❄⏳🎄 It's Time to Look Back on Hallmark's 2023 Christmas Movie Ratings 🎄⏳❄ SEE HERE:

Flip the hourglass, it's time to look back in time...

As I write to you this afternoon, we have a gorgeous snowfall outside our window. It is so picturesque; it makes me feel like singing, Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland! We've had so little snow this past November and December; it is a welcome sight from the safety and warmth inside on this cozy Saturday afternoon. My heart does go out to those who must work and travel in it, though. Be safe, everyone, if you live in one of the places receiving snow or bad weather today.

Seeing the snow outside truly puts my mind back into the Christmas spirit, with reminiscing thoughts of Snow Days and White Christmases of the past. What a perfect time this is to reflect on the Christmas movies from 2023.

In their latest press release, Hallmark shares their grand accomplishment of high ratings success over the 2023 holiday season:

[Press Release - excerpt via Hallmark Media:]

"Hallmark Channel rings in the new year by celebrating its title as the #1 most-watched entertainment cable network of 2023 among key demographics. The channel’s Countdown to Christmas holiday programming event continued its annual domination of the cable charts last quarter, elevating it to be the most-watched entertainment cable network in Q4 among Women 18+ for an entire decade running.

The 31 all-new Countdown to Christmas premieres lifted Hallmark Channel’s holiday programming to be the #1 most-watched program on entertainment cable among key demos throughout its 9-week run. The network’s standout original holiday movie premiere, A Merry Scottish Christmas starring Party of Five costars Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf, set records across the cable industry as the #1 most-watched cable movie of the year in 2023.

What’s more, sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries was the #2 most-watched entertainment network – second to only Hallmark Channel – among key demos during the holiday season in December 2023."

While A Merry Scottish Christmas was the Hallmark Channel's number #1 movie in ratings with 3.33 million viewers, A Biltmore Christmas, starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, was a very close second with 3.12 million viewers, and in third place, was Christmas Island, starring Rachel Skarsten and Andrew Walker, with 2.62 million viewers.

Whether you loved all three movies or not is basically irrelevant. All that matters truly, when it comes to ratings - is that you watched the movie.

Of course, there's the question now of whether or not we were entertained as viewers with enough holiday films with heart and humor to return to the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries next year? For me, the answer is... yes! Even though I am hesitant these days when it comes to watching most network and cable television, Hallmark has continued to produce numerous heartwarming stories that my family and I have been easily drawn to. As might be expected, there were some I didn't care for, as well (and I'm sure many of you felt the same), but a higher majority were likable and enticing enough to garner my full attention and make me look forward again to this upcoming Christmas!

As for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, I'm pleased to say that their number #1 Christmas movie (and movie in general) for 2023, according to ratings, was the Day Spring presentation, Miracle in Bethlehem, PA., starring Laura Vandervoort and Benjamin Ayres, with 1.91 million viewers! (I must say, I find it to be peculiar that Hallmark didn't even mention this title in their press release. Any thoughts?) Heaven Down Here came in second with 1.38 million viewers, and third place was nearly a tie with 1.35 million viewers for To All a Good Night and 1.30 million viewers for Mystery on Mistletoe Lane.

I sincerely hope, based on the ratings success of Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, and Heaven Down Here, that networks can see how viewers are drawn to inspirational films that contain unique characters, uplifting stories, and elements of faith!

Blessings to You All!

I'll just be here singing... 

"Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland"! ❄🎶

Net

❤️ Are You Ready for NEW Rom-Com Movies? ❤️ -->

Happy first weekend of January, everyone!

It's time to start all-new romantic comedy premieres in the New Year!

See details below on the Hallmark Channel's first premiere for 2024, plus notable rom-coms, heartwarming dramas, and mystery movie classics airing this weekend...

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Saturday, January 6, 2024:

Love on the Right Course

Storyline: Whitney (Ashley Newbrough) is a professional golfer who is struggling to make the cut to qualify for her next tournament in Europe. Concerned that she might not be able to continue competing on a professional level, she returns to Budapest, and the golf course her family owns there, to reevaluate her career. She finds that her father, who has grown reclusive since losing his wife two years ago, has handed over day-to-day operations of the club to a laid-back, new golf pro, Daniel (Marcus Rosner). Daniel’s casual style is at odds with Whitney’s, and it throws her off her game, literally. As the pair get to know each other, their perspective changes, and a romance develops. But, when Whitney’s former trainer returns and pushes Daniel out, it might just cost Whitney her best shot at love.

