This is a Bramble Jam podcast.

Welcome to Girls Cone Hallmark, a Hallmark review podcast.

I'm Megan and I'm a longtime Hallmark fan.

I'm Wendy.

I'm a former Hallmark hater.

Today is our hotly anticipated Countdown to Christmas preview episode.

We will be doing this in two parts, so don't forget to come back for part two as we dive into the new movies and series coming to Hallmark and Hallmark Plus this twenty twenty.

Five holiday season.

Can you believe we're here again?

No?

No, it feels like yesterday that we were leaving Kansas City.

Oh really, Yeah, it doesn't feel like it's been nine months since that.

Yeah.

I'm having a lot of melancholy feelings about like this time of year last year, like excited for countdown to Christmas, excited for the cruise, and we have none of that.

This year.

We have no cruise, We have no Kansas City experience.

Although as of this morning, the pre sale for the cruise was just announced and we signed up.

Who knows what we're gonna do with that.

Twenty twenty six seems real far away, it really does.

But but I mean, maybe I know we needed to take a year off in between you.

But I'm gonna have a serious fomo when that cruise set sail.

I know same.

So maybe we'll be back in twenty twenty six.

We shall see.

We'll let y'all know.

Maybe can we do some broad strokes real quick?

Sure?

And I have some questions for you?

Okay, So count under.

Christmas announcement came out.

We have twenty four slash twenty seven new movies.

We'll get into it.

Five ish series, no Hallmark Mystery slash Miracles of Christmas.

Right, so I'm curious.

Let's start with what are your thoughts on the number of movies.

Well, I've been thinking about this and I have been reading Reddit and Facebook a lot.

I knew people would be so unhappy that there were less than forty plus movies.

However, me personally, I've been saying for maybe the last two years, quality over quantity.

Yes, So I'm hopeful that we're going to get some smash hit movies here because they're not making so many.

Right, they didn't feel the pressure to hit that number, which is made up it's a goal exept for themselves, right, and rather focused on making quality movies.

I have some thoughts on twenty twenty five from Hallmark that we'll get into in a minute.

How do you feel we have several series both scripted and reality.

I mean, I know the answer to this, but how do you feel about having those as part of the countdown?

I love it, Yeah, mix it up, baby, Yeah.

I know.

There's so many traditionalist Hallmark viewers who are like, why aren't they just airing Hallmark movies all the time?

I need Hallmark movies all the time, anti reality, anti series, but I'm like, why not, right?

I think there are a lot of Hallmark watchers who get very in their Hallmark box and they're like, I need my two hour movie.

I know what to expect, and I understand I'm not really I'm not a great stepper out of the box either, especially when it comes to television.

I'm far more likely to go with what feels comfortable.

But as we get into this, I do think there are some things that are worth people's time.

I agree.

Let's talk Hallmark Mystery.

Do you have an opinion about the loss of Miracles of Christmas?

Now?

Honestly, those were probably my least favorite.

Look, I need a fun wrong rom com.

H I don't need anything like too too heavy.

The holiday season is heavy for me personally anyway, so like that's not the type of movie I'm drawn to.

But with that said, I know a lot of people are upset that those movies don't exist anymore or that's yeah.

So what I wonder is for me, I'm not bothered by the loss of movies not airing on Hallmark Mystery.

Those movies always had a lower viewership.

Fewer people have access to Hallmark Mystery.

I feel like some people don't fully understand that there were multiple channels where you could watch Hallmark movies.

So I think consolidating everything on Hallmark Channel and for the listeners who may or may not know this, everything is getting a next day air on Hallmark Plus.

This is, in my opinion, the best year for counting to Christmas movies because there is a very easy way to watch them all if you don't have Hallmark Channel, and it's not catch them in the seventy two hours.

They're available on Peacock.

Right.

Every movie is on Hallmark Plus.

Every series will be on Hallmark Plus next day.

So I want Hallmark to.

Make a full court press to push that information out there so people are aware that they can have access to every single movie.

Now, tell me, on Hallmark Mystery, they are going to be airing marathons of Christmas content?

Is that correct?

Every Sunday beginning October nineteenth, Hallmark Mystery offers movie marathons presented in festive themed collections, including A Cozy Country Christmas, Thank You for Your Service, The Magic of Christmas, and a Little Christmas Faith every Tuesday night starting October twenty first, viewers wanting to binge watch holiday movies led by their favorite stars will have their Christmas wish granted with back to back films featuring Paul Campbell, Jesse Shram, Victor Webster and more.

Look, I love a collection, I love a themed situation.

I'm glad they're doing that, and I think that ticks the I mean, they have to utilize that channel for something.

Yeah, I'm very curious to see what the future of that channel is going to be.

They rebranded.

It was part of their big rebrand announcement prior to Hallmark Plus, they rebranded all of their channels.

I don't know what's happening over there.

I don't either.

My thought on what Hallmark is doing.

I have felt like twenty twenty five has been a bit of a rebuilding, refocusing year.

