The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Winter 2016 Television Critics Association Press Tour Event was held Friday January 8th, at the Tournament of Roses House in Pasadena, California.
Who was in attendance at Hallmark's TCA Winterfest Event?
Well... ALL your favorite Hallmark Stars, of course!!!
 |
| Bill Abbott, President & CEO of Hallmark Crown Media Family Networks, and Hallmark Stars: Nancy Grace (producing new Mystery Series!), Brooke Shields, Michelle Vicary (Executive Vice President, Hallmark), Kellie Martin with Baby on the Way!, Bailee Madison, Lori Loughlin, and Danica McKellar! |
I just recently suggested (in a couple of places, including on the Hallmark Channel Facebook page) that they need to do something to bridge the long gap between the end of the Countdown to Valentine's Day and June Weddings. In terms of a catchy name for a movie event along the lines of Fall Harvest and Winterfest, there was nothing for that vast wasteland with under-the-radar movies that debut in Mar-Apr-May. I suggested the name Spring Fling, and I think I event mentioned it in a survey that Hallmark sent out last year. Attached a clever brand name to that series of movies will attract more viewers and advertisers over time.
ReplyDeleteAnd now here we have Spring Fling! Lol. They're only using it for April, as you said, but they are going with the name. So I am either psychic, or they used my idea! Lol.
That's a good idea, Sherry! I'm glad they are using it. :-D I know they had a few movies for Mother's Day (including one of my faves, Mom's Day Away) but more movies for the spring would def be welcome in our house!
DeleteIt is fun to see they are using Seasonal terms all throughout the year. The Hallmark Channel is really a Holiday channel - whatever Holiday it is, they seem to have a movie for it, except Easter... I would love to see them do something Easter themed!
DeleteAnyway, I love the Spring Fling idea!!!
Oh, wow, this is a great post today, Net! I loved seeing everybody all dressed up! Especially love Rachel Boston. Her dress is so pretty. Does this mean we should see her and Lacey Chabert, Ashley Williams, Danica McKellar, & Jewel in upcoming Hallmark movies?
ReplyDeleteI have no inside info, but when I saw that Nicollette Sheridan and Kellie Martin were there the other night, I predicted that they were there because they were going to be in upcoming projects. We later found out that's exactly what's happening.
DeleteSo I am going to go out on a limb and assume that Lacey is guaranteed to be in at least 2 things every year for Hallmark -- I am pretty sure they have her under some sort of contract. In fact, I would expect Lacey to work on one of the Jennifer Love Hewitt projects, as they know each other from "Party of Five" days.
Danica has only done 2 movies for Hallmark so far, but I am 100% positive we will see her in something else before the end of the year (probably more than one project).
Ditto Rachel Boston. I would expect at least one movie from her before this year ends, and possibly more than that.
I think that Ashley Williams made such an impression in her first Hallmark movie, "October Kiss," that it is almost guaranteed that they will use her again in at least one movie this year. She was so natural in that movie -- it really didn't even seem like she was acting. It seemed like she was just saying things she would say in her real life. Some of the dialogue even seemed like it might have been improvised, but I could be wrong. Hallmark would be foolish to not recognize this and use here again in something soon!
Jewel is the big question mark! I am very surprised to see her there. I don't think she was there just for the sake of hanging out. I am positive that everyone's appearance at that event was directly related to an upcoming project to which they are attached. So I guess we will soon find out.
I am also certain that Hallmark would have had Candace Cameron Bure, Alicia Witt and Katrina Law at the event just because of their ongoing connections to the channel, but they are all working on other things right now (Alicia and Candace are far way, in other states). Hopefully we will see them in something else this year. Maybe the next time Hallmark has one of these sorts of events (which, I think, will happen in late summer or early fall), they will all be there.
Correction to what I mentioned above -- Jewel's upcoming project for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has been revealed. But Net will post that info for everyone, I'm sure (it's in a press release), so I won't spoil it!
DeleteYou are so sweet, Sherry!
DeleteIn case anyone missed it -- I added in the movie news for Jewel above directly beneath her picture!
Everybody looks fabulous! Super excited for all this new series news. Kellie Martin looks especially beautiful expecting her second child.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is so wonderful to see Kellie Martin, looking so happy and healthy, as she's expecting her second child. Her first, is a daughter, Maggie, who is 8. She had that glow about her, and I know we will all look forward to hearing her baby news!!! By the way, Kellie and her daughter Maggie revealed on the Hallmark Channel, during an interview on Home & Family... the baby is a girl!!!
DeleteSounds like a great 2016 (and beyond?) for Hallmark Channel. Excited to read more about these amazing projects, and in the short term, enjoy all of the films coming to Hallmark this winter and spring. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I so agree, Rissi!!! Looks like a great possibility many of these movies/projects will continue for many Years to come!!! Especially since many movies having ongoing films in their series. Enjoy and Blessings to you in this New Year!!!
