You Light Up My Christmas - a LIFETIME Christmas Movie Premiere!

MOVIE REVIEW

Movie: You Light Up My Christmas

Network: Lifetime

Original Air Date: December 1, 2019

*Kim Fields stars in this movie with her cast members from the popular 80's sitcom, "Facts of Life"

image courtesy: Lifetime / Strategic Heights Media - photographer: Brendan George Ko.

image courtesy: Lifetime / Strategic Heights Media
 photographer: Brendan George Ko.

CAST:

Kim Fields ... Emma Simmons
Adrian Holmes ... Ben
Christina Sicoli ... Lily
Parveen Dosanjh ... Heather
Brendan Taylor ... Phil
Lisa Whelchel ... Aurora
Mindy Cohn ... Rose
Marlee Walchuk ... Ms. Fisher
William Samples ... Dusty
Ashley Alexander ... Katy Jenkins
Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez ... Liam
Bill Pozzobon ... Mr. Thompson
Corina Bizim ... Mrs. Collins
Joe Costa ... Carl
BJ Harrison ... Leonna
Ben Wilkinson ... Nate
Andrew Creightney ... Grandpa Roy

image courtesy: Lifetime / Strategic Heights Media - photographer: Brendan George Ko.

image courtesy: Lifetime / Strategic Heights Media - photographer: Brendan George Ko.

image courtesy: Lifetime / Strategic Heights Media - photographer: Brendan George Ko.

PLOT:

Storyline via Lifetime: Inspired by true events, Emma (Fields) returns to her hometown built around her family's pioneer Christmas Light Factory two weeks before Christmas. However upon Emma's return, she discovers the lights have gone dim in the once festive town, prompting her to reconnect with an old flame to set their hearts and the town ablaze with light again.

You Light Up My Christmas is produced by Tim Johnson. Tim Johnson and Kim Fields serve as executive producers.


Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...


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*images via: Lifetime

"THE FACTS OF LIFE" CAST REUNITES IN LIFETIME CHRISTMAS MOVIE!

Lifetime Press Release:

THE HOLIDAY'S JUST GOT JOLLIER

AND THAT'S A FACT!

LIFETIME'S NEW HOLIDAY MOVIE

YOU LIGHT UP MY CHRISTMAS

MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE THIS SEASON

BY REUNITING THE CAST OF

THE FACTS OF LIFE

image courtesy: Lifetime

Lifetime’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime slate just sleighed the holidays even more with a special surprise! Premiering December 1 at 8pm ET/PT, You Light Up My Christmas from executive producer and star Kim Fields, brings back together the wonderful actresses of the beloved sitcom Facts of Life, with Fields, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon sharing the screen once again for special appearances.

“We’re sisters. We have a ball when we get to hang out personally and holidays are about family, memories and fun. So, when the opportunity came up to combine all of that with You Light Up My Christmas, I invited Lisa, Mindy and Nancy to make some fun, Christmas cameos and was thrilled they all enthusiastically jumped on board,” said Fields. “It’s been amazing to work together again and have the ladies’ input on their characters, from their wardrobe to their names, as well as provide fun inside jokes for fans. I also had the production name the ice skating rink in the movie after our dear friend, Charlotte Rae, who passed away last year (and played Edna Garrett on both The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes). We truly are a family so it was great to work together on something new!"

Photo Credit: Brendan George Ko

Inspired by true events, You Light Up My Christmas is the story of Emma (Fields), who returns to her hometown built around her family's pioneer Christmas Light Factory two weeks before Christmas. However, upon Emma's return, she discovers the lights have gone dim in the once festive town, prompting her to reconnect with an old flame (Adrian Holmes) to set their hearts and the town ablaze with light again. You Light Up My Christmas is produced by Johnson Production Group. Tim Johnson, Kim Fields and Art Rutter serve as executive producers.

image courtesy: Lifetime

About It's A Wonderful Lifetime

Lifetime’s annual all-day holiday programming event—It’s A Wonderful Lifetime— begins this year on October 25 and continues through December 25. It features a holiday special and 30 holiday-themed movie premieres, headlined by stars such as Kelly Rowland, Ashanti, Melissa Joan Hart, Megan Hilty, Vanessa Lachey, Kim Fields, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Hilarie Burton, Marie Osmond, Marla Sokoloff, Soleil Moon Frye, Tatyana Ali, Tiya Sircar, and more. This year features the largest holiday movie slate ever with more than 1000 hours of yuletide-themed programming airing over two months! This year's slate will also include a new special, Battle of The Christmas Movie Stars, premiering on December 21, pitting some of season's biggest stars against one another to see who is crowned the king or queen of Lifetime Christmas as they battle it out with holiday themed challenges.

See Hallmark Stars Battle it Out on ABC’s reboot of Battle of the Network Stars!

"Battle of the Network Stars" logo via: ABC
Images: Cameron Mathison, Catherine Bell, Joey Lawrence, and Jill Wagner
via Hallmark Crown Media Family Networks

There's a long list of former and current Hallmark stars who will be challenging themselves to this renewed, reboot version of "Battle of the Network Stars" competition, including:

• Joey Lawrence (Hitched for the Holidays),
• Catherine Bell (Home For the Holidays),
• Cameron Mathison (Murder, She Baked, A Christmas to Remember, The Christmas Ornament, etc...),
• Kevin Sorbo (The Santa Suit, Shadow on the Mesa),
• Jill Wagner (Autumn Dreams, Christmas Cookies),
• Lisa Whelchel (For Better or For Worse, Hearts of Spring),
• Kim Fields (For Better or For Worse),
• Donna Mills (12 Gifts of Christmas),
• Marlee Matlin (Sweet Nothing in My Ear, Hallmark Hall of Fame),
• Corbin Bernsen (A Time to Dance, Love's Complicated),
• Joely Fisher (Cupid, Inc.),
• Chad Lowe (Fielder's Choice),
• Greg Evigan (Shadow on the Mesa, Once Upon a Holiday),
• Ted McGinley (The Bridge Part 1 and 2, The Note 1, 2, and 3),
• Jackee Harry (Broadcasting Christmas),
• Tom Arnold (Moonlight and Mistletoe),
• Willie Aames (Harvest Moon, Every Christmas has a Story),
• Deidre Hall (Lucky in Love, My Christmas Dream),
• Benjamin Hollingsworth (Signed Sealed Delivered Movie, Lucky in Love, A Wish Come True),
• Vivica A. Fox (Summer in the City, Looking for Mr. Right),
• Julie Benz (Uncorked, The Long Shot), and
• Ryan Paevey (Unleashing Mr. Darcy)

I wish all of our Hallmark actors and actresses well as they take on their competition. They will be on different teams, so many will be competing against one another!

In the end, I hope they all have a fun, friendly competition, as they forge many friendships to take on their competitors!

See "Battle of the Network Stars"
when it debuts June 29, 2017 at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Hallmark is All About Family! *Plus - Premiere News & More!

We've all heard the phrase, "Like Father, Like Son" or "Like Mother, Like Daughter". Well, this weekend actor James Denton works alongside his son Sheppard (who has caught the acting bug, just like his Father) in the premiere of the Hallmark Channel original movie:

"For Love and Honor"

Hallmark's CEO Bill Abbott recently tweeted:
"#ForLoveAndHonor: @hallmarkchannel's Romantic, Military Movie To Be A Hit Among #Veterans, Starring #JamesDenton -"

That certainly is a grand compliment, as I'm sure this Hallmark Story will do our military proud.

Storyline via Hallmark: When a recently retired military officer Colonel is tapped by his old friend to take over the military division to help save declining Stone Creek Academy, he immediately clashes with.... Click here to read more!

For Love and Honor

Premieres Saturday, July 30, 2016

at 9pm/8c. on the Hallmark Channel

This Movie, along with several other Hallmark Films, proves that Hallmark is, indeed, all about Family!

For instance, already this year, Lisa Whelchel worked alongside her daughter Clancy Cauble, in the Hallmark Channel "Spring Fling" movie "Hearts of Spring"!

image courtesy: Hallmark Crown Media

Candace Cameron Bure's daughter Natasha Bure, did not appear on screen, but she sang a song for her mother's Christmas movie "A Christmas Detour". (watch special video of the song, here!) I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of Natasha - with her Mother!

image courtesy: Instagram

Lori Loughlin and her daughter Isabella Giannulli just filmed together a Hallmark Channel Movie "Christmas Makeover". It will premiere, of course, during Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" event.

image courtesy: Twitter

Jane Seymour starred alongside her daughter Katherine Flynn in the popular Christmas movie "A Royal Christmas". They did not portray mother and daughter, but their characters had a close history, and their connection was ideal for the story.

image: Hallmark Crown Media

Now, these next two break the rules (just a little!).

