Don’t expect Luke Macfarlane to trash his colleagues anytime soon. In a recent interview with comedian Daniel Tosh, the actor had only nice things to say about former co-star Candace Cameron Bure.
Macfarlane played opposite Candace Cameron Bure in the 2018 Countdown to Christmas movie A Shoe Addict’s Christmas.
“I will admit that I was nervous to work with her, but she could not have been more lovely,” he said during an appearance on the Tosh Show.
When Tosh asked if the two discussed Macfarlane’s sexual orientation — the actor is gay — he said they had not, adding, “She has a lot of gay friends.”
Luke Macfarlane
Macfarlane rose to fame playing Scotty Wandell on the ABC series Brothers & Sisters. He said when Hallmark first approached him to do a movie, he asked his agent if it would hurt his career.
“They’re like, ‘They’re not on people’s radars,’” he said. “And I’m like, ‘They kind of are.’”
Over the years, Macfarlane has starred in a long list of Hallmark movies:
Christmas Land (2015),
The Mistletoe Promise (2016)
A Birthday Wish (2017),
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (2017)
A Shoe Addict’s Christmas (2018)
Just Add Romance (2019)
Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen (2019)
A Valentine’s Match (2020)
Chateau Christmas (2020)
Taking a Shot at Love (2021)
Christmas in My Heart (2021)
Moriah’s Lighthouse (2022)
A Magical Christmas Village (2022)
Notes of Autumn (2023)
Catch Me If You Claus (2023)
Candace Cameron Bure
Candace Cameron Bure made headlines in April 2022 when she announced she was leaving Hallmark to work at Great American Family, a new network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott.
“My heart wants to tell stories that have more meaning and purpose and depth behind them,” she said.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Bure was asked if any of her films would include same-sex romances. The actress said her films would focus on “traditional marriage.”
Some fans were supportive of her comments but others were furious. Actor Neal Bledsoe, who co-starred with Danica McKellar in the Great American Family romcom The Winter Palace, publicly condemned Bure’s comments and said he would not work with the network again.
Bill Abbott, who was part of the Wall Street Journal interview, clarified that the network could eventually include same-sex romance but that in its initial stages, it would focus on movies with messages of faith.
“Spiritual or faith-based content is grossly underserved,” he said.
Leaving Hallmark
In September of 2022, the actor told the LA Times that he wouldn’t be working with Hallmark anymore.
“They’ve been very good to me, but I think I’ve told my story for now with those folks,” he said. “I mean, how many firefighters can I play?”
Macfarlane made it clear there were no hard feelings behind the decision, even saying that Hallmark had taught him some important skills.
“One thing that I really enjoyed about making Hallmark movies is it’s really fun to flirt,” he said. “It’s fun to play that energy on camera, where relationships are at their best in those early times. I guess Hallmark has given me a lot of flirting lessons.”
Macfarlane delighted fans when he announced in the summer of 2023 that — surprise — he was working with Hallmark again. The actor starred in Notes of Autumn, in which he played a gay man who finds romance when he swaps apartments with his friend, played by Ashley Williams.
Hallmark series is being picked up by CW
The CW will air Season 1 of Hallmark’s short-lived rodeo series Ride. The network announced it will run all 10 episodes of the show, which starred Nancy Travis, Marcus Rosner, Tiera Skovbye, and Dylan Neal. It’s not clear whether the network plans to produce more episodes of the series.
Hallmark series
Ride was one of two new series to premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2023. The other series, The Way Home — starring Andie MacDowell and Chyler Leigh — had its debut in January. That show has already been renewed for a second season.
In Ride, Nancy Travis starred as Isabel McMurray, the matriarch of a rodeo dynasty. Throughout the first season 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) decides to become a bull-rider to raise money for the ranch, but Isabel is terrified something will happen to him. Instead, she looks into selling the ranch to a wealthy man (Dylan Neal) and his family.
Fan reactions
Fans had mixed reactions to the series. Some loved it, calling it, “Yellowstone without the swearing and murder.” Others said they liked that one of the characters was openly gay.
Others struggled to get interested in the storyline.
“Hard to follow and just like all the other ranch shows,” wrote one viewer on Facebook. “Always a lot of problems and they’re going to lose the ranch.”
“I’ll give it another couple of weeks but tonight it felt a little ‘meh,’” wrote one viewer.
“Too many characters. Too many men with beards. I didn’t know who was who,” wrote another.
Renewed?
Right before the series finale, Nancy Travis, Beau Mirchoff, Jake Foy, Sara Garcia, Tiera Skovbye, and Tyler Jacob Moore did a Facebook Live to answer questions about the show. But none of the actors would reveal if fans could expect Season 2.
Fans responded in the comments.
“Praying you have season two coming out love this show,” wrote one fan.
“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.”
Ratings for Season 1 of the series 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 CW
In November, Vulture reported that Hallmark had quietly canceled the series.
A month later, the CW announced will begin airing the series on Monday, January 22, 2024, followed by episodes of its new series Wild Cards. The network has not made it clear whether it will revive it for additional series.
This is an ongoing story. Please check back for updates.
How Kimberley Sustad turned a love of ’90s rom-coms into a career as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after screenwriters
Kimberley Sustad has been a fan favorite on Hallmark Channel since her breakout role in the 2012 romcom A Bride For Christmas. But the actress, who grew up in Winnipeg, is also a sought-after screenwriter.
