December 12, 2025 • 24 mins
Welcome back to Listener Mailbag, where the Girls Gone Hallmark inbox continues to be the most thoughtful and wildly observant place on the internet. This round, you all delivered: shocking Hallmark-adjacent relationship revelations, a deeply relatable Thanksgiving-movie cry for help, a Letterboxd discovery, an unfortunate elevator-mouth situation, high school musical recommendations (the Hallmark kind, not the Zac Efron kind), and a detailed breakdown of which federal agency Grace in The Mistletoe Murders may or may not secretly work for.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is a Bramble Jam podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to Girls Gone Hallmark, a Hallmark review podcast. I'm
Megan and I'm a longtime Hallmark fan. I'm Wendy. I'm
a former Hallmark hater. It's time for Listener Mailbag episode
number two for the month of December, because you, our
lovely listeners, have been bringing it with the Listener Mailbag
emails and we appreciate it. We haven't done a Hallmark
(00:44):
News episode in a long time. Headlines, my friend, you
have forgotten the title of it. You're right, headlines. We
haven't done one of those in a long time. It's
because there's not a ton of headlines. I gonna know,
I know, we're gonna get to a big one here
in a minute. But during the summer season there seems
to be a lot of headlines because everything is forthcoming
for a countdown to Christmas, right, sure, what's in production
(01:08):
and what the rumors are and this and that and whatever,
And then it gets kind of quiet because we just
get all the product of that. Yeah, but now we
have a headline, but we can't put it in its
own show. Well, let's do two headlines, or we have
two headlines. One's gonna surprise you.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh you know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
The headline just it's just a Hallmark notes and that
is the news about the series Ripple. Yeah, so we
had talked. Ripple was originally slated for Hallmark. We were
so excited it was slated for Homemark Plus back when
Hallmark Plus was getting exclusive content.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Actually we have three homeworks. I saw the wheels turning.
I saw them turning. So Ripple was originally slated for
Hallmark Plus. And then you and I kept saying where's Ripple.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
In fact, we were in front of someone from Hallmark
and I said where's Ripple and this person said, it's
just not on the schedule yet.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I was like okay, like get that answer was good
enough for me. Yeah at the time. And then nearly
six weeks later, Ripple ends up on freaking Netflix. Yeah,
like out of nowhere, out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I'd love to know the behind the scenes was it.
I was like, well, they're not.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Really dropping exclusive content on Hallmark Plus anymore.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Stay tuned, but.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
So maybe the maybe the deal was it was supposed
to go straight to Hallmark Plus, but now they're not
doing that, so they had to resell it. Anyway, It's
on Netflix, and you will know this because of when
this episode comes out, But we are reviewing Ripple right
here on Girls Gone Hallmark and perhaps some additional non
Hallmark titles.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, that's breaking news, baby, bit ba babe.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Do you like my newstickers? I do? I do.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I think we will be also reviewing Champagne Problems on
Netflix this week as part of potentially the Girl's Gone
Hallmark expansion. That's right, taking over the rom com world
girls streaming.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Girls god Stream. I was like, one review at a time.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
If you haven't listened to our review of Ripple yet
because you're like, I'm not watching that show because it's
not on Hallmark, get your remotes right now and fire
up Ripple on Netflix and then come listen to our
review of it. Uh huh yeah, yeah, what's the next
what's the next headline?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I'm gonna save the best for last? So the next headline?
You had three? I know, So I'm gonna save the
best for last. I just did one. Okay, okay, okay,
number two.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
We have a new direct to Hallmark Plus reality television
show First impression. I am not excited about this. We're
not reviewing this right Do you want.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
To I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I gotta see it. I gotta see it. The show
is called Second Chance Love. It is hosted by Chili,
yes the Chili of TLC Fame, and Matthew Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Who are a real life couple. Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
It's an unscripted series and it is about couples who
broke up anywhere between five and thirty years ago, having
a second chance at love, reunited, reunited, and at the
end of their journey, they have to decide do we
leave together or separately? Because they go to Italy, they
got to figure out the spark is still there.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Honestly, you said, you're not excited. I kind of am.
I am not.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I have so many questions. This cannot be a Hallmark
Plus original this. Did they purchase this from somebody? Like?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Was this a reality show?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
That unscripted show that they purchased like an acquisition, and
they're like, let's put it on Hallmark Plus.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't when was it filmed? How old is it?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
It's not old because I saw photos from Italy on
the instagrams of Matthew and Chili before it was announced.
But where they were m Chili says working with Hallmark
is a dream come true because the brand represents good
quality content. So I love what Homework stands for. And
this project is beth special to Matthew and me for
several reasons. As executive producers and hosts. We can't wait
(05:08):
to share the inspiration behind the pursuit of true love.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Creative way.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Jonathan and Meredith Sinclair. I feel like Jonathan Sinclair is
a name we know. Oh interesting, Jonathan Sinclair. Oprah's master
Class fifty two episodes, a series called released, a series
called ion La Fixed My Life. He's an he's an
own guy.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I wonder if this was for own. Oprah goes to Broadway.
