Mackenzie, you & I have had this conversation before in other threads. I too, like all the Hallmark movies. I like having fluffy, light, happy ending movies
on my TV in the background. Or to watch one when I get shell-shocked of seeing people blasted away by all the faux & real violence on TV and in the news.
I never watched "When Calls the Heart," as something about that show, the era it's set in, maybe the faux costumes, put me of of it. But, I did watch all her Christmas movies & "Garage Sale Mysteries." I agree any other decent actress can replace her. But, part of watching the actresses that Hallmark casts, is that they are so likable and we want to see them again in more movies.
Hallmark movies aren't just about being wholesome. And while
, I'd say 1 out of 5 movies have more of a faith-based theme in them, really highlighting the presence of God or some "Touched By An Angel" type "miracle" happening in those movies, they didn't push the Christian aspect on us, even though the movies do celebrate Christmas. Hallmark is about having strong family values. Those family values do NOT include cheating, bribing and creating phony profiles, pics, test scores & medical reports to get two DDs into college. Hallmark couldn't just ignore what Lori did, even if some fans would have still watched her. What kind of message would that send to about Hallmark's own beliefs & values?
From what I heard, Lori was in the middle of filming the next installment of "Garage Sale Mysteries." I'd love to know what she said to the producers, to stop filming and say that she had to go home. Did she explain it at all? Did she simply say she had an emergency? Or did she say she was being arrested and what for and at LEAST apologized for what she knew they'd eventually find out and how it would affect them?
Lori not only tanked her own "Garage Sale" series and future movies. But, she tanked, "When Calls the Heart," in which she was part of an ensemble. Every other star who filmed that series has been affected by her actions as her character was an intrinsic character in that story.
Season 6 just premiered 3 weeks ago. So they have 7 more episodes that are now in limbo and may be scrapped. Re-shoots and severely altering the storyline of the show may be impossible.
Lori, was it all worth it?