I actually double-checked to make sure this was truly this years press release, since at least two of these Lifetime "network" premiere movies have already previously aired elsewhere. If this is all Lifetime is "giving us" this Christmas Season, then I must say it's as shocking as one of their typical original movies. See all the details below the picture...
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| image via: Heaven Sent Facebook Page |
LIFETIME'S PRESS RELEASE:
Tune In for Some Holiday Cheer
with Lifetime's Christmas Movies
Melissa Sagemiller, Brad Rowe, Tom Arnold, Christian Kane, Marley Shelton, Mallory James Mahoney, Ernie Hudson, Ryan McPartlin, Marla Sokoloff, Chris Carmack and George Wendt are among the featured
with Lifetime's Christmas Movies
Melissa Sagemiller, Brad Rowe, Tom Arnold, Christian Kane, Marley Shelton, Mallory James Mahoney, Ernie Hudson, Ryan McPartlin, Marla Sokoloff, Chris Carmack and George Wendt are among the featured
TUNE IN FOR SOME HOLIDAY CHEER WITH LIFETIME'S CHRISTMAS MOVIES
All I Want for Christmas
Premieres Saturday, November 28 at 8pm ET/PT
When no-nonsense executive Elizabeth receives feedback from her boss that she must learn to listen to others, she's at a loss on just what to do. Elizabeth encounters one of Santa's helpers who gives her magic pin, allowing to hear everyone's thoughts. With her new-found power, she attempts to be a better person, turning an office rivalry into romance while learning the true meaning of Christmas.
Stars Melissa Sagemiller, Brad Rowe, Tom Arnold
Heaven Sent
World Premiere Saturday, December 3 at 8pm ET/PT
As Christmas approaches, the end is near for Billy and Marie's marriage until an eight-year-old runaway angel from heaven takes it upon herself to rekindle the love they once shared.
Stars Christian Kane, Marley Shelton, Mallory James Mahoney, Ernie Hudson, Ryan McPartlin Produced and directed by Michael Landon Jr.
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| 'Heaven Sent' - directed by Michael Landon Jr. |
A Christmas Wedding Date
Premieres Saturday, December 10 at 8pm ET/PT
After being fired from her high-powered job, Rebecca heads back home to see her mom and attend her friend's wedding on Christmas Eve. Initially convinced that the trip is a terrible mistake, Rebecca soon learns that you can go home again.
Stars Marla Sokoloff, Chris Carmack, George Wendt
-------- End of Press Release --------
My Thoughts...
Well, that's it! Unless they squeeze another "premiere" in before Christmas, which is possible, but probably not likely. I'm fairly stunned this is this years offering from Lifetime, especially after last years was one of their best ever, in my opinion! I can't imagine what the programming department was thinking. Have they just thrown in the towel and given it to Hallmark?
Last year's Lifetime original movie 'A Gift Wrapped Christmas' won as the "It's A Wonderful Movie - Best Christmas Movie for 2015! The film stars Meredith Hagner and Travis Milne. Meredith, by the way, is now starring in a Hallmark Christmas Movie this year, 'My Christmas Love'! Notably, amongst Lifetime's other premieres from last year, were 'The Flight Before Christmas' with Mayim Bialik and Ryan McPartlin, 'Last Chance Christmas' with Hilarie Burton and Gabriel Hogan, and 'Becoming Santa' with Laura Bell Bundy and Jesse Hutch!
Since we hadn't heard any inklings of Christmas movies coming to Lifetime this year, I had begun to wonder. I was hoping I would be wrong... was hoping Lifetime would also offer us, at least six new Christmas movie premieres, but instead it seems we will only get one, 'Heaven Sent,' which technically was released in theaters last year.
I must say, I am disappointed in this news. We love your Christmas movies, too, over the years, Lifetime! Like 'On the 2nd Day of Christmas,' 'Christmas in the City,' 'Santa Con,' or ' The Family Holiday!' Please come back next year! Christmas is the season for giving! Please "give" your viewers a reason to watch at Christmastime!
I would love to know what you all think, too. Please share in comments below...
Lifetime's bread and butter is not Christmas movies like Hallmark and they got their big ratings from their biopics so not surprised to see them have fewer movies.