In addition to the 2022 Countdown to Christmas smash hit Three Wise Men and a Baby, the actress wrote 2020’s Christmas By Starlight. And she’s not done yet. In a recent interview, the actress said she has two more movies in the works.
Kimberley Sustad
A self-proclaimed tomboy, Sustad grew up riding horses and playing sports. She nabbed a role in the 2009 short film Live Henry Live and went on to work in theater in Seattle. She went on to star in the TV shows Spooksville, The Romeo Section, Unspeakable, Alcatraz, Primeval New World, Motive, and Continuum, but continued to do theater roles when she could.
Two years after starring in Hallmark’s a Bride for Christmas, Sustad landed the role of Marilee in the Countdown to Christmas movie The Nine Lives of Christmas. The film has gained a loyal following over the years and was followed up in 2021 with the sequel The Nine Kittens of Christmas.
Over the years, Sustad has appeared in the Hallmark mystery series The Gourmet Detective and Morning Show Mysteries. She appeared in the network’s beloved Signed, Sealed, Delivered series and had a role on Hallmark’s Chesapeake Shores.
Hallmark movies
She also has a long list of Hallmark movies to her name:
All Things Valentine (2016)
Hearts of Christmas (2016)
Walking the Dog (2017)
Cooking With Love (2018)
A Godwink Christmas (2018)
A Christmas Coincidence (2018)
Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (2019)
Wedding Every Weekend (2020)
Christmas by Starlight (2020)
Spotlight on Christmas (2020)
North to Home (2022)
Lights, Camera, Christmas (2022)
Three Wise Men and a Baby (2023)
Fourth Down and Love (2023)
To All a Good Night (2023)
From actress to screenwriter
Sustad made the leap from actress to screenwriter after starring with Paul Campbell in the 2018 movie A Godwink Christmas. Though the film was a serious one, Sustad and Campbell were constantly joking around on set.
“The movie was really sentimental, and we kept saying, oh, I wish we had the chance to do a romcom or something like that to really test this energy that we had,” Sustad said in an interview with TV Fanatic. “Because when the cameras started rolling, it was joke after joke, and we were laughing hysterically, even though that was not the movie we were filming.”
Campbell eventually asked Sustad if she wanted to write a movie together.
“We sort of bumped our way along, and we wrote this script on spec, and we walked into Hallmark when we had some other event to go to,” she said. “We asked, ‘Hey, can we come in for a quick meeting before the TCAs?’ And we handed them the script and pitched them the movie.”
Hallmark loved the script and offered Sustad the lead. Christmas By Starlight was released in 2020.
Three Wise Men and a Baby
Campbell and Sustad collaborated again and came up with the script for Three Wise Men and a Baby. The film, which starred Campbell, Andrew Walker, and Tyler Hynes, was the most-watched cable movie of 2022. In an interview, Sustad said it was great to see fans respond to it the way they did.
“I wasn’t expecting it to sort of break the glass ceiling and go into a wider audience space the way that it did,” she said.
Working with Hallmark
Sustad has a few other projects in the works.
“Paul and I are writing a script called My Week in Wyoming, which is going to be an amazing tale,” she said. “It’s almost like a City Slickers. And it’s not Christmas, but it’s really funny.”
“We’re also working on a Christmas movie that we’re writing, and I’m not allowed to say anything about that one, but it’s also going to, I hope, blow the doors off as well. So we’re having a lot of fun doing that simultaneously, actually.”
She also talked about how much she loves working for Hallmark.
“And they’re just one of the most incredible networks, honestly, to work for,” she said. “They treat you so nice. They are like family; you get to know everybody. You get to work internally on these things — and they bring you back, which is, I think, very rare amongst networks. It’s almost like they have a small company of actors that they rotate, and that fans get to know and see them in different parts, and in different pairings … There’s a reason of the quality of programming that they’re doing, and then there’s just also a reason that they’re wonderful people, and actually family to me, as well.”
Andrew Walker: There’s no comparing Hallmark and Great American Family
Andrew Walker believes there’s no comparison between Hallmark Media and Great American Family.
“I don’t know how our style gets duplicated somewhere else in quite the same way,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s like comparing apples to oranges.”
Walker spoke with a reporter from Vulture alongside Paul Campbell and Tyler Hynes when the three stars visited Hallmark Media’s New York headquarters.
During the interview, the actors addressed everything from their reign as the Kings of Christmas to Candace Cameron Bure’s exit from Hallmark in 2022 to join Great American Family.
Paul Campbell also weighed in on Great American Family, saying there’s no competition between the new network and Hallmark.
“I think the word ‘competition’ implies there are viewers going elsewhere because somebody else is doing what Hallmark is doing,” Campbell said. “If you look at the numbers this season, viewership is up, so it’s a big playground. There’s a lot of space for people to produce and tell similar stories. But I don’t think there’s competition. Hallmark is the only place that does specifically what Hallmark does.”
The actors made it clear that there’s room for everyone on the broadcasting stage.
“The formula is pretty sound. I don’t think we need to sit here and go, ‘Oh, one network is better than the next,’” Walker said.
Great American Family
Great American Family was launched by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott in 2021. Actress Candace Cameron Bure made headlines when she announced in April 2022 that she was leaving Hallmark to take up an executive position at the new network. She said that leadership changes had created a new atmosphere at Hallmark Media and that Great American Family’s ideals were more in line with her own.
“I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch,” she said in a statement through the network.
In his interview with Vulture, Walker made it clear he thought her move was motivated by something else.
