SALT LAKE CITY — The countdown to Christmas is on.
Hallmark recently announced its 2019 holiday movie lineup — a grand total of 40 films over two channels — and everyone from Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and country superstar Dolly Parton to fan favorites Candace Cameron Bure and Chad Michael Murray is joining the fun. The countdown kicks off Oct. 25, and here are the three we’re most excited about.
“Two Turtle Doves”
“Two Turtle Doves” marks a re-teaming of actors Michael Rady, Nikki DeLoach and writer Sarah Montana — who were all a part of this year’s “Love to the Rescue” — so we already know there’s going to be great chemistry and a well-written script. The film is evidently about DeLoach’s character settling the estate of her beloved grandmother, who has passed away, when she meets Rady’s character, who is a widower dealing with his own grief. As they search for a special family ornament of two turtle doves, will they find love and Christmas miracles?
“Write Before Christmas”
“Write Before Christmas” is a “One Tree Hill” reunion of sorts, starring Torrey DeVitto and Chad Michael Murray. While the film’s premise does sound like a rip-off of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” I’m still looking forward to this one. In the film, DeVitto sends five Christmas cards to people who have influenced her life, including a pop star (Drew Seeley) and a music teacher, whose son is played by Murray. In the clip Hallmark aired, DeVitto and Murray pretend to be a couple — even kissing (with him in a Santa suit!) to impress her ex. It looks funny and romantic, with loads of heart.
“Double Holiday”
“Double Holiday” stars Carly Pope and Kristoffer Polaha, who is one of my Hallmark favorites. It’s also written by the queen of Hallmark writers, Nina Weinman, and it is the first Countdown to Christmas film to involve Hanukkah since 2012’s “Hitched for the Holidays.”
Here is the full schedule below.
Hallmark Channel
“Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses”
Stars: Jill Wagner, Matthew Davis, Donna Mills
Airs: Saturday, Oct. 26
“Merry & Bright”
Stars: Jodie Sweetin, Andrew Walker, Sharon Lawrence
Airs: Saturday, Nov. 2
“Christmas Scavenger Hunt”
Stars: Kevin McGarry, Kim Shaw
Airs: Sunday, Nov. 3
“A Christmas Duet”
Stars: Chaley Rose, Rome Flynn, Teryl Rothery
Airs: Sunday, Nov. 9
“The Mistletoe Secret”
Stars: Kellie Pickler, Tyler Hynes, Patrick Duffy
Airs: Sunday, Nov. 10
“Double Holiday”
Stars: Kristoffer Polaha, Carly Pope
Airs: Saturday, Nov. 16
“The Christmas Club”
Stars: Elizabeth Mitchell, Cameron Mathison
Airs: Sunday, Nov. 17
“Picture a Perfect Christmas”
Stars: Merritt Patterson, Jon Cor
Airs: Saturday, Nov. 23
“Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays”
Stars: Adrian Grenier, Kaitlin Doubleday, Priscilla Presley, Chase Bryant
Airs: Sunday, Nov. 24
“Check Inn to Christmas”
Stars: Rachel Boston, Wes Brown
Airs: Monday, Nov. 25
“A Gift to Remember 2”
Stars: Ali Liebert, Peter Porte, Tina Lifford
Airs: Tuesday, Nov. 26
“Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen”
Stars: Erin Krakow, Luke Macfarlane, Kimberley Sustad
Airs: Wednesday, Nov. 27
“Write Before Christmas”
Stars: Torrey DeVitto, Chad Michael Murray, Drew Seeley
Airs: Thursday, Nov. 28
“Christmas at the Plaza”
Stars: Ryan Paevey, Elizabeth Henstridge
Airs: Friday, Nov. 29
“Christmas in Rome”
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Sam Page
Airs: Saturday, Nov. 30
“Christmas Town”
Stars: Candace Cameron Bure, Tim Rozon, Beth Broderick
Airs: Sunday, Dec. 1
“A Christmas Love Story”
Stars: Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Wolf
Airs: Saturday, Dec. 7
“Christmas at Dollywood”
Stars: Danica McKellar, Niall Matter, Dolly Parton
Airs: Sunday, Dec. 8
“Christmas in Evergreen”
Stars: Paul Greene, Maggie Lawson, Barbara Niven, Holly Robinson Peete
Airs: Saturday, Dec. 14
“Alice in Christmasland”
Stars: TBD
Airs: Sunday, Dec. 15
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
Stars: Eric Mabius
Airs: Saturday, Dec. 21
“Holiday Date”
Stars: Brittany Bristow, Matt Cohen
Airs: Sunday, Dec. 22
“When Calls the Heart Christmas”
Stars: Cast of “When Calls the Heart”
Airs: Wednesday, Dec. 25
“New Year, New Me”
Stars: TBD
Airs: Saturday, Dec. 28
Hallmark Movies and Mysteries
“A Merry Christmas Match”
Stars: Ashley Newbrough, Kyle Dean Massey
Airs: Friday, Oct. 25
“Nostalgic Christmas”
Stars: Brooke D’Orsay, Trevor Donovan
Airs: Thursday, Oct. 31
“Two Turtle Doves”
Stars: Nikki DeLoach, Michael Rady
Airs: Friday, Nov. 1
“A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas”
Stars: Rachael Leigh Cook, Benjamin Ayres
Airs: Thursday, Nov. 7
“Holiday for Heroes”
Stars: Marc Blucas, Melissa Claire Egan
Airs: Friday, Nov. 8
“A Christmas Miracle”
Stars: Tamera Mowry, Brooks Darnell, Barry Bostwick
Airs: Thursday, Nov. 14
“A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love”
Stars: Kathie Lee Gifford, Cindy Busby, Ben Hollingsworth
Airs: Friday, Nov. 15
“Our Christmas Love Song”
Stars: Alicia Witt
Airs: Thursday, Nov. 21
“Christmas Under the Stars”
Stars: Jesse Metcalfe, Autumn Reeser
Airs: Friday, Nov. 22
“The Christmas Wish”
Stars: Ashley Williams, Paul Campbell
Airs: Friday, Nov. 29
“This Time of Year”
Stars: Laura Osnes, Stephen Huszar
Airs: Thursday, Dec. 5
“Time for You to Come Home for Christmas”
Stars: TBD
Airs: Friday, Dec. 6
“Christmas in Montana”
Stars: TBD
Airs: Thursday, Dec. 12
“Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday”
Stars: Jen Lilley, Carlo Marks
Airs: Friday, Dec. 13
“An Unforgettable Christmas”
Stars: Ashley Greene
Airs: Thursday, Dec. 19
“A Family Christmas Gift”
Stars: Holly Robinson Peete, Patti LaBelle, Dion Johnstone
Airs: Friday, Dec. 20