This time, it's actress Lauren Holly working alongside her son Azer Greco in the sweet Hallmark Family Christmas movie: "The Town Christmas Forgot".

image: Hallmark Crown Media

And, Gabriel Hogan's parents are both actors: Michael and Susan Hogan, who starred together in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries movie "The Christmas Secret". As for working with Gabriel, his Mother Susan starred in one of the "Murder She Baked" movies- "Murder She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery" - with her son! If you haven't seen it, I must tell you - they did not portray mother and son. (Side note: Michael and Susan Hogan, however, have portrayed Gabriel's character: Peter Morris' parents in the television series, "Heartland")

Gabriel Hogan image courtesy of: Hallmark Crown Media / Murder She Baked
Susan and Michael Hogan's image screen-captured from: Hallmark's "The Christmas Secret"

So, lets keep it in the family this weekend,

and watch James Denton, with his son Sheppard,

and his daughter, Malin (has a cameo role, too!) in...

"For Love and Honor"

The Hallmark Channel * Sprouts * New Theme with 3 "SPRING FLING" Movies!!!

image via: Hallmark Crown Media

*This post has been updated below to reflect all the new details on "Spring Fling"!!!

The Hallmark Channel announces... "three original movies celebrating springtime love and romance, and the fresh start the season of spring inspires: All Yours (previously titled: The Manny) starring Nicollette Sheridan, Hearts of Spring starring Lisa Whelchel, and Love By Chance starring Beau Garrett and Brenda Strong."

Here are the Premiere Dates for "Spring Fling"

on the Hallmark Channel:

 

April 2, 2016-
All Yours

 

April 9, 2016-
Hearts of Spring

 

April 16, 2016-
Love By Chance

For those of you who follow this site closely, there was originally buzz that there would be four "Spring Fling" movies. However, as we can all see that has been reduced to three. Perhaps, that fourth movie was scratched or moved to a later date.

Whatever the case, Spring will be here soon and it's always fun and fresh to have something new to look forward to!

"Spring Fling" Premieres with Lisa Whelchel and Michael Shanks in "Hearts of Spring"

MOVIE REVIEW

Movie: Hearts of Spring

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: April 9, 2016

Click Here for additional on-the-set pics of Hearts of Spring!

Lisa Whelchel image via: Hallmark Crown Media

CAST:

Lisa Whelchel ... Carly Ashby
Michael Shanks ... Dr. Andy Summers
Clancy Cauble ... Sadie Ashby
Miranda Frigon ...
Ross Linton ...
Carrie Genzel ...

PLOT:

via Hallmark: Single mom CARLY ASHBY raises her daughter SADIE, runs her flower shop and blogs about parenting, her real passion. Off the dating scene for years, Carly finally finds an attractive marital prospect in DR. ANDY SOMMERS, a pediatrician who just may be Mr. Right. But when she discovers that Andy is actually ‘Jugglingdad,’ an opinionated blogger with radically different ideas about parenting who blows up her blog with his fiery comments, their fledgling relationship seems headed for the rocks...


Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...


Photo Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs

The Facts About Lisa Whelchel's Hallmark Movie "Hearts of Spring"!

On the Hallmark Channel, following "Winterfest" in January and "Countdown to Valentine's Day" in February... the Calendar will eventually blossom come April into an All NEW themed event on the Hallmark Channel titled... "Spring Fling"!

Recently we learned the First Movie in the Hallmark Channel's "Spring Fling" Event will be "Hearts of Spring" (previously titled: Mommy Bloggers).

This all New original Hallmark Movie will star Lisa Whelchel (Facts of Life, For Better or For Worse), Michael Shanks (The Christmas Lodge, The Bouquet), Carrie Genzel (A Dog Named Christmas), Miranda Frigon (A Cookie Cutter Christmas, A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery), Ross Linton, and Lisa Whelchel's real life daughter Clancy Cauble will portray Lisa's grown up daughter in the movie! This is Clancy's movie debut!

Here are some behind-the-scenes and on-the-set pics of the first "Spring Fling" movie premiere...

"Hearts of Spring"...