“I think it was just a good excuse to cover up an opportunity she had somewhere else,” he said. “Whether she thought she had it less at Hallmark because she’s an executive now over at Great American Family, I don’t know. That’s the way I took it.”
Tyler Hynes weighed in with his opinion.
“I can’t imagine how complicated or nuanced her relationship was or wasn’t,” he said. “All I know is, for us, it’s very simple why we’re here. We know what we’re doing. I don’t want to speak for you guys, but I certainly know why I’m here.”
Hallmark Media
The three actors also promoted an extended cut version of their 2022 Countdown to Christmas hit Three Wise Men and a Baby, which Hallmark recently made available on its streaming platform, Hallmark Movies Now.
In an Instagram post, Hynes thanked fans for their enthusiastic response to the movie, which was the most-watched cable film of last year.
“Seeing your stories and posts with all of the new scenes, lines and moments have been lovely. :),” he wrote. “It’s your passion for the film thats inspired this first for the network and certainly us. …Thanks to everyone who worked on bringing back more of the love, laughs and heart, making for an even more immersive experience. Lovely to see streaming allowing for creative opportunities like this. We know theres a blooper reel floating around… ;)”
Hallmark gets its Jane Austen on in February movie lineup
Hallmark is mixing things up with its Loveuary lineup. The network announced that all four new movies premiering in February will have a Jane Austen theme.
“Jane Austen’s stories are timeless and continue to resonate with readers and viewers of all ages,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media. “Our movies will bring her beloved characters to life in fresh, new ways and honor the many women who continue to be inspired by them.”
In addition to the Jane Austen-themed lineup, Hallmark will launch a virtual book club.
Jane Austen
The first of the four new movies to premiere will be Paging Mr. Darcy, starring Mallory Jansen and Will Kemp. Alison Sweeney will headline the second movie, Love & Jane, along with Benjamin Ayres.
The Days of Our Lives actress shared a photo on Instagram promoting the film, which will premiere on February 10.
“Celebrating Jane Austen’s birthday by sharing that my movie, #Love&Jane will premiere on @hallmarkchannel February 10th,” she wrote in the caption. “I’m so proud of this fun romantic comedy based on a lifelong love of everything Jane Austen. #janeausten #romcom.”
Benjamin Ayres responded in the comments with, “You are SO GOOD and funny in this movie. Can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Loveuary
The next film to premiere will be An American in Austen, starring Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop, and Nell Barlow. In the movie, Bennett stars as a librarian who wonders if any man could ever live up to the romantic ideals set by Austen’s character Mr. Darcy. She gets to find out for herself when comes face to the face with him.
Finally, Hallmark will air an adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia, Dan Jeannotte, and Akil Largie, the movie will be part of Hallmark’s Mahogany series.
Book Club
Chief Fan Officer Jenny Forwark will host the online meetings of the new Hallmark Channel Book Club. The first virtual gathering will take place on January 25. Members will be invited to discuss the Jane Austen book “Pride & Prejudice. The second meeting, in which readers will discuss Sense & Sensibility, will take place on February 15.
Paging Mr. Darcy will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 3 at 8/7c.
Love & Jane will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 10 at 8/7c.
An American in Austen will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 17 at 8/7c.
Sense & Sensibility will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, February 24 at 8/7c.
Everything you need to know about watching Hallmark without cable
As cable prices soar and providers drop and add channels seemingly at random, more and more viewers are looking for alternatives.
For Hallmark fans who want to cut the cord with cable — or for those who have lost one or more of Hallmark’s three networks with their cable provider — there are alternatives.
We have compiled a list of cable alternatives that will provide viewers access to Hallmark movies and shows for as little as $6 a month.* Also included in the list is an app that will let Hallmarkies access their favorite movies and shows for free.
Watching Hallmark without cable:
1. Peacock TV
The NBC streaming service Peacock TV made a deal last year with Hallmark to include its content. Plans start at $5.99 a month. The website can be found here.
2. Hallmark Movies Now
Hallmark Media owns this platform, which includes content from Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. Plans start at $59.99 a year, though viewers can opt to pay month-by-month for $5.99 a month. The website can be found here.
3. Frndly TV
Frndly TV is another streaming platform that includes Hallmark content. The service has Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama, as well as material from UPtv, Great American Family, Lifetime, and Heartland TV. Plans start at $6.99 per month. The website can be found here.
4. Amazon Prime Video
A slew of Hallmark movies are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Fans can also purchase DVD compilations of some of their favorite Hallmark shows and movies. For all the information about watching on Amazon Prime, click here.
5. Sling
Sling is a streaming service that allows viewers to watch cable content over the Internet. Hallmark content is included with the platform’s Lifestyle Extra package which is $6 a month on top of the basic package, which starts at $20. The website can be accessed here.
6. Fubo TV
Fubo TV has Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama included in its Pro Package, available for $74.99. Access the website here.
7. Philo TV
Philo TV is another streaming service. It is available for $25 a month and includes Hallmark content. Their website can be accessed here.
8. Hulu + Live TV
Not to be confused with regular ol’ Hulu, Hulu + Live TV lets viewers stream cable channels and not just individual programs and movies. Hallmark Channel is included in the $76.99 a month package. Access their website here.
9. YouTube TV
In addition to the free version of YouTube, there is YouTube TV, which allows viewers to watch cable channels. The current introductory sign-up rate is $50.99. After three months, the price goes up to $72.99. The site can be accessed here.
