Hallmark Channel Holiday Countdown

'HALLMARK CHANNEL HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN' INITIATIVE UNVEILED

New Year-Round Programming and Marketing Campaign
Celebrates Excitement and Sentiment of Major Annual Holidays

Hallmark Channel, the premiere television destination for family entertainment, will debut its new year-round, holiday countdown programming and marketing campaign, "Hallmark Channel Holiday Countdown," a cross-platform initiative that will launch with "Countdown to Halloween" and continue with "Countdown to Thanksgiving," before culminating in a major five-week long programming and marketing blitz celebrating "Countdown to Christmas."

With the new initiative, the channel will devote ongoing special event status leading to major holidays throughout the year.
The ambitious campaigns for each featured holiday will be implemented through a variety of formats and platforms including on-air, online, ad sponsor packages and a retail promotion with more than 3,200 participating Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide.

"As part of our ambitious plans for re-shaping Hallmark Channel while staying true to and capitalizing on the incredible value of the Hallmark brand, we will be creating events by wrapping programming and promotional resources around the many holidays that are celebrated throughout the year," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Hallmark Channel. "These are golden opportunities for us to take ownership of a space that has proven appeal to consumers, has natural and numerous opportunities for synergy with Hallmark Cards and is not occupied by any other network."

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Drew Seeley, Annie Potts, & Kim Zimmer To Star in Hallmark's FRESHMAN FATHER

DREW SEELEY, EMMY AWARD® NOMINEE ANNIE POTTS AND MULTIPLE EMMY AWARD® WINNER KIM ZIMMER STAR IN "FRESHMAN FATHER," A HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WHICH HAS BEGUN PRODUCTION FOR AIR ON HALLMARK CHANNEL IN 2010

Drew Seeley ("Another Cinderella Story"), Emmy Award nominee Annie Potts ("Love and War," "Designing Women") and multiple Emmy Award-winner Kim Zimmer ("Guiding Light") are set to star in "Freshman Father," a poignant Hallmark Channel Original Movie based on a true story about a young man whose high school sweetheart becomes pregnant and accompanies him to Harvard. When she gives up and goes home, he has to juggle school and all the challenges of being the single parent of a newborn.

"Freshman Father" has begun production in Victoria, B.C., Canada, and will premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2010.

John Patton (Seeley), the small town high school prom king, star quarterback and class valedictorian is all set to start Harvard in the fall when his steady girlfriend, Kathy (Britt Irvin, "The Assistants"), tells him she is pregnant. The couple makes the difficult decision to marry, and Kathy agrees to follow John to school. Then, when the compromises and responsibilities of young parenthood wear on her, Kathy leaves her son, Adam, and John behind to return to her small town.

Struggling now with his classes, a new job and taking care of his son by himself, John wonders how he will do it all. His luck improves a bit when he finds an apartment and his new manager, Dorothy (Potts), becomes his surrogate mom. But then John realizes he's failed a calculus exam after an all-nighter taking care of Adam and he decides to throw in the towel and start packing for home. It's only when an unlikely mentor appears – the hard-nosed Dean Frost (Zimmer) – that John gets a second chance and the support he needs to continue his dream.
"Freshman Father" is being produced by Freshman Father Productions. Carla Singer ("Twitches") is the executive producer; Harvey Kahn is the producer. Michael Scott ("Mrs. Miracle") is directing from a script by Bill Wells ("Blackout").

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 88 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the highest-rated cable networks and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel which focuses on the greatest family movies of all time.

David James Elliott stars in Hallmark Channel Original Movie "Man of the House"

[Press Release - Released by Hallmark]

David James Elliott (“JAG”) stars in "Man of the House" a Hallmark Channel Original Movie about a workaholic ad agency executive who has lost his wife and is then fired from his job. He soon becomes a full-time Mr. Mom and begins to realize what he has been missing by not balancing his career and family life.

“Man of the House” has begun production and will premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2010.

Ben Landis (Elliott) is shocked when his boss gives him the news that his job as an advertising executive is over because he makes too much money and can be easily replaced by three younger guys for the same amount. He shares the news with his two children, Lindsay (Madison Davenport), age 12, and Dylan (Will Shadley), age 8, who have many questions. Then he fires his live-in housekeeper who he can no longer afford to keep. Now in the role of Mr. Mom, he immediately begins making a mess of everything… the kitchen, dropping the kids off at school, managing Dylan’s asthma attack and making cupcakes for the school bake sale.

But Ben keeps at it and soon gets the hang of things and even finds a supporter in Miss Jensen (Sharon Case, “The Young and the Restless”), Dylan’s teacher, with whom there’s an instant attraction. However, when he’s offered a wonderful job at an ad agency in another city, Ben must decide what matters most in life, and what will be the best thing for him and his family.