Love on the Right Course

Premieres Saturday, January 6, 2024

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Weekend Programming Notes:

Hallmark Channel:

In addition to the new movie premiere, Love on the Right Course, you can see these movie classics airing this weekend on the Hallmark Channel: Hearts Down Under, A Picture of Her, It Was Always You, Fourth Down and Love, The Wedding Veil, The Story of Us, and more!


Hallmark Movies & Mysteries:

No NEW movie this weekend (or Friday, rather) on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, but these mystery classics are airing: Curious Caterer Movie Marathon - 5pm to 11pm on Saturday AND on SUNDAY, there's a Garage Sale Mysteries marathon from 11am to 11pm.


Hallmark Drama:

See lots of heartwarming Hallmark movie classics on Hallmark Drama this weekend, beginning on Saturday with Love Locks, A Gift of Miracles, Karen Kingsbury's A Time to Dance, Love Under the Stars, The Color of Rain, and The Irresistible Blueberry Farm. Then, on Sunday, Hallmark Drama is playing So You Said Yes, Midnight Masquerade, I Do, I Do, I Do, Wedding at Graceland, and Love Under the Rainbow.


Great American Family:

Unfortunately, there are NO NEW MOVIES on Great American Family this weekend; however, the network is promising their viewers they will have NEW premieres throughout the year. Stay tuned!

This weekend, there's a Murder She Wrote marathon on Saturday and a Columbo marathon on Sunday.


UPtv:

Romantic Friction premieres Sunday night on UPtv, but I want you all to know that this movie has a gay character who is a roommate and friend to the lead girl in the movie.

UPtv is airing some great movie classics on Sunday, including: Runaway Romance, The Nature of Romance, Romance in the Wilds, Love Upstream, and more!


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Since the Christmas movies that aired 24/7 on our TVs during the holiday season are gone, past rom-coms and mystery movies are now airing throughout the day, as I'm sure you've noticed. If you need a refresher on reviews for these movies, then be sure to visit the TV Movie List and click on any movie title there for details.

Or, if you are still watching Christmas movies, like me, and you'd like to check out reviews for the NEW 2023 Christmas movies, then be sure to visit the Christmas Movie Review post. You are also welcome to keep sending in Christmas movie reviews.

Please Note: I haven't pre-screened the new Hallmark movie premiering this weekend. If you'd like to post a review on whether this film is family-friendly, please share in the comments below. Thank you so much to everyone who shares with us.

Blessings to You All!

Net

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❤️ SHARING HIS LOVE: ❤️

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

~Proverbs 3:5-7

🐕🔎 *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

⚾🐕

Reminder: 🎄CHRISTMAS MOVIES🎄 Return to HALLMARK - Thursday and Friday Nights!!! 🌟 Details Here:

For us Christmas movie fans, having Christmas movies on our TVs again is truly something to flip over! Plus, the first Christmas movie repeat on the Hallmark Channel Friday night, January 5th, is Flipping for Christmas, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will have THREE Christmas movies on Thursday night, January 4th!

Normally, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will air just two Christmas movies on Thursday nights, but we get an extra one this Thursday!

See the Christmas movie schedule...


Hallmark Movies & Mysteries:

Thursday, January 4, 2024:

🌟Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery - 5pm/4c.
🌟Ms. Christmas Comes to Town - 7pm/6c.
🌟A World Record Christmas - 9pm/8c.


Hallmark Channel:

Friday, January 5, 2024:

🌟Flipping for Christmas - 8pm/7c.


I hope you'll enjoy most of the Christmas movies that the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will sprinkle throughout the year!

You can read *Movie Reviews* for the 2023 Christmas movies *here*.

Please note: I won't have these Christmas movie reminders every week, but you will find the Christmas movies airing throughout the year in the 2024 Christmas Schedule - see here!

Caution: Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery is a murder mystery; therefore, it is not a Christmas movie that is suitable for young children.

May we always hold Christmas in our hearts!

God's Blessings, Net

Christmas movies on DVD:

❄⛄ Happy January, Friends! Let's Leap into this New Year Together... ❄⛄ SEE HERE:

Hello Everyone!