ReplyDeleteNice to see Heaven Sent found a home. I was wondering what channel it would be on since I discovered it.
Gina
Being somewhat of a faith based film, I was pretty surprised that 'Heaven Sent' found it's "home" on Lifetime! I'm hoping it will be a nice movie. Thank you Gina for originally discovering it and sharing it with all of us!!!
DeleteI couldn't remember exactly how many movies Lifetime did last year so I just checked your Christmas movie page, Net. (For anyone who doesn't know where that is, it's http://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2009/09/christmas-new-tv-movies.html)
ReplyDeleteI'm listing them here as a reminder.
Lifetime -
Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow
A Gift Wrapped Christmas
The Christmas Gift
The Flight Before Christmas
Last Chance Christmas
Becoming Santa
Wish Upon a Christmas
The Spirit of Christmas
What happened? They had eight new premieres last year, one being a Thanksgiving special. I'm still scratching my head. I don't get it, except they must have succumbed to Hallmark's ratings defeat at Christmas. Too bad. Lifetime's Christmas movies could often be as good or better than Hallmark. I'm disappointed, too.
"What happened?" That's a great question, Luv Movies! I wish I knew. We can only guess they've decided to move away, perhaps, from creating any of their own family type movies. I'm sure, as you mentioned, ratings is another big factor.
DeleteSo are they not showing any of there older christmas movies at all?? I love the road to christmas and will be fricking devastated if I don't get to watch it :(
DeleteLifetime is starting to play some of their older movies this weekend starting this Sunday - November 20th!
DeleteLifetime, please come back to the Christmas movies, most of your movies have been great!
DeleteI'm super disappointed that Lifetime ceded to Christmas season to Hallmark, because I think their films tended to be better than Hallmark's overall; at least since Hallmark expanded to 20+ films/season.
ReplyDeleteAnd even if they're totally going another way, it makes ZERO sense that they'd recycle old, already-aired ION movies. Just bizarre.
Hallmark/Lifetime have ALWAYS been synonymous with made-for-TV Christmas movie watching -- many people confuse the two channels at Christmas -- so now I'm curious if they're gonna devote any time to replaying past favorites. Because if they abandon that as well, I'm gonna be REALLY depressed.
I wouldn't say they ceded to Hallmark as Hallmark is the only one who does Christmas movies and ION is the one who usually airs Christmas movies like the ones you'd find on Lifetime. Lifetime sister Channel Freeform was known for their 25 days of Christmas however in recent years they haven't had good new movies or many Christmas theme ones.
DeleteLifetime isn't related to Freeform, formerly ABC Family, and still part of the Disney-ABC conglomerate, in any way. Lifetime's actual "sister" channels are A&E, Discovery, et al, all of which have the same corporate ownership.
DeleteLifetime has historically produced 4-8 original Christmas movies per year, and heavily advertised and promoted their Falalalala Lifetime or It's a Wonderful Lifetime seasons. For most people, Hallmark and Lifetime are where the made-for-TV cable Christmas movie tradition began. Just look at social media where most Christmas movies, on any channel, are called "Hallmark Christmas movies" or "Lifetime Christmas movies."
I'm not sure about how UP commissions/acquires their films, but ION exclusively purchases content from independent producers, primarily Mar Vista Entertainment, and, to my knowledge, do not commission any films themselves. I believe UP is the same, for the most part, though I'm not 100% sure.
I meant to say "History Channel" above, in reference to which channels Lifetime shares ownership/"sister" status with, not Discovery. Apologies for any confusion.
DeleteOh, don't be down SKP! I'm here to cheer you up and remind you - that we have plenty of Christmas movies across several networks to look forward to, and who knows, there may be more surprises!!!
DeleteIt is disappointing, but thank goodness we still have so many others to watch, in it's place! On the brighter side, our DVRs will have more room, too! :)
SKP UP sometimes does their own original movies in addition to commissioning from Marvista and Swirl Films like the other channels. ION exclusively just distributes though
DeleteMany of Lifetime's movies have also been Marvista who Hallmark also partners with.
