Hallmark Channel has turned 25, and the stars came together to celebrate at a show at the 92NY. Fans gathered in the theater and had the opportunity to join via streaming. Hosted by Breanne Heldman from PEOPLE, there were three different panels that took to the stage to share their experiences at Hallmark Channel and a little sneak peek at what’s to come.
The first panel was Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams, Niall Matter, Autumn Reeser, Wes Brown, Holly Robinson Peete, Rachel Boston, and Victor Webster. Holly Robinson Peete talked about how when she joined the channel, it felt like a family and kept her coming back. Rachel told the story that during her filming with Victor Webster, her now 4-year-old daughter was 7 months old, and Victor went ahead to make sure there was a room available on set so that Rachel could have a place to be with her daughter when she was on set. This is my Hallmark.
Alison talked about having her daughter star in a movie with her and got quite emotional about taking her daughter to college. Autumn Reeser talked about having her children on set on the set of the upcoming movie, Christmas Delivered, with Wes Brown. They joked about how they got to throw snowballs and be on set. Ashley talked about doing a movie with her husband, Neil Dodson, that is a take on Much Ado About Nothing called Much About Love, premiering on August 29 on Hallmark Channel and streaming the next day on Hallmark+. She will be doing this with Niall Matter.
Niall got to talk about A Grand Biltmore Christmas. He said that initially fans didn’t respond as positively as he had hoped. There was a misunderstanding because it’s not a sequel; it’s a totally new story that takes place during the Gilded Age when the Biltmore House first opens. Rachel mentioned that during her first movie with Niall, she heard excited screams of joy, and she went to see what it was. Niall looked at her and said, “Rachel, I’m going to be a dad.” Big Biltmore news: Rachel confirmed that she and Wes Brown are reprising their roles in A Grand Biltmore Christmas.
Ashley Williams and Alison Sweeney let it out that they are starring together again in a movie this Countdown to Christmas. We last saw them in the Barcelona movies, but they are doing it again. Ashley talked about the Make Her Mark program, which is her women’s director program to give up-and-coming female directors their first job through mentorship. The first director of the Make Her Mark program was Crystal Lowe, and she will be directing the Ashley Williams and Alison Sweeney movie while mentoring Sarah Wilson Thacker. Holly Robinson Peete talked about being an Autism mom and her foundation, The HollyRod Foundation, and that she got to make a Christmas movie about an Autism family. Hallmark stepped up and let her shine a light on these families.
Panel two came out, and it was Andrew Walker, Nikki DeLoach, BJ Britt, Heather Hemmens, Kimberley Sustad, Erin Cahill, and Tyler Hynes. This panel was all about the fun and love. Nikki, Andrew, and Kimberley talked about the Hallmark Stars Live Tour that just wrapped up and how much fun it was, but how much they love to get to visit these fans and hear their stories. They talked about how the Hallmark community is a safe space. We heard stories about how silly and fun the tour was for the stars to travel on the bus and do these shows. Nikki talked about how she works with Make Her Mark and gets to write and produce for Hallmark Channel.
They talked about how BJ is the best hugger, and he did give a hug to a fan member. Tyler talked about his upcoming movie, The Nights Before Christmas, which is a take on Groundhog Day. He also talked about his upcoming Hallmark Christmas ornament of his likeness. He said that he never had to look at himself so much, and it was disturbing. Lots of laughs about how his hair is in the ornament. Andrew joked that Tyler kissed and boxed every ornament. We found out that Heather Hemmens is getting married this weekend.
Panel three was Andie MacDowell, Benjamin Ayers, Barbara Niven, Lacey Chabert, Scott Michael Foster, Jonathan Bennett, and Marilu Henner. We found out that Scott Michael Foster got married last weekend. They talked about how Barbara got her SAG card for doing a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie in 1986 before the Hallmark Channel started. She joked that they don’t age out but that they age up to other roles. Marilu spoke about how she played the same character 21 times with the Aurora Teagarden movies and that she has been very consistent with the Hallmark family. She mentions that Hallmark is a staple for her because she has been mom to lots of the stars in various movies.
Lacey mentioned that she started her Hallmark movies in 2010 with Elevator Girl and hasn’t looked back. She has joy in making them but gets reinvigorated by the fan stories and how these movies put joy into the world. Andie got to talk about how she was in the first Hallmark series, Cedar Cove. She talked about how she loved playing a powerful, strong woman and that Hallmark makes the material that her family and friends would watch. She loved that the network took a chance on The Way Home and that it was risky and different. We heard about how Hope Valley 1874 was a direct-to-Hallmark+ series and that today was the first day of production on When Calls the Heart season 14. Hope Valley 1874 will film in January with Season 2. Ben talked about the Hearties and how Hope Valley 1874 is a great Canadian show that spoke to him.
Next, we heard about Paris Is Always a Good Idea, which is airing now on Hallmark+. Lacey spoke about how it was to sit with a character for six episodes instead of a movie. She said that this story spoke to her as a person with a heart that is burdened by grief and what that means to step forward in life. They got to spend 3 months overseas and how it’s hard work but so rewarding. Scott Michael Foster spoke about the journey and filming overseas and that he is enjoying getting to work with the Hallmark Channel and the team.
Finally, we heard from Jonathan Bennett. He told the story of how he made history. He got a call from Michelle Vicary, and she asked what were the stories that he wanted to tell were, and he said that he wanted to tell stories about love that looks like mine. She said done and hung up. A few months later, they were shooting The Christmas House. This was the first same sex leading love story in a Christmas movie. He remembers getting ready to do the final Hallmark kiss that is a part of every movie, and the set was full of the crew, and he found out that they all wanted to be there to see history made. Jonathan said that he took the peacoat that he was wearing home with him from set. He got emails from wardobe saysing do you have the coat. He said no. Another person reached out wanting the coat. Finally, he got a call from an executive and was told, “You’re not in trouble. We need the peacoat.” Jonathan asked why. He was told that the coat is being added to the LGBTQ+ archive at the Smithsonian as part of history. He finished up with Love is for everyone, and so is Hallmark Channel.
They ended the evening with a look at what’s to come. We got to see some clips of the upcoming Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, A Grand Biltmore Christmas, The Nights Before Christmas, and a first look at Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, plus looks at When Calls The Heart, Hope Valley 1874, and Paris is Always a Good Idea. Thank you, Hallmark Channel, for 25 great years, and here’s to 25 more.
Hallmark Channel Celebrated 25 Years With A Special Night in NYC