“Man of the House” is being produced by Larry Levinson Productions. Larry Levinson is the executive producer. Brian Gordon and Jim Wilberger and Lincoln are the producers. Bradford May is directing from a script written by Adam Rockoff.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 88 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the highest-rated cable networks and is the nation’s leading network in providing quality family programming. Hallmark Channel’s sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel which focuses on the greatest family movies of all time.

For more information, please visit www.hallmarkchannelpress.com.

Brian Austin Green & Graham Greene to Star in Hallmark Channel's THE WILD GIRL

[Press Release - Released by Hallmark Channel]

BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN AND ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE GRAHAM GREENE STAR IN "THE WILD GIRL," A HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WHICH HAS BEGUN PRODUCTION FOR PREMIERE IN 2010

Brian Austin Green ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Beverly Hills 90210") and Academy Award® nominee Graham Greene ("Dances With Wolves") star in "The Wild Girl," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie set in the 1930s about a group of Americans who embark on a perilous expedition to exchange a young Apache girl for the son of a wealthy Mexican land owner who has been kidnapped by her tribe.

"The Wild Girl" has begun production in Toronto, Canada, and is set to premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2010.

Ned Giles (Green), an aspiring photographer, is desperate for a job at a local newspaper. When he notices a flyer advertising the chance for privileged men to sign up for an adventure into Old Mexico to save a young boy from the clutches of wild Apache Indians, he convinces Tolley Phillips (Mathew Edison, "House Party"), the troublemaking son of a railroad tycoon, to bring him as his valet so he can photograph the story.

When Ned and Tolley arrive at the expedition's base camp, Ned wanders off alone and discovers a young Apache girl lying in a motionless heap on the ground. He brings her back to the camp where the two local Apache scouts guiding the expedition -- Joseph (Greene) and Albert (Gregory Odjig, "Elijah") -- determine she must be brought back to her people in order to survive. Margaret Hawkins (Kathleen Munroe, "Accidental Friendship"), a graduate student traveling with the expedition as an unofficial anthropologist, negotiates with the expedition authorities to let her, Ned, Tolley, and another valet travel with the guides ahead of the rest of the group and attempt to trade the girl with the Apache Indians for the kidnapped boy.

During the journey, the wild girl unexpectedly befriends the Americans and they form a remarkable relationship that ultimately determines their fate.

Based on the book by Jim Fergus, "The Wild Girl" is being produced by Muse Entertainment Productions. Michael Prupas ("Pillars of the South"), Joel Rice ("Christmas Choir"), William Stewart ("The Rock"), David Helpern ("Leave it to Beaver"), Irene Litinsky ("The Last Templar") and Jesse Prupas ("Family Biz") are the executive producers. Steve Solomos is the producer. Don McBrearty ("Accidental Friendship") is directing from a script by Ronald Parker ("Broken Trail").

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 88 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the highest-rated cable networks and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel which focuses on the greatest family movies of all time.

Dean Cain, Mimi Kennedy, & more Star in Hallmark's THE THREE GIFTS

[Press Release - Released by Hallmark Channel]

DEAN CAIN, JEAN LOUISA KELLY, MIMI KENNEDY, REGINALD VELJOHNSON STAR IN "THE THREE GIFTS," A HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WHICH HAS COMPLETED PRODUCTION

Dean Cain ("The Gambler, The Girl and the Gunslinger"), Jean Louisa Kelly ("Yes, Dear"), Mimi Kennedy ("Dharma and Greg") and Reginald VelJohnson ("Family Matters") star in "The Three Gifts," a holiday Hallmark Channel Original Movie about a childless couple who invite three orphans to spend Christmas with them and end up falling in love with the boys.

The movie has completed production and will premiere on Hallmark Channel December 19 (9-11 PM, ET/PT).

Because their orphanage is being renovated, three orphan boys who are known for being troublemakers temporarily move in with Jack (Cain) and Cheri (Kelly) Green over the Christmas holiday. Rita Green (Kennedy), Jack's aunt who runs the orphanage, asks the couple to take the unruly children during the renovation because they are a loving couple and she knows they will be good to the children. The Greens are unable to have children, and Jack is hesitant about becoming a father. He'd rather invent toys for the couple's toy company.

Rodney (VelJohnson), the toy shop foreman, keeps an eye on the boys who at first visit and then eventually work in the factory.

The situation is working out nicely except for one thing: Believing that one of them will be adopted by the couple, the boys are competing with each other. But they are all in for a big surprise because the couple has fallen in love with all three and are trying to figure out how to adopt all of them.