I wonder if it was for own.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
He's done a lot for Oprah. Perhaps this has an
own sensibility. It does, It certainly does well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
We'll see. I'm I'm not I'm not writing it off.
I'm gonna be honest. I'm interested.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I don't think it's gonna get the eyeballs. I'm sorry, No,
I don't think so either, But I'm interested. I'm watching
at least an episode. Okay, you know what we're definitely
going to be watching is Dodd one year from now.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean, we thought they milked the chiefs.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Just you wait, folks, Disney World and Hallmark are teaming
up for Holiday ever after the Disney World Wish Come True.
It will debut during countdown to Christmas twenty twenty six.
The movie will start Lazy Shabert and Travis Van Winkle,
who is a fave of mine. I'll be honest, what
(06:25):
has he been in? No shade of Travis van Winkle.
I've been reviewing Hallmark movies for five years.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now, where's he been? I don't think I've ever reviewed
a movie with him in it. Maybe true.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
He is in the World's Cutest Christmas Movie, which is
called Project Christmas Wish from twenty twenty I recommend it.
He was also intis the Season to Be Merry. Since then,
he has not been on Hallmark, but he was in
the television series Fu Bar, which I believe is a
Netflix series with Arnold Schwarzenacher. He's also in nine episodes
of the series You Oh, I Do Love that, Serius.
(06:59):
I just kind of peel off season three. I don't
think I've continued past then, So he's been doing other
non Hallmark stuff. It's coming back. Also in this movie,
Richard Kind from only murders in the building and inside out,
Christy Carlton Romano Campossible, and even Stevens, Bryce Durfy from
General Hospital, Teagan Burns from The Mighty Ducks, Game Changers,
(07:21):
Asher Alexander from Halan Harper, and Patrick Renna from The
sand Lot having his renaissance as a TikTok superstar. Let
me tell you when photos from Disney World started to
emerge last week.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And people were like, what is this?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, they were like, people were making tiktoks about like
Lacy Shaver is here in Disneyland. Yeah, not Disneyland, sorry,
disney World in Florida, the inferior Disney property. I agree
with that. It's too damn hot there. Don't go in
the summertime. No, from personal experience, yep. Anyway, I was like,
for sure, this can't be Hallmark. You know, I'm often
(07:58):
wrong and like I have no I'm admitting that, but
I thought, oh, this is a Disney movie that she's making,
and like good for her, Lacy, Like sure enough, though
it's a Hallmark project, I'm color me shocked.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Jennifer Aspen is connected to this proj She's on every
single movie.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I feel like we've reviewed this year, she's attached to
as a producer.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
She has got her hand and everything. Yeah, look I'm
excited about it.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Also written and directed by Ryan Landell's Oh thank You,
thank you, because we don't have anything.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
From him this year.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
No, and Ryan Landells wrote Tanta Tullmy and Sugar Plumb
last year, wrote and directed. He's writing and directing this
like he came out of nowhere last year. Wrote to
Smash Hits and I DM him and was like, we're thrilled.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
To see you coming back.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
It's just going to be a full year of Disney activation,
yes and all. Oh, it's going to be a full
year of Disney activations. And I bet your bottom dollar
they're going to have a whole kickoff next year in
Disney World and all that stuff. So your favorite content
creators are right here.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I mean, do it hear it at Disneyland. They won't.
It's not the thing. It's not the collapse.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
I wonder why they did it at disney World and
not disney Land. AlSi lives here in La doesn't she
I have no idea me neither. Let's take a quick
break and come right back with some listener mailbag emails
(09:34):
Jammie writes in regarding the Christmas Cup episode, which I
feel like I need to apologize for that in a
catnip cafe. We're just so at my wits end. Sure,
thankfully her email is not about how terrible the episode was.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
It is.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Instead, she writes, I am sure I'm not the first
or only person to email you narrators note you are,
but Ben Rosenbaum slash Mike Hick them from Winn Calls
the Heart is also Aaron Craikow's husband soon to be
baby daddy.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Yeah, we did not mention that.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I don't watch Wind Calls the Heart. I didn't actually
didn't know.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
I did see though.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Aaron just announced that she's expecting. Yes, I knew she
was married to somebody like recently from the cast.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
I just didn't know who that was. Yeah, our apologies.
There's no shade, no and there baby announce Some pictures
could not be freaking cute. They're like in a photo booth.
So cute.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah that's really cute. Good for them, you know. Oh,
also Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace they're also having a baby. Yes,
so many hardy babies are they filming that show? Right? Now, No,
they're done, right, I'm sure they're done.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I think they're done because it comes out in a
couple of weeks. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I was watching the Homewark Christmas Experience Special, yes the
other night.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Did they give you fomo?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Hardcore fomo? Because I'm like, these people were in the
rooms that we were in.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Every time I see a shot of that tree, I'm like,
that's the room stood right there. Oh yeah our room.
