"Hudson & Rex" Season 8 Coming to UPtv

Season 8 of Hudson & Rex is coming to UPtv this August! In this season, actor Luke Roberts steps into the lead role as Detective Mark Hudson.

There have been some mixed feelings on this, but I have good news! If you haven't heard, John Reardon, who played Detective Charlie Hudson for the previous seven seasons, is returning to reprise his role in Season 9 of Hudson & Rex, which is currently filming.

Fans were, of course, not happy when John was initially let go from the series. John Reardon had originally stepped away during Season 7 to undergo treatment for tonsil cancer, but was not brought back for Season 8. I think it is wonderful news for John Reardon and the fans that his character will return in season 9!

In the meantime, check out the details below for season 8 coming to UPtv.


Press Release via UPtv:

UPTV TO DEBUT

THE U.S CABLE 

TELEVISION PREMIERE

OF HUDSON & REX

SEASON EIGHT AUG. 6

CAPTAIN SANDY YAWN

(BELOW DECK MEDITERRANEAN)

SET TO GUEST STAR 

THIS SEASON

ATLANTA (June 30, 2026) – UPtv, the television home for uplifting entertainment, announced today that Hudson & Rex season eight (14 episodes) will debut on Thursday, August 6 at 8 p.m. ET.

The action-packed, family-friendly procedural continues to follow the adventures of Rex, an extraordinary K9 German Shepherd, and the dedicated team of the St. John’s Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit. In the eighth season, Detective Mark Hudson (Luke Roberts) joins the team. A veteran of canine units in the Canadian forces and the Halifax PD, Mark becomes Rex’s new partner and a smart and strong team leader. Mark and Rex place complete trust in each other and in the extended team as they face intense new challenges. With Rex by their side, Superintendent Joe Donovan (Kevin Hanchard), Dr. Sarah Truong (Mayko Nguyen) and tech specialist Jesse Mills (Justin Kelly) work together to solve even the most puzzling crimes unfolding in St. John’s.

In the episode airing August 20, Captain Sandy Yawn plays Captain Michelle Sirocco, a highly professional captain who is currently helming a somewhat smaller vessel while she waits for her next super yacht to be outfitted. Unfortunately, her current charter is the thoroughly unlikeable Jake Kaufman, a ruthless businessman, along with his wife and a business partner. When Kaufman is murdered, a deckhand becomes the prime suspect. But Rex leads Mark to believe that the motives and method of the killing might be much more complicated.

Shaftesbury and Pope Productions produce Hudson & Rex in association with Citytv, a division of Rogers Sports & Media, and Beta Film GmbH. Executive Producers are Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Lisa Porter, Peter Mohan, Sherri Davis, Mayko Nguyen, Oliver Bachert and Friedemann Goez.

Beta Film GmbH holds worldwide distribution rights of Hudson & Rex. The series is produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, PictureNL, the Rogers Series Fund, Ontario Creates the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Industry Tax Credit.

About UP Entertainment
UP Entertainment is the home for uplifting entertainment for passionate and diverse audiences across the leading cable, satellite and streaming platforms. Brands include UP Faith & Family, UPtv, aspireTV, aspireTV+, GaitherTV+ and Cine Romántico. UP Faith & Family is the leading subscription streaming service for uplifting entertainment. UPtv is the trusted network for adults seeking positive programming with relatable stories about relationships, filled with love and laughter, through exclusive premiere movies, box-office hit films and beloved series. AspireTV is the television network that celebrates and reflects Black culture, life and style in a way that is inspiring, authentic and entertaining. AspireTV+ is a subscription streaming service for Black culture and urban lifestyle entertainment. GaitherTV+ provides access to Gaither’s renowned and growing library of full-length award-winning Country, Gospel, Bluegrass and Christian concerts and specials, early premieres of new performances and shows, and exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews. UP Entertainment in partnership with PixL Dos, also manages and distributes Cine Romántico, a FAST channel featuring the best of Hollywood TV romance movies in Spanish. Additionally, UP Entertainment also represents partner brands Ovation TV. Ovation is an independent television, production, and digital media company, with an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and entertainment. UP Entertainment’s award-winning pro-social initiative, “UPlift Someone,” has inspired over 200 million people to uplift others through its social videos.

About Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content, founded by Christina Jennings, Chairman and President. For more than three decades, the company has been at the forefront of Canadian screen-based storytelling, building internationally successful series and franchises that reach audiences worldwide. Shaftesbury’s productions include the globally acclaimed drama Murdoch Mysteries, now in its 19th season, and Hudson & Rex, both airing in over 120 countries. One of Canada’s longest-running dramas, Murdoch Mysteries has generated more than $1 billion in economic output in Ontario and contributed over $766 million to Canada’s GDP. The series has expanded into new formats and audience experiences, including live symphony performances, educational initiatives, immersive fan activations, and the digital companion series Macy Murdoch, which extends the Murdoch Mysteries universe onto Roblox. Shaftesbury’s portfolio spans scripted drama, comedy, and genre programming, including the horror anthology Slasher and its latest instalment Hell Motel, the international thriller Departure which went to #1 on Netflix in 40 countries, the Irish-Canadian co-production SisterS, and Irish Blood, Acorn TV’s highest-rated series. Current projects include the dark crime drama The Borderline, now streaming on Crave, the upcoming comedy series Slo Pitch, and Granville Girls, a newly announced Netflix series.

About Pope Productions
Pope Productions is a St. John's-based media production company founded by the late Paul Pope, currently helmed by producer Lisa Porter. The company has produced seven seasons of HUDSON & REX for Citytv, now seen in over 120 territories worldwide. Features and MOWs include the CBC comedy A Christmas Fury and festival favourites Hunting Pignut, Beat Down and Grown Up Movie Star, which scored a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for Tatiana Maslany. Documentaries include It’s Mental, Heavy Weather Presents, the multi-award-winning My Left Breast, Legends and Lore of the North Atlantic, and Going the Distance. From the historical dramatic miniseries Above and Beyond, to the classic comedy Rare Birds, and the outrageous series Drunk and on Drugs: The Happy Funtime Hour, Pope Productions’ rich repertoire reflects its deep commitment to a vibrant production industry both in Newfoundland and nationally.

About Citytv
A distinctive alternative to conventional programming, Citytv and Citytv streaming (Citytv+) is home to bold dramas, fan-favourite reality TV, Canadian originals, as well as local news and entertainment programs such as CityNews and Breakfast Television. Citytv is a part of Rogers Sports & Media, a division of Rogers Communications Inc., Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company (TSX, NYSE: RCI).

About Rogers Sports & Media
Rogers Sports & Media is a diverse sports and content company that engages more than 30 million Canadians monthly. The company's dynamic portfolio of media assets includes 50 radio stations, more than 65 community TV channels, 31 conventional and specialty television channels, e-commerce, and more. Rogers Sports & Media delivers unique storytelling through its range of powerful brands: HGTV, Food Network, Bravo, Citytv, Discovery, ID, OMNI Television, FX, TSC, Breakfast Television, 98.1 CHFI, KiSS, CityNews and Sportsnet – Canada's #1 sports network. Rogers Sports & Media is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit rogerssportsandmedia.com.

About Beta Film
A leading European independent film and television group, Beta produces, finances, and distributes television and film for the global market. With over 30.000 hours of content, we manage one of the largest libraries in Europe, including numerous Oscar and Emmy-winning productions. For more than 65 years, we have been nurturing strong partnerships with creatives, broadcasters, streamers, distributors, and festivals. As an experienced and independent player, we create alliances and hold stakes in over 40 production companies and distribution labels, while also operating special interest channels throughout Europe. Founded in 1959 by Leo Kirch and owned by Jan Mojto since 2004, Beta is based in Munich, Germany, with offices in the US, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe.

I hope many of you will enjoy season 8 - 

sleuthing along with Hudson & Rex,

Net

🐾🐾

🐾 TV Series "Hudson & Rex" is Upping UPtv's Ratings on Thursday Nights! - SEE HERE:

Today, I have some doggone good news from my friends at UPtv...

"The exclusive U.S. cable premiere of the hit series Hudson & Rex is barking up some strong ratings. U.S. Premiere telecasts have more than tripled the network’s Thursday night 8pm hour average¹ and hit new highs on 2/1/24, ranking #17 in HH (Households) coverage ratings among all cable networks in the time period²."

