#TCA17 NEWS: HALLMARK CHANNEL's ‘COUNTDOWN TO VALENTINE’S DAY’

Hallmark Press Release...

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

HALLMARK CHANNEL CELEBRATES ALL THINGS ROMANCE DURING BIGGEST ‘COUNTDOWN TO VALENTINE’S DAY’ PROGRAMMING EVENT EVER FEATURING NEW, ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERES IN 18 DAYS BEGINNING SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

Stars Include Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O’Connell, Adrian Grenier, Amy Smart, William Baldwin, Peri Gilpin

STUDIO CITY, CA – January 14, 2017 – Cupid’s arrow takes aim at a cadre of stars during Hallmark Channel’s annual, popular programming event, ‘COUNTDOWN TO VALENTINE’S DAY.’ Bursting with more love than ever before, the network offers seven new, original movie premieres over 18 days. The road to romance begins Saturday, January 28, with the premiere of “Love Locks,” a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, starring real-life husband and wife, Rebecca Romjin (“The Librarians”) and Jerry O’Connell (“Mistresses”). As part of this year’s celebration of love, viewers will be treated to five consecutive nights of original movie premieres from Saturday, February 11 – Tuesday, February 14. Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”), Amy Smart (“Justified”), William Baldwin (“Gossip Girl”) and Peri Gilpin (“Frasier”) are just some of the other talent bringing to life tales of romance that are sure to please hopeless romantics everywhere. “Hallmark Channel is proud to be the #1 destination on television for celebrating the holidays, seasons and special moments in life,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Network Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. “‘Countdown to Valentine’s Day’ is one of the network’s marquee programming events so it’s only fitting that this year we bring our viewers even more heartfelt stories of love featuring some of our biggest stars yet.”

‘LOVE LOCKS’ – Saturday, January 28 (9 p.m. ET/PT) – HALLMARK HALL OF FAME Stars: Rebecca Romjin, Jerry O’Connell Lindsey Wilson (Romjin) first found love in the romantic city of Paris when she was a university student studying art there. Now, twenty years later, she is returning to the City of Light to take her daughter on an adventure there. With a little inspiration from the city's famed “love locks” on its scenic bridges, the adventure proves to be a journey of romance and rediscovery for the divorced Lindsey when she reconnects with her college flame (O’Connell) in Paris and finds that her first love just might be the lasting love of her life after all.

‘WALKING THE DOG’ – Saturday, February 4 (9 p.m. ET/PT) Stars: Jennifer Finnigan (“Tyrant”), Sam Page (“House of Cards”)
Kristie Simmons (Finnigan) is the local attorney representing her township in what should be a simple case of improving public transportation. The county has hired good-looking, hot shot attorney Keith Ames (Page) from Chicago, and suddenly Kristie has met her match. Things go from bad to worse when Kristie’s new dog Simon and Keith’s dog Minnie fall in love with each other and keep running away to rendezvous, constantly bringing together the defense and prosecution in this case. Kristie is leading what she thinks is a perfect life, but she’s missing everything that really matters. Could it be that her nemesis in this case is everything she’s looking for? Keith might also just find what has been eluding him – a reason to put down roots – if these two can learn to work together and take a lesson from puppies in love.

‘A DASH OF LOVE’ – Saturday, February 11 (9 p.m. ET/PT) Stars: Jen Lilley (“Days of Our Lives”), Brendan Penny (“Motive,” “Chesapeake Shores”), Peri Gilpin (“Frasier”)
When the diner where she cooks closes down, Nikki Turner (Lilley) accepts a job as assistant to famed chef and restauranteur Holly Hanson (Gilpin). Thrilled to be working for one of her idols, Nikki is delighted when Holly invites her to use the restaurant’s kitchen after-hours to hone her skills. But when Nikki and handsome head chef Paul Dellucci (Penny) are both suddenly fired and discover that Holly has been spying on Nikki with plans to use her amazing new recipes to return the restaurant to its former glory, Paul develops a Valentine’s Day plan for the couple to beat Holly at her own game.