Our room overlooked like that square. Yes, we had a
great view. I'm talking like downstairs and because we had
access to the green room. Oh and I'm a quoting
green room, nobody else was ever in there, but it
was only ever us and I swear that's there was.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Did you watch the special? Not yet, but they have
like this.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Moment where like Ben and Kim and maybe Robert Buckley
not Junior or all in this room And I'm like,
I think they're in that room that we were in. Yeah, yeah,
it has to be anyway, just that you know that
hotel has a certain lighting about it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Sure took you back.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
That was a fun trip, even though I'm we were
just talking earlier today about I don't know how we
did the cruise and that Kansas City experience, which, by
the way, we flew home on December twenty second from
Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I don't know how we put two trips because I'm
so far underwater this holiday season. But my husband, he goes,
you know, I was just looking to see if we
can fly out to Kansas City next weekend for.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
The third month of the event. I love this guy
just is like, let's just go.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But he was like, flights are outrageous, and I said,
because it's in four days. Yeah, you wouldn't be able
to get a room at that hotel probably, No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
He wants to go to the Chiefs game.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I just want to like hang in the lobby and
see the people and go to the panels, So I
would not be going to the Chiefs game. Zurine that
special there was a little Merry Christmas everybody from Aaron
Craikou and Kevin McGarry, and they were in costume for
Win Costa Heart, which I'm sure they filmed at some
point when they were filming, but I was like trying
to look. I was like, does she look pregnant? I
(12:39):
don't know, like what her due date is or not.
That any of it is any of my business. I'm
just curious. Timeline. Yeah, yeah, Timeline, That's all. Diane writes
in about the sheer volume of Thanksgiving movies and says, Hi, ladies,
I heard you asking if listeners thought so many Thanksgiving
weekend movies like this year is too many? And I
say yes, On a normal weekend, I am able to
(13:00):
record the movies and watch them when I have time
throughout the week, timing right with your reviews, and being
done before the next weekend. I just love that we're
part of that whole process. Same neelas to say. Here
we are at the weekend after Thanksgiving and I still
have multiple movies from last week to watch. It makes
me feel overwhelmed and anxious. I feel rushed instead of
excited about watching, especially since I know I am getting
(13:22):
ready to add three more to my cueue. There are
days when I just don't have the time to watch
a Hallmark movie and sometimes just want to watch football
or something else with my husband. Same and putting out
so many on a weekend is just bound to get
me behind. I know I can take my time and
just watch once my schedule permits, but I prefer to
watch when the movies have just come out. I say
(13:42):
quality is more important than quantity on Thanksgiving weekend, sing
it Diane, I agree. I think we don't need the
two firs during things go.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Let's just do Look.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'm okay with Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night,
but not the two first.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Even my husband's behind.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think in this house, I think there was plenty
of opportunity on the schedule to either one not re
air some movies that were originally Hallmark Plus, which they
did with Cherry Lane. I think maybe there were a
few acquisitions in there that they could have let fall
(14:23):
to the wayside and sprinkled these movies out through the
Countain Christmas in previous years we would have had miracles
on Christmas on Thursday nights we have.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
There are other nights of the.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Week we could have had some Thursday night releases.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Facebook moderator Mackie alerted us to a review that Russell
Hanline dropped on Letterbox regarding the movie An Alpine Holiday.
He writes, this movie is set in the French Alps,
So my friend Lucy that's adorable, got to visit the
French Alps to shoot this movie. Meanwhile, I keep writing
(14:58):
movies set in small North my and towns that shoot
in small Canadian towns. No to self write more movies
with scenic international settings, something like I don't know, Ted
Cooper takes Copenhagen or Scandinavian Santa Class or The Three
Wise Men Tokyo Drift. You guys insert laughter track here
(15:19):
that is so freaking funny and my wheels are spinning.
I'm like, yes, what movie did we say? Haul Out
the Holly needs some sort of international because we need
Wes Brown to go off and do the Santa Class
in Copenhagen.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Or Nelson Russell Haynes line lab.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One and then it says in parentheses, I actually have
a great idea for a Santa Summit sequel that involves
travel across the globe. Seems destined not to come to life,
but a fella can dream. And excuse me, I say, what,
Look this from the man who shopped Hot Frosty for
years and years and years.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Don't give up Russel, Oh, Netflix.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Russell, no shade to Hallmark. I'm just saying, Russell, you
are a great screenwriter, Like put your work out there
everywhere you don't just have to pigeonhole yourself into Hallmark.
I mean, says the girl who's sitting at a kitchen
table right now.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Jack about how movies are made, but I feel like
you've got a home anywhere.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Mandy writes in regarding We Met in December, and she says,
I've been enjoying the reviews for countown to Christmas movies,
and I certainly feel like they have leveled up this year.
One thing I did notice that somehow made it past editing,
and I'm curious if any other viewers noticed this. On
the We Met in December kiss. As Dave was walking
back into the elevator post kiss, he awkwardly had something
(16:46):
in his mouth and had to move it around before
saying his next line. I had to rewatch to make
sure I was seeing it correctly, but that kind of
ruined the moment for me. Anyone going to rewatch to
find it?
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Lol? It's around the one hour one it mark on Homework. Plus.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I also agree Dave's character could have been more interesting,
and loved the costume choices for Annie. Excuse me, time out,
time out, time out, time out? Did we ever say
Dave's character was not interesting. I don't I remember either.
