Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas is back with more new holiday movies than ever. Ahead of the 17th annual event, Hallmark has unveiled a supersized lineup of 34 original movies featuring Lori Loughlin, Janel Parrish, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Rachael Leigh Cook, Daniella Monet, Lacey Chabert, Christy Carlson Romano, Richard Kind, Andie MacDowell, Ian Harding, Jonathan Bennett and more. Season 3 of fan-favorite series “Mistletoe Murders” is also set to premiere on Nov. 5 and will air new episodes weekly on Thursdays.
In addition, “The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday” — hosted by Bennett and Melissa Peterman on Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. ET — will give fans an exclusive look at what’s coming to Hallmark in the new year. We have our wonderful fans to thank for this longevity and are so grateful to them for joining us on this journey.” This year’s Hallmark Countdown to Christmas kicks off on Oct. 16.
Scroll down for the full schedule of original movies, all of which premiere at 8 p.m. ET, unless otherwise noted. Cast: Amanda Schull, Victor Webster, Barbara Niven Synopsis: Hyper organized single mom and party planner Lexi (Schull), her free-spirited mother June (Niven) and teen daughter Piper (Verity Marks) are set to spend Christmas at a local ski resort after Lexi is hired to organize their annual holiday party.
Upon arrival she immediately butts heads with Ridge(Webster), the ski instructor and son of the lodge’s owner, Dan (John B. Despite not gettingalong from the get-go, Lexi and Ridge notice a spark between June and Dan and decide to set themup. Lexi and Ridge create a multitude of festive excursions – and excuses – to bring them togetherbut thanks to creative machinations by June and Dan these outings keep turning into foursomes.
Inthe days leading up to the Christmas party Lexi and Ridge’s attempt to pair up their parents bringsthem closer together and their merry matchmaking ends in surprising results. Cast: Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods and Khary Payton, with cameos from Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, quarterback Caleb Williams, tight end Colston Loveland, tight end Cole Kmet, legendary Bears alumni Mike Singletary, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Dan Hampton, Connie Payton, wife of the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, the team’s beloved mascot Staley Da Bear, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Marilu Henner, Jake Connelly and Dyon “Mojo” Brooks Synopsis: When ambitious freelance reporter Avery Clark (Fonseca) returns to Chicago to spend Christmas with her mom (Woods) and new stepdad (Payton), she’s hoping for a little holiday downtime before her next assignment. Instead, she lands a feel-good story profiling Darlene Donnelly (Mason), a beloved Chicago Bears superfan about to celebrate an incredible milestone – attending her 500th game.
There’s just one catch: Avery knows next to nothing about football or Chicago. Enter Darlene’s handsome grandson Matt (Buckley), a Chicago firefighter and die-hard Bears fan who, with a little gentle nudging from Darlene, agrees to show Avery what being part of Bears Nation is all about. As Avery follows Darlene’s remarkable story through cherished game-day traditions, festive Chicago adventures and memories of a love story that began at a stadium, she starts to understand that football is about much more than what happens on the field.
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