Hallmark Channel's HIGH December 2009 TV Ratings!!

Congratulations, HALLMARK CHANNEL!!!

I was so excited to read this Press Release (below)  from the Hallmark Channel. It states that their Christmas Programming in December, 2009... was very Highly Rated! I am so glad to hear this... because our family loved watching their many hours of Christmas Movies - it seems our TV was always on their Channel! Thank you, Hallmark!!!


PRESS RELEASE:

HALLMARK CHANNEL'S POPULAR HOLIDAY SCHEDULE DRIVES NETWORK TO HIGHEST-RATED MONTH IN ITS HISTORY

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 December Success is Highlighted by Network's Highest-Rated Week Ever And Three Consecutive #1 Rated Original Movies


 2009 Marks Fourth Straight Year Hallmark Channel Ranks Among Top 10 Cable Networks in Prime Time


Hallmark Channel, the leader in holiday programming with more than 450 hours of holiday-themed programs, delivered its highest-rated month in network history with a 1.5 HH Prime Time rating in December 2009, earning a #5 ranking among all ad-supported cable networks. The network also averaged a .9 HH Total Day rating for the month, ranking #6 among all ad-supported cable networks.


Hallmark Channel ranked #9 in Prime Time (1.0 HH rating) for the full year 2009, marking the fourth straight year ranking in the Top 10 in Prime Time. Among the network's key demographic of W25-54, the network was Top 10 for the third consecutive year in Total Day (#10).



Highlights of Hallmark Channel's record-setting December included:



-Hallmark Channel ranked #1 in the Saturday 8-10 PM time period among Households (2.9 rating) and W25-54 (1.4 rating) from Nov. 28 - Dec. 19, with three consecutive Hallmark Channel Original Movies ranking as the #1 ad-supported cable movie of the week: "Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle" on Dec. 5, "Christmas in Canaan" on Dec. 12, and "The Three Gifts" on Dec. 19.

 -Hallmark Channel achieved the highest weekly ranking in its history with the help of "Christmas in Canaan." The movie's strong performance helped the network to achieve a #3 ranking for the week of 12/7-12/13, with a 1.8 HH rating in Prime Time.



-Hallmark Channel's holiday movie marathons (Monday-Friday, 12 noon to 12 midnight) more than doubled the time period average among W25-54 (+116%).






Source: Nielsen Media Research, 12/29/08-12/27/09
Released by The Hallmark Channel - January 5, 2010

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 It is so good to hear that the Hallmark Channel's Christmas Movies did so well in December, 2009... hopefully this will encourage them to play just as much this year during Christmastime... and maybe other channels will be encouraged to play more Christmas Movies, as well... since Hallmark's ratings were so high!

I loved the Hallmark Christmas Movies from 12 Noon - 12 AM... however, I liked it best on weekends when they showed a 12 AM Movie, too! Hope they can do that on weeknights this year, too... that was so great for late night Christmas wrapping, projects, etc!!!

Again, Congratulations HALLMARK CHANNEL, for your Successful December TV Ratings in 2009!

We Love Your Christmas and Family Movies!!!

The Christmas Hope

MOVIE REVIEW

The Christmas Hope

Network: Lifetime Movie Network

Premiere Date: December 13, 2009

CAST:

Ian Ziering ... Nathan Andrews
Madeleine Stowe ... Patricia Addison
James Remar ... Mark Addison
Tori Barban ... Emily Adams
Jayne Eastwood ... Charlotte
Devon Weigel ... Traci Adams
Aaron Hughes ... Larry Adams
Alicia Johnston ... Mona
Omar Khan ... Cop
Rebecca Gibson ... Megan Andrews
Phillip Jarrett ... Roy
Daniel Boiteau ... Justin
Sean O'Brian ... Joe
Garth Merkeley ... Sean Addison

PLOT:

Based on the third book in the best-selling Christmas trilogy by Donna VanLiere, The Christmas Hope follows Patti and Mark Addison, a couple in a troubled marriage. When Patti, a social worker, brings home a foster child who has no place to go on Christmas, she and Mark set aside their differences to give the young girl a special holiday.