You think Hallmark plus big plans in twenty twenty four, all this original content, and I feel like Countdown to Christmas was a deluge.

Not only did we have forty movies on linear programming, but we also had original movies.

We had The Unwrapping Christmas, we had Cherry Lane, we had Finding Mister Christmas, Holidays, Mistletoe Murders, plus Ready Cycle Low, all of that on Hallmark Plus it was entirely too much.

So as a consumer, how many people are genuinely watching all forty movies?

That number has got to be low.

I like the balance, and I think like this year has been like, let's maybe recoup some of what we invested in Hallmark lass and I hope that the idea is now we're making plans to start twenty twenty six strong, because twenty twenty five has been a little bit of a mismash.

I agree, a lot of re airs, a lot.

Of weekends without even a new movie, not even a reaired movie.

So I'm very curious to see what next year brings.

We have Michelle Vickery in the mix, hopefully trying to refocus things.

I'm not mad at this schedule though, me neither, particularly as a content creator.

Yes, ma'am, Now let's talk about you and I really quickly.

Okay, you made a statement the other day.

What did you say.

I said, let's do them all.

I don't see why we don't.

Yeah, in previous years, when there's forty plus movies, we would have to sit down and like kind of pick and choose what sounded best to us.

And you know, we are two people.

There's only so many hours in the day, there's only so many days in the week to publish podcasts.

But this year seems highly doable.

We're talking about two movies a week plus the series.

Yeah, I think that can be done.

I think so too.

I think so too.

So.

I mean, I'm saying it now, let's do it.

But who knows what what can happen?

Look, if you had a sneak peek into the behind the scenes of the Lives of Girls Gone Hallmark this past week, expect the unexpected would absolutely be the theme around here.

M But let's hope maybe it's all out of the way and it's going to be smooth sailing until the end of the year.

I hope.

So, so are you ready to talk?

Count do under Christmas twenty twenty five?

I am, Why don't you kick us off?

Saturday October eighteenth, A Royal Montana Christmas, A princess seeking escape spends Christmas at a Montana ranch where she rediscovers joy family traditions and an un expected romance.

It stars Fiona Googleman and Warren Christy.

It's also directed by Peter Benson.

Peter Benson one of my faves.

Fiona Googleman was in last year's she was in Sugar Plum.

She was also into the season to be Irish.

She was in sugar Plum.

Ask Who's not one of the leads?

But she was in it?

Okay, I'm shaking my head to Megan.

I'm like, that's not right, but I don't she was not.

She was definitely not the lead, not one of the two leads.

Remember her.

I have been alongside Victor Webster in that cameo saying, oh, I don't know who she was.

My point is Princess Victoria of Zelarnia is the character that she plays.

I'm glad to see Warren Christy.

He'll be in Home Turf with Niki Delouche this fall.

He was in Niki with Nikki di Loluche last year.

I liked him in that movie as well.

I feel like he's been like we haven't seen a ton of him lately, so I'm glad to see him back.

But I had to tell you when you kick off with Princess Victoria of Larnia, my first reaction is to like mentally to.

Now, yes, I agree you lost me at Princess, and I hate seeing that.

It's just not the type of movie movie that draws me in.

With that said, though, you have a really good director with Peter Benson, like he gave us Return to Office earlier this year Leah's Perfect Gift from last year.

I enjoyed that movie quite a bit.

Blind a book Club, and he's booked and busy this year.

This is the first of three maybe movies he has in the countdown to Christmas lineup, So good director.

All Right, what are you thinking about a royal Montana Christmas?

Overall?

I think it's an odd choice to kick off this season.

Interesting, but it also makes sense for October, oh because Montana feels like fall No, because nobody's watching Christmas movies and how I'm not trying to be a hater.

I just I hear you.

I do hear you.

Although I do remember last year starting strong, don't ask me what, Oh no, it was.

It was that Robert Buckley any Greening movie, which was great.

It was great.

I think.

Wasn't Holiday Crashers opening weekend too?

I think so?

Yeah, So I'm I'm willing to be surprised.

Speaking of names, I want you to know that Warren Christy plays a man named Huntley Blaylock.

Hmmm.

He's a rancher, a dashing he's her dashing guide.

Yeah, he's a rancher.

So there's going to be a lot of royal in the country.

Hijinks may ensue.

Yeah, I'm I'm not looking for I'm envisioning her very much like Jesse Shram and Harvest Moon, like on her ass in a big mud puddle.

Hmm, you know, inappropriately addressed for the occasion.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm well.

We'll be watching it.

Come back here, girl's gone hommark for the review.

Next up, Sunday, October nineteenth, a Christmas Angel Match starring Megan Ory and Benjamin A.

Two angels with very different styles are paired to help a destined couple fall in love and find their own spark along the way.

My notes say angels, yes, Benjamin Airs double yes.

So this one is directed by Christy Wilbolf.

I don't know who the writer of this movie is currently unknown, just because the information is not readily available to us or on the internet quite yet.

