Hallmark Movies ❤️ comfort & joy

This is the first year I won't be recording Hallmark Christmas movies because they've immensely upped the game last year into this year with Hallmark+. Movies appear the next day which started this year and since I'm usually waiting a bit to see how others receive a movie it works perfectly for me.

Just wanted to pass that along in case anyone has Hallmark+ or is considering getting it. It is leagues better than it was when it was first introduced (which was Hallmark Movies Now up until last year) and I'm glad I waited for several years to get it, it's just gotten better over the several years that I've had it.
 
Sometime this season, Great American Family should be showing I Heard the Bells starring Stephen Atherhold, Jonathan Blair, and Rachel Day Hughes.

I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. It's now my favorite Christmas movie.
My standard as to whether or not someone is a good actor is if I'm able to see the character and not the actor portraying the character. A most obvious example would be Daniel Day Lewis' portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln".

In "I Heard the Bells", all of the actors completely fade away, leaving only their characters. The story is gripping, the directing is flawless, and the acting is phenomenal.

In case the title of the film isn't obvious, the movie is about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's life, leading up to the events behind the Christmas hymn, "I Heard the Bells (on Christmas Day)".

1761228908686.png
 
Last edited:

Sometime this season, Great American Family should be showing I Heard the Bells starring Stephen Atherhold, Jonathan Blair, and Rachel Day Hughes.
Check your library too. I declined recording that when it aired previously (I think on Great American Family or maybe it was UP TV) because two of my library systems have it there. Just in case people forget to record it or don't want to they might check to see if their library has it.
 
Thanks, Kennywood. I will keep an eye out for it. Did any of you watch Christmas Prayer or A Christmas Angel Match? I have both all recorded to watch. Sweet and merry dreams, friends :)
 
I was away from most of this week, so I didn't get a chance to post about the movies that aired this weekend. They are re-airing many times though, if you missed them.

Hallmark:
Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper

Re-airs:
Friday October 31 10/9c
Thursday November 6 8/7c
Sunday November 16 2a/1c
Thursday November 27 12a/11c

Starring: Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustad.
Description: Weatherman Ted Cooper loves Christmas, but the past three have been terrible. This year, Ted has made up his mind that things will be different – this will be the Christmas things turn around for him. But Ted’s relentless optimism is about to be put to the test as he is faced with a litany of injuries and obstacles when he travels back to his hometown of Lackawanna, NY for the holidays. He also reconnects with the charming Hope Miller, except now she’s Dr. Hope Miller, with whom he went to high school and quietly crushed on from afar. He has support to help him overcome the challenges thrown his way and finally enjoy a well-earned merry Christmas.

Great American Family:
A Royal Icing Christmas
(The movie was renamed and is not the same as in GAF's poster schedule.)
Re-airs
Sunday, October 26, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 30, 2:00 AM
Thursday, October 30, 12:00 PM
Saturday, November 1, 6:00 PM

Starring: Ellise Roth and Callum Buckley.
Description: Princess Charlotte of Marovia, a duty-bound princess, escapes to a New England town at Christmas, where a secret baking contest — and an unexpected romance — teach her that love may be life’s true crowning achievement.
 
I was away from most of this week, so I didn't get a chance to post about the movies that aired this weekend. They are re-airing many times though, if you missed them.

Hallmark:
Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper

Re-airs:
Friday October 31 10/9c
Thursday November 6 8/7c
Sunday November 16 2a/1c
Thursday November 27 12a/11c

Starring: Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustad.
Description: Weatherman Ted Cooper loves Christmas, but the past three have been terrible. This year, Ted has made up his mind that things will be different – this will be the Christmas things turn around for him. But Ted’s relentless optimism is about to be put to the test as he is faced with a litany of injuries and obstacles when he travels back to his hometown of Lackawanna, NY for the holidays. He also reconnects with the charming Hope Miller, except now she’s Dr. Hope Miller, with whom he went to high school and quietly crushed on from afar. He has support to help him overcome the challenges thrown his way and finally enjoy a well-earned merry Christmas.