1 Nielsen, L3D, Hudson & Rex premiere episodes Thu 8-9p (1/4/24-2/1/24) vs. Previous 4 weeks Thu 8p-9p (12/7/23-12/28/23), HH Cov AA%

2 Nielsen, L3D, Hudson & Rex Thu 8-9p (2/1/24) rank vs all cable nets in the time period, HH Cov AA%


UPtv is also encouraging the joy of pet adoption with the TV series Hudson & Rex and through their article Pawsitive Vibes: The Uplifting Effects of Pet Ownership.

UPtv states, "Pet ownership has many benefits beyond wagging tails and purring companionship. It can bring joy, comfort, and even laughter to your life. Can’t get enough of the special bond between animals and their humans? UPtv recommends Hudson & Rex, an action-packed one-hour police procedural drama focused on the partnership between detective Charlie Hudson and his partner Rex, an extraordinary former K9 dog."

Reminder: Hudson & Rex, starring John Reardon, airs Thursday nights on UPtv at 8pm/7c.! You can also stream the series from the beginning on UP Faith & Family - *click here for details*.

In addition to this current ratings success for UPtv, I wanted to be sure to also mention how well UPtv did in their ratings at Christmastime. UPtv's 2023 Christmas movies reached 14.3 million viewers, up 7% from their celebration in 2022!

Congratulations to UPtv on the achievement of these wonderful ratings! As long as you continue to air programming that uplifts viewers and brings families together, I hope your ratings keep going UP!!!

Let's all give UPtv 

a Round of A-Paws!

Net 🐾

🐕🔎 *Now on UPtv* Catch the Series ‘Hudson & Rex’ 🐕🔎 SEE DETAILS:

UPtv is bringing viewers the hit family police drama ‘Hudson & Rex.’

In this series, detective Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) teams up with his “highly trained law enforcement animal,” German Shepherd dog named Rex, for action-packed adventures and crime-solving mysteries.

Watch this new series starting TONIGHT, Thursday, January 4th at 8 PM ET on UPtv, with the Season 5 premiere.

If you are interested in catching the previous seasons of ‘Hudson & Rex,’ those can be streamed via UP Faith & Family with a 7-day free trial and subscription.

Please note:

I have not personally seen this show, but I've been interested in it for quite some time. I'm delighted to see UPtv is bringing this series to their network, but I kinda wish they had started with season 1. I'm thinking of purchasing their streaming service UP Faith & Family for a couple months or more so I can watch the first four seasons while recording the fifth.

I would love to know... have any of you seen ‘Hudson & Rex’? Any thoughts or opinions on the series would be most welcome in comments below.


Reviews for ‘Hudson & Rex’ I've read online:

"If you love animals you will love this show and how involved the dog is! Also a good detective show and enjoyable to watch." ~Katarina Severn

"I love detective shows especially the ones that are a little lighter. Rex is absolutely adorable and makes the perfect partner." ~Laura

"Great Wholesome TV! Like the twist on a standard detective show with the super smart dog. Wish there was more shows without nudity, cursing, & vulgarity. Very refreshing!" ~Smart Consumer

"Loved watching this with our 10 yr old and 12 yr old. We have German Shepherd dogs so we loved Rex!!" ~Tricia


Fun facts:

 
* The star of the show, John Reardon (who portrays detective Charlie Hudson), has starred (and co-starred) in several Hallmark movies, Love on the Sidelines, The Christmas Secret, and I'll be Home for Christmas. He also had a role as a bad guy in the first season of When Calls the Heart.

* John Reardon and his wife, Meghan Ory (Chesapeake Shores, The Secret Gift of Christmas), have been married since 2008 and have three children.

Please share any thoughts you have on this series in the comments below.

Click here for details on UP Faith & Family's 7-day free trial.

Catch you later, Net

⚾🐕

UPtv Announces January and February 2024 Movies & Programming -->>

Things are looking UP in 2024 on UPtv!

The channel will premiere new movies on Sunday nights in 2024 and the Hudson and Rex series (that was previously exclusive to UP's streamer, UP Faith & Family), will air Thursdays on the network.


UPtv PREMIERE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2024 TITLES


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Hudson & Rex — Premieres Thursday, January 4 at 8 p.m ET

Hudson & Rex features dedicated Detective Charlie Hudson and his extraordinary German Shepherd partner Rex as they resolve complex cases each week with the help of Dr. Sarah Truong, techie Jesse Mills and Superintendent Joe Donovan in the seaside metropolis of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Stars: John Reardon, Myko Nguyen


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Romantic Friction — Premieres Sunday, January 7 at 7 p.m ET

Storyline: Book-cover artist Lea pretends to be the elusive author of a hit romance novel that was secretly written by snobbish literary novelist Michael. She doesn’t expect to find love herself.