At first glance, this was Giving Miracles of Christmas.

However, the extended description which you have in your hands, it reads to me more like opposites attract trope.

Yeah, let me give you a little more information.

Monica is a by the book traditionalist who follows every heavenly rule, while Michael, that's our boy, Benjamin right there embrace's spontaneity and delights and earthly joys like hot chocolate, snowball fights and holiday dancing.

Is it giving buddy the elf angel version?

M Perhaps, Look, Benjamin Air's is a great comedic actor, and so I think he's going to.

Bring a lot of fun to this role.

Remember him in the Santa Claus last year.

Absolutely Chef's freaking Kiss.

Absolutely, he's so funny, he does comedy so well.

I think this is going to be a real nice pairing.

I can absolutely see Megan or as this kind of buy the book Angel Dal.

I'm excited to see how they portray angels.

In the last couple of years, we've seen them do variations of Providence Falls.

We had Angels and that was kind of weird.

And then that movie where Ian Harding, isn't it and like they're angels and.

Oh yes, that's a Christmas Carol spin off.

That was really good the way they portrayed loved there.

So I'm excited to see what they're going to do here.

I agree with you, this is definitely on my radar.

Also in this movie, these two angels, they're trying to put like a couple together.

I'm excited to see who that couple is.

Is it random or is it going to be like a Yammo type situation question?

Is there any part of you that is envisioning the nine to two to one zero Christmas episode with the Angel and.

The school bus and all this nonsense.

Yes, TV episode from thirty plus years ago.

Yes, but I can hear their voices as the bus is headed towards certain disaster.

Oh can I?

So?

Can?

I?

Next up Saturday, October twenty fifth, Mary Christmas, Ted Cooper stars Robert Buckley not Junior, and Kimberly Sesdad.

After a string of unlucky holidays, a cheerful weatherman heads home for Christmas and gets a second chance at love.

Writer Russell Haylan did the screenplay for.

This, Yes he did.

I only know this because Homie's out on Reddit promoting it.

Yes, I saw that you share.

You shared it with me.

He also posted on Instagram about it.

I like when these writers and directors are getting up in the socials and sharing what they've worked on, because that information's not out there with all of these press releases.

For me, I was already sold.

I feel like Robert Buckley and Kimberly says, has a great pairing, can't go wrong, cannot go wrong.

Russell Hanline can write a killer holiday movie script.

So I think it's a fun, a fun idea.

I agree, we have all the ingredients here.

However, may I read this line to you from the extended synoposition?

Sure?

Within hours of arriving at his sister Kate's house, he finds himself making a trip to urgent care after falling off a ladder while hanging decorations.

While there, he runs into Ruth Mittens, his former high school science teacher who was always his cheerleader.

He reconnects with the charming Hope Miller, except she's now doctor Hope Miller, with whom he went to high school and quietly crushed on.

From Afar look falling off a ladder.

I always worry hijinks.

Yeah, but but I'm excited to see Robert Buckley play kind of like this unlos dude.

I'm mean, with a face card like his, and to be a love face card look at you.

Yeah, I'm excited for it.

I'm really excited to see who is going to play Ruth Mittens, the high school teacher as am I.

Also, he's described as having relentless optimism.

I'm picturing a ted Lasso type character, which I totally get behind.

Yes, and then you got like Kim's dry sense of humor.

Like, I can see it all working very much.

Looking forward to this one.

So next up on this very weekend, we have Sunday, October second, we have the Cherry Lane Movie's Hallmark Channel debut.

We get a triple play starting at four pm, seasons Greetings from Cherry Lane, followed by Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane, and then deck the Halls on Cherry Lane.

This was a Hallmark Plus release in twenty twenty four.

I am not surprised to see that they I'm glad actually to see that we get them back to back, that they're doing them on one Sunday, rather than trying to fill three separate time slots.

Thank god.

And this wasn't even in the original press release.

They're not calling these originals, but they are on the official schedule.

I got to say, I really enjoyed the first round of Cherry Lane the original, the original movie.

Yeah, I thought it was very cleverly done.

Yeah, I agree.

I did not.

Watch all of these, but I started to.

I'd be willing to give them another try.

These aren't high.

On my list of movies I'm dying to talk about this season.

That's interesting you say that.

More on that in a second.

I had a very good feeling these were going to drop on the schedule.

I was kind of surprised when they weren't, like initially on the schedule.

Yeah, absolutely, me too, But I'm not surprised.

Why Why wouldn't you, Why wouldn't they agree with you?

I'm so glad they're not drawing it out over three weekends.

I would probably riot in the streets of Kansas City if that was the case.

Not because these are not good movies.

It's just because it's been a year of Encore presentations and I'm like, please give us something new and fresh.

I agree with you, I'm not Are we going.

To review these?

I don't know.

I just feel like they've.

Been out there.

I don't know if we want to, Like, I'm not sure that we need to.

And I watched these last year when they originally dropped.

For me, it's it's like rinse and repeat.

