Trevor Donovan, Gladys Knight to star in new adaptation of Little Women

A new version of Little Women is coming to TV. Gladys Knight, Trevor Donovan, Jen Lilley, and Jillian Murray are among the stars who will appear in a modern-day adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic. “‘A Little Women’s Christmas’ is a new Christmas classic in the making, with an incredible ensemble cast and an adaptation […]

Candace Cameron Bure to star in new mystery series

Candace Cameron Bure will star in a new mystery series. The actress, who starred in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series for Hallmark, will take the lead role in a cozy mystery series for Great American Family. “There’s nothing more exciting for me than being back in the cozy mystery genre,” Bure said in a statement. […]

New EMT drama set to premiere on Great American Family

A new EMT drama called County Rescue is set to premiere on Great American Family. The show, which stars Julia Reilly, will be the first scripted series to debut on the network since it was founded in 2021 by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott. In a statement to Deadline, Abbott talked about how the show […]

Hallmark and competitor Great American Media announce layoffs

Both Hallmark Media and its main competitor, Great American Media, have announced layoffs. Four executives have been laid off at Hallmark, including the company’s chief marketing officer. At Great American Family, 13 executives were affected, including the CFO and head of marketing. Some of the layoffs at Great American Family were attributed to a recent […]

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 […]

Great American Family releases schedule for Christmas lineup

Christmas starts this weekend on Great American Family. The network has released its schedule for Great American Christmas 2023 and the first of the new movies will air this weekend. Great American Christmas Great American Family, which was founded by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott in 2021, announced earlier this year that 20 new holiday […]

20 new Christmas movies coming to Great American Family

Twenty new Christmas movies will air during Great American Christmas, the holiday programming event at the Great American Family network. Jill Wagner, Danica McKellar, Paul Greene, Trevor Donovan, Candace Cameron Bure, Natasha Bure, Chad Michael Murray, and Jen Lilley are among the stars who will headline films for the network, which was founded by former […]

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 […]

Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Merritt Patterson to lead the Christmas movie lineup at Great American Family

Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Merritt Patterson are among the stars who will headline new movies for Great American Family this Christmas. The network, which was started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, is producing 21 original movies for the 2023 holiday season. Bure announced the news about her latest project with the network […]

Lori Loughlin is returning to TV in new movie

Former Hallmark star Lori Loughlin is returning to TV in a new movie. Fall Into Winter will premiere on Great American Family, a new network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott. It is her second role on television following a college admissions scandal that sent the former Full House actress to prison. RELATED NEWS: […]

Exes reunite in new Christmas movie on Great American Family

Great American Family will premiere the new Christmas movie Aisle Be Home For Christmas this weekend. The romantic comedy, which stars Jennifer Freeman, Garrett Watson, Jessica Ruth Bell, and Erica Duke, tells the story of two exes who get trapped by winter storms and must spend Christmas together in a big box retail store. “This […]

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

Actress Danica McKellar says she will put her dancing skills to use in a new film for Great American Family. “I can’t give you a lot of details yet, but I’m working on one that involves some dance, which is a lot of fun,” she said during an interview with The List. “I haven’t done […]

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

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

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the head of Great American Media says the network has no specific plan to exclude same-sex story lines from the movies it produces.

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

For now, Great American Family movies feature heterosexual romantic story lines, often with romance coming in a distant second to spiritual and personal growth.

In her new movie for Great American Family, Candace Cameron Bure says she is trying to get away from some of the tropes that have come to define Christmas rom-coms.

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

Great American Media

In recent years, Hallmark has made a push to include same-sex couples in some of its movies and television shows. Both The Christmas House and The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls featured a same sex couple played by Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder. In the series finale of the popular show Good Witch, one of the show’s main characters shared a same-sex kiss with a new love interest.

In The Christmas House and The Christmas House 2, Hallmark featured same-sex story lines.
The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls. (Image: Hallmark Media)

Hallmark executives have said they want all audiences to feel represented in their programming.

While some fans have welcomed the changes, others have accused the company of going “woke for profit.”

Change of focus

The focus of the story in Bure’s new film for the network, A Christmas…Present, is the main character’s spiritual reawakening. Bure plays Maggie, a married mother of two who goes to visit her recently widowed brother, Paul. Though she is expecting to find Paul grief-stricken and depressed, she finds he has coped well with the loss because of his Christian faith. Maggie comes away from the experience with a renewed love of God and an appreciation for her many blessings.

While not all of the movies will have such a religious focus, many will include messages of faith, hope, and family.

“Spiritual or faith-based content is grossly underserved,” Abbott said in an interview, a sentiment echoed by Bure.

“My heart wants to tell stories that have more meaning and purpose and depth behind them,” Bure said.

Bure’s first film for Great American Family, A Christmas…Present, will premiere on Sunday, November 27 at 8/7c.

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Actress Danica McKellar has moved to Tennessee. In a recent interview, the Hallmark and Great American Family star said she and her family have left Los Angeles to live on a rural homestead an hour north of Nashville.