DeleteOh, my gosh, Net; so much fantastic news, I'm reeling!! I love all the pictures and everyone looks great! I'll be reading this post over and over again so I don't miss a thing. What a year ahead and I don't plan on missing any of the new movies or series. I'm happy!!
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean! It's a lot to take in all at once!!! Everyone looked fantastic and all the upcoming projects sound wonderful!!! Hallmark is the best for blessing us with all this great family friendly entertainment. I hope it continues for many seasons to come!!! :)
DeleteIt would be nice if Hallmark would add some more diverse movies especially since they tapped Mariah Carey to produce/director. She has a big urban following.
ReplyDeleteYeah, right?! Look through all those pics and there's NO diversity. NONE! Read through all of the Hallmark actors/actresses names listed, and there's no diversity. NONE! It just makes absolutely no sense. As much as I wish this would change, I honestly don't see Hallmark improving in this area.
DeleteGive it a chance. This was an event to advertise many of the upcoming projects, but it doesn't mean that everything has been announce or finalized and that all of the cast members have been selected for Mariah's projects. If you notice, Mariah herself wasn't even at the event.
DeleteWe don't know when Mariah is going to start shooting the 3 movies -- if she will shoot all 3 of them back-to-back, or if she will shoot them at 3 different times of the year. We don't even know if she is choosing the movies she's directing and the cast she is directing, or if Hallmark is asking her to direct certain movies that are already planned.
My feeling all along has been that Hallmark wanted to partner up with Mariah for the sake of not only attracting her "urban following," as Anonymous stated above, but also with plans to probably feature actors of color in her movies. They started out by having her handle 2 actors that are Hallmark staples, but I think that out of the next 3 movies she directs there will probably be some diversity.
That TCA16 event that happened last Friday is also not a snapshot of every single project that is going to happen this year. It's a glimpse into it - especially into what is happening over the next several months. But, chances are, there will likely be another event like that, or some sort of Hallmark party, in the late summer or early fall, which focuses on all of the programming that's coming up in those last several months of the year -- like Fall Harvest and the Countdown to Christmas, and anything else that comes up between now and then. Between those 2 events and the Christmas movies on the Movies & Mysteries Channel, there should be at least 25 new movies (probably more than that), so there are plenty of cast members yet to be revealed. I'm sure that most of them haven't even been cast yet. Some of these productions happen very quickly in Hallmark's world, from the casting to post-production tasks, so a lot of it isn't even put together until later in the year.
One of the 3 new movies that Mariah is going to direct for Hallmark will be a new Christmas movie -- which means that she could start working on it next month, or she could start shooting it in November. If she is not going to start shooting anything for a while, then I highly doubt the actors for each one of the movies she is doing have been chosen. I have a feeling that if they had been chosen, some of the actors would have been at the event.
Honestly, demographics is probably a more complex issue than any of us would like to admit.
DeleteHistorically, Hall of Fame has had some stories of "diversity" (Little John, The Piano Lesson, The Lost Child, Have a LIttle Faith, to name a few); Hallmark Channel/ Movies Channel has dabbled in a few (Relative Stranger, The Watsons Go to Birmingham). However, there are two issues right off the bat that I can think of.
First - ratings. I watched all of these movies, but I don't know if other people did. Plus, I presume Hallmark Channel knows who their current "actively watching" demographic is. If U.S. families of diversity don't watch, then it would be difficult for Hallmark to justify the investment. (Yes, sometimes, this is the chicken or the egg dilemma.)
Second - a lot of their productions, I'm assuming based on cost-savings, are based in Canada and also use a TON of Canadian actors (and I would assume directors and writers). Just the facts of life there.
Plus, I wonder how practical it would be for Hallmark to be in competition with UP which does cater about half of their movies around the year to diverse casts (examples include Saving Westbrook High, Apple Mortgage Cake, Life of a King, and Comeback Dad.)
Other channels feature romances that are focused on African-American demographics. The only drawback there is that these are not typically family-friendly romances.
Hallmark channels demographics are a variety of people not just white suburban families. And Hallmark greenlights more family movies than the other channels so its not an issue of direct competition. Its an issue of them not caring about diversity.
DeleteWow! Thanks for the update. Loved all the photos. Always look forward to your postings. You do a wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteCami
Thank you, Cami! That was very sweet of you to say that... I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :)
DeleteWow! There are some really exciting "reveals" here! These two channels will pretty much make up my whole viewing schedule!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!! :)
DeleteThe Jewel and Kellie Martin movies makes me very intrigued and excited. More mysteries, more the merrier. I'm assuming that they will be airing on HMM?
ReplyDeleteI would assume so, too! Sounds like that would be the perfect fit for them!