This is what I'm wondering. Does Dave Niall have gum
in his mouth? Because he just had a smooch with
on a racer and that's what he's What would he
have in his mouth? He's not like have a like a.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Load of chew. I was like, I don't even know
what it's called. But thank you Megan for saving me.
Hold on, here we go, let me come see. That's
a Breek kiss. Great kiss. Oh, he definitely has them
in his mouth.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
It's gum or a mint. It's not like last night's chicken.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
A popcorn, Colonel grapes.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
If you guys watch I Day mister Christmas, you will
understand that reference.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
It is.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
It is hard to un see it though, now that
I've seen it, But yeah, it looks like gum to me,
I'm sure it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
It's not off putting. That kiss was hot.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
He wanted fresh breath to kiss his.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Partner scene scene partner. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Another email from Mackie regarding movies set in high school,
Wendy mentioning, I have not read this email, so I'm
a little bit nervous, right, now you're fine. Wendy mintioning
in your review of The Snow Must Go On that
she enjoys high school settings and Christmas movies gave me
the idea to check your A through Z listne for
in Mary Measure from twenty twenty two. Since it isn't
(18:38):
currently on there, I want to highly recommend it for
the both of you. It was Russell Haylean's first Hallmark
movie and it stars Patty Muirn and Brendan Penny. I
think you would enjoy. As a matter of fact, my
first thought after watching The Snow Must Go On was
that it would make a great double future within Mary Measure.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Are you rushing because we have so many things to
say about this email? No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean
to No, no, no, I was like, w through it. I
have thoughts that movie. We did not review it.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I did watch it because that was the first year
we did the Bracket and that movie came on strong
in the Bracket and I was like, well, heck, I
have to go and watch it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Because of Russell Haneline activating.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
For his exactly exactly yeah at yes, speaking of Russell Hayneline,
that was his first Hallmark movie. That's a cute movie.
I have seen it as well. You're right, we didn't
review it.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
You know how.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Sometimes movies like the where and when of watching them
sticks with you. I vividly remember it was Christmas break.
My husband was watching that movie and I was deep
cleaning the kitchen, like the cabinets, taking everything out, scrubbing
it down, and that was on.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
So I've seen it, Yeah, I haven't seen it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
With the review worthy, I also shout out to our
a zine listing which is on our website, Girls Go one,
Hallmark dot com. It's LinkedIn the sidebar. We have a
listening of every single movie we reviewed. It automatically updates, right,
it automatically updates.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
It's alphabetical. I haven't actually looked in a while. Let's
make sure it's actually more. I hope it's updating.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Gosh, right, look for an alpine holiday and alpine holidays there. Okay, good,
it's automatically updating. It's automatically updating. I mean, there are
some good movies in here. So you can just scroll
dot list.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Can you search? Is there a search function on it?
Or now there's a search function on your computer? Or
just yeah, command F.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
And you can search, but there is no search funk.
You can search our website. Movies will come up that
way as well. Our final email is from Jan, who
wrote to us about the Mistletoe Murders finale. She says
a few comments on the podcast for the latest Missletone Murders.
A little background. I worked in a college international relations
department and had students who did internships with the FBI
(20:45):
and CIA and State Department, and my daughter was in
the FBI.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Very cool, Felo, She's giving us a lot of information.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
She shouldn't be.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
What's your code name?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Jan? They leave quote intelligence purposeful broad, but it would
most likely be CIA given the covert nature of the
explosion scenes and the training she displays. Yes, government intelligence
agencies do occasionally turn criminals into special operatives. The movie
Catch Me If You Can is all about the government
(21:17):
doing this and is based on a true story. Grace
is also a good target for such a program because
she has no family, no one to ask questions or
need to know where she is. Her computer skills would
be a huge asset too. The National Security Agency would
be a good spot for her skills, providing the computer
background slash framework. But I don't think they have field agents.
Love this series so much. Need more than six episodes
(21:39):
next year. Those science chan Us two, Ken Coperris and Hollmark.
Please make that happen. I was thinking about this the
other day. You talk about like cleaning the kitchen cabinet
and remembering that in Mary Measure was on. I was
cleaning my bathroom the other day and I had this
thought about that email from Ken Cooperris. Oh, actually wasn't
an email. I think it was a message him saying
(22:00):
that Emily stores open your round year around and he
can write stories whatever season it is. This is what
I'm thinking about. And my thought process was, well, they
would have to start shooting that now if we were
gonna get like six in summer and six in during
the countin the Christmas can they do that? Yeah, please
(22:21):
make it happen. Let's wrap on this week's Listener mail bag.
Keep your feedback emails coming. You can send them to
Girls Gone Hallmark at gmail dot com. You can also
use our Sadly Lonely voicemail. You can call us nine
four nine three two nine eight zero nine zero and
leave us a message. No one will ever answer that
phone number. Just leave a message and let us know
(22:44):
your your deep thoughts.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
We way back next time with more Hallmark reviews.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Goodbye bye.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Alright friends, before we go, just a quick heads up,
you're about to hear some ads. These little gems help
us keep the show running and the Hallmark love flowing.