“My husband and I have been wanting more nature for a long time,” McKellar told People magazine. “We were kind of ready to not be in a city anymore.”

In an Instagram post, McKellar said she feels like a character in one of the romantic-comedies she stars in.

“Yep, my Christmas movie characters are definitely rubbing off on me,” she wrote. “Big city life traded in for the country!”

The actress added, “I’ve lived in beautiful California my entire life; in Los Angeles since I was 7 years old. And I’ve never been happier. Excited for the seasons, too!”

Danica McKellar has moved to Tennessee

Tennessee has a special place in McKellar’s heart. Soon after she started dating her husband, Scott Sveslovsky, she had to shoot a movie on location in Kentucky. They missed each other so much that he flew to Nashville to see her and she drove an hour-and-a-half to see him. They spent a romantic weekend in Nashville and fell in love with the city.

“Memphis and Nashville are both entertainment cities. They’re known for music,” McKellar said. “Being from L.A. and being an entertainer, it’s nice to have creative people around.”

Career move

McKellar made headlines last year when she announced that she had signed an exclusive contract with Great American Family, a new network started by Crown Media Family Network’s former CEO Bill Abbott. As part of the deal, she will star in and executive produce four movies for the company.

One of these films, Christmas at the Drive-In, will premiere as part the network’s Great American Christmas lineup.

Though she is a fan of romantic comedies in general, she loves Christmas movies.

“…I think what audiences love about Christmas is this feeling of nostalgia and family and traditions and warm fuzziness,” she said in an interview. “Really, what we want is that warm fuzziness.”

Danica McKellar in the movie Christmas at the Drive-In. The actress revealed that she has moved to Tennessee.
Danica McKellar in the movie Christmas at the Drive-In. (Image: Great American Media.)

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

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

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

New place

McKellar is now living on her homestead with her husband, her son, Draco, (whom she shares with ex Mike Verta), and her mother, Mahalia. They have begun renovating their new home and they hope to eventually put in a pool, though McKellar is enjoying the trampoline they have too much to make serious plans.

The actress said she loves being around nature and her family.

“I am just loving the fact that my Christmas movie characters have rubbed off on me,” she said. “I think it’s just a wonderful example of life imitating art.”

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The CEO of Great American Media believes his network will de-throne Hallmark and become the front-runner in family-friendly television programming.

“We believe we’ll be the leader in quality family entertainment in this space,” Abbott said in a recent interview with USA Today. “…That’s a lofty and challenging objective. But we think we have the team in place to do it and the experience to do it.”

Great American Media

Abbott made headlines in June 2021 when he announced he had partnered with Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partners to purchase two networks in a deal Bloomberg estimated at $90 million. Programming on the two channels began in September 2021. One network, which has been renamed Great American Family, ran romantic comedies and TV series including I Dream of Jeannie, Full House, Fuller House, Who’s the Boss, and Bewitched. The other, Great American Living, airs lifestyle programs including First Time Flippers, Aloha Builds, Growing Up Gator, and Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen.

In an interview shortly after the new networks were launched, Abbott said there was a lot of room in the market for family-friendly programming.

“There’s so much need for family content in the market and in this space,” he said. “You know, it’s pretty scary, quite frankly, the amount of content that’s out there…the vast majority of content that’s salacious and just is not appropriate for any member of the family.”

Hallmark History

Abbott spent about 20 years with Hallmark Media — called Crown Media Family Networks at the time — where he oversaw production of TV programs such as Good Witch, Cedar Cove, When Calls the Heart, and Chesapeake Shores. He also was instrumental in launching Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas.

The Long Island native left the network in early 2020 and was replaced later that year by current CEO Wonya Lucas.

Great American Media has produced more than 40 original movies, including 18 new Christmas films for the 2022 season. The company has also signed deals with Hallmark stars such as Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, and Jen Lilley to produce and star in content.

In April, Great American Media made headlines when it signed Candace Cameron Bure to a deal.

“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,” Bure said in a statement through the network.

In an interview with USA Today, Bure Bure said the network will “lean into the faith element.”

For a complete list of all the new Christmas movies premiering in 2022 on Great American Family, click here.

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Great American Family, the new network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, broke records during the first weekend of its Christmas programming.

“Not all Christmas movies are created equal,” wrote Abbott in a post on Twitter. “We understand better than anybody how to produce quality Christmas movies and that, great content wins. Viewers have found that in our #GreatAmericanChristmas programming event on #GreatAmericanFamily!#DestinedAtChristmas.”

Great American Family

The new network, which was launched in September 2021, started its Great American Christmas lineup with the original movie Destined at Christmas. The movie had .54M total viewers in its premiere and just shy of 1 million total viewers over the weekend, according to Nielsen ratings. It was the highest-rated premiere for the network. The movie also beat out Hallmark Movies and Mysteries programming on Saturday among women ages 25 to 54.

“Great movie,” wrote a fan on Great American Family’s Facebook page, “not the same story line as most Hallmark movies.”

“This was an amazing and romantic movie!!!” another wrote. “Thank you!!”

Destined at Christmas

The first new movie to premiere in the Great American Christmas lineup starred Shae Robbins and Casey Elliott as two strangers who meet during a power outage while doing their Black Friday shopping. They can’t stop thinking about each other. With the help of a little Christmas magic, they are reunited.

Destined at Christmas is one of 18 new Christmas movies to air on Great American Family. Others include A Merry Christmas Wish, starring Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison; Christmas at the Drive-In, starring Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe; and I’m Glad It’s Christmas, Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene, and Gladys Knight.

Candace Cameron Bure made headlines when she announced she had partnered with the network to produce and star in content. Her Christmas movie, Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present, will premiere in November.

During a March 2022 interview, Abbott talked about his two new networks, Great American Family and Great American Living, and his attempt to expand the realm of family-friendly programming on television.

“Not all rom-coms are created equal,” Abbott said. “Just because someone makes a rom-com doesn’t mean that it has a lot of heart and emotion.”

For a full schedule of the new movies premiering during Great American Christmas, click here.

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John Stamos and Danica McKellar have weighed in on the new Cameron Candace Bure podcast. The podcast, which premieres November 1, will feature Bure and guests talking about everything from faith to fashion.

“The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast launching November 1st,” Bure wrote in a recent Instagram post. “Click the link in my bio for more details and SUBSCRIBE NOW! #ccbpodcast.”

Her Full House and Fuller House co-star John Stamos replied with, “I’d watch that! I’d listen to that! And I hope I’m on it someday! Can’t wait….”

Danica McKellar responded with, “Yay!!! ❤️”

John Stamos weighs in on new Candace Cameron Bure podcast

Cameron Candace Bure podcast

In a statement to Variety, Bure explained why she decided to do a podcast.

“I’ve been interviewed a whole lot in my 40 plus years on television,” she said. “I thought it was time to have in-depth conversations about things I really care about — and have lots of fun at the same time!”

The podcast is being launched by her production company, Candy Rock Enterprises, which is also creating content for Great American Media. Her first Christmas movie for the new network, Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present, will premiere on November 27. The second, Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, will premiere on December 3.

Podcast preview

Bure posted a preview of the podcast on her Instagram page.

“No matter who you are, life can be a roller coaster,” she said. “But in the beauty and the chaos life is full of love, joy, and kindness. This podcast isn’t about me, it’s about you. I’m here to introduce you to some of my friends
and to have open conversations about life’s challenges, celebrations, and everything in between.”

Bure also has a clothing line with QVC, a partnership with Lancer Cosmetics, and she works with Christian gifts company DaySpring.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even as a teenager,” she said in a recent interview. “I knew that I loved the entertainment industry and I did love acting, but I always felt like I wanted more,“I didn’t just want to be an actor, which is a great thing. I wanted more, so I was always positioning myself and trying to learn, as a young adult, what else I could do — the other aspects of the industry like producing or directing. I’ve loved watching people grow. I love seeing other entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.”

Candy Rock Enterprises will launch “The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast” on Nov. 1. Season 1 will be released on video via the AccessMore podcast network and on YouTube. It will also be available on multiple audio podcast channels and at candace.com.

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We made a list of all the new Christmas movies premiering this year. It includes the movies on Hallmark, Great American Family, and Lifetime to Netflix, BET+, and Discovery+. We will update it as more information becomes available.

Enjoy!

All the new Christmas movies:

Saturday, Oct. 22

“Destined at Christmas”
Stars: Shae Robins and Casey Elliott
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“We Wish You a Married Christmas”
Stars: Marisol Nichols, Kristoffer Polaha
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“We Need a Little Christmas”
Stars: Erica Durance, Patrick Sabongui, Lynn Whitfield
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c
Sunday, Oct. 23

“A Kismet Christmas”
Stars: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, Marilu Henner
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

Marilu Henner stars in A Kismet Christmas, one of the original movies that will premiere during Coutndown to Christmas 2022.
Marilu Henner in A Kismet Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

Friday, Oct. 28

“A Cozy Christmas Inn”
Stars: Jodie Sweetin, David O’Donnell
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

Saturday, Oct. 29

“Catering Christmas”
Stars: Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Jolly Good Christmas”
Stars: Reshma Shetty, Will Kemp
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Christmas Bedtime Stories”
Stars: Erin Cahill, Steve Lund, Charlie Weber
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

All the new Christmas movies premiering on TV this year, including Jolly Good Christmas
Jolly Good Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

Sunday, Oct. 30

“Ghosts of Christmas Always”
Stars: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn, Reginald VelJohnson
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

Tuesday, Nov. 1

“Another Christmas”
Stars: Sheena Faust, Ryan Toby, Malik Brazil
Premieres: The Roku Channel (streaming platform)

Thursday, Nov. 3


“A Wesley Christmas”
Stars: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill
Premieres on: BET+ (streaming platform)

Friday, Nov. 4

“Unperfect Christmas Wish”
Stars: Alys Crocker, David Pinard
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Magical Christmas Village”
Stars: Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane, Marlo Thomas
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

