mikeb

The CEO Wonya Lewis who pushed for diversity and inclusion is stepping down. She is staying on Board of Directors so hopefully this is not a retreat to the Bill Abbott days https://deadline.com/2023/08/wonya-lucas-exit-hallmark-media-president-ceo-board-of-directors-1235457553/

It was strange that the last episode of new season (the chess episode) did not have any scenes at the police station and instead had them working together in a room at the hotel where the murder occurred. I wonder if the show couldn't get access to the police station building. Also, the big reveal at the end involving the Commissioner was so obvious much earlier in the episode.

Just based on recent cancellations and events, at this point I would not be surprised if they get out of mystery business and rename channel. Good thing i can get my fill of mysteries on Britbox and Acorn streaming services.

For those who don't follow the Hallmark Movies forum, there was a link to a recent video that Jill Wagner posted where she claims she wants to make another Mystery 101 but for reasons unknown to her, Hallmark has not given the go-ahead. Most posters don't believe her though.

I will be interested to see if Rachel Boston ends up signing an exclusive deal with Hallmark or GAC. I could be way off, but my impression from her social media is that she is very religious but more in support of inclusiveness than CCB.

Even though Jill Wagner was in a GAC Christmas movie, I have not read that she signed an exclusive deal with GAC. I think there is still hope that there may a new HMM Mystery 101 movie at some point. The delay may be that she is producing and starring in a new Paramount Network series "Lioness".

Lacey Chabert signed an exclusive deal in February to star in and produce movies for Hallmark channels for next two years, so maybe we will get more Crossword Mystery movies to fill the void.

This article says multiple sources say no plans for more Aurora Teagarden movies https://variety.com/2022/film/news/candace-cameron-bure-aurora-teagarden-canceled-hallmark-movies-1235235735/

According to this wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hallmark_Channel_Original_Movies all 3 new mystery movies this year had more viewers than the 3 new non-mystery movies. The mysteries ranged from 1.17 to 1.75 million viewers while the non-mysteries ranged from 0.95 - 1.07 million. The standout was Aurora Teagarden at 1.75 million, so imagine will continue to get new ones for it for quite awhile, unless Candice Cameron Bure wants to stop the series.

Still haven't seen any news on new movies of existing mystery series, but there will be a new movie Curious Caterer starring Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker premiering on April 10th.

Glad to see show has been renewed for third season, but no news yet on when new episodes will be available. https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/kin-slasher-creepshow-my-life-is-murder-london-kills-bloodlands-amc-networks-announces-six-series-renewals/

They are streaming services that feature shows from other countries. I think Britbox is exclusively shows from England, while Acorn is mostly shows from England with some from other countries like Australia mixed in. Yes, they both have large selections of cozy mysteries, a few of which have been re-broadcast on PBS stations in the U.S., like DEATH IN PARADISE and MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES.

Has anyone heard anything definitive about MatchMaker Mysteries? The assumption most people made when it was announced late last year that she signed contract with GAC network was that she would no longer be appearing in any more Hallmark or HMM movies.

I figured the new executives in charge were de-emphasizing mysteries when multiple love story movies premiered on HMM in the fall (before the Christmas movies started) that in the past I would have expected to be shown on the main Hallmark channel. I would be disappointed if they continue Morning Show Mysteries after cancelling Picture Perfect and Hailey Dean - I always thought it was the weakest of the long-running series. This also does not bode well for the two new ones that premiered in 2021 continuing - To Catch A Spy and Redemption in Cherry Springs. The second one seemed to be setting up a new mystery with it's ending that may never get resolved.

An interesting interview with Paul Campbell about how Hallmark has allowed him to get away with more in the movies he has acted in or written recently. https://www.eonline.com/news/1314351/what-its-really-like-to-star-in-and-write-a-hallmark-christmas-movie