The first two movies adapted from the trilogy - Christmas Shoes and Christmas Blessing, were acquired by Lifetime Movie Network and have quickly become holiday favorites.



Movie Review:

First of all, I was so glad that the Executive Producer of The Christmas Hope, e-mailed to inform me that Lifetime Movie Network has changed their Schedule and moved the Premiere of The Christmas Hope. I was glad to update the Christmas Schedule with the correct premiere time.

Now, for my thoughts on this movie. The Christmas Hope is a the third movie in the trilogy- following Christmas Shoes and Christmas Blessing. These movies all have such intense moments and touching scenes of sadness, loss, and redemption. It was so sad to see such tragedy in the life of this little girl. Christmas is an emotional time of year and it's easy sometimes to forget it's not all Jingle Bells for alot of people. For those who have lost someone or know someone with an illness, it can be a very difficult season.

Watching the characters in this movie cope with their loss and grief, perhaps may bring some Christmas Hope to others, as well... who are dealing with the same situation.

For some, this movie might be too sad. It doesn't depict a happy fantasy world - just the plain honest reality of life and death. The little girl's mother dies tragically when she is hit by a car... and due to it being Christmas, the social worker, Patti, (Madeline Stowe) ends up taking her home. She and her husband, Mark, had lost a child many years ago. Because of that, they have become distant, but somehow having this child with them now - makes them realize and overcome some of their grief and open up their hearts once again to one another and this little girl.

It is a movie with deep and touching sadness, however it may be therapeutic for some. Perhaps, it will give you some Christmas Hope.



See or Skip:

See, if you enjoyed the Christmas Shoes and Christmas Blessing. Not for young viewers. A true tearjerker.

ABC Family Countdown to Christmas

Just a quick update today, to let you know...

ABC Family's "Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas" Programming has been added to the Christmas TV Schedule.

The Christmas programming begins officially on November 10th!

YEAH !!!!!

God bless us, Everyone!!!!!!!!

Christmas DVD Releases - October 6, 2009

Check out these Christmas Movies / Specials released on DVD today:
















Click Here to see more Christmas Movies / Specials on DVD!

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Christmas in Canaan

MOVIE REVIEW

Christmas in Canaan:

starring Country Singer
and Hannah Montana Star-
Billy Ray Cyrus


Network: Hallmark Channel


Original Air Date: December 12, 2009

CAST:

Billy Ray Cyrus ... Daniel Burton
Ben Cotton ... Buddy
Emily Tennant ... Sarah
Tom McBeath ... Earl
Jessica McLeod ... Young Sarah
Rukiya Bernard ... Charlane
Jacob Blair ... DJ
Jaishon Fisher ... Young Rodney
Tom Heaton ... Wylie
Zak Ludwig ... Young DJ
Matt Ward ... Rodney
Stefanie Samuels ... Angela
Julian Christopher ... Shoup
Brendan Meyer ... Bobby
Darien Provost ... Young Bobby
Candus Churchill ... Eunice
Nico McEown ... Jimmy Ray
Stacee Copeland ... Nurse
Lossen Chambers ... Celie
Paul Herbert ... Clancey
Arien Boey ... 4 Yr Old Bobby

PLOT:

from Hallmark Channel-

Holiday Themed Movie for Hallmark during Christmas-time.

In the rural town of Canaan, Texas, a clash between two classmates – one, a tough farm boy, and the other, a bright bookish black boy – evolves into an unlikely friendship. The boys’ families devise a plan to teach them a lesson after they fight, but it is a wounded puppy that eventually brings them together. It is amidst the magic of Christmas that the boys learn about family, hope and love despite living under the shadow of racism.



Movie Review:

Christmas in Canaan opens with this narration: the Bible says Canaan is the promised land, and the joke in this Texas town is that the bank has the promissory notes to prove it.

Based in the 1960s, this story is about the lives of two families - one white and the other black. Through Christian love, we see the two families come together, even though the world would tear them apart.

This movie stands strong on Bible principles. Prayers spoken throughout are said in the name of Jesus. There are strong messages about loving God and loving your neighbor.

This movie is a great history lesson for children - because it shows the struggle of the black people during that era. Although, please note, there is some violence in this movie... a dog is shot and wounded- however, two young boys - one white, D.J., one black, Rodney- work together to save him. Earlier, these same boys had an argument on the school bus. D.J.'s father Daniel Burton, (Billy Ray Cyrus) didn't want his son to grow up to be a bigot, so he worked out a deal with Rodney's grandmother, Eunice, for the boys to live in each others home for a week. This created their bond.

When Eunice passed away, Rodney was a teenager, and Daniel immediately asked Rodney to come and live with their family, in spite of his father-n-law protesting.

Election time rolls around. Rodney is torn between his devotion and love for the Burton family and the Civil Rights Movement.

African American Voters gather together at a tent meeting. Town bigots, Carl and his son, firebomb the tent and take off in their truck. On their way out, they hit Daniel's youngest son, Bobby. He had rode there on his bicycle to warn his friend Rodney and the others. Bobby is taken to the hospital, his leg is injured, but he recovers.

This drama is intense, heartwarming, and realistic. Billy Ray Cyrus is wonderful as the Father and all of the children are fantastic, too... you are instantly drawn into their characters and family life on the farm.

Christmas in Canaan...
Two Christmases are shown during the course of this movie. The first is when the children are all still at home and Rodney is living with them, too. They don't have much, and yet the Father has decided to give them pictures from the Sears catalog of what he would like to get each of them. It's a beautiful scene... each one is so full of love for their father, even though they had so very little- they were grateful to have each other, love, family, and hope!

The second Christmas shown... is at the end of the movie. The children are all grown and the grandfather has since passed away. Rodney asks them all to meet him and since he has become a succesful writer, due to the Burton families encouragement many years before, he gives them each the gifts that were in the pictures from that old catalog years ago. It's such a precious moment, and it's easy to see that they are more thrilled just to be together than anything! Rodney has also promised Daniel that he will get the best medical help for Bobby with his leg. It's such a beautiful story of a family - that doesn't see color... only the love of Christ.

See or Skip:

See, it's an inspiring family movie.

Mrs. Miracle

MOVIE REVIEW

Mrs. Miracle

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: December 5, 2009


CAST:

James Van Der Beek ... Seth Webster
Doris Roberts ... Mrs. Merkle / Mrs. Miracle
Erin Karpluk ... Reba Maxwell
Chelah Horsdal ... Kate Preston
Rikki Gagne ... Cathy
Peter Graham-Gaudreau ... Doug
Johannah Newmarch ... Vicki
Michael Strusievici ... Judd Webster
Almeera Jiwa ... Cindy
Valin Shinyei ... Jason Webster
Brittany-Ellen Willacy ... Clerk











PLOT:

from the Hallmark Channel:

Seth Webster is a frustrated, single father who can’t find a housekeeper to manage his overly energetic twin sons. When a seemingly magical housekeeper arrives at Christmastime, she helps Seth move on after his wife’s death and find new love that brings the family together again.

Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family together . . . he needs a miracle.

And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"—and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith—and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle—Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love.








Movie Review:

Mrs. Miracle, starring Doris Roberts, is fun, sweet, & magical in a Mary Poppins kind of way. Mrs. Merkel, who the children call Mrs. Miracle, is a Nanny, who has come to help widowed Seth Webster with his twin boys - Judd and Jason.

Seth is still privately mourning the loss of his wife - he won't talk about her with his sons and there aren't any pictures of her in their home - yet, Mrs. Miracle finds one and shares it with the boys, who are eager to know more about their mother. This, at first, angers Seth, but he slowly starts to deal with the past - as he opens up his heart to a new love with Reba, a local travel agaent, who is also directing the boys in their Christmas School Play. Reba is also dealing with her past lost love and learning to trust, again. It's fun to see how Mrs. Miracle brings them all together!


See or Skip:

See, it's a Sweet Christmas Movie!