Some interesting movie news has been circulating recently, and some schedule changes, too, so I thought today would be a good time to highlight some of these updates and important programming developments.
Great American Family - UPDATE:
SCHEDULE CHANGES:
πInstead of movies airing on Saturday, March 11th, Great American Family will have a marathon of Murder She Wrote episodes instead.
πStarting Monday, March 13th, Great American Family will not be airing their usual nightly films, Monday through Friday. Instead, GAF will air a block of Full House episodes from 6pm to 10pm (EST.)
πThis weeknight schedule change (beginning March 13th) appears to also remove the typical Friday night airing of Christmas movies.
My guess is... these schedule changes were simply made during this March Madness season since a majority of viewers will be watching basketball. Hopefully, movies will return again in April! Stay tuned!
Hallmark - UPDATE:
πMYSTERY 101:
Kristoffer Polaha was asked in a recent interview with Just Jared if there are more Mystery 101 movies coming? His response may leave you with half agony, half hope. Kristoffer first described the intensity of the cliffhanger in movie #7, Deadly History. Then, according to Just Jared, he shared, “We love telling those stories and whatever the network decides…it’s inconclusive,” Kristoffer added. At this time, it appears another Mystery 101 is NOT in the works, but Kristoffer left fans with a light at the end of the tunnel, explaining that while other mysteries had been officially canceled, Mystery 101 has not. So, we can still, at least, keep the hope.
πCHRISTMAS 2023:
When Hallmark's EVP Lisa Hamilton Daly spoke recently to Decider she shared these thoughts regarding Hallmark's Christmas movies, which I thought sounded rather interesting...
"This coming Christmas, we’re continuing to refine that (Christmas movie) mix, and how it even plays out through the three nights of the weekend. We’re thinking about what’s great for Friday nights, what really works for Saturday nights, and what works for Sunday nights, and we’re thinking about how that cadence works because they do feel like different nights: like Friday night’s the traditional comfort watch; Saturday night might be our big tentpole night; and Sunday might be that thing we’re trying that’s a little different. That’s what we think that the weekends feel like, but we’re still in the very early stages of thinking about how it’s gonna work out."
πFUTURE vs. OLD MYSTERIES:
In the same article with Decider, Hallmark's EVP Lisa Hamilton Daly also addresses the Hallmark mysteries...
"And then on our other channel, which is Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, we are leaning back more into the mysteries, which people really liked. We’re trying to bring back the fan favorites but also freshen them up...
Hmmm? Lisa's statement about "bringing back the fan favorites" sounds hopeful! Could that mean we might see more Signed, Sealed, Delivered, or Mystery 101, after all? We already know a new Hannah Swensen Mystery and Aurora Teagarden Mystery are coming; see details here. Hopefully, Lisa's comment is good news for all of us devoted sleuthers.
πThe Return of HALLMARK HALL OF FAME?:
Lisa Hamilton Daly also mentions in the Decider article the possibility of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies returning with this comment, "I literally had a conversation today about an A-list actress who might want to come do a Hall of Fame [movie] with us."
The Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are, of course, older than the Hallmark Channel, going back to 1951 with their first presentation, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.”
Hallmark Hall of Fame has had many wonderful productions throughout the years, including: Front of the Class, The Magic of Ordinary Days, The Lost Valentine, Ellen Foster, Beyond the Blackboard, The Secret Garden, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Pictures of Hollis Woods, Fallen Angel, A Season for Miracles, Christmas with Holly, and many more.
πMORE CHRISTMAS:
Some of us noticed last Friday night that Hallmark added in another Christmas movie to their lineup on the Hallmark Channel. And, according to the current schedule, they continue adding an extra Christmas movie every Friday night at 6pm, before their usual time at 8pm (EST.) It's always a joy to see a little extra Christmas, and I know many of us were missing the fact that Hallmark Movies & Mysteries took the Christmas movies away on Thursday nights. Wonder if they might air some of the HMM Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel? That would be nice. Keep an eye on the Christmas Schedule - here!
Well, friends, I hope you enjoyed some of the news in this movie update. Please share your thoughts in comments below.
"Instead of movies airing on Saturday, March 11th, Great American Family will have a marathon of Murder She Wrote episodes instead."
ReplyDeleteThey keep doing this! I tried to record "Lights, Camera, Romance" Tuesday but ran out of room on my DVR, so I set it to try again on the last scheduled airing on Saturday. This isn't the first time they've pre-empted a scheduled movie for a marathon of something I've already seen. I guess I'm going to have to write to them.
Re. Kristoffer Polaha on Mystery 101:
ReplyDeleteWith Chris Pine apparently exiting the "Wonder Woman" movie series, when Kristoffer Polaha appeared in the most recent one as "Handsome Man," I wondered if he was in the running for Wonder Woman's love interest in the next one.
Chris Pine did not exit Wonder Woman. DC canceled the movie and any future movies.