Stars: Julie Roy, Brandon Santana

Movie Review:

💕 * FYI - This movie has a gay character who is a roommate and friend to the lead girl in the movie. ~Net




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Love on Retreat — Premieres Sunday, January 14 at 7 p.m ET

Storyline: When beauty brand Bloom decides to close its flagship store and focus on online sales, content creator Jenny must find a way to deal with the backlash from their loyal fanbase and spin the news into a positive thing via their social media. On top of that, Bloom is pivoting to eco-friendly products and a wellness angle, so Jenny spends the seaside corporate retreat in Miami trying to capture the “life” in “work/life balance.” Her drive to achieve clashes with the chill vibe of activities director Nate. Sparks fly between these two as Jenny realizes Nate is a thrill-seeker who has work/life balance figured out, but there’s one problem… he’s the brother of her boss.

Stars: Ansley Gordon, Jonathan Stoddard


Movie Reviews:

💕 Love on Retreat was ‘all kinds of awful’. My husband and I did not enjoy the movie at all. We turned it off after about fifteen minutes. ~Joan

💕 Joan, totally agree with you and your husband. I made it about 15-20 minutes into Love on Retreat before hitting the delete button. ~ Jane

💕 Love on Retreat was so cozy! –Maria


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The Love Advisor — Premieres Sunday, January 21 at 7 p.m ET

Storyline: When a lowly assistant who has secretly been writing the love advice for her boss’s podcast finds out her favorite journalist is a fan of the show, she’ll have to decide if love is worth risking her career for.

Stars: Rachel Vallori, Tyler Harlow

Movie Reviews:

💕 The Love Advisor was too boring for me, chose to rewatch A Winter Wedding on GAF instead. -Maria



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My Perfect Romance — Premieres Sunday, January 28 at 7 p.m ET

*Note: this movie is from 2018.

Storyline: Robinson Tech is launching a new dating service, but when its CEO, Wes Robinson and tech developer, Vivian Blair are challenged on Live TV to test the service themselves, the algorithm shows some interesting results.

Stars: Kimberly-Sue Murray, Chrisopher Russell

Move Review:

💕 My Perfect Romance / Romance with a Twist - This past weekend's movie's were not my cup of tea. I tried watching both the Hallmark and the UP-TV movie but neither one held my interest. I watched most of the Hallmark movie but I only got through about fifteen minutes of the UP-TV movie. Holding out hope next week's movies are better. ~Joan



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UPDATE: The schedule below is now confirmed for February, 2024...


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Baked with a Kiss — Premieres Sunday, February 4 at 7 p.m ET

Peyton Hilliard's pastry shop, Peyton's Pastries, has a reputation for making dreams come true. With names like Best Day Ever, Big Promotion, and Bun in the Oven, her desserts often deliver on what they promise. Folks say if you go to Peyton's shop and tell her your problems or your dreams, she always has the best advice and the perfect treat to make things right. Archer Brooks is one of Peyton's most difficult clients, but she can't afford to offend him, because he runs one of the largest event planning companies in town. To try and get on his good side, Peyton gives him a pie she tells him she baked "just for him." This one is called Sweet Success, but in the craziness of the moment, Peyton accidentally gives Archer her special, souped up True Love pie instead. Peyton is totally confused when a very different Archer walks through her bakery door the next day. He's so kind and complimentary. It's only when Archer asks for another slice of her delicious honey lavender pie that Peyton realizes her mistake. Meanwhile, Peyton has been vying, along with several other bakeries in town, to provide pastries for the Starlight Ball, a massive gala attended by the city's elite. Archer is on the planning committee and tells Peyton that she's pretty much in for the gig. This is exactly what Peyton hoped for, but she can't help but wonder if this great opportunity and her newfound relationship with Archer will succeed.