"The Three Gifts" is being produced by LG Films Production in association with Larry Levinson Productions. Larry Levinson is the executive producer. Brian J. Gordon and James Wilberger are the producers. Dave S. Cass, Sr., directed from a script written by Donald Martin & Mitchell Gabourie.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 88 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the highest-rated cable networks and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel which focuses on the greatest family movies of all time.

RELATIVE STRANGER on Hallmark Channel

RELATIVE STRANGER premieres tonight, March 14, at 8pm on the Hallmark Channel. The movie stars Eriq La Salle ("ER"), Cicely Tyson ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman"), Michael Michele ("ER") and Michael Beach ("Third Watch").

You know I usually like Hallmark films, and although this one is not really my cup of tea, I think some of you might actually enjoy it.

Having seen the movie, I think it can touch some of you and you might even be able to relate. It follows the story of Walter Clemons who comes home to Los Angeles after he learns his father died. Walter left his family six year earlier, and as you can guess, they are not too pleased to see him back in their lives.

I can tell you this, the kid playing Walter's son will break your heart. He has such an incredible scene towards the end of the movie, I know I had tears in my eyes.

Don't forget that Relative Stranger premieres tonight, March 14, at 8pm on the Hallmark Channel.

Watch the preview for Relative Stranger below.

Relative Stranger Synopsis: After learning of the death of his overbearing father, former football hero Walter Clemons (Eriq La Salle) comes home to Los Angeles to claim his share of the estate. Having abandoned his family six years earlier, Walter is in for a tough trip – a visit which involves dealing with the hurts he inflicted on his wife, Charlotte (Michael Michele), their children, Denise (Dana Davis) and Andy (Carlos McCullers) and his own brother, James (Beach), who has become a surrogate father to the kids. Can he count on his mother (Miss CicelyTyson) to help him through this emotional obstacle course, or is it best for all that he return to the empty life from which he came?

While Andy was too young to remember his father – or his leaving - the wounds are still far too fresh for teenager Denise, herself a young athlete, who has no interest in seeing her father return to cause more harm. His estranged wife and brother have each moved on in their own way, challenging Walter’s relationships with both. His elderly mother, wise with age, tries to guide the family through their struggles with one another – but will Walter, a recovering alcoholic, be able to survive the emotional onslaught his family brings to the table, as well as his own?

Hallmark's BEFORE YOU SAY I DO for Valentine's Day

Since today is Valentine's Day, I thought Hallmark's movie, BEFORE YOU SAY 'I DO', would be the perfect to celebrate tonight, at 9pm.

When I first started watching the movie, I thought that it might be a little too cheesy for me, but as it went along it got cuter and cuter and put me right in the mood for Valentine's day. You will fall in love with David Sutcliffe ("Gilmore Girls," "Private Practice") and his quest to woo the woman he is madly in love with.

Overall, I great Valentine movie from Hallmark, so don't miss it tonight at 9pm on the Hallmark Channel.

Check out the preview for Before You Say 'I Do' below.

Synopsis: When it comes to love, George Murray (David Sutcliffe) is about to realize it’s all about timing. His girlfriend, Jane Gardner (Jennifer Westfeldt), can’t bring herself to marry again after Doug, her first husband, broke her heart. Desperate, George wishes he had met Jane before she married Doug, and the next thing he knows, he’s exactly there: Ten years earlier and just a few days before Doug and Jane’s wedding. In a situation when every second counts, George has to rework some history in order to make sure Jane ends up with him and doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

Hallmark's THE NOTE 2: TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE Review

This Saturday, January 31, at 9pm Hallmark Channel will premiere THE NOTE II: TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE, which is a sequel to Hallmark's The Note. Genie Francis and Ted McGinley reprise their roles as a columnist and a sports writer.

I haven't seen The Note (and if you haven't either it airs again before the premiere of The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love at 7pm), but from what I understand it involved Peyton reuniting with the daughter she gave up for adoption 18 years earlier, and starting a relationship with her co-worker King Danville.

But even if you don't watch The Note, I found The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love very easy to understand and enjoy.

This time, Peyton deals with a note from one of her loyal reader, Eve, who disagrees with one of her advices. This actually leads to a new friendship between the two, which will challenge not only Peyton but Eve to live their lives fully.

As for King, he has his hands full with his son's, David, new vocation.

Overall, I found The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love enjoyable, but I couldn't really relate to the characters. I don't think that I am the target audience for the film, but I think that some people definitely will enjoy the story.

You can watch a preview for The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love below, and don't forget to tune in on Saturday, January 31, at 9pm.

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