All the new Christmas movies premiering on TV, including Christmas Bedtime Stories
Christmas Bedtime Stories (Image: Hallmark Media)

Saturday, Nov. 5


“Christmas in the Pines”
Stars: Jillian Murray, Dean Geyer
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Royal Christmas on Ice”
Stars: Anna Marie Dobbins and Jonathan Stoddard
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Lights, Camera, Christmas!”
Stars: Kimberley Sustad, John Brotherton
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Merry Swissmas”
Stars: Jodie Sweetin, Tim Rozon, Mikaela Lily Davies, David Pinard, Jane Wheeler
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“A Maple Valley Christmas”
Stars: Peyton List, Andrew Walker
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

Sunday, Nov. 6

“Christmas Masquerade”
Stars: Erin Agostino, David Lafontaine
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“Love At the Christmas Contest” (working title)
Stars: Samantha Cope and Ross Jirgl
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“All Saints Christmas”
Stars: Ledisi, Roger Cross
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Well Suited for Christmas”
Stars: Mercedes de la Zerda, Franco Lo Presti
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Lifetime will release 26 Christmas movies, including A New Orleans Noel
A New Orleans Noel (Image: A+E Networks)

Thursday, Nov. 10

“The First Noelle”
Stars: Novi Brown, LaLa Milan, Todd Anthony
Premieres on: BET+

“Falling for Christmas”
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, George Young, Jack Wagner
Premieres on: Netflix

“Christmas on Mistletoe Lake”
Stars: Genelle Williams, Corey Sevier
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Nov. 11

“A Christmas Open House”
Stars: Katie Stevens, Victor Rasuk, Ben and Erin Napier
Premieres on: Discovery+

“Designing Christmas”
Stars: Marco Grazzini, Jessica Szohr, Mykee Selkin, Hilary Farr
Premieres on: Discovery+

“A Gingerbread Christmas”
Stars: Tiya Sircar, Sugith Varughese, Ktana Teresa, Duff Goldman, Marc Bendavid
Premieres on: Discovery+

“One Delicious Christmas”
Stars: Vanessa Marano, Kathy Maloney, Bobby Flay, Alex Mallari, Jr.
Premieres on: Discovery+

“The Christmas Retreat”
Stars: Rhiannon Fish, Clayton James
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“In Merry Measure”
Stars: Patti Murin, Brendan Penny, Jennifer Robertson
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“The Dog Days of Christmas”
Stars: Georgia Flood, Ezekiel Simat
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Lifetime will release 26 Christmas movies in 2022, including Merry Textmas
Merry Textmas (Image: A+E Networks)

Saturday, Nov. 12

“A Tiny Home Christmas”
Stars: Rebecca Dalton, Christopher Seivright
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Merry Christmas Wish”
Cast: Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“The Royal Nanny”
Stars: Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte, Greta Scacchi
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Reindeer Games Homecoming”
Stars: Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“Our Italian Christmas Memories”
Stars: Sarah Power, Beau Bridges
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

Sunday, Nov. 13

“The Picture of Christmas”
Stars: Chelsea Hobbs, Giles Panton
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“My Best Friend’s Christmas”
Stars: Breanne Hill and Colton Little
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Christmas at the Golden Dragon”
Stars: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo, Barbara Niven
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Six Degrees of Santa”
Stars: Kathryn Davis, Steve Lund
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Six Degrees of Santa (Image: A+E Networks)
Six Degrees of Santa (Image: A+E Networks)

Thursday, Nov. 17

“Christmas Party Crashers”
Stars: Skye Townsend, Jaime Callica, Cocoa Brown
Premieres on: BET+

“Christmas With You”
Stars: Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Premieres on: Netflix

“A Christmas Story Christmas”
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, Julianna Layne, River Drosche
Premieres on: HBO Max

“Sweet Navidad”
Stars: Camila Banus, Mark Hapka
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Nov. 18

“Spirited”
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Patrick Page
Premieres on: Apple TV+

“Inventing the Christmas Prince”
Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Ronnie Rowe Jr.
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A Country Christmas Harmony”
Stars: Brooke Elliott, Brandon Quinn
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Saturday, Nov. 19

“The Holiday Switch” (working title)
Stars: Alex Paxton-Beesley, Morgan David Jones
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“Christmas At Pine Valley”
Stars: Kristina Cole and Andrew Biernat
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Three Wise Men and a Baby”
Stars: Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Santa Bootcamp”
Stars: Emily Kinney, Patrick Cassidy Rita Moreno
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“Long Lost Christmas”
Stars: Taylor Cole, Benjamin Ayres
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

Lifetime will premiere 26 Christmas movies during It's a Wonderful Lifetime, including Wrapped Up in Love
Wrapped Up in Love (Image: A+E Networks)

Sunday, Nov. 20

“Christmas Lucky Charm”
Stars: Sugenja Sri, Adrian Spencer
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“My Favorite Christmas Tree”
Stars: Emma Johnson and Giles Panton
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“When I Think of Christmas”
Stars: Shenae Grimes-Beech, Niall Matter, Beth Broderick
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A Show-Stopping Christmas”
Stars: Jamie Perez, Thomas McDonnell
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“The Case of the Christmas Diamond”
Stars: Kelly Daly, Billy Baldwin
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c