Stars: Ansley Gordon, Jonathan Stoddard


Movie Review:

❤️ Baked with a Kiss – (UP sent me a screener for this, and like a good dessert, I couldn’t resist!) Baked with a Kiss is sooo sweet! Literally! Peyton Hilliard (played by Ansley Gordon) owns a bakery, and she bakes everything from the heart, adding in a little extra love like her grandmother taught her. Her sweets and baked goods are even known, like her grandmother’s, to have a little magic in them, which makes Peyton wonder if Archer Brooks (played by Jonathan Goddard) is truly falling for her or if her grandmother’s special *true love pie* made him attracted to her. I don’t think the magic part is real, but it’s just something fun that people believe in.

This movie is very family-friendly and wholesome! I loved Peyton’s lovely pastel tops, headbands, and floral aprons; her personality was also beaming, as she was always bright and cheerful. Her co-worker, Riley, is always so helpful and encouraging, and she’s a bit mysterious. Another great touch was how nice and supportive Peyton's parents are, too.

This movie is a delightful romantic-comedy for a girl’s gathering on Galentine’s Day, for couples on Valentine’s Day, or anyone – on any day!!! This is the sort of movie that leaves you with a smile on your face and hungry for a sweet treat! Baked with a Kiss is sugar and spice and everything nice! ~Net

❤️ My husband and I watched 'Baked with a Kiss' last night and oh my gosh it was the sweetest movie! It was a great recommendation, from you. I enjoy movies that are filmed in the actual location where they are set. Always a nice touch. And, Ansley was just so adorable as Peyton. Her deep friendship, with her co-worker, was endearing. All in all, a very nice movie. I would definitely watch it again! Thanks again for the recommendation. ~Joan

❤️ Baked with a Kiss is so delightful! –Maria

❤️ UPtv’s “Baked with a Kiss” is my kind of rom-com – lighthearted, entertaining, funny, and inspiring. I’m quickly becoming a big fan of Ansley Gordon too - she’s adorable in this movie. ~MPT


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Love by Design — Premieres Sunday, February 11 at 7 p.m ET

Broken-hearted, out-of-work Brooke Yeardley makes her 30th birthday wish on the vision board she made as a hopeful teen. Miraculously her wishes start coming true - from launching her own design business to meeting the man on her vision board - but while life has a way of working out, Brooke learns that it doesn't always work out the way that you expect.

Stars: Jackie Moore, Joey Lawrence

Movie Reviews:

❤️ Nicely's Love by Design has it's charming moments, with 2 cons: Female lead is living with her ex boyfriend at the start of the movie, and there is 1 uttering of the H word midway through the movie. Other then those, it's a slightly clean movie. (streaming on PlutoTV). –Maria

❤️ Well, my husband and I attempted to watch the other two movies (Love & Jane and Love by Design) and ended up deleting both after not finishing either one. I was very disappointed in 'Love & Jane'. I normally like Alison but oh my she was awful! Plus, when I saw what Abigail said, playing out in the movie, I told my husband to delete the movie. And, I wanted to like the other movie (Love by Design) but the lead actress was terrible. Simply terrible! Oh well, at least we had "Passport to Love" which was a gem! ~Joan



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Romance in Hawaii — Premieres Sunday, February 18 at 7 p.m ET

Leah, a successful but dissatisfied executive, discovers the missing passion from her life when she starts taking hula dance lessons from handsome local Ikaika.

Stars: Kelley Jackle, Cedric Jonathan

Movie Reviews:

❤️ Romance in Hawaii is so beautiful! -Maria

❤️ UPtvs “Romance in Hawaii” is family-friendly and entertaining. Kelley Jakle is charming in her role as a real estate developer on assignment in Hawaii, who finds romance after being captivated by and learning hula dancing. She even sings a duet with her love interest played by Cedric Jonathan. Beautiful Hawaiian scenery and a fun story made this one a keeper. Aloha! ~MPT

❤️ Romance in Hawaii was so cute. The scenery was wonderful as was the music and dancing which was very heartfelt and moving. My husband cried! Decent chemistry between the leads. ~Joan



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The Soulmate Search — Premieres Sunday, February 25 at 7 p.m ET

When Lindsay gets the chance to sign up to the notoriously exclusive dating service Eternity, she clashes with Will, her first date. They mutually agree this dating service has been a complete bust and make a deal to get their money back.

Stars: Alexandra Harris, Jonathan Stoddard


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Please share your thoughts on the movies above, and if you've seen one (or more!), I would love to hear your review, too.

Blessings in 2024!

Net