It's the same.

Like I thought it was so nicely done.

The first movie was so nicely done, like you said, it was clever.

It left a lot of people asking questions, they didn't quite get it whatever.

But now you're repeating that same formula like three more times.

It feels like why.

So That's how I feel about it.

But great cast, great casting throughout.

Absolutely let me move on?

Yeah?

Moving on Saturday, November one, Christmas on Duty East stars Janelle Parish and Parker Young.

This was directed by Jake Van Wagner, who directed last year's Deck the Walls.

The screenplay comes from writer Alexis Sigal, totally new to Hallmark, has previously written on a TV series, but that's it.

Here is the synopsis.

Former rivals are stuck working Christmas duty together on base and a snowstorm forces them into a holiday saving mission.

Last year's Finding Mister Christmas winner Ezra Morland also appears in this movie.

What are your first impressions?

Well, our stars are Janelle Parish and Parker Young.

Parker Young.

I feel like it's worth noting in that it's so interesting to me j They list their credits in the press release.

Janelle is listed as Pretty Little Liars, which is so bizarre to me that in a Hallmark press release you wouldn't list one of her Hallmarks, sugar Plum.

Why are we not calling out sugar Plum a.

Return to office.

Yes.

Parker Young's previous credit is listed as Enlisted, which is a twenty fourteen series that he has, and he's been in quite a bit since then.

He was in several episodes of nine to one one Lone Star, the series Impostors a Million Little Things.

But he is a Hallmark newbie.

We have two military based movies this year.

My concern is sometimes when we try to do a very specific job.

Can we make it look realistic?

Okay, I don't want bobo military.

I want to give it the respect that it deserves.

And I do worry about that a little bit.

Here's my worry.

I feel like this movie, a majority of it might take place in one setting or one short time frame.

Yes, I think you're right, and that.

Worries me a little bit.

I don't have a great feeling about this one.

I love Janelle Parish like last year's sugar Plum, last year's a haunted wedding, like she was really busiastic, really busy last year, and at the beginning of this year.

I hope I'm wrong about it.

I worry it's just gonna be like frenemies to lovers with a greater mission of like saving Christmas, and I don't know, I don't know.

They plan to stay away from each other, but when a snowstorm prevents all the Christmas presents from being delivered to base, they are forced to team up for a special mission to save Christmas.

Now, is this a Santa Claus situation?

What's you know?

Or is it like save the Amazon truck?

Good question?

Good question?

Indeed, Next up, the Hotly anticipated Sunday, November two.

A Newport Christmas starring Gina Clare Mason and West Brown, a nineteen o five socialite, magically lands in twenty twenty five Newport that's Rhode Island and falls for a local historian, but must choose between two centuries?

Can I just add here?

The director is Dustin Rei Cart, the writers Juwa Botkin, Andrew Gernhardt and Dustin y Cart as well.

This is the team, with the exception of Jawabatkin, but this is the production team behind A Builtmore Christmas.

This is a killer team.

They're not gonna miss, not gonna miss, not gonna miss.

Costuming done by one Keith Costumes.

Yep, who I trust to get the period costuming done well.

He of course also worked on the Biltmore Christmas.

He nailed that.

In my opinion, I am very much looking forward to this on many many levels.

I love everyone involved.

A Builtmore Christmas really sold me on time travel Christmas content.

I mean, you can't go wrong with Jawabakan too, who knows how to write.

She writes the we have said for a long time.

She writes, like difficult family situations really well, if you're not familiar with her work.

I mean she wrote Savorine Paris from last year, branching out from maybe two years ago with Sarah Drew.

She's so good, She's so good.

Gina Claire is great, Wes Brown is great.

It's gonna be five stars if we can get these two to sing together.

I don't know if there is gonna be a moment for that or not.

I'm really looking, really, really looking forward to this one.

I just think visually it's gonna be stunning.

Storytelling is gonna be great.

I cannot wait.

I co sign all of that.

We're gonna take a quick break and we're gonna come right back with more first impressions of the count.

On a Christmas lineup.

Saturday, November eighth, Christmas Above the Clouds talk about another hotly anticipated, indeed reunification of our two faves.

Mister Golden Delicious himself.

Oh my goodness, guys, Christmas above the Clouds.

I don't know if I even have said it yet.

A CEO trying to skip Christmas, faces her past, present and future on a long haul flight and reconnects with her ex.

This is the first time we've seen Aaron Craig how and Tyler hyes, reunite?

Since it was always you do you have a first impression?

My first impression is done and done.

I'm here appointment television for real.

Peter Beinson also directed It's gonna be great.

I have no doubt these two have fire chemistry.

They're great together.

I'm excited to see them reunite.

I think they've both only gotten better with time.

If this isn't a smash hit.

I'll be shocked.

Yeah, let me tell you, I love a retelling of a Christmas Carol.

In the extended synopsis, they talk about three quirky spirits you have who come to visit?

Who is playing the three quirky spirits?

I cannot wait.

