🎄🌟 Merry CHRISTmas, It's a Wonderful Movie Friends and Family 2024! 🌟🎄

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Oh, how wonderful it has been to share the joys and wonders of this Holy Christmas Season with all of you, dear It's a Wonderful Movie friends!

I'm so grateful for you all! I hope many of you have enjoyed the friendships you've made here and all the numerous movie reviews, too, whether it be of inspiring new Christmas movies, comedies, classics, or rom-coms throughout the year!

As Christmas Day draws near... may our hearts continue to prepare Him room and our homes radiate His love and light!

Thank you for welcoming It's a Wonderful Movie into your home this year, and I hope you plan to visit again in the new year 2025!

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🎄Special TV Programming🎄

for Christmas Week: 

Great American Family:

*A Royal Christmas Ballet - movie premiere - Sunday, December 22 (8 p.m. ET)

*Christmas on the Farm - Monday, December 23 (8 p.m. ET)

Details via Great American Family: Viewers are invited to join Jill Wagner and (her husband) David Lemanowicz as they celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: cutting and trimming the holiday tree, gathering for Christmas dinner, and a candlelight service at the restored chapel on the farm. Jill’s military heritage has given her lasting appreciation for being close to loved ones and lifting those in need especially during the holidays. As “Silent Night” is sung around the dinner table, a family is welcomed to the table who lost everything in Hurricane Helene. To the family’s surprise, the community of Tellico Plains, TN, has come together with gifts that will help Makayla, TaMarcus, and their two sons on the road to recovery. Makayla works at the VA Hospital in North Carolina and has spent her entire career caring for veterans and their families.

*Christmas Yule Log - begins Christmas Eve at 2pm/1c

*Christmas Movie Review Marathon - December 28th & 29th ALL DAY

*136th Rose Parade - New Years Day 11am/10c


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Hallmark Channel:


Tuesday, December 24th:

*A Season for Miracles (Hallmark Hall of Fame classic!) ... Hallmark Channel ... 8am


Wednesday, December 25th:

*One Christmas Eve (Hallmark Hall of Fame classic!) ... Hallmark Channel ... 4am
*Following Yonder Star ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm


Friday, December 27th:

*A Novel Noel ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm


Saturday, December 28th:

*Trading Up Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm


Sunday, December 29th:

*Following Yonder Star ... Hallmark Channel ... 8am
*This Time Each Year ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm


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Lifetime:

*Engaged by Christmas - movie premiere - Sunday, December 22 (8 p.m. ET)


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UPtv:

*North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery - Sunday, December 22 at 7pm/6c.
*Small Town Christmas - Sunday, December 22 at 9pm/6c. and 9:30pm/6:30c.


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TNT/TBS:

*A Christmas Story movie marathon - Christmas Day


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CBS:

Tuesday, December 24th:

*Christmas with Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special ... CBS ... 8pm
*The Price Is Right at Night "Holiday Heroes" ... CBS ... 9pm
*Nate Bargatze's Nashville Christmas ... CBS ... 10pm



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ABC:

Sunday, December 22, 2024:

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (cartoon) ... ABC ... 7pm
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause ... ABC ... 8pm
*NOTE: Tim Allen is hosting this special movie presentation.


Tuesday, December 24, 2024:

The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Home Alone ... ABC ... 8pm


Wednesday, December 25, 2024:

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade ... ABC ... 10am



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Plus, if you'd like to see the Christmas programming airing this week on Freeform and AMC - click here! 

White Christmas, which is celebrating its 70th Anniversary, will air on AMC very early at 2am/1c on Christmas Eve!

Sundance TV will also air White Christmas on Christmas Day at 12:30pm/11:30c., 5:30pm/4:30c., and 10:30pm/9:30c.

Classic Christmas movies airing this week on TCM include: Christmas in Connecticut, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Bells of St. Marys, A Christmas Carol, and more! See the full schedule here.


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NBC:

Monday, December 23rd

Christmas at Graceland ... NBC ... 8pm


Tuesday, December 24th:

It's a Wonderful Life ... NBC ... 8-11pm


Wednesday, December 25, 2024:

NBC Special: How the Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon ... NBC ... 8pm
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Live Action) ... NBC ... 8:30pm

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E! Network:

It's a Wonderful Life - All Day Marathon on Christmas Day!