DeleteI'll take what I can get and I'm so happy Heaven Sent is going to be shown! Yay! I'm so relieved it's not on Dec. 10th as there are two movies I want to see coming on that date already.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Yes, 'Heaven Sent' looks very sweet! I'm happy we'll get to see it, too, Misty. That little girl is adorable! And, I'm also curious since it was produced by Michael Landon Jr.!
DeleteNet -- Someone alerted me to the press release yesterday, and I was baffled when I saw it. It almost seemed like it wasn't complete!
ReplyDeleteI remembered exactly which new Christmas movies they premiered last year, as well as the Jim Henson Thanksgiving movie. That's why I was shocked that the line-up of "new" Christmas movies is so flimsy this year.
Then again, I've said in the past that Lifetime is inconsistent with their holiday line-ups. Some years (like 2013) will be really good for new Lifetime Christmas movies (maybe 6-7 new ones in the bunch). Then they will have a year with only a few new ones, and none of them are very good.
Last year was a strong year for Lifetime's holiday season in that they not only had a good number of new movies, BUT a couple of those movies were very well-received by viewers, such as "A Gift Wrapped Christmas" and "The Spirit of Christmas." (I actually liked "The Flight Before Christmas" quite a bit too.)
So, it's strange to go from a strong line-up of holiday movies to a weak line-up -- because I don't think it's going to consistently be this way in future years. I would not be shocked if Lifetime puts out 7 or 8 movies for the holiday season of 2017.
"All I Want for Christmas" and "A Christmas Wedding Date" were just on UP the other day, but I think they have also aired on ION in past years.
You're calling it a strong lineup but what we're the ratings? Because ratings are what matters. Hallmark doesn't show do many movies simply for liking Christmas it's all about how much revenue they bring in. If Christmas was a big money maker for Lifetime they would have more movies.
DeleteI thought it looked incomplete, too, Sherry - when I first glanced at it. In fact, I refreshed my page a couple times thinking surely more would load, but NO, that was it! I could hardly believe my eyes!
DeleteI'm still quite surprised, and yet, when we had all heard essentially nothing in regards to new movies for Lifetime, I think we knew.
You are also so right, Sherry... I, too, wouldn't be surprised if they came back with 6 or 7 next year! I hope so! And, like you - I really liked 'A Flight for Christmas' last year. Even though it has many similarities to 'A Christmas Detour,' it is still refreshing and unique! Great dialogue and chemistry!
And, Anonymous, you are so right... When you get down to it - it's all about business, ratings, and MONEY! So sadly true! I can't imagine, though, that Lifetime is doing so bad, they couldn't have produced a couple new Christmas movies.
And, if Dolly Parton's Christmas movie is another big hit for NBC, I wouldn't be surprised if local networks do more next year. Everyone is vying for attention. It's all about promotion, and what they have to offer. Why have a network, if you are not at least trying to pull viewers in with your programming? Expect for 'Heaven Sent' and past favorites, Lifetime certainly won't be doing it with what they are offering this year.
Net -- Yes, indeed. You're absolutely right -- the odd delay in the announcement of the Lifetime Christmas line-up this year was a big clue that something had gone awry. Hopefully, in 2017 Lifetime will be back with a good selection of Christmas movies.
DeleteThey should still be showing all of their past favorites. Last year I tried to catch "His and Her Christmas" and it was only shown once or twice early on. I never got to see it, so I hope they run it again this year.
I don't think Lifetime is doing bad. I think their Christmas movies didn't do as well as their other movies.
DeleteSo bummed! I saw someone on Twitter mentioned they were sad at the end of "Falalala Lifetime" and I had a foreboding feeling that they may pass this year. Coupled with the fact that they hadn't even announced their movies, it seemed so weird. I looked forward to Falalala Lifetime each year!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Flight Before Christmas, Last Chance Christmas and the premise of The Christmas Gift last year. Was hoping they would continue but they seem to be showing only Ion movies. I already have both of theses on my DVR from this past weekend.
Hopefully they show some old faves though.
Yes! It is a such a bummer, Rae! I totally agree! I'm still hoping they share past Christmas movie favorites, too!
DeleteWill lifetime replay past christmas movies or just do regular programming in addition to those few christmas movies?