10. Hoopla
If you’d rather not sign up for a streaming service, you can get Hallmark for free. Check with your local library to see if it’s connected to the Hoopla app.
Hoopla Digital is an all-in-one app for public libraries that allows users to access books, magazines, comic books, movies, TV shows, and documentaries. In 2023, the company’s founder announced the company had partnered with Hallmark Media to include its materials.
“Our goal at hoopla is to provide the best content available to libraries and their patrons,” Jeff Jankowski told PR Newswire. “We pursued this partnership with Hallmark Movies Now to give access to this celebrated range of movies, specials and original series. As the needs of libraries evolve, we are too, to ensure the way library patrons consume content on hoopla meets demand. When we launched BingePass, we pledged to continue adding more diverse content and this new agreement with Hallmark Movies Now adds a beloved entertainment brand that is a natural for bingeing.”
For more information on Hoopla, visit their website.
*Prices listed are current as of December 2023. Rates change often so check the included links for the most up-to-date prices.
Laura Vandervoort headlines new Hallmark movie Miracle in Bethlehem, PA
Benjamin Ayres and Laura Vandervoort will star in the new Hallmark movie Miracle in Bethlehem, PA. The film will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries as part of the network’s Miracles of Christmas lineup.
Ayres shared photos from the set of the movie on his Instagram page. He called the film “beautiful, touching, and very funny.”
New Hallmark movie
In Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, Laura Vandervoort plays Mary Ann, a successful lawyer who wants nothing more than to adopt a child and be a mother. Just before Christmas she gets called to Bethlehem, Penn., to meet her child, a baby girl named Natalie. But bad weather forces her to cancel her trip home. The local inn is full but the owner sends Mary Ann and Natalie to stay with her brother Joe (played by Benjamin Ayres), who has a spare room.
A confirmed bachelor, Joe tries his best to make his home welcoming for his guests. When the bad weather continues, Mary Ann extends her stay. She ends up taking part in Christmas activities at Joe’s church. As Mary Ann and Joe spend more time together, it’s becoming clear to them — and everyone around them — that an attraction is growing.
The two open up about their personal challenges. Mary Ann is afraid to tell her mother that she adopted a child. Joe is still reeling from the loss of his father, who was his best friend.
“As Mary Ann and Joe connect through their shared faith and become close, they could just be the unexpected blessing in each other’s life in surprising ways,” reads a synopsis from Hallmark.
About the cast
Benjamin Ayres had starring roles in the CTV series Saving Hope and the HBO Canada series Less Than Kind. (He was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for the latter.) He also appeared on the shows The Good Doctor, Suits, Burden of Truth, and JPod.
He has starred in the Hallmark movies Cranberry Christmas (2020), You, Me & the Christmas Trees (2021), Long Lost Christmas (2022), Color My World With Love (2022), and Field Day (2023).
Laura Vandervoort
From 2007 to 2011, Laura Vandervoort starred in the TV series Smallville. She went on to appear in Supergirl, White Collar, CSI: NY, Conman, Private Eyes, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Sullivan’s Crossing.
She has starred in the movies Desperately Seeking Santa (2011), Finding Mrs. Claus (2012), A Christmas Exchange (2020), Romance in the Wilds (2021), Christmas in the Wilds (2021), and A Christmas Together With You (2021).
Nine things you never knew about Christopher Russell
By now, all Hallmarkies are familiar with Christopher Russell. The handsome actor has been gracing the small screen on Hallmark Channel since 2013 and has made more than 20 movies for the network.
But the actor is more than a handsome face. Read on to discover all the things you never knew about the Hallmark star.
Christopher Russell
His first role was in a Christmas production
Russell got the acting bug while playing a donkey in his preschool’s nativity play. He continued to perform in school plays and made his professional debut at the age of 12 in the horror movie The Whispering. While in high school, he received an award for his work from the prestigious Sears Drama Festival.
2. He has starred in more than 20 different TV shows
Russell is one of those actors who looks just as at home on a space ship as he does in a zombie apocalypse. Over the years he has appeared in science fiction shows, historical dramas, spy thrillers, mysteries, and teen dramas.
The actor first appeared on television in the Canadian comedy series Show Me Yours. He went on to star in Kevin Hill and Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye and has had roles in Supernatural, Nikita, Murdoch Mysteries, Flashpoint, Beauty and the Beast, Satisfaction, Air Crash Investigator, The Listener, iZombie, Lost Girl, Reign, Star Trek: Discovery, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, unREAL, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Van Helsing, BH90210, Reacher, Accused, Day of the Dead, and The Irrational.
3. He is a family man
In an Instagram post, he shared a photo of his family with the caption:
“Family. Where life begins and love never ends.- I love you three bigger than the thing that’s bigger than the universe! #soulmates #bestkidsever #youhadmeathello #beautifulbritishcolumbia #familyiseverything.”
4. He keeps his private life private
Though he shares photos of his family on Instagram, Russell has never revealed his wife’s name. He also keeps mum on the names of his children.
5. He and fellow Hallmark star Cindy Busby have a special friendship
Christopher Russell and Cindy Busby have starred in four Hallmark movies together. In an interview, Russell talked about why they work so well together.
“Cindy Busby is the best,” he told Digital Jouurnal. “We clicked right away since we have very complementary personalities.…She is a barrel of laughs.”