Well, here we are 2 days into 2024! I hope you all had a very nice Christmas break.

As we welcome this new year, I'm acknowledging more and more, at a deeper level, what a blessing it is to have a full, clean slate ahead during this leap year - that we can fill up with all sorts of plans and dreams! I've been seeking The Lord and asking Him to guide all of my steps again this year. I'm excited to leap into 2024 and see what this year holds for me and my family! And for you, too!

Last night, as I'm sure many of you noticed, the Christmas movies stopped cold turkey on TV. It's always kind of sad to see them go. I watched "One Royal Holiday," starring Laura Osnes, until the Hallmark Channel left Christmas at 10pm EST. and went back to the 80's sitcom, "The Golden Girls." 

I turned it then to the last Christmas movie of the day and holiday season on Great American Family, "A Christmas Blessing," starring Lori Loughlin, James Tupper, and Jesse Hutch. Even though I've watched it numerous times since it premiered in mid-November, the inspiring message touched my heart anew. Otto, the Angel, played by Jesse Hutch, shares the well-known scripture from Ecclesiastes 3, which states, "To everything there is a season..." and the profound statement, "Time really has no meaning. Love. The Christmas spirit. That does." (see in the promo video above)

Those words stood out to me afresh as we are now embarking on a new season in life - after Christmas. We will cherish the holy Christmas season of 2023, remember it well, and hold onto the warm feeling, too, as we settle into the Winter season of January and all the newness each day has to offer us. Perhaps, we can still find ways to give to others, and that will be living out the true spirit of Christmas all year round.

Holiday Road - Hallmark Channel

I'm also still enjoying the Christmas movies I have recorded. Recently, I watched "Holiday Road," and I will write a complete review soon, but I just have to say briefly... Wow! That movie is truly touching, heartwarming, funny, and well, it simply has a mix of every emotion! I teared up more than once and laughed out loud, too. Definitely a keeper! It's the best movie I've seen Warren Christie in since "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!" Plus, the movie is a wonderful reminder that we never know what the road lies ahead!

Love on the Right Course - Hallmark Channel

And now... for a recap of the NEW movies coming in 2024...

The Hallmark Channel will be premiering new romantic comedies, and a new mystery is coming to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. I've updated the January Movie post with new images and key art. *See here*

Plus, the Hallmark Channel is already promoting their Loveuary movies, too, and if you missed my previous post regarding them, then you missed my gushing over the fact that the theme for them is Jane Austen! What a marvelous idea, I must say! Indeed, it is! *See details here*

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries also has a new mystery movie coming in February. *See Here*

UPtv also released their schedule of movies they will be premiering in 2024 for both January and February. A few of them have been on my must-see list for a while, so I'm glad to see UPtv will be airing them. *See details here*

As for Great American Family, I noticed a woman asked the network on their Facebook page, "Will you be showing new movies throughout the year? Maybe some new series? I look forward to whatever you have for us."

And Great American Family responded with, "Stay tuned for exciting announcements for 2024 and beyond!"

So, I guess we will have to wait for movie news, but if you've been watching Great American Family these past few weeks, you may have noticed the mention (at the bottom of the screen) of a new series coming in February to Great American Family, titled "County Rescue."

County Rescue - Great American Family

"County Rescue" stars Brett Varvel ("Mayberry Man," "Running the Bases"), Julia Reilly ("A Perfect Christmas Pairing"), Tanya Christiansen ("I Still Believe") and more, and includes an appearance from Christian singer, Colton Dixon, who portrays himself. The series is from the production company, Canyon Productions, whose mission statement is... "Canyon Productions creates movies and series that encourage and share the Good News. Our ambition is to create projects that are uplifting and point the audience to God’s love." Many (if not all) of the Canyon Productions' previous films and series can be seen on Great American Pure Flix.

Synopsis for "County Rescue" via Canyon Productions:
With one paramedic opening, Dani Miller must set aside her recent heartbreak and prove herself worthy of the job while competing against the mayor’s impulsive son and an over-qualified rookie.

I'm sure Great American Family will be sharing even more details soon.

Again, Happy 2024, Everyone! Let's leap into this New Year together and have a Happy One!!!

God's Blessings to You All!

Net ❄⛄