ReplyDeleteHoping so! :)
DeleteI must have lost track. Is Marcus Rosner's Firehouse Christmas movie premiering on one of the other channels? I thought it was Lifetime but obviously not.
ReplyDeleteOn Ion
DeleteOriginally, it was announced that 'A Firehouse Christmas' would be airing on Lifetime this year, but when ION's Christmas Press Release came out, there it was - listed on ION's new movie list!
DeleteThis makes me sad because my two favorite TV Christmas movies ever are Lifetime movies! Spirit of Christmas and Love Under the Christmas Table--I actually have that last one on DVD!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm hoping we will see even more Lifetime movies released on DVD! :)
DeleteEspecially 'A Gift Wrapped Christmas!'
I appreciated Lifetimes Christmas movies because they weren't as sickenly sweet at a lot of Hallmarks and they had some great original stories. I'm definitely disappointed too.
ReplyDeleteUp outside of a Puppy for Christmas which looks like typical Hallmark fare and ION have strong line ups this year
DeleteSo true, Lifetime's Christmas movies are mostly family friendly, but edgier... And, then there are a few, that are not family friendly, at all. It was a mix. With families getting together and there being mixed groups, I'm thinking Hallmark probably won out, because it is more dependable on being family friendly.
DeleteThere was nothing edgy about Lifetime Christmas movies. They were less fluffy than Hallmark's but standard rom com
DeleteNet's right. Not all Lifetime Christmas movies are edgy, but some are. Like The 12 Men of Christmas, The March Sisters at Christmastime and All About Christmas Eve, and I'm sure there are others.
DeleteNone of those movies were edgy they were all standard rom com. They weren't as fluffy like Hallmarks movies but nothing completely different from the usual rom com and Christmas movie plots. So This is Christmas is what you would call an edgy Christmas movie. It had themes of faith but also showed violence, teen angst, blended families, etc.
DeleteI loved a gift wrapped xmas. and honestly I don't even really enjoy lifetime anymore. not like i used to. It has changed imo. I only watch a movie here and there and then their holiday movies.
ReplyDeleteand yes those other 2 movies i've seen them both on other networks.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they couldn't afford to make movies this year? Or they couldn't find friends never no for them?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, "The Spirit of Christmas" was one of the best offered last year. I never understood why Lifetime guarded their holiday movies like secret recipes - they never gave out the plots/titles early like the other channels. To see that they're only offering three movies is pretty disappointing.
ReplyDeleteSpirit of Christmas is now available on Netflix. If anyone knows where I can see the Lifetime movie, The Real St. Nick, I'd love to hear about it.
DeleteLifetime is also owned by Disney(Google it) making it a sister network of Freeform
ReplyDeleteNo, Lifetime is not, "owned by Disney" ... It was created as a partnership between Hearst and the Walt Disney Corp but is not a part of what they consider their television portfolio. You will not see the synergy that you see between Disney, ESPN, Freeform, et. al or between Fox, Fox Sports, FX, nor NBC and their Universal properties, or Viacom's many cable channels. Those are the corporate network conglomerates that would qualify as "sister" channels.
DeleteLifetime is part of the A&E family of networks. Feel free to Google and confirm for yourself.
Walt Disney company still part owns Lifetime so yes it is apart of their family just like Espn. Disney half owns A&E Networks. It's listed in their media portfolio.
DeleteYes, they retain an ownership stake, but they have zero to do with programming and there is no synergy or shared content, unlike with their WHOLLY-OWNED media platforms: ABC, ESPN, Freeform, the Disney Channel, Etc. In fact, because of their only partial stake and competing channels, Disney is precluded from doing much of anything with the A&E networks, which is considered an investment, NOT part of the Disney brand.
DeleteI am personally disapppointed in Lifetime. I used to watch them alot, some nice movies, however,the past year or so there has been too much eerie stuff for my taste.
