Move Over Hallmark, Great American Family Announces "Great American Christmas" Schedule
It’s always been hard to withstand pressure.
While the Hallmark Channel has reportedly succumbed to cultural pressure to diversify their movie offerings to feature LGBTQ couples, others in the media have worked to create alternatives for viewers seeking traditional family values on screen.
One of those defying mainstream culture is Bill Abbott.
According to US Magazine, Bill “made Hallmark Channel the go-to hub for all-things holidays for 20 years before his departure in 2020 and launching GAC Media in 2021.”
His departure followed controversy over Hallmark initially pulling an ad that featured the wedding of two women but then issuing an apology and re-airing the ad. One month later, Abbott’s departure was announced.
Abbott then acquired GAC (originally called Great American Country) and launched two channels, GAC Family and GAC Living, to compete with Hallmark. Danica McKellar, Jen Lilley, and then, “The Queen of Christmas,” Candace Cameron Bure all left Hallmark to join Abbott at GAC.
“We want to be the leader and family television,” Abbott said of his new empire on a March episode of “Up Next with John Contratti.”
This week, Great American Family announced their Christmas movie slate that includes 18 movies, increasing their offering by 50% in only their second year, according to Variety.
“This year’s annual event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 21 with an original Christmas movie premiering every weekend. Additionally, Christmas movies will air 24/7 throughout the end of the year.”
Some of the actors featured on “Great American Christmas” include “Daniel Lissing, Merritt Patterson, Jill Wagner, Cameron Mathison, Jen Lilley, Danica McKellar, Neal Bledsoe, Cindy Busby, Jessica Lowndes, Shae Robins, Casey Elliott and Jillian Murray. Making their ‘Great American Christmas’ debut this year are Andrea Barber, Dan Payne, Marc Blucas, Jennifer Freeman, Joseph Cannata, Garrett Watson, Jesse Hutch, Paul Greene, the legendary Gladys Knight and Candace Cameron Bure.”
Bure announced the list on her Instagram this week and told Variety, “They are going to move much more forward in the faith content, and having both — still having lots of movies, rom-coms and Christmas movies that don’t involve faith, but also ones that really do.”
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In an August interview, Abbott told Family Savvy that he “wants Great American Family to provide a space that promotes faith, family, and country.”
“It’s a combination, too, I think of being comfortable in the room and then it’s being comfortable even with your own self,” he said. “I got so many letters at Hallmark about people who would say they’d get home from work and they’d have a difficult day and they’d be able to turn the Hallmark Channel on and just have two hours where they didn’t have to think about dark situations, violence, sexual situations, things that create anxiety.”
Abbott even chooses actors and actresses who demonstrate faith and charity work so they’re role models both on and off screen.
Check out their upcoming Christmas offerings! Which movies will be on your “must-watch” calendar?