I haven't heard any rumors.

Please, I'm begging these are cameo spots.

Absolutely begging that they're cameo spots.

Here's what I am worried about.

Like Christmas on duty, I feel like this is taking place in one setting.

Are we trapped in this airplane for the entire time or is it going to be like they eventually land and then like life continues on land.

I don't know what do you think?

Are we in this tube, this metal tube, this entire.

We're spending a lot of time in an airplane, which they're gonna have to sell me on for real.

But so excited to see these two and like you said, bring on golden delicious Hines.

You know, I think the fact that they It says, haunted by her past present in future, she's forced to confront the choices that led to her success, so it left her flying solo.

So we may get while we are centered in a plane in real time, we may get a lot yeah, dream sequences or moments that or at least are set outside of the plane, happening in past and the future.

I'm really excited.

I don't know who the writer is on this one either, dying to know that as well.

Next up, Sunday, November ninth, A Keller Christmas Vacation.

It starts Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, and Eden Share.

Three adult siblings reluctantly reunite for a European Christmas or river cruise that becomes the family trip of a lifetime.

Wendy, do you know who eaton Share is?

I sure do?

From the middle, Sue, heck, yeah, it's not a show that I watched, But she's like a cultural touchstone that I shall like.

She's real great on TikTok.

She's super normal, really got twins, She's just like a mom.

I'm so excited.

I really enjoy her on TikTok.

She's real smart and funny.

And I did not watch The Middle in real time, but TikTok loves to feed me scenes of television shows and I've seen a fair bit of it since then.

She's absolutely an icon.

I love this pairing her.

Jonathan Brandon Routh of course, Superman Slash Nine Lives, Nine Kittens of Christmas, Welcome Back, Welcome back.

We're headed back down the Danube.

Yeah, Danube, but make it Christmas.

They must have gotten a good deal.

Yeah, here's some inside baseball.

Last year, we interviewed Jonathan Bennett and he was telling us off Mike.

It was off Mic.

I mean, I feel like we can talk about it now.

But he's like, yeah, I'm getting ready to leave.

I gotta go do a European movie, like and it's got to be done now actually during the Christmas season, so.

They must go to some holiday market.

Yeah.

Look, I'm into it.

I like the three adult siblings angle.

I'm excited to see who plays their parents.

I'm into the River Cruise.

Cruise movie the Dan New Movies I really liked, and if I recall when we reviewed the Dan New Movies, I was a little bit disappointed that they didn't show more boat stuff.

But here is where it's going to work.

Because they're not going to just be contained to a boat.

They're going to be in the you know, when you what's it called when you d boards.

Yeah, and they're gonna go to the markets and they're gonna do this stuff.

And it allows the opportunity for like, you know, a boyfriend or a girlfriend to fly to them.

Like it's not just going to be them or it's gonna be some meeting.

They're gonna meet people.

So yeah, it does say new friendships and budding romances.

This will be, as far as we can tell, the first opportunity for a main character of Sam sex romance.

I'm certainly hoping we get some of that with Jonathan Bennett here.

Agreat.

You know what I think would be so amazing too if Katherine Disher showed up just as like a sitting in the lounge area, So good.

Back, not just Katherine Disher, bring back our captain.

Oh I'd love that.

I wonder if it's the same.

It's got to be like the same, it's got to be actual boat company.

Yeah, Saturday, November fifteenth, Here is the one I feel everybody is excited about.

Yeah, and please don't mistake the tone in my voice about it.

But three wise This Man, starring Paul Campbell, kimberly Sasdad, Tyler Hines, Andrew Waller, Margaret Margaret Colin, directed by Terry Ingram.

I believe the writer's return, Paul Campbell, kimberly Sasaid, and Russell Han.

Indeed, Russell confirmed he did ride alongside Paul and Kim for this final chapter and the Brenner Boy saga.

The Brenner brothers are back, this time juggling babies, big moves, and their final family Christmas in their childhood home.

I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Yeah.

With unexpected in laws, visiting wild animals, lurking and freshly cut Christmas trees, and a hesitant mal Sanna, the boys love their work cutout for them as the holiday begins to loom.

Yeah.

I think this is a rinse and repeat situation.

They know what works, why not bring it back one last time.

What are your personal feelings on that Last year's Three Wiser Men was not one of my favorite movies of the season.

I didn't hate it, but I thought there were stronger showings.

I may have said last year that we didn't need a third installment of the rewise Is, then I'm not surprised it's back.

It will be an enjoyable watch no matter what.

Yeah, I mean, the guys together are always funny.

I think there will be plenty of comedy.

I'm hoping there's a big emotional payoff, especially with the storyline that this is their last Christmas in the family home and what that means to them.

I'm hoping there's some.

Meat to meet.

Uh huh, yeah.

Yeah.

Sunday, November sixteenth, we have tidings for this season.

It starts Tamara Mowrey Housley, b J Britt and Elijah Justice Lewis.