6. He is a huge fan of Hallmark
“It feels good to work on these films especially due to the subject matter that we are presenting,” he said during an interview with Digital Journal. “There is so much negativity going on in the world so it’s nice to present people with something that can help provide them with an escape and deliver a cathartic experience in a positive way.”
7. Even his daydreams are wholesome
He once told a reporter that if he could have any superpower, it would be “the ability to deliver world peace.”
Aaawwww.
8. He’s a screenwriter
In an interview with Hollywood North Magazine, he said he has written a few scripts that are in development. Let’s hope they get produced at Hallmark.
9. He has a special technique he uses at auditions
In an interview, Russell talked about a book that influenced his approach to the acting business called 10,000 Nos, by fellow actor Matthew Del Negro.
“Auditioning at the beginning of your career, or even when you’ve established yourself is quite competitive,” he said. “A lot of times, people can get caught in trying to present themselves in a way that they think other people want to see. What I’ve learned is that if I prepare, prepare, prepare then I know what I’m doing when heading out. If something isn’t clicking I’ll seek outside help with a coach, and that way when I go in on set or an audition, on-screen test, chemistry test, or whatever it may be. I know that I know the material inside and out so whatever happens, happens. If I’m trying hard to manipulate the situation, and create moments out of nothing, it’s just going to fall flat.”
Katie Findlay tackles New Year’s resolutions in new Hallmark movie Sealed With a List
Katie Findlay plays a woman determined to tackle a list of New Year’s resolutions in the new Hallmark movie Sealed With a Kiss. The film, which also stars Evan Roderick and Kelcey Mawema, will premiere as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup.
New Hallmark movie
In Sealed With a List, Findlay stars as Carley, a woman who has been stuck in a dead-end job for far too long. When she gets passed over for a promotion, she decides she needs to make some major changes in her life. Not only does she quit her job, she looks over a list of past New Year’s resolutions and decides to finish every single one by the end of December.
She enlists the help of Wyatt (played by Evan Roderick), the man who received the promotion she deserved. But Wyatt has his only problems. When the new job proves too much for him, his dad — who is also the boss — cuts off access to his trust fund. Wyatt and Carley make a deal: she will teach him how to live independently and he will show her how to move out of her comfort zone.
“As the pair whittles down [Carley’s] list, Carley begins to realize her initial opinion of Wyatt may have been off the mark. With her new-found confidence and his newly formed independence, these two complete opposites may strike the perfect balance,” reads a synopsis from Hallmark.
About the cast
Katie Findlay played Rebecca Sutter in the TV series How to Get Away With Murder. She also appeared on the shows Continuum, Man Seeking Woman, The Magicians, Lost Generation, and Twilight Zone.
Findlay starred in the Hallmark movies The Bridge (2015), The Bridge Part 2 (2016), and Love Strikes Twice (2021).
Evan Roderick
Evan Roderick starred as Officer Nick Anastas in the TV series Arrow and on the Netflix show Spinning Out. He appeared in the Hallmark movies Garage Sale Mystery (2018), A Tale of Two Christmases (2022), Autumn in the City (2022), and Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New (2023).
Sealed With a List will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 16 at 8/7c.
Meghan Ory headlines new Hallmark movie The Secret Gift of Christmas with Christopher Russell
Meghan Ory and Christopher Russell will headline the new Hallmark movie The Secret Gift of Christmas. The film will premiere as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup.
In an Instagram post, Ory promoted the movie, which she also helped produce.
“This is my first time producing and it was SO fun! Can’t wait for you to see what we whipped up!” she wrote in the caption.
Her Chesapeake Shores co-stars weighed in with their own comments.
“Yessss,” wrote Jessica Sipos, who played Sarah Mercer O’Brien on the show.
“You look like the version of Meghan who took me new wardrobe shopping when I first moved to LA,” added Laci J. Mailey, who played Jess O’Brien in the series.
Robert Buckley, who played Evan Kincaid, wrote, “CONGRATS!!!”
New Hallmark movie
In The Secret Gift of Christmas, Ory stars as Bonnie, a self-proclaimed bachelorette. As a personal shopper with a vibrant social presence, she has parlayed her passion into a successful business. When she is hired by gruff contractor Patrick (played by Christopher Russell), she finds she has her work cut out for her.
Though Patrick is less than impressed with some of the items Bonnie picks out, when he sees a friendship blossoming between Bonnie and his daughter, Phoebe (Ellie Cluett), he begins to appreciate her knack for understanding others. But things become complicated when Bonnie’s thoughtfulness leads another woman to set her sights on Patrick.
“If Bonnie and Patrick can tear down the walls between them, they just might get the greatest gift of all — love,” reads a synopsis from Hallmark.
About the cast
From 2016 to 2022 Meghan Ory starred as Abby O’Brien on the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores. She also appeared in Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, Hudson & Rex, and NCIS: New Orleans. She starred in the 2015 movie Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow.
Christopher Russell has starred in the movies Catch a Christmas Star (2013), Midnight Masquerade (2014), Love, Again (2015), Merry Matrimony (2015), Love in the Vineyard (2016), Wedding Bells (2016), A Puppy for Christmas (2016), A Dream of Christmas (2016), My Perfect Romance (2018), Forever Christmas (2018), Love Unleashed (2019), All Summer Long (2019), The Mistletoe Secret (2019), A Doggone Christmas (2019), Love & Glamping (2020), Love in the Forecast (2020), Chasing Waterfalls (2021), Kite Festival of Love (2021), Warming Up to you (2021), A Lot Like Christmas (2021), Where Your Heart Belongs (2022), Love on Fire (2022), Yellowstone Romance (2022), The Most Colorful Time of the Year (2022), A Dash of Christmas (2023), and Peppermint and Postcards (2023).