So do with that info what you will, Grab a snack,
hit the skip button, or maybe just maybe listen in
and discover your new favorite product.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Bye.
This is a Bramble Jam podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to Girls Gone Hallmark, a Hallmark review podcast. I'm
Megan and I'm a longtime Hallmark fan. I'm Wendy. I'm
a former Hallmark hater. It's time for Listener Mailbag episode
number two for the month of December, because you, our
lovely listeners, have been bringing it with the Listener Mailbag
emails and we appreciate it. We haven't done a Hallmark
(00:44):
News episode in a long time. Headlines, my friend, you
have forgotten the title of it. You're right, headlines. We
haven't done one of those in a long time. It's
because there's not a ton of headlines. I gonna know,
I know, we're gonna get to a big one here
in a minute. But during the summer season there seems
to be a lot of headlines because everything is forthcoming
for a countdown to Christmas, right, sure, what's in production
(01:08):
and what the rumors are and this and that and whatever,
And then it gets kind of quiet because we just
get all the product of that. Yeah, but now we
have a headline, but we can't put it in its
own show. Well, let's do two headlines, or we have
two headlines. One's gonna surprise you.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh you know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
The headline just it's just a Hallmark notes and that
is the news about the series Ripple. Yeah, so we
had talked. Ripple was originally slated for Hallmark. We were
so excited it was slated for Homemark Plus back when
Hallmark Plus was getting exclusive content.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Actually we have three homeworks. I saw the wheels turning.
I saw them turning. So Ripple was originally slated for
Hallmark Plus. And then you and I kept saying where's Ripple.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
In fact, we were in front of someone from Hallmark
and I said where's Ripple and this person said, it's
just not on the schedule yet.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I was like okay, like get that answer was good
enough for me. Yeah at the time. And then nearly
six weeks later, Ripple ends up on freaking Netflix. Yeah,
like out of nowhere, out of nowhere.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I'd love to know the behind the scenes was it.
I was like, well, they're not.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Really dropping exclusive content on Hallmark Plus anymore.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Stay tuned, but.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
So maybe the maybe the deal was it was supposed
to go straight to Hallmark Plus, but now they're not
doing that, so they had to resell it. Anyway, It's
on Netflix, and you will know this because of when
this episode comes out, But we are reviewing Ripple right
here on Girls Gone Hallmark and perhaps some additional non
Hallmark titles.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, that's breaking news, baby, bit ba babe.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Do you like my newstickers? I do? I do.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
I think we will be also reviewing Champagne Problems on
Netflix this week as part of potentially the Girl's Gone
Hallmark expansion. That's right, taking over the rom com world
girls streaming.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Girls god Stream. I was like, one review at a time.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
If you haven't listened to our review of Ripple yet
because you're like, I'm not watching that show because it's
not on Hallmark, get your remotes right now and fire
up Ripple on Netflix and then come listen to our
review of it. Uh huh yeah, yeah, what's the next
what's the next headline?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
I'm gonna save the best for last? So the next headline?
You had three? I know, So I'm gonna save the
best for last. I just did one. Okay, okay, okay,
number two.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
We have a new direct to Hallmark Plus reality television
show First impression. I am not excited about this. We're
not reviewing this right Do you want.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
To I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I gotta see it. I gotta see it. The show
is called Second Chance Love. It is hosted by Chili,
yes the Chili of TLC Fame, and Matthew Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Who are a real life couple. Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
It's an unscripted series and it is about couples who
broke up anywhere between five and thirty years ago, having
a second chance at love, reunited, reunited, and at the
end of their journey, they have to decide do we
leave together or separately? Because they go to Italy, they
got to figure out the spark is still there.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Honestly, you said, you're not excited. I kind of am.
I am not.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
I have so many questions. This cannot be a Hallmark
Plus original this. Did they purchase this from somebody? Like?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Was this a reality show?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
That unscripted show that they purchased like an acquisition, and
they're like, let's put it on Hallmark Plus.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't when was it filmed? How old is it?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
It's not old because I saw photos from Italy on
the instagrams of Matthew and Chili before it was announced.
But where they were m Chili says working with Hallmark
is a dream come true because the brand represents good
quality content. So I love what Homework stands for. And
this project is beth special to Matthew and me for
several reasons. As executive producers and hosts. We can't wait
(05:08):
to share the inspiration behind the pursuit of true love.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Creative way.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Jonathan and Meredith Sinclair. I feel like Jonathan Sinclair is
a name we know. Oh interesting, Jonathan Sinclair. Oprah's master
Class fifty two episodes, a series called released, a series
called ion La Fixed My Life. He's an he's an
own guy.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I wonder if this was for own. Oprah goes to Broadway.
I wonder if it was for own.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
He's done a lot for Oprah. Perhaps this has an
own sensibility. It does, It certainly does well.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
We'll see. I'm I'm not I'm not writing it off.