DeleteThanks for the update on Signed Sealed Delivered. Super thrilled to hear they are continuing this amazing movies series. Can't wait to see what happens next in the DLO!
ReplyDeleteI was super excited, Joyful, actually... to see the news, as well and share it with all of you!!! It is such a blessing the Hallmark network continues to give us viewers this truly heartfelt, faith inspired, amazing series!!! I can't wait to see what happens next in the DLO, either. Interesting the storyline seems to pick up for these budding couples just after Valentine's Day!!!
DeleteIs The Good Witch Series with Coming Back.
ReplyDeleteYes, Season 2 will return on April 17, 2016 with Catherine Bell, James Denton, and Bailee Madison.
DeleteWith the second season of “Good Witch” premiering in April, does this mean that “When Calls the Heart” is going to have a short episode count like last season? While we’re on the subject of television shows, I wanted to ask you two questions about the TCA announcements. Is “Darrow & Darrow” going to be a television series or a movie series? Also, with a release date in July and having similarities to “Cedar Cove”, is the series “Chesapeake Shores” going to become a television show and be a possible replacement for “Cedar Cove?”
DeleteWhere was Candace Cameron Bure? Was she there?
ReplyDeleteNo, Hallmark's TCA event in California conflicted with Candace's schedule as she was in New York for ABC's TCA event. (She's one of the co-hosts on the daytime talk show, The View)
DeleteAll the networks and some cable networks, as well, have this type of event. Hallmark typically has two every year in January and July!
Are you planning a favorite 2015 holiday film poll soon? Just curious what others liked, or didn't like.
ReplyDeleteYes! A poll will be coming in a few weeks or so... I know I'm personally still catching up watching Christmas movies from the holiday season and I've been receiving feedback from others doing the same. I'm giving everyone January to catch up! Hopefully, then we'll all be ready- I'm excited to see everyone's favorites, too!!!
DeleteI'm super late in realizing this but how cool is it that Kimberly and Ashley are sisters! I grew up watching and loving Father of the Bride since I was a kid (I think I wore the tape out lol) and now I enjoy watching Ashley since first seeing her in Montana Sky. So cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the updates! This is one of my favorite emails to let me know what's coming on Hallmark & HM&M.
ReplyDeleteYour hard work is greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Looking forward to 2016 movies. Cami
Net, I saw this about a movie coming on Hallmark in early 2017 http://www.wlky.com/article/hallmark-movie-filming-in-hart-county/8298416
ReplyDeleteMisty
I saw that one, too, Misty!
DeleteI added this new movie "Uncommon Grace" to my New TV Movie List.
You are so sweet to share!!! I love that they are filming in Kentucky again! (J.L. Family Ranch was also filmed there!)
Merry Christmas to you, Misty! I appreciate your continued support of this site - you are such a wonderful movie friend!!!
Blessings!!! Net :)
The Kentucky movie should be done filming now. (I was first told about it a couple of weeks ago.) IF it is actually a movie that ends up on a Hallmark channel (you know how that goes -- even after something has been declared to be Hallmark it might not be!), it is one that's going to end up on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel, I am pretty sure, based on the plot of the movie.
DeleteThese are the 8 movies that are known about thus far, which are coming up for Winterfest and/or the Countdown to Valentine's Day on the main Hallmark Channel:
1. A Worthwhile Life (Amy Smart; Adrien Grenier; Jonathan Bennett) -- already filmed in Utah
2. Love Locks (Rebecca Romijn; Jerry O'Connell) -- going to film in Montreal; this one sounds like it is going to kick off the Countdown to Valentine's Day, as it is debuting at the end of January
3. A Winter Prince (Merritt Patterson; Jack Donnelly) -- already filmed in Romania
4. Love On Ice (Andrew Walker; Gail O'Grady; Kate Drummond) -- already filmed in Toronto
5. Birthday Wish (Jessy Schram; Luke Macfarlane; Marcus Rosner) - filming in Vancouver
6. Walking the Dog (Jennifer Finnigan; Peter Benson; Lini Evans) -- filming in Vancouver
7. Pinch of Love -- Cast Unknown -- filming in Vancouver
8. Second Time Around -- Cast Unkown -- Filming in Vancouver
I found Jonathan Bennett, Jessy Schram, Peter Benson, Jennifer Finnigan, Lini Evans, Andrew Walker, Gail O'Grady, Kate Drummond, Merritt Patterson and Jack Donnelly -- all before those names were posted anywhere publicly (like before anyone's name appeared on the What's Filming site, for example). Marcus Rosner was someone I had been keeping an eye on, but his Birthday Wish confirmation didn't come in until yesterday.