The Secret Gift of Christmas will premiere on Friday, December 15 at 8/7c.
Mickey Guyton’s song Heaven Down Here is the basis for new Hallmark movie
Country music star Mickey Guyton’s song Heaven Down Here is the basis for the new Hallmark movie of the same name. The film, which will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, stars Krystal Joy Brown, Tina Lifford, Juan Riedinger, Richard Harmon, and Phylicia Rashad.
New Hallmark movie
In Heaven Down Here, four people get stranded by a snowstorm at a diner on Christmas Eve. Krystal Joy Brown plays Imani, a widowed mother of two who’s having trouble making ends meet and has reluctantly agreed to work the Christmas Eve shift at the diner. She finds herself clashing with her boss (played by Richard Harmon) who doesn’t exactly embody the Christmas spirit.
Juan Riedinger plays Felix, a pastor trying to secure food for parishioners in need. Tina Lifford plays Clara, a hospice nurse dealing with an obstinate patient (played by Phylicia Rashad) and the departure of her daughter.
Throughout the evening, the four bicker, bond, and unwittingly provide each other with the answer to their respective prayers.
Heaven Down Here
Mickey Guyton released the song Heaven Down Here in 2020. The song is written as a prayer in which the singer asks for strength to deal with challenging times.
Heaven Down Here will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, December 14 at 8/7c.
How to watch your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies without cable
It’s that time of year again: Hallmark Channel and Hallmark movies and Mysteries are playing round-the-clock Christmas movies. More than 40 new titles are being released this year alone, joining the hundreds of movies in Hallmark Media’s collection. (For a full schedule of this year’s new movies, click here.)
But if you don’t have cable, all is not lost. Many Hallmark titles can be streamed online or purchased on DVD.
Hallmark Christmas movies
The following titles can either be streamed or purchased on Amazon:
Three Wise Men and a Baby
This Christmas comedy was the most-watched cable movie of 2022. Starring Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, and Paul Campbell, the movie follows three brothers who do their best to take care of a baby left at a fire station just before Christmas.
In this 2008 comedy, Henry Winkler stars as a retired cop who brings a stranger stranded at the airport home for Christmas with his daughter and grandson. Also stars Brooke Burns and Warren Christie.
This 2012 Hallmark classic stars Andrew Walker as a single man trying to win a bet by getting a woman (Arielle Kebbel) to marry him by Christmas. Also stars Kimberley Sustad.
This Christmas movie was written by Hallmark star Paul Campbell in 2021. Tyler Hynes and Bethany Joy Lenz star as exes who pretend to be together over the holidays.
Alicia Witt and Mark Wiebe played strangers who end up snowed in at his family’s home for Christmas in this 2013 romantic comedy.
Hallmark Christmas Collection 16 (A Gift For Christmas / A Christmas To Cherish / Merry & Bright)
This compilation includes the original and sequel of A Gift for Christmas, a series that starred Ali Liebert and Peter Porte. In these movies, Liebert plays bookstore employee Darcy Archer, who falls for wealthy businessman Aiden Harris.
The third movie on the DVD, Merry & Bright (2019), stars Andrew Walker and Jodie Sweetin.
Candace Cameron Bure 4-Film Collection
Love her or hate her, Candace Cameron Bure has headlined some of Hallmark’s best movies. This DVD collection includes:
A Christmas Detour (released in 2015, co-stars Paul Greene)
Christmas Under Wraps (released in 2014, co-stars David O’Donnell and Brian Doyle-Murray)
Journey Back to Christmas (released 2016, co-stars Oliver Hudson and Tom Skerritt)
Switched for Christmas (released 2017, co-stars Mark Deklin and Natasha Bure)
This DVD contains a whopping 12 hours and 36 minutes of Christmas movie goodness. The titles include:
Check Inn to Christmas
Christmas Comes Twice
Christmas Land
12 Gifts of Christmas
Christmas in Love
With Love, Christmas
Window Wonderland
Looks Like Christmas
Christmas List
Vic Michaelis gets stuck in a time loop in the new Hallmark Hanukkah movie Round and Round
Vic Michaelis gets stuck reliving the same night over and over in the new Hallmark Hanukkah movie Round and Round. The film, which will premiere as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup, also stars Bryan Greenberg and Rick Hoffman.
New Hallmark movie
In Round and Round, Vic Michaelis stars as literary editor Rachel. On the seventh night of Hanukkah, her parents throw a party celebrating both the holiday and the night they met. When her boyfriend tells her he can’t attend, her grandmother decides to play matchmaker. She introduces Rachel to Zach (Greenberg), a nerdy art instructor, who’s decidedly not her type.
It turns out the two have already met. Earlier in the day, he crashed into her at the train station, spilling the box of sufganiyot she was taking to the party.
When the party ends, Rachel returns home and heads to bed only to wake up the next morning and find out it is the day of her parents’ party again. She continues to repeat the same day over and over and finally confides in Zach, who continues to run into her every morning.
“With help from the employees of Zach’s beloved local comic bookstore, Rachel and Zach make an unlikely, mismatched pair of detectives as they solve mysteries nestled throughout the story,” reads a synopsis from Hallmark Channel.
About the cast
Vic Michaelis starred in the TV series Speechless, Kingpin Katie, Upload, and Bless This Mess. Round and Round is her first Hallmark Channel movie.