DeleteRe. The Return of HALLMARK HALL OF FAME?
ReplyDeleteI'm old enough to remember having seen “Amahl and the Night Visitors” as a child (but too young to appreciate it.) Through the years when Hallmark Hall of Fame aired on TV's broadcast channels, they always seemed exceptional, outstanding beyond most other TV fare. Once Hallmark brought them in under the Hallmark Channel, they no longer seemed special, not much different from Hallmark Channel's many other movies, some of which I liked even better than some of the Hall of Fame presentations. (One thing I like best about the Hall of Fame presentations are the all-Hallmark holiday card ads that air during the commercial breaks.)
Yeah, Kris has been giving the same answer forever. Obviously it’s the only answer he has, but I’ll believe it when I see it… on the other hand I don’t trust Hallmark with the whole bring back the favorites, but freshen them up. We like them just the way the are. “Freshen them up” says add their new agenda to them in my opinion and if they’re going to do that I don’t want more SSD or Mystery 101. As for Aurora Teagarden, I feel like this is a slight to CCB and using a different actress won’t make us Aurora Teagarden. CCB is Aurora.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that Mystery 101 will have the same thing happen. In all of the social media post for mystery 101 Hallmark shows Kris in the picture never Jill. I think the show is either done or Jill role will be recast. Also in a number of Hallmark groups people claim that Kris said a script is written but makes no mention of it here.
DeleteYeah but Jill told me specifically on Instagram that she never left Hallmark. Yes she's doing movies for GAC but she never officially left Hallmark they just haven't given her any roles. And Cameron Mathison is back for Hannan Swensen when he's done a couple movies for GAC so Jill can always come back.
DeleteI forgot that March Madness is happening I hope that is the reason. It makes no sense to start a book club that will be movie based but show no movies.
ReplyDeleteSo, this means there could yet be new Rom.Coms on Sat 18th and 25th March? - Florence
ReplyDeleteIt's insane how Hallmark keeps moving forward, and GAC is just do nothing
ReplyDeleteGuess I'll just be watching UP TV for the rest of the month.
ReplyDeleteYeah uh, with my distrust with Hallmark being at an all time high, I DO NOT trust them to make a clean new Hall of Fame movie if that is their plan! (who wants to bet that they desperately want to make one involving an 'extraordinary' gay couple?!), and their mysteries? I'm perfectly okay never watching them again if it means never having another end abruptly with no ending again!!
I hate doing this to Hallmark, given that for so many years, it was such a nice comfort zone like place for me. But with each new move they make that seems nothing but insulting or just plain wrong, it makes me feel that trying to watch a new movie that they air, feel like the wrong thing to do. And with what they keep turning into, I really do question if it's even worth continuing to support them by trying to find the clean movies in an evergrowing sea of inappropriatness, especially when even the clean looking movies are now including mature topics. -Maria
I am so disappointed that GAFamily is removing their movie schedule. Oh, well maybe I'll get caught up with some of my recorded movies before they expire.
ReplyDeleteWill Hallmark Movies and Mysteries air Christmas movies during Miracles of Christmas in October or will Miracles of Christmas permanently come to an end?
ReplyDeleteNo Miracles Of Christmas will not come to an end. At least not anytime soon. The higher ups said they still have a lot of ideas for more sentimental movies for that programming.
DeleteThanks for all the intel.
ReplyDeleteBummer about Hallmark Hall of Fame movies for 3 years ago since 2019
ReplyDeleteThey haven’t do 2 or 3 movies - They’ haven’t filming Hallmark Hall of Fame in 2020-2022 - they’ve filmed in 2019 for. 2020
Next Stop Christmas could be Hallmark Hall of Fame
It will be incredibly bad form if Hallmark never resolves the Mystery 101 cliffhanger with the script that's already written. Just do it, people. :-)
ReplyDeleteMultiple of the Hall of Fame movies in Net's list are all-time favorites of mine. Even though it's hard to think that the Hallmark of today could put together another timeless winner, I'll be curious to watch if they try!
~Alicia
List of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies
ReplyDeleteN/A - 2022
N/A - 2021
N/A - 2020
A Christmas Love Story - 2019
Love Takes Flight - 2019
Christmas Everlasting - 2018
The Beach House - 2018
The Christmas Train - 2017
Love Locks - 2017
A Heavenly Christmas - 2016
Just in Time for Christmas - 2015
Away & Back - 2015
One Christmas Eve - 2014
In My Dreams - 2014
Christmas in Conway - 2013
Remember Sunday - 2013
The Makeover - 2013
Christmas with Holly - 2012
Firelight - 2012
A Smile as Big as the Moon - 2012
Have a Little Faith - 2011
Beyond the Blackboard- 2011
The Lost Valentine - 2011
November Christmas- 2010
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story - 2010
Front of the Class - 2010