A serious news anchor is inspired by a young fan to highlight heartwarming holiday stories and finds love along the way.

All I gotta say is b J Britt was looking like a snack in those behind the scenes sneak peaks we got of this movie.

I am all in for our boy BJ as a newscaster.

I think he's gonna nail it.

I'm really excited to see b J Britt in a lead role.

I hate the title of this movie.

It was formerly called Tonight's Top Story, which at least gives me something.

We know his character is a miscaster.

Tidings for this season means absolutely nothing to me.

I totally agree.

It's like they had to make it holiday in some way.

There had to be some sort of happy medium between Tonight's Top Story and Tidings for the Season.

Yeah, I just I mean, I could freaking chat GPT five absolutely absolutely.

What I like about this is the premise feels fun, and it feels fresh, and I like that it's reflective of our world today because in the extended synopsis, we have like a boy who's unhappy about all the bad news in the world.

Yeah, let's report some good stories.

Yeah.

I love that.

That give me some feel good.

I'm excited.

I'm a little bit wor worried because you know how I feel about children and movies.

Could it could go either way, like this could be super annoying or he'd be like adorable.

Totally agree what our synopsis does not make clear is that this young boy is the son of Tamaramo Ray Housley's character right a single mom So and then, of course things are gonna get sticky as the young boy starts to look up to.

This man in his budding romance with his mother.

Yeah.

I'm looking forward to it me too.

Here's another big one, Saturday, November twenty second Holiday touchdown, A Bill's love story.

I mean, neighbors bounded by Bill's mafia traditions, discover a decade's old Christmas secret and the romance that's been right next door.

Okay, hear me out for a second.

This movie stars Holland Roden, Matthew Didario, plus cameos from Buffalo Bill's players and legends.

Director Dustin Reichart also did last year's football movie.

We talked about him earlier in this episode that he did builtmore like he's very.

Skilled than his job.

Yeah, but Julie Sherman Wolf did not get the opportunity to write this movie, and as far as I can tell, did not write a movie in the countdown.

Yeah, there's a lot of movies that we don't know who wrote them yet.

So I'm hoping that there's one in there that was pinned by her, and.

We just don't know yet.

Yeah.

The writers of this are Vanessa Morano and Danielle Morrow.

If you are a Gilmour Girls fan, Vanessa Morano is April Nardini.

Hmmm, here, I'm gonna say it.

How did they land this gig?

The writers?

Yeah, that's a great question.

I don't know.

I thought the Chiefs movie was fine last year.

I thought it was.

Cute, but it was one and done right.

It was totally watchable, but it was not a movie that I wanted to continue talking about once it was over.

I found the promotion of it to be very frustrating.

It overshadowed so many other movies that I thought deserved time and promotion.

I haven't that.

It hasn't hit critical mass yet, so it'll be interesting to see how that promotion plays out this year.

You know, last year, the stars of that movie were on the cruise.

Julie Sherman, Wolf was on the cruise.

There was a big focus on Tyler and Hunter.

That's not the case this year, right, They're not on the cruise, although I'm sure they'll make a appearance at Kansas City.

I'm very interested to see what the promotion looks like.

I think it could be fine bringing in a fandom like this, bringing in the football fandom.

There's also another crossover with the Bills player in another movie.

Yeah.

I noticed that too, So you know, I think that's smart.

Right?

Are you going to get some people who are maybe willing to watch because they're going to see their favorite team?

Andrew Walker makes a cameo in this movie.

Obviously we'll watch it.

Yeah.

I'm looking forward to this one the least, and I will gladly eat crow if it's good.

Totally me too.

I'm not afraid to admit that.

If it's good, I just I wasn't on my list of things to look forward to this year.

Yeah, but let's see.

Can April Nardini write a script?

I don't know.

I don't know that.

Sunday, November twenty third, Melt my Heart This Christmas, A glass blower's dream collides with a fair director's rule, leading to love, betrayal and a second chance, starring Laura Vandervoort as the passionate glass blower and Stephen Who's our That says a lot right there.

I just don't I don't have high hopes.

For this movie.

So when I was doing the research ear like weeks and weeks and weeks ago, when I started compiling the rumored movies for Hallmark, this one was one of them at that time.

Full IMDb page, which leads me to believe that this acquisition is an acquisition.

It reads like one.

I could be wrong.

I don't know.

I've enjoyed Lloyd both actors previously, but this story is not compelling enough for me to be interested.

And the director and writer are two names that are not familiar with Hallmark.

We also have mixed into this storyline.

There's a secret identity situation, so you know there's a case for misunderstandings to abound.

Oh boy, oh boy, indeed, we're gonna take a quick break and we're gonna come right back with more first impressions of the count on a Christmas lineup that takes us into Mary Thanksgiving weekends.

I gotta tell you kind of surprised that our football Bill's movie did not end up on Mary Thanksgiving.

Indeed, indeed it did last year.

But with that said, let's get into the first movie of Mary Thanksgiving Weekend, Thursday, November twenty seventh.