Bryan Greenberg played Jake Jaglieski in the TV series One Tree Hill. He also had roles in the TV shows The Mindy Project, How To Make It In America, Woman In The Book, and Sideswiped. He has appeared in the movies Bride Wars, Friends With Benefits, and Same Time, Next Christmas.
Round and Round will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, December 10 at 8/7c.
Good Witch fans get the reunion they’ve been waiting for in the new Hallmark movie Christmas on Cherry Lane
Good Witch fans will see their favorite couple back onscreen in the new Hallmark movie Christmas on Cherry Lane. Catherine Bell and James Denton play a married couple in the Countdown to Christmas film, which also stars Erin Cahill, John Brotherton, and Jonathan Bennett.
Bell, who played Cassie Nightingale on the hit Hallmark series Good Witch, promoted the movie on Instagram.
“Who’s ready for some Christmas magic (not THAT kind of magic!) just the lovely sweet romantic happy @hallmarkchannel kind of magic
December 9 only on @hallmarkchannel #christmasoncherrylane,” she wrote in the caption.
New Hallmark movie
In Christmas on Cherry Lane, Erin Cahill and John Brotherton star as a young couple welcoming their first child when well-meaning relatives descend to help out. Catherine Bell and James Denton play empty nesters preparing for the holidays and Jonathan Bennett and Vincent Rodriguez play a couple dealing with a kitchen remodel.
“The three couples celebrate Christmas Eve in their own special ways as they navigate these turning points in their lives, become closer in the process and a surprising connection between them all is revealed,” according to a synopsis from Hallmark Channel.
Good Witch
Good Witch fans have been posting to social media in anticipation of the movie’s debut using the hashtags #SassieBack, #Countdown2Sassie, and #SAVEGOODWITCH.
Bell and Denton played husband and wife on the Hallmark series Good Witch. Hallmark Channel canceled the show in 2021 and fans have lodged several campaigns to get the series back on the air.
Fans became hopeful when a Hallmark exec hinted that the network wasn’t finished with the franchise. During an appearance at the 2022 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, Lisa Hamilton-Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media, told reporters the network was considering what to do with several of its franchises.
“As far as Good Witch, I think we’re always interested in thinking about what we can do with our most popular IP,” Hamilton-Daly said.
The stars of the series began to drop hints that a movie might be in the works.
“Hopefully we’ll get a movie done here one of these days and bring all those characters back,” said Catherine Bell in a video posted on Cameo. “That is the hope we are working on but we’ll see if it actually happens but working on it.”
Denton also talked about the possibility of a Good Witch return during an interview with TV Insider.
“Nobody’s made me an offer,” he clarified. “There’s nothing in the works, but I think the odds are decent just because I know the network respects the franchise. It ran for 14 years between the movies and the series. So I think there’s a decent chance, but I had to say in the same breath there is nothing in the immediate works.”
Christmas on Cherry Lane will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 9 at 8/7c.
Paul Campbell is a Christmas hater in new Hallmark movie Magic in Mistletoe
Paul Campbell plays an author who has lost his love of Christmas in the new Hallmark movie Magic in Mistletoe. The film, which will premiere as part of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas programming event, also stars Lyndie Greenwood.
In an Instagram post promoting the movie, Campbell acknowledged that playing a Scrooge-like character was a departure for him.
“Hands down the LEAST likeable I’ve ever been off the top of a Hallmark movie (it came with surprising ease…),” he wrote in the caption. “@lyndiegreenwood was so fun to play off and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Beautifully directed by @thepaulaelle and produced with great care by @michaelrgold — can’t wait for you folks to see this one.”
New Hallmark movie
In Magic in Mistletoe, Paul Campbell plays Harrington Davis, an artist who has become a commercial success thanks to his book series about the magic of Christmas. But after years of writing about the same topic, Harrington has become jaded. When he shares a post on social media claiming that Christmas is a scam, his fans turn on him.
His publisher puts PR genius April (Lyndie Greenwood) to work on the case. She convinces Harrington to travel to his hometown of Mistletoe, which inspired his books, and participate in the annual festival the town throws to honor his series. He is reluctant to go but agrees. As he and April spend time together at the town’s events and she meets his longtime friends, a different side to him emerges. April begins to understand what inspired him to create Magic in Mistletoe and why he has such bitter feelings about Christmas.
According to a synopsis from Hallmark, “The initial frost between them starts to thaw and there just may be a path leading to a merry Christmas for all.”
About the cast
Lyndie Greenwood has appeared in the TV shows Flashpoint, Being Erica, Covert Affairs, Saving Hope, Degrassi: The Next Generation, S.W.A.T., and Sleepy Hollow. She has starred in the Hallmark movies Every Time a Bell Rings (2021) and Girlfriendship (2022).
Paul Campbell
A native of Vancouver, Paul Campbell played Billy Keikeya on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He has appeared on the shows Scrubs, Supernatural, How I Met Your Mother, and Motive.
Campbell began writing screenplays shortly after the birth of his son. He wrote the 2017 Hallmark movie Sun, Sand & Romance, which he starred in with his former Battlestar Galactica castmate Tricia Helfer. He went on to write Christmas by Starlight, which he also starred in, as well as An Unexpected Christmas (2021), Christmas at Castle Hart (2021), and Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022).