I have absolutely no clue about who is in the Kentucky movie, as I didn't find out about it until it was a few days from wrapping up production. At that point I wasn't going to put any time into it, as there were too many Winterfest and Countdown to Valentine's Day movies to follow.
I found the lead actress for either Second Time Around OR Pinch of Love... BUT, since I have no clue which movie she is in just yet, I will refrain from mentioning her name to avoid confusion.
Mariah Carey is not involved in ANY of the above-referenced movies. So, if her Countdown to Valentine's Day movie is still going to happen -- and that's a big IF at this point -- it will probably film somewhere other than Canada... and probably in December or even January.
Jewel's Fixer Upper Mysteries' first installment airs in January, and was already filmed with stars Colin Ferguson and, the busiest man in movies, Marcus Rosner.
I posted earlier with the list of upcoming movies for Winterfest and Countdown to Valentine's Day 2017, complete with the known actors in the movies.
DeleteAdd David Lewis to the cast of "Birthday Wish." (He's great!)
And add Sam Page to the cast of "Walking the Dog" (he must be Jennifer Finnigan's leading man).
I found Sam and David myself.
Now, earlier I also mentioned that I found the leading lady in either Pinch of Love OR Second Time around. Someone else helped me and found her leading man!
So, we have a leading lady and her leading man for either Pinch of Love or Second Time Around, and are just waiting to connect them to the correct movie! I tend to think it might be Pinch of Love, but we'll see....
Wow, Sherry!!! That's Amazing!!! There are lots of exciting movies ahead for Hallmark! It's incredible what one can discover on social media, and other sources!!!
DeleteI'm delighted to see so many familiar names... especially Jessy Schram, who we all loved in "Harvest Moon." I sure hope they snatch her up now for a 2017 Countdown to Christmas movie!!! She would be great!
Thank you for sharing all of this exciting new movie news, Sherry!!! I'm so grateful!!! I had heard of some, but definitely not all, and it's fun to see what's around the corner!!!
Lots to look forward to in 2017!!!
Blessings to you, Sherry!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Net :)
Net --
DeleteIt is really amazing how many movies are being cranked out in rapid succession, isn't it? There is hardly much of a break between productions, and now Hallmark has taken to doubling up -- filming 2 (or sometimes even 3) movies simultaneously, in the same general location (like Vancouver). But... they are also branching out and filming in other places beyond just Canada and Utah, so there could be productions that we don't even know about until after the fact (like the Kentucky shoot -- which was not discovered until it was almost over).
All of the productions right now make sense, as we already know that Winterfest and Valentine movies are coming up -- at least 8 of them combined, but maybe even 9 (we'll see if there is a last minute Mariah Carey production!).
However, if 2017 is anything like 2016 was, then the new movies on the main Hallmark Channel should slow down considerably by mid-February and all through March. At that point the new season of WCTH should be in full swing anyway, but the ONLY new movie that aired on the main channel in March 2016 was Part 2 of "The Bridge." New "themed" movies did not resume until April. If there is going to be another lull in the new movies in March 2017, then there might be a lull in the film shoots in January. After January, though, the rest of the year should be pretty active with film shoots for Christmas and all of the other themed events.
Ioana A. discovered that actress Julie Berman (General Hospital fans will know her) is in "Love On Ice" as well. Julie is actually in a group photo that Lori M. found, and I looked right at her and didn't recognize her until Ioana pointed her out. Lol. But I do remember her from GH.
Anyway, now we are thinking that Julie might be Andrew Walker's love interest in "Love On Ice." That was what was missing from all previous discoveries about the movie -- a leading lady. I knew that Gail O'Grady wouldn't be paired up with Andrew, and I wasn't sure about Kate Drummond. Julie Berman probably makes the most sense.
I'm happy to see Jessy Schram in another Hallmark movie as well! She was adorable in "Harvest Moon." I had wondered why Hallmark hadn't snapped her up to appear in a Christmas movie in either 2015 or 2016. I suppose they could have offered it and maybe she turned it down or she wasn't available. But it seems like everyone that Hallmark takes a shine to ends up in a Christmas/holiday movie at some point!
I wonder when Autumn Reeser and Jesse Hutch are going to return to Hallmark movies?
Net --
DeleteI discovered that Michelle Morgan (star of "Rooftop Christmas Tree") and Billy Baldwin are starring in "Second Time Around."
So... that means that I can reveal that I *think* (well, I'm pretty sure) that actress Jen Lilley (of Lifetime's "Spirit of Christmas") could be the star of "Pinch of Love"!!!!
Ioana found what looks to be a likely leading man for Jen -- *probably* Brendan Penny. ;) ;) ;)
Of course, none of this is confirmed nor has it been announced... but it looks very likely. ;) ;)
Are there any new Hallmark movies for March 2017?
ReplyDeleteLeprechaun, Celtic Swan Princess, Irish