Lisa Whelchel, Michael Shanks, and Miranda Frigon take an on-the-set selfie

on Hallmark Channel's  "Hearts of Spring" 

image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAszWJmmo_n/?taken-by=mirandafrigon

On the set and Behind-the-Scenes of "Hearts of Spring":
Lisa Whelchel and Miranda Frigon
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/BA-YKchGo7R/?taken-by=mirandafrigon
Love! Love! Love! The Yellow Rain Boots, BTW!

 

On the set of "Hearts of Spring":
Mother and Daughter... Lisa Whelchel and Clancy Cauble
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/

Lisa Whelchel is full of laughter : On the set of "Hearts of Spring"
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/(ricardo_hubbs_photography)

Clancy Cauble, Director Marita Grabiak, Lisa Whelchel, and Michael Shanks
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/
 

Actress Lisa Whelchel pictured on set with Director Marita Grabiak
img via: Hallmark Channel's Twitter

Lisa Whelchel on set of "Hearts of Spring"
Love this collage of pics!!! This is how Lisa describes it, via Instagram:
"We are shooting a flashback montage today. It is supposed to be late 90's, early 2,000's and current decade."

On the set of "Hearts of Spring":
Daughter and Mother... Clancy Cauble and Lisa Whelchel.
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/(ricardo_hubbs_photography)
 
 

Another FUN FACT:

Most of you will recall Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner from the TV sitcom "Facts of Life"...

Well, some cast members of the TV series "Facts of Life" - Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garret), Lisa Whelchel (Blair Warner), Kim Fields (Tootie), Geri Jewell (Geri, Blair's cousin), and Todd Bridges (Willis) gathered on Hallmark Channel's Home & Family this week for a sweet reunion!

image via: Hallmark Crown Media

You can see many video clips of it, here...

Preview Facts of Life Reunion
Reunion Interview Part 1 / Special Message 1 - Mindy Cohn,
Reunion Interview Part 2,
Special Reunion with Todd Bridges,
Special Message 2 - George Clooney,  
Special Message 3 - Molly Ringwald,
Lisa Whelchel & Nancy McKeon (by Skype) in the Kitchen


My Thoughts on "The Facts of Life":

Oh my goodness... I remember growing up watching the Facts of Life faithfully every week. We only had one TV, back in those days, and we all watched together. The Facts of Life was such a fun show in the 80's for girls and families. Blair, I must say, was always our favorite. I think I first learned what a cashmere sweater was, because of Blair Warner, and more about the "facts of life", I'm sure! Looking back now, it is such a sweet memory - watching Blair and Jo become friends in spite of their different backgrounds and laughing so hard at all of Natalie and Tootie's fun escapades and antics... knowing someone was going to be... "in truuuu-ble"! The Facts of Life was always an amusing weekly half-hour of my blissful childhood that I treasure!


A Few More Images from the set of "Hearts of Spring"...

On the set of "Hearts of Spring":
Daughter and Mother... Clancy Cauble and Lisa Whelchel.
image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/

On set fun with Michael Shanks and Ross Linton

who portray father and son in "Hearts of Spring" 

image credit: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/heartsofspring/

And.... CUT! That's a Wrap!
Ross Linton and Clancy Cauble between takes on the set of "Hearts of Spring"
If you look close, you will see the clapper says the previous movie title: Mommy Bloggers.
I personally prefer the new movie title! What do you think?
 

"Hearts of Spring" storyline:

via Hallmark: "A famous mommy blogger faces an empty nest as her daughter prepares to go away to college."

Hope you enjoyed this sneak-peek look
into the behind-the-scenes making
of the first Spring Fling Flick
on the Hallmark Channel-

"Hearts of Spring"!

"Hearts of Spring" premieres
Saturday April 9, 2016 at 9pm/8c.!
(the premiere date above was changed/updated!)
 

 

Spring is right around the corner!

The other two Spring Fling movies coming are:
The Manny and By Chance.
Stay tuned for details!

"For Better or For Worse", "Cedar Cove", and "Rocky Road" premiere this Weekend!

This Weekend on TV: 

• 2 New Movies: "For Better or For Worse" & "Rocky Road"
• Series 2 Premiere of "Cedar Cove",
• and it's "Christmas in July" on QVC!

Cedar Cove

Season 2

Hallmark Channel

 

The Second Season of Cedar Cove begins

Saturday July 19, 2014 at 8 PM/7c.