Great American Family:
A Royal Icing Christmas
(The movie was renamed and is not the same as in GAF's poster schedule.)
Re-airs
Sunday, October 26, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 30, 2:00 AM
Thursday, October 30, 12:00 PM
Saturday, November 1, 6:00 PM

Starring: Ellise Roth and Callum Buckley.
Description: Princess Charlotte of Marovia, a duty-bound princess, escapes to a New England town at Christmas, where a secret baking contest — and an unexpected romance — teach her that love may be life’s true crowning achievement.
I may be the only one, but I am so tired of these tiny fake principalities with young royals who need to get married so they can be king/queen, come to the US to escape the pressures, blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't mind a new plot, I did like the Secret Service governess one from last year or the year before. I really feel like at this point they need a twist to capture my interest.
 
I may be the only one, but I am so tired of these tiny fake principalities with young royals who need to get married so they can be king/queen, come to the US to escape the pressures, blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't mind a new plot, I did like the Secret Service governess one from last year or the year before. I really feel like at this point they need a twist to capture my interest.

Not the only one. They keep trying to do remakes of the royal movies from the first year, with Lacey & Danica. But there is nothing wrong with those movies. These other movies are very lackluster. If I want to see a royal movie, I prefer to watch those two. I'm not interested in 20 uninspired remakes.

As for The Royal Nanny, that's one of my favorite movies. It's not about the royals. It's about the reluctant Secret Service agent. That take was fresh and interesting.
 
Not the only one. They keep trying to do remakes of the royal movies from the first year, with Lacey & Danica. But there is nothing wrong with those movies. These other movies are very lackluster. If I want to see a royal movie, I prefer to watch those two. I'm not interested in 20 uninspired remakes.
Agreed, those are two of the very first, (Laceys actually was), Hallmark movies I ever watched. And I watch them every year. None of the others have been as good as those, and it's overdone.
 
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree 2025:

This year's 75-foot Norway Spruce a 75-foot-tall Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York, carries a story rooted in family and tradition. Donated by the Russ family, the tree has been part of their property for over 60 years, serving as the backdrop for countless celebrations. “I’m excited to make more cherished memories with my family and childhood friends as it becomes the world’s Christmas tree,” says Judy Russ, who lives in the historic family home with her 7-year-old son, Liam.

2025-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lm-251027-144131.jpg


The tree, estimated to be about 75 years old, will be cut on November 6, 2025, and make the 130-mile journey to Rockefeller Center. Once it arrives on November 8, crews will carefully raise it into place on Center Plaza, marking the start of one of New York’s most famous holiday traditions.

For over three decades, head gardener Erik Pauze has been the force behind finding the most famous Christmas tree in the world. Known for his sharp eye and deep love of horticulture, Pauze scouts potential trees year-round across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and beyond. “What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” Pauze says. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.”

It was Pauze who first visited the Russ family’s property after a photo of the tree made its way to him through a Rockefeller Center security supervisor. “As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” he recalls. Pauze even returned several times throughout the year to water and care for the tree himself.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which broadcasts live on NBC, is a beloved New York holiday tradition dating back to 1933, when construction workers first erected a small tree at the site during The Center’s construction. Since then, the lighting has evolved into an international event, signaling the official start of the holiday season in NYC.

This year’s tree lighting ceremony will take place on NBC on Wednesday, December 3, from 7–10 p.m., followed by weeks of visitors gathering beneath the Swarovski star and along the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center.

(Last year's Christmas tree is below. And it IS called a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree, or whatever is politically correct nowadays.)