‘VALENTINE’S AGAIN’ – Sunday, February 12 (9 p.m. ET/PT) Stars: Nicky Whelan (“Days of Our Lives”), Greg Vaughan (“Days of Our Lives”), Marina Sirtis (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”)
Katherine (Whelan), a successful, workaholic advertising executive, endures the worst Valentine’s Day date of her life, which she believes confirms she will never find the right guy, let alone true love. She storms out of the restaurant, and on her walk home, takes pity on a homeless gypsy (Sirtis), giving her money. As Katherine walks away, we see the gypsy weave a magical spell. Katherine returns to her apartment and falls asleep, and when she awakens and goes to work, she realizes it is Valentine’s morning again -- she’s reliving the same day. She encounters the gypsy who tells Katherine that true love has been right under her nose, but she’s been blind to it because of her all-consuming focus on her career. She tells Katherine that for her own good she cast a spell that will force her to repeat the day until she finds this guy and wins his heart. Katherine relives the day over and over attempting to “get it right” on many Valentine’s dates until she finds the right guy.

‘WHILE YOU WERE DATING’ – Monday, February 13 (9 p.m. ET/PT) Stars: William Baldwin (“Backdraft”), Stefanie von Pfetten (“Cracked”)
After hitting it off on a photography website, Nick (Baldwin) and Julia (von Pfetten) decide to meet. After discovering that the other is the former spouse they haven’t seen since divorcing 16 years prior, they laugh off the coincidence and catch up over dinner. Each tries setting the other up with friends and colleagues, but it never seems to work out. Before long, the flame that attracted them in the first place is rekindled, though neither will admit it. After helping Julia’s struggling bakery make a turnaround, Nick realizes she is the one for him. But given their past, and the return of Julia’s former beau, it’s going to take a big leap of faith for these former college sweethearts to rediscover love the second time around.

‘LOVE AT FIRST GLANCE’ – Tuesday, February 14, (9 p.m. ET/PT) Stars: Amy Smart (“Justified”), Adrian Grenier (“Entourage”), Kelly Thiebaud (“General Hospital”)
Mary Landers (Smart) is a young woman whose hope for an engagement is suddenly dashed when her fiancé tells her he is looking for someone more adventurous. On her train ride home she trades glances with James Fielding (Grenier), a handsome stranger who appears to be the larger-than-life adventurer she is not. As throngs of commuters exit the train, the only trace left of the mystery man is the phone he accidentally left behind. Mary endeavors to return it to him and finds herself on an unexpected journey during which she slowly reinvents herself. In the process she realizes that she may not be so different from the intriguing man who crossed her path after all.

ABOUT HALLMARK CHANNEL Hallmark Channel is Crown Media Family Networks’ flagship 24-hour cable television network, distributed nationwide in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to 89 million homes. As the country’s leading destination for quality family entertainment, Hallmark Channel delivers on the 100-year legacy of the Hallmark brand. In addition to its signature new, original movies, the network features an ambitious lineup of other new, original content, including scripted primetime series, such as “Good Witch,” “When Calls the Heart” and “Chesapeake Shores”; annual specials including “Kitten Bowl” and “Hero Dog Awards”; and a daily, two-hour lifestyle show, “Home & Family.” Additionally, Hallmark Channel is the exclusive home to world premiere presentations of the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise. Dedicated to helping viewers celebrate life’s special moments, Hallmark Channel also offers annual holiday programming franchises, including “Countdown to Christmas,” “Countdown to Valentine’s Day,” “Summer Nights,” “Fall Harvest” and “Winterfest.” Rounding out the network’s diverse slate are some of television’s most beloved comedies and series, including “The Golden Girls,” “The Middle,” “Last Man Standing” and “Frasier.”
Hallmark Cards, Inc. owns and operates Crown Media Family Networks.