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From my home to yours, I pray you all have a very Merry Christmas celebrating the true and first gift of Christmas... Jesus!

God's blessings to you all!

Merry Christmas, everyone,

Net

What Christmas is All About...

Linus' speech from A Charlie Brown Christmas:



The spotlight shines on Linus center stage as he shares the story of Jesus' birth straight from the scripture Luke 2:8-14...

"And there were in the same country

shepherds abiding in the fields,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of The Lord shone round about them,

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not, for behold,

I bring unto you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

in the City of David,

a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes

and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel,

a multitude of the heavenly host,

praising God, and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, good will toward men'.

🎬 Great American Family's January 2025 Movie Schedule and More

Love is even sweeter on Great American Family this January with three rom-com Cable TV movie premieres.

Plus, a few extra programming notes below for Great American Family this February and Great American Pure Flix...


January, 2025 Movies:

A Snapshot of Forever
(2021)

Premieres: Saturday, January 11 at 8pm/7c.

Starring: Natalie Dreyfuss and Anthony Konechny

Storyline: Wedding photographer Jessie Brooke's happy life in her small town is changed when a famous Hollywood actor attends her sister's wedding.

Movie Reviews:

📷 A Snapshot of Forever - I have seen this movie via streaming, and I recall it being a nice, lighthearted movie, cute, and family-friendly. ~Net

📷 A Snapshot of Forever (youtube) I watched this recently and I believe it was family friendly and a sweet story ~Anonymous


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A Priceless Love
(2021)

Premieres: Saturday, January 18 at 8pm/7c.

Starring: Erin Agostino and Luke Humphrey

Storyline: After realizing one of the “gently used” items in her secondhand store is actually an antique teapot worth $80K, Rose McGovern finds herself the sights of Joe Burnsides an ambitious antique broker. He’s determined to buy the teapot from Rose, but she refuses to sell until she can find the original owner.



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For the Love of Chocolate
(2021)

Premieres: Saturday, January 25 at 8pm/7c.

Starring: Rhiannon Fish and Jesse Hutch

Storyline: Preparing for the annual Masters of Chocolate Festival, Aria’s plans are rattled when she loses her partner shortly before the festival. However, the dashing single father Rhett steps in just in time to help Aria find the winning ingredient. In their search, Aria and Rhett discover that the missing ingredient for the perfect chocolate is not so different than what they’ve been missing in their lives: a dash of love!

Movie Reviews:

🍫 Reel One's For the Love of Chocolate is a fantastic movie!! -Maria

🍫 For the Love of Chocolate (youtube) I liked the storyline with the leads. It was sweet! But I didn't appreciate the sister's storyline. Her boyfriend wants her to move in with him and in the end he gives her keys to a house he bought for them. Too bad they had to add that part! The rest of the movie was great. ~Anonymous

🍫 For the Love of Chocolate - I streamed this movie through Roku - I believe last year. Like Anonymous said above, the sister storyline wasn't my favorite. She continually talks about whether or not she should move to the city to be with her boyfriend with no talk of marriage. I wouldn't be surprised if GAF edited this out. Also, I really like both Rhiannon Fish and Jesse Hutch, but I wasn't sure I felt a strong connection between them in this; however, both played very likable characters. The subject is chocolate, so of course, it's still a sweet movie! ~Net





Additional Programming...

Coming in January to Great American Pure Flix:

*Average Joe - Thursday, January 23rd


Coming in February to Great American Family:

*Great American Rescue Bowl
Airs Sunday, February 9th at 12pm/11c

*Karen Kingsbury’s Someone Like You
Premieres Saturday, February 22 at 8pm/7c.


I hope you found a movie above that you'd like to see!

If you've previously seen any of the movies above and would like to share a review, please do so in comments below.

Happy Movie-Watching!

Net

✨✨ It's The Last Weekend of NEW Christmas Movie Premieres... Just Before the Sugar-Plums Dance in Our Heads and Santa Appears!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

'Tis the last weekend before Christmas, dear friends!

How did the holiday season slip by so quickly this year? May we all cherish these last days leading to Christmas Day! I know many of you, like myself, are extra busy getting things done and preparing for this special time - shared with family, friends, and loved ones.

I've included below the last NEW Christmas movie drop that runs Thursday through Sunday. Hopefully, you'll find something you want to see!

This weekend, there's quite a variety of movie themes - with the Nutcracker ballet, country music, puppies, mystery, and more!

See all of the details below...


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Thursday, December 19, 2024:

Trading Up Christmas

Storyline: Michelle (Ricci) is the dreamer of her family, always brimming with imaginative ideas to make the world a better place. This Christmas, her sister Keri desperately needs a new home, and Michelle hatches a creative plan to help. Starting with just a Christmas stocking, she sets out to trade her way up to something far greater—a house for Keri. While Keri dismisses it as a far-fetched idea, local reporter Dan (Xavier) is intrigued. Assigned to cover Michelle's story, Dan follows her closely, and as her plan gains attention, he starts to see the world through her hopeful eyes. As Michelle and Dan grow closer, so do their feelings for each other. But when it seems her plan has failed and she fears ruined her relationship with Keri, Michelle is ready to give up. It's Dan’s love and belief in her that reignites hope just when she needs it most.

Trading Up Christmas

Premieres Thursday, December 19, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Hallmark Mystery

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Saturday, December 21, 2024:

A Country Music Christmas

Storyline: Songwriter Brooke has the decision of a lifetime to make when a charming executive makes promises of fortune and glory that require leaving her best friend and writing partner behind.

A Country Music Christmas

Premieres Saturday, December 21, 2024

at 7pm/c. on UPtv

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Saturday, December 21, 2024:

Christmas in Scotland

Storyline: A New York installation designer helps a small Scottish community create a dazzling light display to win “Best Christmas Village” festival. The designer is forced to work with a wealthy heir who doesn’t like Christmas, though feelings may change if the pair succeeds in creating joy for the community.

Christmas in Scotland

Premieres Saturday, December 21, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family

Movie Review:

🎄 Christmas in Scotland. Cute movie. I’ll give pretty much any movie based in Scotland a watch and I loved that this one was filmed locally and we could see authentic scenery and set locations instead of it being somewhere in Canada. The script and the premise are rather lacking and the movie had some typical “eye roll” moments but it also had its share of sweet and warm moments (the hot chocolate game was a cute and unique twist on a Christmas-movie staple) and I appreciated hearing some genuine UK accents instead of Americans faking it. The lead actor was kind of different than the usual leading man but I thought he felt pretty genuine in his role. The lead actress was okay but I didn’t really think she was a perfect fit for a warm fuzzy Christmas role (she has the look of Autumn Reeser but her mannerisms and tone of voice comes off as much less lighthearted than Autumn, in my opinion). I could better see her in a role that is more serious or serious with a side of quirky or light sarcasm; maybe in a mystery movie as the serious detective or the coroner along with a male lead who can provide the touch of lightness and humor and also just a hint of romance. And the two leads didn’t have the greatest of romantic chemistry, it was okay but could have been better with different casting. (Also, I was not crazy that she had a loser boyfriend throughout the movie so it felt weird for her to be falling for another guy, even though the boyfriend was an ocean away.) One cringeworthy element to the movie was the actor that played her father - he was way over-acting to the point of being ridiculous (I’ve seen him in other roles years ago and he wasn’t nearly as horrible as this one; I was actually wondering if he’s had a stroke or something that affected the way he acts?). I’m not a huge fan of Reel One movies, I feel they tend to be a bit low-budget and the sound is usually rather bad, but I’m happy to say this one was good and fun for a one-time watch, for me. Family friendly (except there is a weird, awkward scene at the beginning of the movie where the loser boyfriend briefly says he’s rented them a suite at The Plaza hotel so they could spend Christmas there, implying they’d be sharing the room???). ~~Jane


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Saturday, December 21, 2024:

Happy Howlidays

Storyline: Mia (Lowndes), a meticulous webpage editor for the Seattle Tourism Board, finds herself unexpectedly navigating the holidays alone. As the only one working, she's drawn into an unusual encounter when she encounters a stray dog. Unsure how to handle the situation, she crosses paths with Max (Winner of Finding Mr. Christmas), a dog shelter owner. Mia agrees to let Max's ailing dog find solace with her newfound companion, in exchange for Max showing her the hidden gems of Seattle. Through their journey together, they both step out of their comfort zones, discovering new perspectives and forming a meaningful connection.