This is Thanksgiving Day.

If I'm correct, we are correct.

We met in December.

Stars Autumn Reser and Nile Mater.

Director, writer currently unknown.

I believe Nea Wineman wrote this script.

Really Ah, that makes me so happy to strangers share a magical night in a holiday hotel and spend December searching for each other.

My first impression.

I love a missed connection storyline.

Me too.

I love Autumn Recer, we have not seen her since last summer.

Give me bail.

I love nil Mater.

I know he's not going to be bailing.

This, but no, but Nina Weinman did report that nil Mat is incredible in this.

Oh I'm so excited.

Yeah.

I love their quest to find each other.

That's very fun.

Next up, Friday, November twenty eighth, The Snow Must Go On.

This is directed by one Jeff Beasley and stars Heather Hemmons and Corey kott Are.

This is about a former Broadway star who directs a small town Christmas musical, rekindling his love for the stage and for a local teacher.

Isaiah Hayward is Coreycott's characters name.

He's a former Broadway star, so Jeff gets to revisit his Broadway Dreams.

I imagine we get some singing once again in this movie.

I have some good news.

Stephanie say also, Stephanie say ah.

I hope she gets to sing.

I know so.

If you recall, Jeff Beasley directed Last Year's A Carol for Two, which was also a Nina Weinman movie, it did not get talked about enough.

I loved that movie.

It was so good.

The music was so.

Incredible in that movie.

I'm thrilled.

I'm so excited for this one.

I don't think we made enough Hey about the fact that Jordan Litz, the actual Fearo on Broadway, was in that movie.

Jaw of Stone.

That was such a great movie.

If you have not watched it, please find it on Hallmark Plus.

Yes, but I am really looking forward to this one, really really looking forward to this one.

Last Year's A Carol for Two with that like kind of New York gritty miss Broadway.

I just loved so much about that.

I hope it has touches of that.

I don't think it's going to because it's like small town Christmas musical, but I'm looking for the big musical scenes.

Sure me too.

I cannot wait.

Friday November twenty eighth.

The More the Merrier stars Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny.

Snowed in at a rural hospital on Christmas Eve, two doctors deliver babies and holiday cheer while falling for each other.

Director and writer unknown Well.

One of the babies being delivered is the baby of the local obg yn.

Now, look, I like this pairing Rachel Boston Brandon Penny.

This is a real fun pairing.

As you often point out, Brandon was so fun in Family Food on the cruise.

Worried about the high jinks, worried about the like oh no, you know, like a little.

Bit of that, but could be very fun.

This is also the movie that has the crossover with the Bills Player, if I'm correct, Mar Hamlin.

Yes.

And there's a little bit of a confusion I feel in terms of the story premise here because the way it reads to me is like there's a lot of baby's being delivered, but when you when you read the synopsis, it does talk about like other heart patients.

I have a link to a website it's called abbot dot com, which is weirdly sounds related but it's not.

And the article is Abbot Heartmates.

Ambassador tomar Hamlin and five of his Heartmates teammates will appear in the More the Merrier And so these are real life heart patients.

And so my guess is they're there trying to spread holiday cheer, doing a holiday cheer visit, delivering gifts, that sort of situation children, right, but DeMar Hamlin is there, yeay, trying to yeah, spread holiday cheer.

Yeah, I'm not sure.

So it feels a little late dual storyline, Yeah it does it get too messy?

I hope not?

Yeah?

Yeah.

Next up Saturday, November twenty ninth and Alpine Holidays starring Ashley Williams, Lacey Maylee and Julian Somoni.

A strange sisters honor their grandmother's wish with a trip to the French Alps that rekindles family bonds and sparks romance.

Weren't we just saying we needed a group of women, including Ashley Williams, And here it is, our wish has come true?

Yep.

Also directed by Lucy Guest.

Which It's gonna be so great, It's gonna be so great, Like I'm in Ashley Williams, Stan, I love her, I love her movies.

I told Megan off Mike all week and long.

I watched maybe four Ashley Williams.

What did You Want?

I watched October Kiss ye.

I watched Falling Together from last year.

Yes, I also watched One More hold On.

She has long hair in it and she's a single.

Oh never kiss a man in a Christmas Guys, I've been really sick and so like, I just like laid on the couch and watched movies.

And yeah, yeah it was an Ashley Williams weekend.

But actually William's fest.

I'm so excited.

I love Lacy j Maylee too.

I just think I'm expecting comedy.

I'm expecting Heartfield connection.

You cannot go wrong.

I'm dying to see who wrote this movie.

Me too.

Here's a Biggie Saturday, November twenty ninth, So this is a double header of a night.

Here we have the highly anticipated A Grand Old Opry Christmas stars Nicky DeLoach, Christopher Paulaha, James Ditton, Shorn, Sharon Lawrence, plus Grand Old Opry cans by many, many musicians.

This is director by Claire Nieder Pruhim, which I was so filled with joy when I found out that a woman directed this.

I don't know why.