I'm gonna be honest. I'm interested.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I don't think it's gonna get the eyeballs. I'm sorry, No,
I don't think so either, But I'm interested. I'm watching
at least an episode. Okay, you know what we're definitely
going to be watching is Dodd one year from now.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean, we thought they milked the chiefs.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Just you wait, folks, Disney World and Hallmark are teaming
up for Holiday ever after the Disney World Wish Come True.
It will debut during countdown to Christmas twenty twenty six.
The movie will start Lazy Shabert and Travis Van Winkle,
who is a fave of mine. I'll be honest, what
(06:25):
has he been in? No shade of Travis van Winkle.
I've been reviewing Hallmark movies for five years.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now, where's he been? I don't think I've ever reviewed
a movie with him in it. Maybe true.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
He is in the World's Cutest Christmas Movie, which is
called Project Christmas Wish from twenty twenty I recommend it.
He was also intis the Season to Be Merry. Since then,
he has not been on Hallmark, but he was in
the television series Fu Bar, which I believe is a
Netflix series with Arnold Schwarzenacher. He's also in nine episodes
of the series You Oh, I Do Love that, Serius.
(06:59):
I just kind of peel off season three. I don't
think I've continued past then, So he's been doing other
non Hallmark stuff. It's coming back. Also in this movie,
Richard Kind from only murders in the building and inside out,
Christy Carlton Romano Campossible, and even Stevens, Bryce Durfy from
General Hospital, Teagan Burns from The Mighty Ducks, Game Changers,
(07:21):
Asher Alexander from Halan Harper, and Patrick Renna from The
sand Lot having his renaissance as a TikTok superstar. Let
me tell you when photos from Disney World started to
emerge last week.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
And people were like, what is this?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah, they were like, people were making tiktoks about like
Lacy Shaver is here in Disneyland. Yeah, not Disneyland, sorry,
disney World in Florida, the inferior Disney property. I agree
with that. It's too damn hot there. Don't go in
the summertime. No, from personal experience, yep. Anyway, I was like,
for sure, this can't be Hallmark. You know, I'm often
(07:58):
wrong and like I have no I'm admitting that, but
I thought, oh, this is a Disney movie that she's making,
and like good for her, Lacy, Like sure enough, though
it's a Hallmark project, I'm color me shocked.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Jennifer Aspen is connected to this proj She's on every
single movie.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I feel like we've reviewed this year, she's attached to
as a producer.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
She has got her hand and everything. Yeah, look I'm
excited about it.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Also written and directed by Ryan Landell's Oh thank You,
thank you, because we don't have anything.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
From him this year.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
No, and Ryan Landells wrote Tanta Tullmy and Sugar Plumb
last year, wrote and directed. He's writing and directing this
like he came out of nowhere last year. Wrote to
Smash Hits and I DM him and was like, we're thrilled.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
To see you coming back.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
It's just going to be a full year of Disney activation,
yes and all. Oh, it's going to be a full
year of Disney activations. And I bet your bottom dollar
they're going to have a whole kickoff next year in
Disney World and all that stuff. So your favorite content
creators are right here.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
I mean, do it hear it at Disneyland. They won't.
It's not the thing. It's not the collapse.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
I wonder why they did it at disney World and
not disney Land. AlSi lives here in La doesn't she
I have no idea me neither. Let's take a quick
break and come right back with some listener mailbag emails
(09:34):
Jammie writes in regarding the Christmas Cup episode, which I
feel like I need to apologize for that in a
catnip cafe. We're just so at my wits end. Sure,
thankfully her email is not about how terrible the episode was.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
It is.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Instead, she writes, I am sure I'm not the first
or only person to email you narrators note you are,
but Ben Rosenbaum slash Mike Hick them from Winn Calls
the Heart is also Aaron Craikow's husband soon to be
baby daddy.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Yeah, we did not mention that.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I don't watch Wind Calls the Heart. I didn't actually
didn't know.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
I did see though.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Aaron just announced that she's expecting. Yes, I knew she
was married to somebody like recently from the cast.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
I just didn't know who that was. Yeah, our apologies.
There's no shade, no and there baby announce Some pictures
could not be freaking cute. They're like in a photo booth.
So cute.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah that's really cute. Good for them, you know. Oh,
also Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace they're also having a baby. Yes,
so many hardy babies are they filming that show? Right? Now, No,
they're done, right, I'm sure they're done.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I think they're done because it comes out in a
couple of weeks. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I was watching the Homewark Christmas Experience Special, yes the
other night.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Did they give you fomo?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Hardcore fomo? Because I'm like, these people were in the
rooms that we were in.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Every time I see a shot of that tree, I'm like,
that's the room stood right there. Oh yeah our room.