Thursday, Nov. 24

“The Christmas Clapback”
Stars: Nadine Ellis, Porscha Coleman, Candace Maxwell, Kara Royster, Eltony Williams, Brandon Sutton, Lisa Arrindell
Premieres on: BET+

“Holiday Hideaway”
Stars: Camille Winbush, Vivica A Fox, Leonard Earl Howze, Rodney Van Johnson
Premieres on: BET+

“The Sound of Christmas”
Stars: Ne-Yo, Serayah, Draya Michele, Michael Bless, Alijah Kai
Premieres on: BET+

“Christmas at The Greenbrier”
Stars: Alicia Leigh Willis and Josh Murray
Premieres on: Fox Nation

“A Christmas Mystery”
Stars: Violet McGraw, Eddie Cibrian, Christoph Sanders, Drew Powell
Premieres on: HBO Max

“Holiday Harmony”
Stars: Annelise Cepero, Jeremy Sumpter, Carla Jimenez, Sisanie
Premieres on: HBO Max

“The Noel Diary”
Stars: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Essence Atkins, Bonnie Bedelia, James Remar
Premieres on: Netflix

“My Southern Family Christmas”
Stars: Jaicy Elliot, Bruce Campbell, Ryan Rottman, Moira Kelly, Brian McNamara
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Baking All the Way”
Stars: Cory Lee, Yannick Bisson
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Nov. 25

“The Hip Hop Nutcracker”
Stars: Allison Holker Boss, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Rev Run, Caché Melvin
Premieres on: Disney+

“#Xmas”
Stars: Clare Bowen, Brant Daugherty
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c

“Christmas at the Drive-In”
Stars: Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8 /7c

“A Royal Corgi Christmas”
Stars: Hunter King, Jordan Renzo
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Steppin’ Into the Holiday”
Stars: Mario Lopez, Jana Kramer, Courtney Lopez
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

We Need a Little Christmas will air this weekend as part of Hallmark's Miracles of Christmas
We Need a Little Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

Saturday, Nov. 26

“A Tale of Two Christmases”
Stars: Kat Barrell, Chandler Massey, Evan Roderick
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c

“I’m Glad It’s Christmas”
Stars: Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene and Gladys Knight
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Haul Out the Holly”
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta, Peter Jacobson, Melissa Peterman
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“The 12 Days of Christmas Eve”
Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Spencer Grammer
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“Faith Heist: A Christmas Caper”
Stars: Jonathan Langdon
Premieres on: Bounce, 8/7c

“Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas”
Stars: Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes, Tenille Townes (Executive Producer: Blake Shelton)
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

Sunday, Nov. 27

“A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe”
Stars: Rachel Boston, Victor Webster
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 6/5c

“Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present”
Stars: Candace Cameron Bure and Marc Blucas
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“A Holiday Spectacular”
Stars: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb, Ann-Margret; featuring the Radio City Rockettes
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A Christmas Spark”
Stars: Jane Seymour, Joe Lando (Executive producer Toni Braxton)
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays”
Stars: Sara Ball, Noah Fearnley, Vivica A. Fox
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c

Eighteen new Christmas movies will premiere on Great American Family this year including I'm Glad It's Christmas
I'm Glad It's Christmas (Image: Hallmark Media)

Thursday, Dec. 1


“Rolling Into Christmas”
Stars: Rhyon Nicole Brown, Donny Carrington, Brandee Evans, Gary Dourdan
Premieres on: BET+

“A Hollywood Christmas”
Stars: Jessika Van, Anissa Borrego, Josh Swickard, Riley Dandy
Premieres on: HBO Max

“Serving Up the Holidays”
Stars: Britt Irvin, Zach Roerig
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Dec. 2

“Scrooge: A Christmas Carol”
Stars: Jessie Buckley, Luke Evans, Olivia Colman, Johnny Flynn
Premieres on: Netflix

“Christmas in the Wilds”
Stars: Kaitlyn Leeb, Victor Zinck Jr.
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Big Fat Family Christmas”
Stars: Shannon Chan-Kent, Shannon Kook, Tia Carrere, Jack Wagner
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas”
Stars: Valery Ortiz, Brandon Quinn, Nicole Bilderback
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Saturday, Dec. 3

“Christmas on the Slopes”
Stars: Olivier Renaud, Soma Chhaya
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“Christmas on Candy Cane Lane”
Stars: Andrea Barber and Dan Payne
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“A Fabled Holiday”
Stars: Brooke D’Orsay, Ryan Paevey
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A New Orleans Noel”
Stars: Keshia Knight Pullman, Brad James, Patti LaBelle
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“The Holiday Stocking”
Stars: Nadine Ellis, B.J. Britt, Karon Riley, Tamala Jones, Mykelti Williamson
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

“The Great Holiday Bake War”
Stars: LeToya Luckett, Finesse Mitchell
Premieres on: OWN, 9/8c

Sunday, Dec. 4

“Christmas on the Rocks”
Stars: Lyla Porter-Follows, Jon McLaren
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“B&B Merry”
Stars: Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Undercover Holiday”
Stars: Noemi Gonzalez, Stephen Huszar
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Merry Textmas”
Stars: Ariana Ron Pedrique, Rodrigo Massa
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“The Search for Secret Santa”
Stars: Skye Coyne, Alex Trumble
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c

“Fit for Christmas”
Stars: Amanda Kloots, Paul Greene
Premieres on: CBS, 8:30 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT

Eighteen new Christmas movies will premiere on Great American Family this year, including Christmas on Candy Cane Lane.
Christmas on Candy Cane Lane (Image: Great American Media)

Thursday, Dec. 8

“A Miracle Before Christmas”
Stars: LeToya Luckett, Romeo Miller, Keith David, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Paula Jai Parker and Porscha Coleman
Premieres on: BET+

“Scentsational Christmas”
Stars: Nanzeen Contractor, Mykee Selkin
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Dec. 9

“Something From Tiffany’s”
Stars: Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Smith Sampson, Ray Nicholson, Shay Mitchell
Premieres on: Amazon Prime Video

“It’s a Wonderful Binge”
Stars: Eduardo Franco, Dexter Darden, Zainne Saleh, Marta Piekarz, Kaitlin Olson, Danny Trejo
Premieres on: Hulu

“Big Box Christmas” (working title)
Stars: Jennifer Freeman and Garrett Watson
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“The Most Colorful Time of the Year”
Stars: Katrina Bowden, Christopher Russell
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A Recipe for Joy”
Stars: Erin Agostino, Dillon Casey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Saturday, Dec. 10

“A Royal Christmas Match”
Stars: Jordana Largy, Matthew MacCaull
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Prince for the Holidays” (wt)
Stars: Cindy Busby and Jilon VanOver
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Christmas Class Reunion”
Stars: Aimee Teegarden, Tanner Novlan
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas”
Stars: Naturi Naughton, Lorea Turner, Luke James, Kirk Franklin
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“A Christmas Fumble”
Stars: Eva Marcille, Devale Ellis
Premieres on: OWN, 9/8c

“The Gift of Peace”
Stars: Nikki Deloach, Brennan Elliott
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

"Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas" (Image: A+E Networks)
"Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas" (Image: A+E Networks)


Sunday, Dec. 11

“Santa’s Got Style”
Stars: Franco Lo Presti, Kathryn Davis
Premieres on: Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Belgian Chocolate Christmas”
Stars: Jaclyn Hales and Zane Stephens
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“The Holiday Sitter”
Stars: Jonathan Bennett, George Krissa, Chelsea Hobbs
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Single and Ready to Jingle”
Stars: Natasha Wilson
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“A Prince and Pauper Christmas”
Stars: Brittany Underwood
Premieres on: ION, 8/7c

“Must Love Christmas”
Stars: Liza Lapira, Neal Bledsoe
Premieres on: CBS, 9/8c

Thursday, Dec. 15

“A Blackjack Christmas”
Stars: Dawnn Lewis, Charmin Lee, Adam Lazarre-White
Premieres on: BET+

“Record Breaking Christmas”
Stars: Michelle Argyis, Andrew Bushell
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Friday, Dec. 16

“Holiday Heritage”
Stars: Lyndie Greenwood, Brooks Darnell, Holly Robinson Peete
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“A Christmas to Treasure”
Stars: Taylor Frey, Kyle Dean Massey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

Lifetime will release 26 Christmas movies during It's a Wonderful Lifetime
Record-Breaking Christmas (Image: A+E Networks)

Saturday, Dec. 17

“Sappy Holiday”
Stars: Vanessa Sears, Jon McLaren
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“A Brush with Christmas Romance” (wt)
Stars: Jillian Murray and Joseph Cannata
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas”
Stars: Torrey DeVitto, Zane Holtz
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“The Holiday Dating Guide”
Stars: Maria Menounos, Brent Bailey
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“Five More Minutes: Moments Like These”
Stars: Ashley Williams, Lucas Bryant
Premieres on: Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, 10/9c

Sunday, Dec. 18

“A Vintage Christmas”
Stars: Hannah Gallway, Jeremy Walmsley
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

“The Art of Christmas”
Stars: Brigitte Kingsley and Joe Towne
Premieres on: Great American Family, 8/7c

“Hanukkah on Rye”
Stars: Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas, Lisa Loeb
Premieres on: Hallmark Channel, 8/7c

“Wrapped Up in Love”
Stars: Brittany Bristow, Olivier Renaud
Premieres on: Lifetime, 8/7c

“When Christmas Was Young”
Stars: Karen David, Tyler Hilton
Premieres on: CBS, 8:30 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT

Thursday, Dec. 22

“A Christmas Gift”
Stars: Blue Kimble, Noree Victoria, Javon Johnson, Victoria Rowell, Aaron D. Spears, Nadia Simms, Tiffany Snow, Marc Jones, Cayen Martin
Premieres on: BET+

Saturday, Dec. 24

“The Snowball Effect”
Stars: Anjali Khurana, Landon Moss
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

Sunday, Dec. 25

“Christmas in Wolf Creek”
Stars: Nola Martin, Tim Rozon
Premieres on: UPtv, 7/6c

December, date TBD

“Dolly Parton’s Magic Mountain Christmas”
Stars: Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus
Premieres on: NBC

“Hotel for the Holidays”
Stars: Madelaine Petsch, Mena Massoud
Premieres on: Amazon Freevee

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Candace Cameron Bure announced that her first project for Great American Family, a network started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, is a Christmas movie that will be released in November.

“SO HAPPY to announce that Candy Rock Entertainment is underway with their first Christmas movie of the season starring…me,” she wrote in an Instagram post promoting the movie.

The film is titled “A Christmas…Present.” According to a synopsis from the network, Bure plays real estate agent Maggie Larson, “an overly scheduled real estate agent and Type-A mom who takes her family to spend Christmas with her widowed brother and his daughter.”

Though Maggie and her brother have different expectations for the holiday, Maggie learns to slow down and appreciate Christmas.

“A Christmas … Present is about slowing down enough to recognize what’s right in front of our eyes,” Bure said in a statement to People. “The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season will arrive before we know it but it’s through the quiet moments that we hear God speak to us, directing our path to what’s most important.”

Candace Cameron Bure production company

The movie is the first to be produced by Bure’s Candy Rock Entertainment. In April, the actress announced a partnership between Candy Rock and Great American Media to create content for its two networks, Great American Family and Great American Living.

“I am thrilled to be kicking off our partnership with a must-see film like A Christmas…Present, which will delight our fans this holiday season and is indicative of the memorable movies and family-friendly entertainment that Great American Media is looking forward to creating with Candace and the Candy Rock team,” said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Great American Media.

New partnership

Bure shocked fans when she announced she would be leaving Hallmark Media to work with Great American Family.

“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,” Bure said in a statement through the network.

The actress starred in more than 40 movies for Hallmark, including the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.

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A new Christmas movie is in the works at Great American Family. The network, which was started by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott, announced that production has begun Someday at Christmas, which is set to premiere in November.

“Christmas just got even better!!!” Jessica Lowndes wrote in an Instagram post promoting the movie. “To say I’m excited to act and sing with the legendary @msgladysknight is a MAJOR understatement!!! This project is an absolute dream come true. Can’t wait for everybody to see this one!!!”

New Christmas movie for Great American Family

Lowndes stars in the movie as Holly, a sales clerk with dreams of appearing on Broadway. When she meets musician and single father Jason (played by Greene), sparks fly. Her landlady Cora (played by Knight) brings the two together for a Christmas concert and they fall in love.

“As anticipation builds for year two of Great American Christmas, we are delighted to be working with the incomparable Gladys Knight who has inspired generations of fans by pushing musical boundaries with her numerous hit songs,” president and CEO of Great American Media Bill Abbott said in a statement to Variety. “With high caliber performances from Knight and the talented Jessica Lowndes and Paul Greene, ‘Someday at Christmas’ is a truly magical Christmas movie steeped in original music that audiences will want to see again and again.”

Someday at Christmas is one of many new movies being produced for the upcoming holiday by Great American Family. Shooting has already wrapped on another film, Catering Christmas, which will star Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing.

Daniel Lissing and Lori Loughlin on When Hope Calls. Great American Family is working on a new Christmas movie for 2022 called Someday at Christmas..
Loughlin and Daniel Lissing on the set of When Hope Calls Christmas. (Image: Instagram/@daniellissing)

The network released 12 Christmas movies last year and a special episode of When Hope Calls with appearances by Lissing and Lori Loughlin. Other films starred Hallmark favorites such as Cameron Mathison, Jen Lilley, Chad Michael Murray, and Trevor Donovan.

Paul Greene Christmas movies

Greene, who played Dr. Carson Shepherd on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart, just finished shooting a Christmas movie for CBS. In Fit For Christmas, he plays a businessman who plans to buy a recreation center in Mistletoe, Mont., and turn it into a resort. He ends up falling for a Christmas-obsessed fitness instructor (played by Amanda Kloots of The Talk), who is desperately trying to keep the center from closing.

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Candace Cameron Bure is moving to GAC Family

Candace Cameron Bure is moving to GAC Family. The Hallmark veteran will produce and star in content for the new network, which was started by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott in 2021.

“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,” Bure said in a statement through the network.

Bure joins other Hallmark favorites Danica McKellar and Jen Lilley, who have signed exclusive contracts to produce and star in content for the network, which began programing in September.

“Candace is adored by generations of fans as one of family entertainment’s most cherished and relatable stars,” said Abbott, president & CEO of GAC Media. “She has helped build this genre into the mainstream success it is today, and I look forward to working together at GAC Media as we further establish our brands as leaders in quality family programming. I am truly honored that she has chosen to be a part of and help curate her special brand of family entertainment here at Great American Channels.”


Abbott made headlines in June 2021 when he announced he had partnered with Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partners to purchase two networks in a deal Bloomberg estimated at $90 million.

Candace Cameron Bure as Aurora Teagarden.
(Image: Crown Media)

Hallmark vs. GAC

Hallmark has been signing deals left and right with its actors. Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott, and Holly Robinson Peete are among the stars who have agreed to work exclusively with Crown Media in the coming years.

But many of its actors have already started working with GAC Family. Trevor Donovan, Brendan Fehr, Jennie Garth, Maggie Lawson, Sarah Lind, Daniel Lissing, M Chad Michael Murray, Sam Page, Merritt Patterson, Becca Tobin, Jill Wagner, and Dewshane Williams have appeared in movies with the new network.

Aurora Teagarden

The former star of Full House has appeared in more than two dozen movies for Hallmark. Her latest, Aurora Teagarden: Haunted By Murder, premiered on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries in February.

In addition to starring new content for GAC Family, Bure’s Candy Rock Entertainment production company will oversee and curate programming from GAC and create year-round seasonal celebration content.

“I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose,” Bure said. “GAC fits my brand perfectly; we share a vision of creating compelling wholesome content for an audience who wants to watch programming for and with the whole family. Great, quality entertainment with a positive message is what my partnership with GAC is all about!”

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Brian Bird and Trevor Donovan are bringing back the after-school special. (Woot woot!)

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The co-creator of Hallmark’s longest-running original series and the star of several Hallmark films are teaming up to create a series of “edutainment” films, similar to the after-school specials that used to run on ABC.

Brian Bird and Trevor Donovan will produce the films through Bird’s production company, True Brand Entertainment. In a statement to Variety, Donovan said the movies would examine issues such as substance abuse, equality, bullying, and inclusion.

“These scripted narratives will be fun and humorous presentations of contemporary issues which inspire and uplift, just as they did in the original series,” Donovan said. “That model worked well back then, and after twenty years, the lessons and storytelling that entertained Gen-X should be enjoyed again.”

Brian Bird and Daniel Lissing on the set of When Hope Calls Christmas
Brian Bird and Daniel Lissing on the set of When Hope Calls Christmas. (Image: @brbird/Instagram)

Bird, who co-created When Calls the Heart, also weighed in, saying the films would be a great vehicle for discussion.

“At a time when our culture is so divided, our stories can be bridges of understanding, solve problems, offer healing and sometimes even save lives,” the producer notes. “We believe there is a welcome market for entertainment that can entertain, inspire and lift all people up.”

The Upstanders

Donovan leads an anti-bullying movement called the Upstanders. The program works with schools to help students learn how to spot bullying and stand up to bullies.

During a 2020 appearance at a Pennsylvania middle school, he talked about the abuse he received at the hands of his peers because of his introverted nature.

“You cannot escape it, and as a kid, you could feel as though you are surrounded, from the vicious messages sent directly to you to the disparaging content about someone’s reputation,” he said.

A California native, Donovan trained as a graphic artist before pursuing a career in Hollywood. He played Jeremy Horton on Days of Our Lives before taking the role of Teddy Montgomery on 90210. His character eventually came out as gay and eventually married his partner in a Vegas ceremony.

He has starred in many Hallmark movies, including Strawberry Summer (2012), Love, Fall & Order (2019), USS Christmas (2020), and Nantucket Noel (2021).

Working with Bird

Donovan met writer and producer Brian Bird through his work at Hallmark. Bird co-created the series When Calls the Heart, which is going into its ninth season at Hallmark. He also helped produce the show’s spinoff series, When Hope Calls. Though the spinoff ran for only one season on Hallmark, it has been picked up by new network GAC Family for a second season.

Bird and Donovan recently finished making the independent film The Engagement Plot in Colorado, and Donovan said he would be open to making an appearance on one of Bird’s shows.

Donovan is also close with Bill Abbott, who was the CEO of Crown Media Family Networks for 11 years before leaving in early 2020. He recently signed a deal to make four movies with GAC Family, which was started by Abbott in June 2021.

As for the “edutainment” films, they will follow the model used by ABC in its after-school specials, which ran from the 1970s through the 1990s. The short films addressed issues of concern and ran on weekday afternoons. Over the years, the series won 51 Daytime Emmy Awards.

No premiere date has been set for the first film.

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Danica McKellar in Christmas She Wrote (Image: Crown Media)

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Danica McKellar will put her dancing skills to use in new film for GAC Family

Actress Danica McKellar made headlines in October when she announced that she had signed an exclusive contract with GAC Family, a new network started by Crown Media Family Network’s former CEO Bill Abbott. As part of the deal, she will star in and executive produce four movies for the company. The first of these, The Winter Palace, premiered on January 8.

In an interview with The List, the Wonder Years alum says she is looking forward to using the moves she learned as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in one of her GAC movies.

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

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

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

Making the switch

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

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

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

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

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

A photo from Danica McKellar's Instagram
Image: Instagram/@danicamckellar

New network, new role

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

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

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