As the Hallmark network celebrates its 25th birthday, it’s planning a lot of the same. A lot.
The channel started on April 5, 2001, as the unlikely merger of three H’s — Henson (Jim, the Muppet man), Halmi (Robert, a movie/mini-series guy) and Hallmark, the greeting-card folk.
The others soon departed, but Hallmark kept growing. It has Christmas movies — roughly a zillion of them, one of which is shown here — and more, sometimes with tie-ins.
It’s again linking with pro-football (the Bears, this year) and with the Biltmore estate. It has also set a movie linking with Disney … which may make historical sense: Long ago, we’re told, Hallmark cards were one of the first spots to license Mickey Mouse.
Hallmark also has its streaming service, called (of course) Hallmark+. We’ll start there.
— “Change of Heart” is a new series coming to Hallmark+ next year. A jaded divorce attorney has heart-transplant and a new approach. Now he’s fighting for love in all its forms.
— Two Halloween movies. “A Knight to Remember” (Oct. 3) has a museum-restorer fix up a suit-of-armor; then she accidentally brings it back to life. “The Spirit of Halloween” (Oct. 10) is a fresh take on “A Christmas Carol”; it stars Meghan Ory, who starred in Hallmark’s “Chesapeake Shores” series.
— Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams will star in a movie, as travelers desperate to get home for Christmas. They might end up with a romance; Hallmark has been working on broadening its scope.
— That one doesn’t have a title yet, but three othe Christmas films have, at least, tentative ones. “Mistletoe and Mimosas” has a restaurant consultant competing with her competitor (Kristoffer Polaha). “Single at the Wedding” has Italia Ricci as someone no longer interested in romance … and Jonathan Bennet as someone who’s passionately interested.
— And “Holidaty Touchdown: A Bears Love Story” stars Lyndsy Fonseca (who was the daughter in all those pre-filmed “How I Met Your Mother” scenes), Robert Buckley and four-time Oscar-nominee Marsha Mason.
It will have brief scenes with Connie Payton (the widow of Bears’ great Walter Payton), Bears coach Ben Johnson, current players Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet and past players Mike Singletary, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Dan Hampton.
It will include bits from Tamera Mowry-Housley and Marilu Henner … plus the mascot Staley Da Bear. And, of course, Hallmark will have a Chicago Bear Santa ornament for Christas
Choreographer Katie and skater Jessica are performing in San Senova, when Katie bumps into Alexander unaware hes Royalty. Labeled The Grinch King, Alexander doesnt have much Christmas spirit but hes a good father to Christina, so when she wants a Founders Day pageant, he summons Katie and Jessica for help. Its then he discovers who Katie is, and she learns hes the King. As sparks between them ignite, Katie and Alexander become close, and Katie helps Christina get over her fears. But Katie has her own fears to face, like skating for an injured Jessica and falling for a King. Photo: Andrew Cooper, Merritt Patterson Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Cos Aelenei
Hallmark at 25: more … and then some more
As the Hallmark network celebrates its 25th birthday, it’s planning a lot of the same. A lot.
The channel started on April 5, 2001, as the unlikely merger of three H’s — Henson (Jim, the Muppet man), Halmi (Robert, a movie/mini-series guy) and Hallmark, the greeting-card folk.
The others soon departed, but Hallmark kept growing. It has Christmas movies — roughly a zillion of them, one of which is shown here — and more, sometimes with tie-ins.
It’s again linking with pro-football (the Bears, this year) and with the Biltmore estate. It has also set a movie linking with Disney … which may make historical sense: Long ago, we’re told, Hallmark cards were one of the first spots to license Mickey Mouse.
Hallmark also has its streaming service, called (of course) Hallmark+. We’ll start there. Read more…