Our room overlooked like that square. Yes, we had a
great view. I'm talking like downstairs and because we had
access to the green room. Oh and I'm a quoting
green room, nobody else was ever in there, but it
was only ever us and I swear that's there was.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Did you watch the special? Not yet, but they have
like this.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Moment where like Ben and Kim and maybe Robert Buckley
not Junior or all in this room And I'm like,
I think they're in that room that we were in. Yeah, yeah,
it has to be anyway, just that you know that
hotel has a certain lighting about it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Sure took you back.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
That was a fun trip, even though I'm we were
just talking earlier today about I don't know how we
did the cruise and that Kansas City experience, which, by
the way, we flew home on December twenty second from
Kansas City.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I don't know how we put two trips because I'm
so far underwater this holiday season. But my husband, he goes,
you know, I was just looking to see if we
can fly out to Kansas City next weekend for.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
The third month of the event. I love this guy
just is like, let's just go.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But he was like, flights are outrageous, and I said,
because it's in four days. Yeah, you wouldn't be able
to get a room at that hotel probably, No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
He wants to go to the Chiefs game.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I just want to like hang in the lobby and
see the people and go to the panels, So I
would not be going to the Chiefs game. Zurine that
special there was a little Merry Christmas everybody from Aaron
Craikou and Kevin McGarry, and they were in costume for
Win Costa Heart, which I'm sure they filmed at some
point when they were filming, but I was like trying
to look. I was like, does she look pregnant? I
(12:39):
don't know, like what her due date is or not.
That any of it is any of my business. I'm
just curious. Timeline. Yeah, yeah, Timeline, That's all. Diane writes
in about the sheer volume of Thanksgiving movies and says, Hi, ladies,
I heard you asking if listeners thought so many Thanksgiving
weekend movies like this year is too many? And I
say yes, On a normal weekend, I am able to
(13:00):
record the movies and watch them when I have time
throughout the week, timing right with your reviews, and being
done before the next weekend. I just love that we're
part of that whole process. Same neelas to say. Here
we are at the weekend after Thanksgiving and I still
have multiple movies from last week to watch. It makes
me feel overwhelmed and anxious. I feel rushed instead of
excited about watching, especially since I know I am getting
(13:22):
ready to add three more to my cueue. There are
days when I just don't have the time to watch
a Hallmark movie and sometimes just want to watch football
or something else with my husband. Same and putting out
so many on a weekend is just bound to get
me behind. I know I can take my time and
just watch once my schedule permits, but I prefer to
watch when the movies have just come out. I say
(13:42):
quality is more important than quantity on Thanksgiving weekend, sing
it Diane, I agree. I think we don't need the
two firs during things go.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Let's just do Look.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'm okay with Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night,
but not the two first.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Even my husband's behind.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think in this house, I think there was plenty
of opportunity on the schedule to either one not re
air some movies that were originally Hallmark Plus, which they
did with Cherry Lane. I think maybe there were a
few acquisitions in there that they could have let fall
(14:23):
to the wayside and sprinkled these movies out through the
Countain Christmas in previous years we would have had miracles
on Christmas on Thursday nights we have.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
There are other nights of the.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Week we could have had some Thursday night releases.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Facebook moderator Mackie alerted us to a review that Russell
Hanline dropped on Letterbox regarding the movie An Alpine Holiday.
He writes, this movie is set in the French Alps,
So my friend Lucy that's adorable, got to visit the
French Alps to shoot this movie. Meanwhile, I keep writing
(14:58):
movies set in small North my and towns that shoot
in small Canadian towns. No to self write more movies
with scenic international settings, something like I don't know, Ted
Cooper takes Copenhagen or Scandinavian Santa Class or The Three
Wise Men Tokyo Drift. You guys insert laughter track here
(15:19):
that is so freaking funny and my wheels are spinning.
I'm like, yes, what movie did we say? Haul Out
the Holly needs some sort of international because we need
Wes Brown to go off and do the Santa Class
in Copenhagen.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Or Nelson Russell Haynes line lab.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One and then it says in parentheses, I actually have
a great idea for a Santa Summit sequel that involves
travel across the globe. Seems destined not to come to life,
but a fella can dream. And excuse me, I say, what,
Look this from the man who shopped Hot Frosty for
years and years and years.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Don't give up Russel, Oh, Netflix.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Russell, no shade to Hallmark. I'm just saying, Russell, you
are a great screenwriter, Like put your work out there
everywhere you don't just have to pigeonhole yourself into Hallmark.
I mean, says the girl who's sitting at a kitchen
table right now.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Jack about how movies are made, but I feel like
you've got a home anywhere.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Mandy writes in regarding We Met in December, and she says,
I've been enjoying the reviews for countown to Christmas movies,
and I certainly feel like they have leveled up this year.
One thing I did notice that somehow made it past editing,
and I'm curious if any other viewers noticed this. On
the We Met in December kiss. As Dave was walking
back into the elevator post kiss, he awkwardly had something
(16:46):
in his mouth and had to move it around before
saying his next line. I had to rewatch to make
sure I was seeing it correctly, but that kind of
ruined the moment for me. Anyone going to rewatch to
find it?
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Lol? It's around the one hour one it mark on Homework. Plus.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I also agree Dave's character could have been more interesting,
and loved the costume choices for Annie. Excuse me, time out,
time out, time out, time out? Did we ever say
Dave's character was not interesting. I don't I remember either.
This is what I'm wondering. Does Dave Niall have gum
in his mouth? Because he just had a smooch with
on a racer and that's what he's What would he
have in his mouth? He's not like have a like a.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Load of chew. I was like, I don't even know
what it's called. But thank you Megan for saving me.