He has also starred in the movies Once Upon a Holiday (2015), A Christmas Coincidence (2018), The Last Bridesmaid (2019), Holiday Hearts (2019), Wedding Every Weekend (2020), The Santa Stakeout (2021), The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021), Love, Classified (2022), Dating the Delaneys (2022), Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022), and The Cases of Mystery Lane (2023).
In an interview, Campbell said he is grateful to be working for Hallmark Media.
“Hallmark Channel is the perfect place for me to be working right now,” he said. “I really like the content, and now that I have a family, it’s a nice sort of pleasant content where I don’t have to worry about racy, questionable stuff. It’s definitely the direction that I feel I’m headed. I’m always open to doing movies or series with Hallmark, whatever they have for me. I would always jump at the chance.”
Magic in Mistletoe will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, December 8 at 8/7c.
Virgin River star Mark Ghanimé headlines new Hallmark Christmas movie To All a Good Night
Virgin River star Mark Ghanimé will join Kimberley Sustad in the new Hallmark Christmas movie To All a Good Night. The drama will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries as part of the network’s Miracles of Christmas lineup.leo.
Hallmark Christmas movie
In To All a Good Night, Mark Ghanimé stars as Sam, an Army veteran taking a road trip on his motorcycle. When he skids off the road and crashes into the woods, a local photographer named Ceci (Kimberley Sustad) comes to his aid. When she later discovers Sam works for a developer, she suspects he is in town to purchase her family’s land.
Ceci is still reeling from the loss of her father and is determined to hold on to his land. As Sam recovers from his injuries in the hospital, he tries to find out the name of his Good Samaritan but Ceci makes her friends swear to keep her identity a secret. Sam eventually figures out who she is and the two begin to spend time together.
About the cast
Mark Ghanimé stars on the hit Netflix series Virgin River as Dr. Cameron Hayek. He also played Major Sergio Balleseros on the Syfy series Helix. Ghanimé has appeared in the TV shows Reign, iZombie, Wynonna Earp, The Detectives, and The Bold Type. He has starred in the movies Christmas With a View (2018), Always and Forever Christmas (2019), Twinkle All the Way (2019), Candy Cane Christmas (2020), Listen Out For Love (2022), Christmas In Big Sky Country (2023).
Kimberley Sustad
Kimberley Sustad starred in the TV shows Alcatraz, Primeval New World, Motive, and Continuum. She appeared in the Hallmark series The Gourmet Detective, Morning Show Mysteries, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and Chesapeake Shores. She has starred in the Hallmark movies The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014), All Things Valentine (2016), Hearts of Christmas (2016), Walking the Dog (2017), Cooking With Love (2018), A Christmas Coincidence (2018), Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (2019), Wedding Every Weekend (2020), Christmas by Starlight (2020), Spotlight on Christmas (2020), The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021), North to Home (2022), Lights, Camera, Christmas (2022), Three Wise Men and a Baby (2023), Fourth Down and Love (2023),
To All a Good Night will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, December 7 at 8/7c.
Five new Hallmark movies coming to TV in January
Five new Hallmark movies are coming to TV in January. Four comedies and one mystery will premiere, including films starring Laci J. Mailey, Marcus Rosner, Jocelyn Hudon, Nikki DeLoach, Benjamin Ayres, and Marco Grazzini.
New Hallmark movies
The first of the new films to premiere will be Love on the Right Course, starring Ashley Newbrough and Marcus Rosner. Newbrough stars as Whitney, a professional golf player struggling to qualify for her next tournament in Europe. She heads to Budapest to practice on the course owned by her family. She finds that her father, who has grown reclusive since losing his wife, has handed over day-to-day operations of the club to a new golf pro, Daniel (played by Rosner).
Daniel’s casual style is at odds with Whitney’s and it throws her off her game, literally. As the pair get to know each other, their perspective changes and a romance develops. But, when Whitney’s former trainer returns and pushes Daniel out, it might just cost Whitney her best shot at love.
True Justice: Family Ties
Next up is the mystery True Justice: Family Ties, starring Katherine McNamara, Nikki DeLoach, and Benjamin Ayres. Katherine McNamara plays a law student determined to help her brother, who was wrongfully convicted of murder. With the help of her friends, she sets out to find the real killer.
A Scottish Love Scheme
Erica Durance and Jordan Young will star in A Scottish Love Scheme. Durance plays Lily, who travels to Scotland with her mother and reconnects with her childhood friend Logan (played by Jordan Young). Unbeknownst to Lily and Logan, their meddling mothers devise a plan to set them up.
Betty’s Bad Luck in Love
Chesapeake Shores star Laci J. Mailey stars as Betty, a woman cursed when it comes to relationships. But when she meets Alex (Marco Grazzini), she’s tempted to try once more. Can true love prevail over a curse?
Swinging Into Love
Finally, Jocelyn Hudon and Oliver Renaud will headline Swinging Into Love. Hudon plays Luna, a former dancer who has given up on her dreams to work in the family’s construction business. When she goes to work on a project transforming a warehouse into an aerial silks studio, she gives the equipment a try and catches the eye of Bennett (Oliver Renaud), a professional aerialist. He recruits her for an upcoming performance and sparks fly.
Schedule:
Love on the Right Course will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, January 6 at 8/7c.
True Justice: Family Ties will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Friday, January 12 at 8/7c.
A Scottish Love Scheme will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, January 13 at 8/7c.
Betty’s Bad Luck in Love will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, January 20 at 8/7c.
Swinging Into Love will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, January 27 at 8/7c.