Happy Howlidays

Premieres Saturday, December 21, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, December 22, 2024:

North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery

Storyline: Santa is back to help a new couple solve a mystery and find romance. Zoey has one Christmas wish...to produce the perfect Christmas Festival for her hometown of Willow Creek. That wish becomes more difficult when Dalton, the sponsor’s handsome but aggravating son, becomes her partner and his modern ideas clash with Zoey’s more traditional vision. However, when suspicious things start happening, they realize someone is trying to stop the festival. They must team up to save it and soon find that they have a lot more in common than they thought.

North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery

Premieres Sunday, December 22, 2024

at 7pm/6c. on UPtv

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Sunday, December 22, 2024:

Small Town Christmas

2 New Episodes!

Small Town Christmas (Oxford, Miss.)
premieres Sunday, December 22
on UPtv at 9 p.m. ET

Hosted and executive-produced by Inside Edition’s national correspondent and best-selling Author Megan Alexander, each episode takes viewers to a different small town around the country. This delightful southern town, located in the heart of Mississippi, comes to life during the holidays. We take viewers around their annual “Holly Jolly Holidays festival, introduce you to some spectacular gingerbread displays, a walk down the peppermint trail promoting small business, learn holiday cooking secrets from local legend Mama Jo, and more! We end the episode with the famous lighting of the square! This episode of Small Town Christmas will leave your heart full of Southern hospitality and Christmas cheer for days.

Small Town Christmas (Bryson City, N.C.)
premieres Sunday, December 22
on UPtv at 9:30 p.m. ET

Hosted and executive-produced by Inside Edition’s national correspondent and best-selling Author Megan Alexander, each episode takes viewers to a different small town around the country. We celebrate a town known for Christmas hayrides at a legendary local farm, taste a Santa Sangria, worship at the local nativity pageant, and try to spot the elves all over town. Plus, a meaningful military tribute to local veterans by Santa himself and a Christmas train ride through the mountains of North Carolina. Oh, and did we mention everyone wears Christmas PJs? This is a Small Town Christmas you won’t want to miss!


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Sunday, December 22, 2024:

A Royal Christmas Ballet

Storyline: A retired ballerina is pressed into service working with a visiting team of royal ambassadors to put on the season’s performance of “The Nutcracker” and finds herself center stage in an unexpected Christmas romance.

A Royal Christmas Ballet

Premieres Sunday, December 22, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family

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Sunday, December 22, 2024:

Engaged by Christmas

Storyline: When Zoe (Brittany Bristow) writes to advice columnist “Dear Adora” to help save her relationship before the holidays, she puts the advice into practice, and it's disastrous - her boyfriend breaks up with her! When she tracks down Dear Adora to confront her, she discovers it's actually a man named Adam (Marcus Rosner). Zoe vows to keep Adam’s identity a secret if he helps her to repair her life via a series of Christmas themed events publicized by his column. When the interest in their activities gains huge traction, will they also find love?

Engaged by Christmas

Premieres Sunday, December 22, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime

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That's a Wrap... on NEW Christmas Movies!

Hopefully, you found a NEW Christmas movie you will enjoy this weekend, or perhaps, a Classic Christmas movie that you want to catch one more time before Christmas Day! 

Besides the new movies, there are lots of other excellent Christmas movie choices this weekend, including: A Christmas Less Traveled, A Christmas Blessing, A Cinderella Christmas Ball, Once Upon a Christmas Wish, Get Him Back for Christmas, A Bluegrass Christmas, Dial S for Santa, Crown for Christmas, Sugarplummed, Following Yonder Star, Christmas at the Plaza, A Veteran's Christmas, Miss Christmas and many more!

Hallmark Channel's Extras This Weekend:

* "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story" will have an extended cut version airing Friday night, December 20th, at 8pm/7c.