Hold on, here we go, let me come see. That's
a Breek kiss. Great kiss. Oh, he definitely has them
in his mouth.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
It's gum or a mint. It's not like last night's chicken.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
A popcorn, Colonel grapes.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
If you guys watch I Day mister Christmas, you will
understand that reference.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
It is.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
It is hard to un see it though, now that
I've seen it, But yeah, it looks like gum to me,
I'm sure it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
It's not off putting. That kiss was hot.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
He wanted fresh breath to kiss his.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Partner scene scene partner. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Another email from Mackie regarding movies set in high school,
Wendy mentioning, I have not read this email, so I'm
a little bit nervous, right, now you're fine. Wendy mintioning
in your review of The Snow Must Go On that
she enjoys high school settings and Christmas movies gave me
the idea to check your A through Z listne for
in Mary Measure from twenty twenty two. Since it isn't
(18:38):
currently on there, I want to highly recommend it for
the both of you. It was Russell Haylean's first Hallmark
movie and it stars Patty Muirn and Brendan Penny. I
think you would enjoy. As a matter of fact, my
first thought after watching The Snow Must Go On was
that it would make a great double future within Mary Measure.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Are you rushing because we have so many things to
say about this email? No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean
to No, no, no, I was like, w through it. I
have thoughts that movie. We did not review it.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I did watch it because that was the first year
we did the Bracket and that movie came on strong
in the Bracket and I was like, well, heck, I
have to go and watch it.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Because of Russell Haneline activating.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
For his exactly exactly yeah at yes, speaking of Russell Hayneline,
that was his first Hallmark movie. That's a cute movie.
I have seen it as well. You're right, we didn't
review it.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
You know how.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Sometimes movies like the where and when of watching them
sticks with you. I vividly remember it was Christmas break.
My husband was watching that movie and I was deep
cleaning the kitchen, like the cabinets, taking everything out, scrubbing
it down, and that was on.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
So I've seen it, Yeah, I haven't seen it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
With the review worthy, I also shout out to our
a zine listing which is on our website, Girls Go one,
Hallmark dot com. It's LinkedIn the sidebar. We have a
listening of every single movie we reviewed. It automatically updates, right,
it automatically updates.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
It's alphabetical. I haven't actually looked in a while. Let's
make sure it's actually more. I hope it's updating.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Gosh, right, look for an alpine holiday and alpine holidays there. Okay, good,
it's automatically updating. It's automatically updating. I mean, there are
some good movies in here. So you can just scroll
dot list.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Can you search? Is there a search function on it?
Or now there's a search function on your computer? Or
just yeah, command F.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
And you can search, but there is no search funk.
You can search our website. Movies will come up that
way as well. Our final email is from Jan, who
wrote to us about the Mistletoe Murders finale. She says
a few comments on the podcast for the latest Missletone Murders.
A little background. I worked in a college international relations
department and had students who did internships with the FBI
(20:45):
and CIA and State Department, and my daughter was in
the FBI.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Very cool, Felo, She's giving us a lot of information.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
She shouldn't be.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Right.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
What's your code name?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Jan? They leave quote intelligence purposeful broad, but it would
most likely be CIA given the covert nature of the
explosion scenes and the training she displays. Yes, government intelligence
agencies do occasionally turn criminals into special operatives. The movie
Catch Me If You Can is all about the government
(21:17):
doing this and is based on a true story. Grace
is also a good target for such a program because
she has no family, no one to ask questions or
need to know where she is. Her computer skills would
be a huge asset too. The National Security Agency would
be a good spot for her skills, providing the computer
background slash framework. But I don't think they have field agents.
Love this series so much. Need more than six episodes
(21:39):
next year. Those science chan Us two, Ken Coperris and Hollmark.
Please make that happen. I was thinking about this the
other day. You talk about like cleaning the kitchen cabinet
and remembering that in Mary Measure was on. I was
cleaning my bathroom the other day and I had this
thought about that email from Ken Cooperris. Oh, actually wasn't
an email. I think it was a message him saying
(22:00):
that Emily stores open your round year around and he
can write stories whatever season it is. This is what
I'm thinking about. And my thought process was, well, they
would have to start shooting that now if we were
gonna get like six in summer and six in during
the countin the Christmas can they do that? Yeah, please
(22:21):
make it happen. Let's wrap on this week's Listener mail bag.
Keep your feedback emails coming. You can send them to
Girls Gone Hallmark at gmail dot com. You can also
use our Sadly Lonely voicemail. You can call us nine
four nine three two nine eight zero nine zero and
leave us a message. No one will ever answer that
phone number. Just leave a message and let us know
(22:44):
your your deep thoughts.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
We way back next time with more Hallmark reviews.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Goodbye bye.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Alright friends, before we go, just a quick heads up,
you're about to hear some ads. These little gems help
us keep the show running and the Hallmark love flowing.
So do with that info what you will, Grab a snack,
hit the skip button, or maybe just maybe listen in
and discover your new favorite product.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Bye.
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