The drama in Cedar Cove returns as Olivia (Andie MacDowell) and Jack (Dylan Neal) rush to the hospital to wait with Jack’s son, Eric (Tom Stevens), as Eric’s girlfriend Shelly (guest star Hayley Sales) suffers from a serious pregnancy complication. While a scared Eric angrily pushes his father away, Olivia flashes back to... (click here to read more)

Please Note: This series is rated "TV-PG". It does contain Adult Situations and Dialogue.

For Better or For Worse

Hallmark Channel

 

Here are the Facts of this movie:

See it: Saturday July 19, 2014 at 9 PM/8c.
It will repeat on Sunday.

Side Note: "For Better or For Worse" stars actresses Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields, who both starred in the popular 1980's sitcom, "Facts of Life".

A heartwarming romantic comedy about a woman (Lisa Whelchel) who learns that perhaps there is such a thing as second chances when facing... (click here to read more)

Rocky Road

UP

 

Premieres Sunday July 20, 2014 at 8 PM/7c.

Harrison (Mark Salling) has the corporate apartment, expense account and big office at his prestigious Wall Street firm. But it all comes crashing down in an instant when his firm suffers catastrophic losses and is forced to downsize. Harrison, now broke, returns to... (click here to read more)

It's "Christmas in July" ALL Weekend Long on QVC!

 

To see the Complete Shopping Schedule, click here!

I sure hope Santa has come in from the beach... 'cuz it's time to sit back, relax inside, and shop for Christmas!

Whatever you do...

I hope you all have a Wonderful Weekend!

 

Hallmark Channel Movie "For Better or For Worse" starring Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields from "Facts of Life"

For Better or For Worse
by Diann Hunt

MOVIE REVIEW


For Better or For Worse

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: July 19, 2014


This movie is based on the bestselling novel For Better or For Worse written by Author, Diann Hunt. (please see more on Diann Hunt below.)

CAST:

Lisa Whelchel ... Wendy
Kim Fields ... Roseanne
Antonio Cupo ... Marco
Jovanna Huguet ... Candice Jones
Hilary Jardine ... Emily
Alison Wandzura ... Vanessa
Eddie Ruttle ... Collin
Rose Ranger ... Flower Shop Customer
Patrick Keating ... Cliff
Dustin Lloyd ... Robert


PLOT:

via Hallmark Press Release:

A heartwarming romantic comedy about a woman who learns that perhaps there is such a thing as second chances when facing the pleasures and pains of love.

Wendy (Whelchel) is finally starting to settle into the single life after struggling with the death of her husband. After a difficult season of grief, she's taken over the family business of coordinating the town's most beautiful and memorable weddings with the help of her friend and co-worker Roseanne (Fields). However, when the charming and incredibly irritating Marco (Cupo) opens a legal practice that specializes in divorces right next to her wedding chapel, Wendy is going to make sure that she stops at nothing to promote her business and the sanctity of marriage. Along the way, Wendy learns that self-discovery and moving on are the ways to finding true happiness.

Movie Review:

Coming...




On the Author, Diann Hunt:

I am sad to share that author, Diann Hunt, passed away on November 29, 2013, following a long battle with cancer. She was 58. Diann left behind a beautiful family, her husband, two children, seven grandchildren, and dear friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathies and prayers. Diann had written 25 faith-filled books. Her writings have certainly touched my life and the lives of many of her readers.

This is how Diann Hunt is described in the dust jacket, of many of her books... "Diann Hunt wrote romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction targeted to Christian women of the Baby Boomer generation. She'd lived in Indiana forever, had been happily married forever, loved her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate."

I know many of her fans are excited to see her work developed for this Hallmark Movie.

Please let me know in the comments below, if you have read any of Diann Hunt's books. I absolutely loved the "Smitten" Book Series, in which see had written one of the four Novellas in each book, along with writers and friends, Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, and Kristin Billerbeck.


Actresses Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields:

"For Better or For Worse" stars actresses Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields, who both starred in the popular 1980's sitcom, "Facts of Life", where teenage girls, Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Jo, Natalie, and Tootie (Kim Fields) lived at a boarding school under the watchful eye of Mrs. Garret.

 

Facts of Life - Flashback Pics:

Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields

See or Skip:

Coming...

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