* "A Reason for the Season," which initially premiered on Hallmark Mystery, will air on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 21st, at 6pm/5c. (I believe this is the first time this movie has aired on the Hallmark Channel.)

* "Three Wiser Men and a Boy" will have an extended cut version airing Sunday night, December 22nd, at 8pm/7c.




Unfortunately, the previous schedule that was released, which had the "When Hope Calls" Christmas episodes airing on Great American Family on Christmas Day, was an error. At this point, the "When Hope Calls" Christmas episodes, which first aired in 2022, will be available to stream through Great American Pure Flix beginning Christmas Day. The Christmas episodes can also be streamed currently via Prime Video for free, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime - click here.

On a totally different note from this family show, I want to caution that one of Lifetime's new Christmas movie premieres this weekend, A Carpenter Christmas Romance, will have sexual content that is not family-friendly. I will not be watching this movie, and I just wanted to be certain you all were aware.

Please note: I haven't pre-screened the new Christmas movies listed above; however, you can see Jane's insightful review above for "Christmas in Scotland." If you'd also like to post a review for this movie or any of the other new Christmas movies, please be sure to share in comments.

Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies.

You can find the 2024 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.

Happy Christmas Movie-Watching!

Merry Christmas, Dear Friends!

Net 🎄

SHINING HIS LIGHT:

The third week of Advent reflects on the joy that comes through the arrival of the Christ Child, Jesus!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. 

The Lord is near.”

Philippians 4:4-5

💕 When Calls the Heart Season 12 - Hallmark Channel 2025 - Press Images - Episode Details - Starring Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Viv Leacock, Natasha Burnett, Andrea Brooks, special guest star, Melissa Gilbert, and More!

TV Drama: When Calls the Heart - Season 12

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: January 5, 2025

Details via Hallmark: 

In Season 12 of When Calls the Heart, love flourishes for schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton and Mountie Nathan Grant as they embrace the joy of new romance. Reporter Rosemary Coulter and retired Mountie Bill Avery team up once again to investigate a train robbery, while Governor Lucas Bouchard and Mayor Lee Coulter quite literally find common ground. The community comes together to celebrate and support each other through a season of discovering passions, leaps of faith, and a whole lot of dancing.

Studio Images Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Sven Boeker


When Calls the Heart - Cast:

Erin Krakow ... Elizabeth Thornton
Pascale Hutton ... Rosemary Coulter
Jack Wagner ... Bill Avery
Kavan Smith ... Leland “Lee” Coulter
Chris McNally ... Lucas Bouchard
Kevin McGarry ... Nathan Grant
Loretta Walsh ... Florence Blakeley-Yost
Hrothgar Mathews ... Ned Yost
Andrea Brooks ... Faith Carter
Martin Cummins ... Henry Gowen
Johannah Newmarch ... Molly Sullivan
Ben Rosenbaum ... Mike Hickam
Viv Leacock ... Joseph Canfield
Natasha Burnett ... Minnie Canfield
Amanda Wong ... Mei Sou
Jaeda Lily Miller ... Allie Grant
Gracyn Shinyei ... Emily
Ava Grace Cooper ... Opal
Christian Michael Cooper ... Timmy Lawson
Jaiven Natt ... Robert Wolf
Vienna Leacock ... Angela Canfield
Elias Leacock ... Cooper Canfield
Hyland Goodrich ... Little Jack Thornton
Jacob Shoemay ...


"When Calls the Heart" Season 12 - Episode Details:

Episode 1 - The Mountie Way
Air Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025 (9 p.m. ET/PT)

Storyline: Elizabeth receives a sentimental surprise in time for Little Jack’s first day of school. Nathan trains a new Mountie cadet. Rosemary and Lee make a landmark decision.

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs


Episode 2 -
Air Date: Sunday, January 12, 2025 (9 p.m. ET/PT)

Storyline: When the comic book craze sweeps Hope Valley, Elizabeth teaches her students through nature. Rosemary launches a radio show, and Lucas meets a new political player.

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs


Please note: More images and episode details will be added as they are released from Hallmark Media.

There will likely be plenty of surprises and heartwarming moments in this new season.

For those of you who watch this series, I hope many of you will enjoy the 12th season of When Calls the Heart!

Blessings to you all,

Net