, premiered in February 2023. In that movie, Goldy caters a barbecue for a friend who ends up dead when her grill explodes after the party. Goldy is the number one suspect because she was the last one to use the grill. She works with Schultz to clear her name.
The situation becomes even more complicated when Tom’s ex-wife shows up while they are trying to solve the murder.
The movies are based loosely on a series of mystery books by Dianne Mott Davidson.
Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker
In a Facebook Live event to promote the second movie, DeLoach and Walker talked about how much they love making movies together. Walker even referred to himself as DeLoach’s “work husband.”
He even asked fans to continue their support for the series so he could continue working with DeLoach.
Walker has appeared on the TV shows Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Reba, The Big Bang Theory, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, ER, and When Calls the Heart. He has starred in the Hallmark movies A Bride For Christmas, Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow, Merry & Bright, Sweet Autumn, Christmas Tree Lane, My Christmas Family Tree, A Maple Valley Christmas, and Three Wise Men and a Baby.
DeLoach played Brenda Long on Days of Our Lives from 2007 to 2009. She also had roles on Walker, Texas Ranger, CSI: NY, Cold Case, NCIS, Mad Men, Criminal Minds, and Grey’s Anatomy. She has starred in the Hallmark movies The Gift of Peace, Taking the Reins, Cranberry Christmas, and Love Takes Flight.
Hallmark has not yet given a release date for Curious Caterer: Last Suppers. We will update this story as more information becomes available.