ReplyDeleteHeaven Sent was only shown at a couple of Film Festivals.. and one of my fellow Kaniacs -- fans of Christian Kane was lucky enough to see it and found it very touching and heart warming. I'm really looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteLifetime became Bahumbug lifetime instead of
ReplyDeleteFalalala lifetime this year. Especially after how great the movies they did last year was. I really loved Becoming Santa and I thought the flight before Christmas was better than Hallmark' s similar movie Christmas detour. One movie and that movie seems like something I would watch on Insp. or UP not on Lifetime.
I'm so excite that Heaven Sent is finally coming on, I am a Kaniac or huge fan of #Christian Kane as well and I know Kaniacs will be watching!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for Heaven Sent! Love Christian Kane, and he is so proud of this movie. Something a little different for him.
ReplyDeleteIt was mentioned above that the firehouse Christmas movie was planned for lifetime initially , do you recall the others that had been thought or planned for Christmas? What Christmas movies posted about previously seem to not be airing on tv?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't planned for Lifetime because it wasn't a Lifetime original. More that the producers were in talks with Lifetime and hopeful it would go there.
DeleteJennifer - there were a few Christmas movie titles mentioned, that were, in the end, not made by Hallmark. I have them listed still on my Beyond page, if that helps.
DeleteBlessings & Merry Christmas to You!!! Net
Lifetime made my favorite Christmas movie "Borrowed Hearts" it's an oldie but a really good one.
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning this. I just checked it out and I love it! It's really really beautiful and well done. The story is just wonderful and such a perfect Christmas movie with a lot of heart and a little touch of magic. Sadly, not very many movies are like this these days.
DeleteOh, Borrowed Hearts is definitely a treasure! It actually first appeared on CBS - on November 30, 1997. Lifetime eventually obtained it and played it on their network at Christmastime. ABC Family also aired it on their network for a few years during the 25 days of Christmas. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it this year in any listings.
DeleteWell, according to the Lifetime schedule (see: http://www.mylifetime.com/schedule/ltv) they will begin showing Christmas movies all day, starting Nov. 20, so at least they will be airing some old favorites, if not any new ones. I would presume this would continue, at least on weekends, through Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLooking for a Christmas movie of. A few years ago don't remember the name but the guy in it was a FBI agent who takes a mobsters girlfriend home for Christmas. To keep her safe until she testified. I think her first name was Jamie
ReplyDeleteI know that movie! That one is "Undercover Christmas" with Jamie Gertz! Super cute movie, but there is also drama in the home of the FBI agent (Jake) who hasn't been home for years, due to an intense conflict with his father. Lifetime has been known to play it in the past, but I'm still keeping my eye out for it this year!!!
DeleteI have this sneaking suspicion lifetimes general values in terms of programming is changing, and perhaps Christmas or anything potentially faith-related may be a casualty. They are veering more and more towards high drama, housewives and teen-mom style shows, and perhaps don't want that softer, more feel-good side. It's a total loss, I actually was watching lifetime before I was watching hallmark. Guess they're giving up
ReplyDeleteAlthough, it's nice to see past favorites on Lifetime, it certainly looks that way, Stephanie.
DeleteI have not seen it, yet, but from what I hear "Heaven Sent" is a faith based movie - so who knows???
Thank you for commenting!
Blessings & Merry Christmas!!! Net
Net -- I saw Heaven Sent. It's only faith-based or faith-related in that it is about an angel (that's not spoiling anything) who is helping an estranged couple. As you know, there are many, many Christmas movies about angels, but they don't all necessarily take a heavy-handed approach about faith, religion or God in general. Heaven Sent is one that does not dwell on faith too much -- just on more angel-specific things, if that makes sense.
DeleteAside from the angel in the movie, it felt more like a "Lifetime angel movie" and less like a "Hallmark angel movie," in overall tone.
I think that if the Joey Lawrence "Wish for Christmas" movie had aired anywhere and not gone straight to DVD, it would have seemed more out of place on Lifetime because the plot of that movie is a bit more about faith, and a teen wishing away her parents' faith when they make her miss an event to go to church.
Lifetime has always been high drama and has been showing housewives and reality shows for years. Theres no teen mom shows on there. It's nothing new or different with their programming.
DeleteI subscribed to Feeln to see the Christmas movies but the app doesn't work very well and has left me high and dry often. Very disappointed. I guess I bet on the wrong horse. :(
ReplyDelete