I enjoy her movies a lot.

I'm very excited to see her do something with this.

I don't know who the writer of this movie is.

Neither do I.

I think it's Tracy Andrene.

Oh fantastic.

Here's the synopsis.

A songwriter returns to Nashville's Grand Old Opry, where Christmas Magic transports her back in time to reconnect with her late father.

Can I tell you here's the one biggest thing that worries me, this big extended cast.

I hope it doesn't come off as like an all star special?

Do you see what I mean with?

Yeah?

And I look, these are like if you were a nineties country fan and you're seeing names like Red Agins and Susie Bagas and then she gets transported back to nineteen ninety five to connect.

A part of me is like the nineties country is ma jam yeah yea ash So.

So I'm hoping it's done in a way that's not like and Ladies and Gentlemen Sissy Boggas and it's more like, hey, that music is incidental to the time, and she happens to be there.

Yeah, Well, if she sings Hay Cinderella in this movie.

I'm going but there's so.

Many musicians in this do you think, like no one artist and they begin to imagine how they're gonna do it.

Yeah, I don't know.

I don't know.

Look, I love Chris, we all know this.

I love Nikki.

I'm excited to see them together in this.

I'm excited to see Nikki get a really big movie.

I love the time travel element so much, the fact that she gets to go back in time and it's a story of redemption.

And we have Chris who's playing this nineties.

He's not present day.

He's a dude that lived in the nineties.

He's like a manager or something.

So excit I cannot wait.

I will have some problems if they like have a romantic thing.

Like look, I know I've just talked about it before, a Biltmore being my favorite movie, Like you.

Don't want them to have a romance.

I do, but like in my brain it doesn't make any sense, but you know, sell it to me.

I mean, they bring him forward in time and a built more Christmas.

I know, I don't know.

He's our time traveling dude.

He is.

I'm really excited for this movie.

I'm really excited, and I have been.

Have you have you been to Nashville?

I have not.

I went several years ago.

I toured the ground old Operate.

I can envision it in my mind.

It's like church pews, like I can just see the dark wood and stained glass, like I'm already envisioning what this movie is gonna look like.

I'm so excited.

I think it's gonna be great.

They had a ton of they had a call for background actors.

So a lot of Hallmark watchers, including Front of the Show denise it, are in this.

That's so exciting, it's fun, so fun.

I wish I would do that here in La.

You know a lot of Hollywood where they're supposed to make movies but they don't.

But you know, yeah, well California is trying to incentivize people to come back to make movies.

So crush your fingers.

Wrapping up Mary.

Thanksgiving weekend, we have Sunday two movies, The Christmas Cup Sunday November thirtieth, which stars Rhann and Fish and Ben Rosenbaum, who is on when Calls the Heart.

A marine sidelined by an injury, leads her hometown team in a holiday rivalry game and finds love on and off the field.

Do you have any thoughts on this movie?

Not for one second do I believe that Rhianna and Fish is a marine.

I find rhann and Fish.

I really like her.

However, I find her to have somewhat of a bad picker.

Uh huh, go ahead, So I think she finds herself in Look at a picture of her.

That's a great performance.

She and Tyler Hines have crazy chemistry in that movie.

And then you look at all these on location travel movies that kind of fall flat for me quite frankly, So this could really go either way.

She's too in the very best way, like too bubbly and too exuberant for me to buy her as like a serious And the Christmas Cup is it about soccerow?

It's some sort of sport, the annual Christmas Cup against the rival town.

I mean, it'd be great if it was like trivia and not actual sport.

I don't know, Like, it's just this isn't This does nothing for me, totally nothing for me.

I'm sorry.

Sunday, November thirtieth, again, another doubleheader night.

We have Christmas at the Catnip Cafe Stars Aaron Cahill and Paul Campbell, directed by Lucy Guest, a marketing exec inherits half of a cat cafe, where fundraising, feline matching, and romance all play leading roles.

What are your thoughts here?

I mean, the premise makes my eyes roll, but but I do think the cast and director are going to elevate this.

Sure.

I imagine Paul will play like a curmudget type.

Yeah, he's doctor Ben Kain, the veterinarian who owns the other half of the cat cafe that Aaron ky Hill's character wants to sell before Christmas.

Naturally.

Yeah, those hot Christmas real estate deadlines.

Totally.

I feel like I know what to expect.

But I love Aaron k Hill, and that's another one who I've really been leaning into watching a lot of your movies.

I really enjoy her, I enjoy Paul.

I think it's gonna be good.

I'm excited for it.

But the nine Last of Christmas was an unexpected hit.

Maybe we're gonna get another one.

Cat cafes are all the rage, they sure are.

We're gonna wrap this episode up here, We'll be back with another episode.

It's already in your feed right now.

Wrapping up the last month of the count on to Christmas movies, as well as all of the series coming to Hallmark this holiday season.

Check that out.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Girls Gone Hallmark, a Bramble Jam podcast.

We'll see you next time.

Goodbye man.

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