Rockefeller-Center-Holiday-Tree-NYC-Manhattan.png.webp
 
Last edited:
I may be the only one, but I am so tired of these tiny fake principalities with young royals who need to get married so they can be king/queen, come to the US to escape the pressures, blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't mind a new plot, I did like the Secret Service governess one from last year or the year before. I really feel like at this point they need a twist to capture my interest.
I like the royal movies, as in the theme of theme being royal ones but I agree with you on the premises being used quite a lot. The escaping to the U.S., often though not always, hiding their identity is also overused. I also seem to feel like the way the prince/king (whichever is the plot of that particular movie) often comes across as so wooden instead of natural. Sure there's perceived propriety with royalty but it's also a movie so expressionless or stiff acting in a movie is just a hard thing for me to get past.
 
I completely agree about the royal movies. I did enjoy the story about a small restaurant owner and a prince and the story where the royal is actively involved in a youth center. I tend to prefer movies with Lacey to those with Danica.

Imzadi, my faith belief is I celebrate Christmas for Jesus. Santa and stockings are just secondary fun:santa:
 
I may be the only one, but I am so tired of these tiny fake principalities with young royals who need to get married so they can be king/queen, come to the US to escape the pressures, blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't mind a new plot, I did like the Secret Service governess one from last year or the year before. I really feel like at this point they need a twist to capture my interest.

Oh, I totally agree. I just couldn't make it through the recent Hallmark movie that had the princess falling for the cowboy. (To be fair, I was also struggling with Christmas in mid-October too.)
 
New Christmas movies this weekend 🎄

Hallmark: the moves are Saturday & Sunday now. 😊
Saturday:
Christmas on Duty

Re-airs:
Sunday November 2 6/5c
Friday November 7 6/5c
Tuesday November 11 8/7c
Monday November 24 12a/11c
Friday November 28 12/11c

Starring: Janel Parrish and Parker Young.
Description: Blair and Josh have been bitter rivals ever since they trained together at The Basic School in Quantico, where they were both at the top of the class, competing to be number one. After graduation, Blair got Josh’s dream job, and they haven’t spoken since. Three years later, their paths cross unexpectedly at the base holiday party, where the two get into an argument and cause a scene. As punishment, Blair and Josh are both assigned to Christmas Duty, where they’ll work through the Yuletide together…for 24 hours straight. 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.

Sunday:
A Newport Christmas
Re-airs:
Tuesday November 4 10/9c
Saturday November 8 10/9c
Wednesday November 12 8/7c
Saturday November 29 12a/11c

Starring: Ginna Claire Mason and Wes Brown.
Description: Ella (Mason) is a charitable and spirited Newport socialite in 1905 who dreams of using her wealth to start a foundation to help others in town. After learning her father intends for her to become engaged to a man she’s never met at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball, Ella goes for a nighttime sail in her schooner to clear her head. Upon seeing a comet shoot across the sky, she wistfully wishes for a different life. Ella is shocked to suddenly find Nick (Brown), a sailor and local Newport historian, aboard her schooner and accuses him of being a stowaway. But Nick insists he owns the boat and a standoff ensues. Once on dry land, Ella realizes that somehow, she’s traveled from 1905 to 2025. As she spends time there and gets a glimpse at what her future in 1905 appears to be, she becomes reluctant to return, especially since she and Nick have grown close and she now knows how true love feels. But the legacy Ella built in her time – and the course of Newport’s history – risks being erased the longer she stays in the present,


Great American Family:
Saturday:
Christmas in Midnight Clear (This movie is different than on the GAF's poster schedule. This is what's on the TV Guide schedule and GAF's website.)
Re-airs
Sunday, November 2, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, November 4, 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 6, 3:00 AM
Thursday, November 6, 1:00 PM
Saturday, November 8, 7:00 PM

Starring: Alicia Josipovic and Jon McLaren.
Description: Hillary Shaw, successful corporate real estate developer, arrives in the economically struggling town with decisive plans to acquire every possible property, declare the rest eminent domain, and to modernize the town from the inside out. But when Hillary encounters Daniel Porter, local pastor and multi-generational pillar of the community, her vision faces more than legal challenges. As Hillary and Daniel’s worldviews spark conflict, something deeper begins to blossom.
 









Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE




DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom