Angela has been a busy realtor since her amicable divorce a couple of years ago to Dakota, a paleontologist whose adventures kept him anywhere but home. Now, she is a devoted if often harried, single mom to a smart and loving 10-year-old girl, Brooklyn. Angela’s busy schedule makes it hard for her to find time for much of anything…or anyone…else. As it is, she can barely get Brooklyn to her scout meetings on time, much to the disapproval of the other mothers. When Brooklyn gets the idea to have William, the owner of her favorite bakery, cater her scout troop’s posh annual holiday event, she asks Angela to work with him on pitching the idea to the moms in charge. Despite sensing that her daughter might be trying to play cupid, she agrees to help and finds herself enjoying time with him, but is reluctant to open her heart and life to someone new. When Dakota returns, missing her, Angela must decide what is best for her daughter and best for her heart. Starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Carlo Marks.
Tamera Mowry-Housley is an Emmy award-winning host, actress, producer, and entrepreneur who has captivated audiences for over 20 years.
She started her career in Hollywood alongside her sister, Tia, on the hit show “Sister, Sister,” which aired over 100 episodes from 1994-1999 and has gone on to see a cultural revival over the past few years since it was released on Netflix. Mowry-Housley’s work on the show gained praise and recognition; she received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress. She returned to the screen with Tia on the hit Style Network reality TV series “Tia and Tamera,” which chronicled her life as she balanced her acting career along with major life transformations of marriage and motherhood.
Mowry-Housely co-hosted the groundbreaking and Emmy-winning talk show, “The Real,” for six seasons. “The Real is the first syndicated talk show in years to be renewed for a sixth season. She worked alongside co-hosts Loni Love, Adrienne Bailon and Jeannie Mai. Together, the ladies won the Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Emmy at the 45th Daytime Emmy Awards in April 2018.
In November 2020, it was announced that Mowry-Housley would be expanding her relationship with Crown Media Family Networks, parent company to Hallmark, in a new overall deal to star in and executive produce original films for the network. Her credits include the television movies “A Christmas Miracle” for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which she also executive produced, as well as “Christmas Angel,” “Something to Sing About,” and “Seventeen Again.” She was a series regular on “Strong Medicine,” “Roommates” (ABC Family) and “Melissa & Joey” (ABC Family). Mowry-Housley has voiced characters in the FOX hit “Family Guy” and Cartoon Network’s “Superhero Squad Show.” She also produced and starred in the Lifetime movie “Double Wedding.” On the big screen, Mowry-Housley co-starred in the Rob Schneider comedy The Hot Chick. Most recently, she starred in the Hallmark original movie “Christmas Comes Twice,” which premiered during the network’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming event in 2020.
In addition to co-hosting “The Real,” she hosted season one of Facebook Watch’s “Help Us Get Married, a 12-episode reality web television series that followed three couples trying to plan their weddings with the help of the Facebook community. Mowry-Housley was also a frequent guest host on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family.” In 2021, she also competed in season five of “The Masked Singer” and wowed audiences nationwide with her singing abilities as the beloved Seashell.
In June 2021, Hulu announced its upcoming baking competition series “Baker’s Dozen” with Mowry-Housley and former White House pastry chef Bill Yosses. Set to premiere in October, together, they’ll host the unscripted series which pits passionate amateur bakers against seasoned culinary experts. Contestants will compete in head-to-head challenges for a chance to win the golden rolling pin and a cash prize. Additionally, she will serve as a judge alongside Martha Stewart and Chris Hessney on HGTV’s new design competition show, “Table Wars.” In each episode, the competitors must deliver the ultimate themed party environment, including stunning tablescapes, lighting and displays in order to impress the judges and avoid elimination. The finalist who delivers the most over-the-top event space will win the Table Wars title and a $50,000 cash prize.
Born in Germany and raised in Southern California, Mowry-Housley graduated with honors from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Abnormal Childhood Development. After meeting at Pepperdine, she married FOX News correspondent Adam Housley in May 2011. They welcomed their first child, Aden John Tanner Housley, in November 2012, and their second child, Ariah Talea Housley, in July 2015. They live in Napa Valley, where they oversee Century Oak Winery. They also opened their own celebrated tasting room in the heart of Downtown Napa where they both can frequently be seen pouring their family wines for fans and visitors. They have also opened up their own coffeehouse and coffee line called Barnhouse Napa Brews in Downtown Napa. They have six brews of coffee at the shop, all of which are locally brewed and sourced and grown sustainably from all over the world. Additionally, 90% of the food and products they have for sale are women and minority owned.
At first glance, this seems like a slightly-more-dramatic version of “The Love Boat,” from the doctor’s point of view. The series was created by Ryan Murphy, who usually comes up ideas that are either horrifying (“American Horror Story”) or at least, slightly-off-kilter (“Nip/Tuck”) or very original (“Glee”). However, even at second glance, this show really does seem to be a just a breezy medical drama set aboard a cruise ship. I find it a little bit disappointing, just from the fact that Murphy created it and that it stars Joshua Jackson, who’s been excellent in so many series, from “Dawson’s Creek” to “Doctor Death.”
Jackson plays a renowned doctor, Max, who is looking for a more relaxing, fun life aboard a cruise ship after battling COVID and other horrors (he reveals in the first episode that he was “Patient Zero” in NYC and nearly died). The legendary Don Johnson plays the ship’s captain, who runs a tight ship and expects excellence from his crew. (Who knew that Sonny Crockett would turn into Captain Stubing?) Max has two nurses that assist him, Avery (Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale). The ship, its crew, and the many medical maladies they encounter on board are not the easy life that Max expected.
Amid the health crises, there is plenty of time for romance, dancing, and drinking. Max and Avery have a slight tryst in the first episode. The second episode is about “Singles Week.” Apparently, each weekly cruise has a different theme, to make it slightly more interesting. I guess Ryan Murphy is trying to pay tribute to the shows he loved in his youth on ABC (the same network where “The Love Boat” aired). Although each episode has new guest stars, they’re not the center of all the action the way they were on the original “Love Boat” that ran from 1977-1986. The show’s four main stars are the focus of the show, along with the ship and the beautiful scenery. Guest stars include Chord Overstreet, Shania Twain, John Stamos, Cheyenne Jackson, Gina Gershon and Rachel Dratch.
From what I’ve read, ABC is trying to sell this as exciting and sexy. My advice is that you pour yourself a nice tropical drink and sit down to watch this one….but you may find that it’s not the drinking that makes you sleepy. I really hope it gets better. Otherwise, the talent on the series deserves better than this. FOX had a much better retro show with the “Fantasy Island” reboot that they canceled last year, sadly. I really enjoyed that one. ABC should have rescued that instead.
From the brilliant mind of Ryan Murphy comes high-octane procedural “Doctor Odyssey.” Max (Joshua Jackson) is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the staff works hard and plays harder. It’s all-hands-on-deck as Max and his small but mighty medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore.
“Doctor Odyssey” stars Joshua Jackson, Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale and Don Johnson. The series, produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television, is written and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken. Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson serve as executive producers. Paris Barclay directs and executive produces. Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson and Nissa Diederich also serve as executive producers.
EPISODES
04. Wellness Week
During a week dedicated to wellness, The Odyssey ironically finds itself overwhelmed by a surge of ailing patients. Meanwhile, Tristan’s new romance sparks jealousy, and Capt. Massey must bring the ship to safety in the midst of a hurricane.
Air Date: 10/17/2024
03. Plastic Surgery Week
Plastic Surgery Week on The Odyssey brings new faces and fresh features to be carefully maintained by the medical team. Meanwhile, when the owner’s wife comes on board, Capt. Massey must juggle charm and skillful dodging to sidestep her advances.
Air Date: 10/10/2024
02. Singles Week
It’s Singles Week on The Odyssey, and lust is in the air. As Max, Tristan and Avery navigate their relationship, the crew fends off advances from passengers. With rising desire and quickly spreading ailments, Max and the team rush to restore order.
Air Date: 10/03/2024
01. Pilot
Max Bankman is The Odyssey’s new onboard doctor, where the staff works hard and plays harder. It’s all-hands-on-deck as he gets acquainted with Capt. Massey and his medical team, Avery and Tristan, while treating crises miles from shore.
“Murder In A Small Town” on FOX Review by Suzanne 10/7/24
I love the actors in this show. I’m a huge fan of “Smallville,” and I’ve watched all of the shows Kristin Kreuk has starred in since. I really enjoyed Rossif Sutherland’s work in the Prime show “Three Pines.” It’s wonderful to see them paired together in this series. They have amazing chemistry together.
This series really reminds me of those Hallmark movies, or series of movies, which usually take place in a small town. The heroine falls for a guy, or her old boyfriend, and sometimes, like in several of the Hallmark movie series, they solve murders together. The heroines, such as Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden, or Ruby Herring, are generally smarter than everyone around them, including the boyfriend. Now, this series on FOX (based on the Alberg and Cassandra Mysteries, a series of B.C.-set crime novels by L.R. Wright.) is a Canadian show about a detective named Karl Alberg (Sutherland) who’s new to town, and he meets up with the town’s librarian, Cassandra (Kreuk). The murders are the focus of the show, but their romance is what ties the show together and makes it worth watch.
The small town, in this case, is Gibsons, a small coastal town that most of us in the U.S. have no doubt never heard of. It’s in the area called the Sunshine Coast. It sets a moody tone that you may be familiar with from watching shows like “The Killing” or “True Detective.” The romance between the two, and the quirky characters, keep the show from getting too dark.
Each episode has a different murder, and the murder is solved within the show’s 42 minutes. Whether there will be many long-term stories (besides the romance) remains to be seen. Alberg is aided in his detective work by stalwart policeman Sergeant Sid Sokolowski (Aaron Douglas of “The Watchful Eye”). Guest stars include James Cromwell, Erica Durance, Lucas Bryant, Greyston Holt, Nathan Witte, Stana Katic, and Paula Patton.
I think the stories and characters are worth watching. Even if you don’t like the show, you may enjoy the beautiful British Columbia scenery.
All new murder mystery series Murder in a Small Town is based on the Edgar Award-winning, nine-book Karl Alberg series by acclaimed novelist L.R. Wright, and stars Rossif Sutherland (Reign, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Beauty and the Beast). Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who moves to a quiet, coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. He’ll quickly learn that this gentle paradise has more than its share of secrets and will need to call upon all the skills that made him a world-class detective in solving the murders that, even in this seemingly idyllic setting, continue to wash up on his shore. Kreuk stars as Cassandra Lee, a local librarian who becomes Karl’s muse, foil and romantic interest.
Mya Lowe (My Life with the Walter Boys, Yellowjackets), Savonna Spracklin (Two-Spirit Odyssey, Wildhood), Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica, The Watchful Eye) and Fritzy-Klevans Destine (The Boys, Superman & Lois) recur in the series, which also features special guest stars James Cromwell (Babe, Succession), Stana Katic (Castle, Absentia), Paula Patton (The Perfect Match, Precious) and Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek).
Murder in a Small Town is produced by Sepia Films in association with FOX Entertainment and Jeff Wachtel’s Future Shack Entertainment. The series is produced in British Columbia with Ian Weir (Arctic Air, Edgemont) serving as head writer/executive producer, Milan Cheylov (24, The Cleaning Lady) executive-producing and directing multiple episodes of the program, and Nick Orchard (Soapbox Productions), Morris Ruskin and Sharon Wisnia (Mojo Global Arts) and Jon Cotton also serving as executive producers.
Interview with Hunter King, star of “Two Scoops of Italy” on Hallmark by Krista 6/18/24
Speaking with Hunter was so much fun. It’s probably my favorite interview I’ve ever done because I was really familiar with her and her work on “Young and the Restless.” Seeing her in a different role in this movie was great.
She was so friendly and so much fun to talk to. I could have talked to her for an hour. She loves to read like I do, and so we shared our favorite books. She was so interesting, and I loved hearing about her experiences on this movie and her challenges she faced as well.
The movie airs Saturday, June 22 on Hallmark Channel, or streaming on Peacock.
Transcript (not edited yet)
Hunter King: Thank you so much for having me.
Krista Chain: Okay. My 1st question is, how did you decide to accept the part in 2 scoops of Italy? What was the audition process, or were you approached by someone to to look at the script? How did that all come about?
Hunter King: Hallmark approached me with the script, and immediately I heard Italy, and I was like, I’m in. Count me in but then I obviously went and read the script, and it was just so charming and such a
Hunter King: like such a sweet feel! Good love story! I love a Romcom such a sucker for a Romcom. So anytime I get the opportunity to do a Romcom, I immediately take it.
Hunter King: But I love the story arc. I love the character arc and obviously getting to take place in Italy is not not a bad day.
Krista Chain: That’s right. And so that answered my next question. I know sometimes when they film movies, they don’t actually film where it’s being set. So it was filmed in Italy.
Hunter King: It was filmed in Italy. I don’t know how I got so lucky to get to film a movie that is based in Italy and actually takes place in Italy. But I somehow I don’t know. I I won the lottery with this one. I really did. It was
Hunter King: more magical than you could even imagine. It was just
Hunter King: a dream come true.
Krista Chain: Well, the movie was excellent.
Hunter King: Thank you. Thank you so much. I’m so happy that you liked it. It was so much fun to film. It was really so like just a blast.
Krista Chain: It looks like it would have been a really good time.
Hunter King: Thank you.
Krista Chain: So what was your favorite part of the movie.
Hunter King: Oh, my favorite part of the movie there I mean, there were so many
Hunter King: fun scenes that we film Nicolet, my co-star. He was great. He was very patient with me, teaching me many Italian words in between in between takes. I just would constantly ask him what different things mean, and then somehow would not remember any of it. 20 min later would have to ask him all over again. A great patient teacher and a great Co star. But getting to film just in all these different amazing locations was just
Hunter King: just I don’t even know how to describe it. And some of the things that we did like. Vespa scenes were so fun because we couldn’t really ride the vesque class they needed to like get us
Hunter King: like the certain camera angles, so we’d be up on the back of a truck with the vespas drafted kind of on a trailer behind. It was just so much fun getting to shoot these different things, and there was so many fun experiences like that on this one.
Krista Chain: So you had never worked with your co-star before.
Hunter King: No, no! This was the 1st time.
Krista Chain: Oh, okay, we all had really good chemistry together.
Hunter King: Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, no, he was. He was lovely. He was great. And I give him major props because filming
Hunter King: a movie in your second language. I luckily only had to say a couple of Italian words, and that was difficult for me. So I was like, I don’t know how you’re doing this. That is so hard. And he handled it like such a pro. And just was, Yeah, I was. I was very impressed.
Krista Chain: Okay? And what was your biggest challenge in filming this movie?
Krista Chain: Did you have any obstacles or challenges.
Hunter King: I’m trying to think of my biggest. I mean, honestly, that sounds again, Mika having to film a whole movie in your second language, when I only had to say a couple of words, but I somehow always would botch the words, and the director would tell me, I’m like, Okay, wait, wait. Remind me how to say that like right before we would start filming.
Hunter King: And he’d be like, this is how you say this is how you say it. I’m like, Okay, okay? And then we’d go to film. And I somehow go back to saying it the wrong way. And I would do that so many times. Oh, my God! I felt so bad! And Mika is over here just handling it all like it’s a breeze, and I’m like I can’t even say 2 words in Italian without having to do it 5 different times. So that was probably the most challenging, and the most takes that I had to do was on the Times, that I would have to stay
Hunter King: forwards in Italian, and I would screw it up every time.
Krista Chain: So the biggest challenge was the language. Then.
Hunter King: Yeah, luckily I only had a little bit, but somehow it was still challenging for me. Yeah.
Krista Chain: I can imagine it would have been for me as well.
Hunter King: It was hard it was hard. But I’m I’m determined to get my Italian down, so that the next time I go there I can say more than how to order an espresso at a cafe.
Krista Chain: Is it was that the 1st time you had ever been to Italy.
Hunter King: I’d been to Italy once before, like
Hunter King: 1011 years prior and so now I feel like I appreciated it even more, and getting to be there for work was just
such an incredible opportunity that I will never forget.
Krista Chain: Well, I have also watched you and young and the restless.
Krista Chain: And so I was just wondering what is the differences in filming a movie and filming a TV show.
Hunter King: Well, I’d say the number one difference between the 2 is just the pace
Hunter King: with the young wrestles. We had to
Hunter King: an hour’s worth of a show in one day, and sometimes more, because we would film like a episode and a quarter or something like that every single day. And
Hunter King: the pacing was just so fast, and you had to. Some days. I had, I think, the most dialogue I ever had in one day was like 55 pages for the young, the restless. When you film a movie, you have, like, you know, 4 5 pages of dialogue that day so definitely the pace. And you get a lot more time and a lot more takes when you film a movie which is nice.
Hunter King: and that one, it’s almost like doing a play every single day is you got to know your stuff? You get one, maybe 2 takes, and then you’re moving on.
Krista Chain: Wow!
Hunter King: Yeah.
Krista Chain: That. That’s 1 reason I really wanted to talk with you today, because I have watched you for so long, and the young and the restless and then saw this movie. And so I really wanted to to have a chance to talk with you today.
Hunter King: Oh, I’m so excited that we’re getting to talk. Then I mean, I feel like the soap opera fans. It’s like
Hunter King: the best kind of fans because you guys are dedicated. You’re watching
Hunter King: single day, like you know the story you? I always said that the fans of the show know the show better than I do, cause they’ve watched for years that they’re like. No, this person was with this person, but then they cheated on this person, and now they have a baby with this person I’m like, Oh, my God! I didn’t even know that. So.
Hunter King: Major Boss.
Krista Chain: My grandmother got me into watching the soap operas.
Hunter King: I love that that’s so sweet. I love that.
Krista Chain: Yeah. When I was when I was young I used to stay with her some during the summer and stuff, and when I was sick from school, and she always had to watch Young and the restless.
Hunter King: Love that, and then they then you get hooked. You watch one episode. You’re like, now I need to know what happens, and.
Hunter King: That’s how they do it. Yep.
Krista Chain: That’s right. And so you I noticed in the movie that you were a chef. Do you have
Krista Chain: passion for cooking and baking yourself, or.
Hunter King: I’m learning. I definitely don’t have the same skills as Danielle for sure. Nowhere close. I have many different battle wounds, as I call them from cooking different burn marks or different cuts on my fingers and scars from accidentally cutting myself.
Hunter King: So I’m definitely nowhere near her level. But I do enjoy it, and I’ve started cooking more and more within this last year, and I’m getting better. It’s edible. That’s for sure. It’s edible, questionable. But we’re getting there slowly.
Krista Chain: That’s the main thing.
Hunter King: I just want to be good enough to eat. I don’t need to be Michelin Star just good enough to eat. That’s it.
Krista Chain: And that I have some. I have some burn marks, too, so.
Hunter King: You get it? Yeah, it takes time.
Krista Chain: So what are you? Some of your hobbies that you do in your free time, when you’re not working.
Hunter King: Oh, my gosh! I always feel so boring when people ask me about my hobbies. I’m like, I like my dogs. I love to read. I’m a really big reader. My boyfriend. And I, we love TV and movies. And so we do watch a lot of TV. We have a whole list of different things that we’ve been watching this year. And it’s
Hunter King: it’s a substantial amount. I’m like, okay, we need to slow down on the TV. Cause this is this is getting out of control. But we do love to watch. We have our favorite shows together. But I I’m a big, big reader, and surprise surprise. Most of the books I read are wrong coms, so I just I keep away from them. I love them so much.If you are in the market for superclone, http://swisswatch.is/ Super Clone Rolex is the place to go! The largest collection of fake Rolex watches online!
Krista Chain: I love to read as well. What’s your favourite book?
Hunter King: Oh, I mean, I love Colleen Hoover. Just it starts with us. It ends with us, or it ends with us and starts with us. We’re both so good. Verity was incredible. Have you read any colleen Hoover books.
Krista Chain: I haven’t.
Hunter King: Oh, okay, you’re gonna be.
Hunter King: I’m telling you it’s gonna change your life. You’re gonna thank me. You’re gonna come back and you’d be like you were right. Go and read, it ends with us and then read, it’s it’s weird. It starts with it ends with us. Then it starts with us is the sequel, and then a totally different book. Verity.
Hunter King: another one of our books, which I think that that’s 1 of them is
Hunter King: oh, another good one but those are really good, so try those. But.
Krista Chain: Okay.
Hunter King: For you if you want some Romcom books. I got you.
Krista Chain: I I’ve been reading some freedom. Macfadden, have you read her.
Hunter King: No, I haven’t.
Krista Chain: The housemaid and the co-worker, the teacher.
Krista Chain: Those are. Those are the ones. I just finished the coworker, and it was really good. So I’m fixing about to start the teacher.
Hunter King: Ok, all right, I’ll put those on my list. I’ll definitely do that because I’m almost done with my book now, and I need a new one. Check out, Emily Henry, too.
Krista Chain: I’ve seen her, but I’ve never read any of hers either.
Hunter King: If you like. Hallmark, you’d love her books. They’re just so feel good and just make it just feels like you’re reading a warm hug it just they’re just delicious. You gotta read her books.
Krista Chain: I’ll definitely check her out.
Krista Chain: And have you ever worked with you said you had never worked with your co-star before.
Hunter King: No, I have not. This was our 1st movie together.
Krista Chain: Oh, wow! Well, who is someone that you would like to work with that? You’ve never worked with.
Hunter King: oh, my gosh! I mean there’s so many different
Hunter King: great people in Hallmark jonathan Bennett would be so fun. I’ve been a fan of his forever.
Hunter King: Tyler, big fan of his, would love to work with him. Well, I’ve said this before, and I’ve been so lucky with all of the people that I’ve worked with both men and women, just like some of the loveliest people. So if I ever got the opportunity to work with any of my co-stars again, and film either a sequel or another thing, I would jump at the opportunity, because I’ve been so fortunate to have made so many amazing friendships with the people that I’ve worked with, and they’re all not just like great actors, but great people as well.
Krista Chain: I I would think that would be one of the most fun parts of doing movies and stuff like that is getting to meet different people, and making friendships with different ones.
Hunter King: Yeah, no, that honestly, that’s probably my favorite part of getting to do movies and just meeting so many different people and people that you would never would have met, or that live in different places that live in Italy. Now.
Krista Chain: Rather.
Hunter King: In Canada. And so it does make you feel more connected to the.
Krista Chain: And go into different places.
Krista Chain: and I think I had one more question. Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?
Hunter King: I have. Well, I don’t think I’m really allowed to say much about it. I haven’t filmed it yet, but I’m going to be filming a very fun homework movie soon that I cannot wait for. It’s like a dream job. I mean, all the ones that I’ve done have been amazing and just so much fun. And this one is gonna be no different. It’s just gonna be.
Hunter King: Oh, I can’t wait. I’m like bursting at the seams waiting to tell people about it, but it’s gonna be a good one, I promise.
Krista Chain: Oh, I can’t wait to see it!
Hunter King: Thank you.
Krista Chain: Well, thank you so much for talking with me today. And I really, I really did enjoy getting to meet you and talk to you today.
Hunter King: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. I’m so glad that you got to watch the movie, and that you’ve watched the young the wrestlers for years, but it was so lovely to talk to you.
Krista Chain: Thank you so much. You take care of yourself and have a wonderful day.
Hunter King: Thank you. You, too. Have a good weekend.
HUNTER KING (Daniella) – Hunter King is best known for her work as a series regular on CBS’ Life in Pieces opposite Colin Hanks, Betsy Brandt and Thomas Sadoski. King can also be recognized as Summer Newman on The Young and the Restless, a role for which she earned two Daytime Emmys. In feature work, King starred in A Girl Like Her opposite Jimmy Bennett, which garnered incredible reviews for confronting bullying in schools. King was cast as the lead in ABC’s 2020 comedy pilot Prospect. Most recently, King wrapped shooting the lead in the indie feature Give Me Your Eyes. For Hallmark Channel she was last seen starring in The Santa Summit, as well as The Professional Bridesmaid, and A Royal Corgi Christmas. For Hallmark Mystery King also starred in Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths.
AN AMERICAN CHEF TRAVELS TO ITALY AND MEETS A HANDSOME GELATIERE HUNTER KING AND MICHELE ROSIELLO STAR IN TWO SCOOPS OF ITALY
A NEW, ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERING JUNE 22, ON HALLMARK CHANNEL
Shot Entirely on Location in Italy As Part of the Network’s June 2024 Passport to Love Programming Event
Chef Danielle Turner (King) is facing a dilemma of gastronomic proportions and might lose her restaurant unless she can come up with a new menu that will wow her investor. Desperate for epicurean inspiration she travels to Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman village. Danielle soon meets Giancarlo Donati (Rosiello), a charming local gelatiere facing his own crisis of the gelato variety. Giancarlo introduces Danielle to the flavors, the culture, the gelato and other charms of the quaint town and together they motivate and encourage one another. As Danielle’s falls for Italy, she discovers it might not be the only thing to capture her heart.
Two Scoops of Italy is from MarVista Entertainment in association with Cattleya. Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer, Fernando Szew and Todd Y. Murata are executive producers. Roger M. Bobb is co-executive producer. The movie is produced by Christina Giubbeti. Roger M. Bobb directed from a script by Eric Brooks and Nicole Baxter, from a story by Abdi Nazemian
Executive Producers: Larry Grimaldi
Hannah Pillemer
Fernando Szew
Todd Y. Murata
Co-Executive Producer: Roger M. Bobb
Producer: Christina Giubbeti
Production Credit: A MarVista Entertainment Production in association with Cattleya
Directed by: Roger M. Bobb
Written by: Eric Brooks and Nicole Baxter
Story by: Abdi Nazemian
Director of Photography: Patrizio Patrizi
Production Designer: Tiziana Liberotti
Edited by: William Lynch
Music By: Jamie Coleman
Costume Designer: Claudette Lilly
Casting by: Teresa Razzauti
Cast: Hunter King (Danielle Turner)
Michele Rosiello (Giancarlo Donati)
Sara Mondello (Elida)
Simone Colombari (Aldo Donati)
Ruby Kammer (Sarah Turner)
Michele Augusto Magni (Bruno)
Serge Pirilli (La Rana)
Alessia Franchin (Marta)
Davy Eduard King (Owen Bridges)
Lorenzo Padalino (Nico)
James Tumminia (Mario Chiellini)
Interview with Eliza Bennett of “An American in Austen” on Hallmark by Suzanne 2/15/24
This was a fun little chat with Eliza about her new Hallmark movie. It’s a thrill ride, it has time travel, and it has romance. What more could you want? I hope you watch and enjoy it Feb. 17 on Hallmark!
MORE INFO:
Eliza will co-star in the Paramount + series, Sexy Beast alongside Sarah Greene, Tamsin Greig, Steven Moyer, and James McArdle. The show is a prequel to the 2000 film which delves into the origin tales of Gal, Teddy, and Don; it is now streaming worldwide.
Audiences may recognize her work from Netflix’s current hit feature, Do Revenge, with Sophie Turner and Camila Mendes. The film re-teamed Eliza with her Sweet/Vicious, writer/director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. She also starred as Amanda Carrington in two seasons of the CW’s reboot, Dynasty with Liz Gillies.
Other recent television work includes recurring on ABC’s The Conners opposite Sara Gilbert and John Goodman, Amazon’s comedy pilot, People Just Do Nothing from executive producer, Ash Atalia, and guest-starring with Sterling K. Brown on This Is Us.
Bennett’s breakout came when she played Jules, a college student living a double life, one as a typical sorority girl and the other as a campus vigilante committed to eliminating abusers in MTV’s dark comedy series, Sweet/Vicious.
Variety said: “Eliza Bennett plays Jules, a sorority girl who likes sunset pictures on Instagram and has a bedroom straight out of a pastel Pinterest page. Bennett is asked to sketch all the layers of an earnest character who is pretty square and conformist, but who is also full of confusion and rage and dryly funny from time to time. She pulls off all those rapid transitions without missing a beat”.
Bennett began her career in the United Kingdom on both stage and screen. Her feature credits include the lead role in the New Line’s Inkheart, alongside Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, and Andy Serkis, critically acclaimed, Nanny McPhee, opposite Emma Thompson, and the Julian Fellowes feature From Time to Time, with Maggie Smith and Dominic West.
Bennett is a seasoned theater performer having starred in numerous West End productions including the lead in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the musical Loserville.
She is a singer/songwriter, having released singles Late Twenties, Visit Me In Georgia, and Hate to Love You in 2022 and a Christmas single, All I Want for Christmas is You with Liz Gillies in 2021.
Bennett splits her time between Los Angeles and the U.K.
An American in Austen
Cast: Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop
Synopsis: Harriet, who thinks that no real man compares to Mr. Darcy, is transported into Pride & Prejudice and gets an unexpected chance to find out.
Interview with Hunter King of “The Professional Bridesmaid” on Hallmark by Suzanne 4/3/23
Don’t miss the movie, Saturday, April 8, on Hallmark! This was a very quick interview, but I enjoyed it. I’m a huge fan of this young actress, and I think she has a big career ahead of her. She’s already been a hit in “The Young and The Restless,” where she was half of a very popular couple as Summer to the handsome young Kyle (squish name “Skyle”). Even before that, playing Summer meant she was related to half the town on the show, making her an integral part of everything. She was also part of the four-season comedy “Life in Pieces,” which I loved. It was great to talk to her about this fun and romantic movie. It was really lovely to see Chandler Massey as her love interest, too. He is most known for playing Will on “Days of Our Lives.” Both of them have won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and have done a few Hallmark movies, so pairing them up is genius. If you’re a long-time Days viewer, you may recognize the mayor (also the bride’s dad), Roark Critchlow, who played Mike Horton! And yes, if you’re wondering, a professional bridesmaid is a real thing. Google to find more.
“The Professional Bridesmaid,” premieres Saturday, April 8 @ 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel, as part of the network’s “Spring into Love” programming event.
Daytime Emmy-winning actress Hunter King, best known for her roles in “The Young and The Restless” and “Life in Pieces,” plays Maggie Bailey who has turned being an expert bridesmaid into her career. Her latest client is the mayor’s daughter, however no one can know Maggie is a “hired bridesmaid”. Maggie must hide her identity while working to coordinate three unhelpful bridesmaids, and keep Henry (Chandler Massey, “Days of Our Lives”), a local reporter assigned to the society story, focused on the wedding, even as she begins to grow closer to him. Hunter shines in this heartwarming film about love and friendship. I would love to gauge your interest in speaking with her about her role in this Spring into Love movie.
HUNTER KING AND CHANDLER MASSEY STAR IN ‘THE PROFESSIONAL BRIDESMAID,’ A NEW, ORIGINAL MOVIE PREMIERING APRIL 8, ON HALLMARK CHANNEL
STUDIO CITY, CA – March 20, 2023 – Hunter King (“Life in Pieces,” “The Young and The Restless) and Chandler Massey (“Days of Our Lives”) star in “The Professional Bridesmaid,” a new, original movie premiering Saturday, April 8 (8 p.m. ET/PT)on Hallmark Channel.
Years ago, Maggie Bailey (King) realized she had a particular skill set for being an ace bridesmaid – and she went pro. Now she uses her talents to help brides navigate the tricky emotional and social dynamics that go along with planning their big day in addition to the practical. Her latest client, Alexis Shepard (Francesca Bianchi,”A Million Little Things”), is the daughter of Columbus’ mayor who is up for reelection. Alexis’ wedding promises to be the event of the summer with lots of scrutiny, so the mayor’s team hires Maggie to join the bridal party and help keep everything on track. But no one can know that Maggie is a hired bridesmaid, so she is introduced as Alexis’ old friend Maisie. Unfortunately, Henry Whittington (Massey), an ambitious local reporter assigned to the society story is sniffing around hoping to get close to the mayor for a scoop on the pending development of local park land. To pull off her assignment, Maggie must coordinate three unhelpful bridesmaids, and keep Henry focused on the wedding while hiding her identity, even as she begins to grow closer to him.
“The Professional Bridesmaid” is from Lighthouse Pictures Inc. Marguerite Henry is executive producer. Shawn Williamson, Jamie Goehring and Robert Lycar serve as producers. Peter Benson directed from a script by Carol Starr Schneider, Gregg Rossen and Brian Sawyer.
Interview with Liza Lapira, Neal Bledsoe, Nathan Witte and Mark Amato of “Must Love Christmas” on CBS by Suzanne 11/3/22
This is a cute little Christmas movie. I’d never seen Neal Bledsoe before, but he reminds me of one of my favorite actors, Dan Stevens. Liza Lapira has been on many TV shows I’ve watched, such as NCIS, so it’s nice to see her starring in this. She does a great job as a stressed-out romance novelist. I’ve chatted with Nathan Witte before, and he is truly great in this role as Liza’s past boyfriend. The plot sounds a bit like your standard Christmas movie, but it has a nice twist. Mark Amato, the writer of this film, has written many Christmas movies before, so he knows how to take the formula and tweak it a bit.
Enjoy the transcript of this panel! I’m asking question #3…I mispronounced Liza’s name, but she was super nice about it.
NOELLE LEWELLYN: Hi, everyone. I’m Noelle Lewellyn and on behalf of myself and my counterpart, Eric Freilich, we’d like to welcome you to the panel for our CBS original movie, Must Love Christmas. We will be presenting you with festive panels today for all three of this year’s holiday films.
“Must Love Christmas” premieres Sunday, December 11 on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand with Paramount+, and the movie stars CBS’s very own Liza Lapira of our hit drama series “The Equalizer.”
The movie is a charming holiday tale in which Liza plays Natalie, a Christmas romance writer who becomes involved in a love triangle and finds inspiration, both personal and professional.
I would like to welcome our panelists, Liza Lapira who plays Natalie. Our movie screen writer, Mark Amato. Neal Bledsoe, who plays Nick, and Nathan Witte, who plays Caleb. And I think I spoil nothing by saying Nick and Caleb are Christmas contenders for Natalie’s heart.
Before I hand the virtual mic over to Mark for some opening words, just a reminder that if you’d like to ask a question, please raise your hand in the chat feature and I will call on you by your screen name when it’s your turn.
Now over to Mark. Mark, if you’d like to say a few words.
MARK AMATO: Yes, thanks. Writer’s block is a crippling disorder that haunts every writer, present company included. Even with dozens of Christmas movies that are under my belt, you sit at a computer and the words aren’t coming. Or worse, they’re coming, just not any good.
So just a plug for our movie Must Love Christmas. Natalie Wolf is America’s reigning queen of Christmas romance. Her novels have earned her legions of fans so much so that our hopeless, hopeless romantic rarely leaves her New York apartment these days.
Until, that is, our recluse finds herself in the cross‑hairs between a horrible case of writer’s block and a looming Christmas deadline. So to shake things up, she takes a tiny step out of her comfort zone for a quick road trip to Buffalo, the town that inspired her very first Christmas novel. But when a freak snowstorm leaves her stranded on the side of the road, Natalie’s world is about to turn upside down when the tow truck driver, who comes to her rescue, happens to be her very first high school crush, an inspiration to the lead character in one of her novels.
Stuck in an idyllic small town that looks ripped from the pages of a Natalie Wolf classic is where fiction and real life collide, but if Natalie is brave enough to take a leap of faith, turn the page, she just might find her own happily ever after.
QUESTION #1: Thanks, Noelle. Nice attire today, by the way. (She was wearing a VERY festive Christmas sweater!)
Liza, my question is for you, actually two questions. Number one, is there something very particular in your mind about being a lead in a Christmas movie specifically. And, number two, I don’t know if there’s also an “Equalizer” episode that night, but if there is, do you get a kick out of the idea that that will lead into this?
LIZA LAPIRA: I do. I’ll take the second one first because that’s first and foremost in my mind. I am really excited for viewers to see me play one vastly different thing one week and then ‑‑ I don’t know ‑‑ couple weeks later or the next week to see this just 180 in terms of a personality shift.
Yeah, this character is ‑‑ Mel, the character I play on “The Equalizer,” is much more self‑assured, to put it mildly, and much more aggressive than Natalie in this movie so that ‑‑ I get a kick out of that.
And then, yeah, it’s really special for me to be the protagonist in this kind of movie because I’ve been a fan for so long. And, you know, on a separate note, it’s special for me to be a protagonist in something. When growing up I didn’t see many protagonists that look like me so this has just been a doubly wonderful, wonderful thing for me to be a part of.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION #2: Mark, you have a lot in common with the character. I mean, you write books and you write movies, but it’s the same thing. So I was wondering, do you sometimes feel that same thing of falling into a trap, you don’t want to have the guy saying my candy coated dreams, things like that.
What are the things you want to avoid when you’re doing a movie and what are the things you’re really trying to have?
MARK AMATO: The truth is it’s sort of like ‑‑ there are so many tropes that you have to kind of sort of like find a way to recycle and I don’t want to recycle. So sort of like, you know, I always get like my critics would say, you know how it’s going to end, sort of in the royal matchmaker. You see two characters. We know they’re going to be together in the end. I said but do you know how. You don’t know how.
So the last act right before you come back, I guarantee no one is going to be able to predict the ending, and for me that becomes the biggest challenge because if I get to a situation where it feels a little too comfortable and a little too easy, I haven’t tested myself so each one I hope to get better and better.
QUESTION: Cool. Thanks.
QUESTION #3: Hi, yeah. It’s great to talk to you guys. My question is for Liza. What is your favorite holiday? We know what your character’s favorite holiday is, obviously.
LIZA LAPIRA: Yeah, it’s Liza. It’s Lisa with a Z.
QUESTION: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
LIZA LAPIRA: No, everybody ‑‑ I’m sorry. My mom couldn’t figure out Ss. It’s a whole thing I have with Mrs. Lapira. It has nothing to do with you.
But, yeah, I’m in line with Natalie. Christmas is pretty much up there. It’s a time for family. I come from a very, very big one and it’s the one holiday of the year that we all make the trek to, you know, the main home and congregate and eat and drink and eat and eat. Lots of eating.
QUESTION: Thank you.
QUESTION #4: Yes. Thank you. It’s a question for both Mark and Liza. One of the main stakes of these kind of movies, two of the main stakes are the meet cute and then the final decision, the kiss or whatever it is.
And, Mark, in your case of writing that, which one is harder to do to make sure you don’t fall into the tropes?
And, Liza, which one of those is easier to play and which one is more difficult?
MARK AMATO: It’s interesting because it’s sort of like in my mind I know what I need to do so it’s sort of I kind of reverse engineer. I go to the first place where they meet. I think okay, well, how am I going to dove that tail to the middle and end, and that ending ‑‑ that ending completely predicts or dictates to me how I’m going to get these two characters to clash.
And the way I describe it is the two characters, they really are sort of like better if you squeeze them two together they make one really, really good character so that’s how I create sort of like that meet cute.
Liza, take it.
LIZA LAPIRA: Okay. Meet cute versus the end ‑‑ well, if the actors I’m working with and the scripture working with and the director you’re working with is great, then they’re both pretty easy and both pretty fun to play.
For this movie in particular, I enjoyed ‑‑ I had two meet cutes. I enjoyed both of them immensely. Yeah. I like ‑‑ I always enjoy a meet cute. You know I got ‑‑ I got both kinds of meet cute. I got the meet cute with the high school crush, the guy in my dreams that I haven’t seen in forever, the unrequited love re‑meeting meet cute, and then I got the antagonistic banter witty meet cute so I’m thoroughly spoiled by this movie. Thanks, Mark, and Neal and Nick.
QUESTION #5: Hi. Thanks for doing this. Question for Mark, but also for anybody who wants to answer. I was curious to know if the concept of a novelist who strictly writes Christmas romance, if there was anyone in particular that inspired that?
And if any of you have a favorite romance writer who does primarily holiday fare.
MARK AMATO: I can’t believe anybody wants to talk to me. I’m just the writer. But certainly the inspiration for this movie for me was “Romancing the Stone.” You know are you Joan Wilder, the Joan Wilder, and my version for this was sort of like, if you had somebody who was so completely introverted, who’s just lived in her novels and the occupational hazard that that would create. And then put them into essentially a world where, wait a minute, you’re living out the fantasies that you create and that’s what happens with Liza’s character.
And I really would like Neal to talk for five seconds at least because you create that ‑‑ the opposite side of the meet cute because it really is sort of like a love triangle. So how is that to play?
NEAL BLEDSOE: Fantastic. I guess that would be the meet ugly that we — our meet is anything but cute, but the good news is that we have nowhere to go but up from there. It’s definitely for the holiday romance films that I’ve done it’s definitely a different way to meet a leading lady, but I think it makes the payoff at the end that much more wonderful and unexpected.
LIZA LAPIRA: I agree with Neal. I loved ‑‑ the thing I loved about our romance, without giving too much away or giving it all away, you guys won’t say anything, is the ‑‑ you know after the sort of antagonistic meet the audience gets to see a friendship develop and then it blossoms into a romance and I really enjoyed that.
You know both these characters, I thought about it, both of the leading men in the love triangle helped this character grow just as friends. She confronts like a traumatic thing that happened years before this movie takes place and she gets to not only confront it, but step out of the shell that she’s been living in and ‑‑ and leap ‑‑ leap into her life as an active participant.
The other thing I’ll say, Mark, is that you said I was playing you at the ‑‑ we had a pre‑meet before I signed on and he said, yeah, all she does is write Christmas romance novels. Basically you’re playing me. And I said, sir, it is my honor and my privilege to be you.
MARK AMATO: Thank you so much. It’s the truth though only I’m super extroverted so I’m not afraid of getting out of my shell. But, yeah, you totally were. I mean, this is what I do all day. And every time I do, it’s sort of like, okay, I finished this one. There’s not another Christmas movie to be told. Hey, wait a minute, what if. So thank you.
LIZA LAPIRA: And the other thing I’ll say is to speak to Mark’s point, she did ‑‑ she is an introvert and it’s for a reason and it’s crafted in the script so it was fun to play and relatively easy to play someone who had like a humiliating public social mediaish thing happen and kind of be traumatized by that in a little way, and that’s so relatable now because, I mean, I feel like that happens every five seconds someone is embarrassed by something they say and then have to get over that trauma, and but not everybody has two handsome guys to help them get through that trauma so that was worth it.
QUESTION #6: Yeah. Liza, do you remember when it first occurred to you that you wanted to be an actress and what did your parents say?
LIZA LAPIRA: It was a circuitous route because I came out of the womb singing. I was like the 3‑year‑old that mom would pick up on the counter and be like entertain and so I was just singing and dancing, and then I thought that that’s what I was going to do so I started doing musicals. And then I thought, you know, then I started wanting to do plays without music. I wanted to do straight plays and then it segued into film and TV.
Funnily enough, I think my parents — with the singing, because it was so obvious, they were along those lines. “And get your law degree too, Liza. But clearly you have some ability there, so do that.” Acting was a bit of a shock and they eventually ‑‑ they came around in their own ways. They were never not supportive. If anything, they were just fearful.
And I think for dad it was ‑‑ it was NCIS that he was like, all right, my girl. Like re‑runs to this day and he’s like, yep, that’s my girl. And I think mom I physically, physically had to take her to sets for her to see and she was like, oh, okay this is a job, not only is this a job, it’s a good job and it’s a job with an army of people. Like it’s not just you and a camcorder. It’s like an army. It’s like a team and you’re all a team creating this thing, and that really crystallized it for her so now we’re one big happy family.
NOELLE LEWELLYN: Thank you. Thank you both. “NCIS,” saving families nationwide globally. Actually, I have a question for Neal and Nathan. The both of you are pros at this genre. I’m just wondering, how is it ‑‑ how was the experience of filming Must Love Christmas and was it different? How was it different in any way from your previous projects knowing that you guys have done some of these before?
NATHAN WITTE: Yeah, sure. I’ll just tip my hat to Mark, of course. It’s always the script that reels me in right away, and what I loved about this script is ‑‑ that’s kind of contrary to a lot of other Christmas scripts that I’ve done is that this meet cute that’s happening in this love triangle it just ‑‑ it feels like it happens around Christmas as opposed to like we’re going to do Christmas and shove this ‑‑ this triangle into Christmas.
What I find in a lot of scripts, they’re just — every scene it’s like we got to just let everybody know that we’re doing Christmas in this movie, and every scene you’ve got bells, mistletoes, shirts and sweaters, and everything, cookies. And what I loved about this script is that it was much more nuanced and had its moments of subtlety, but then it had its moments of grandeur Christmas, which I think it allowed to bring up that — Christmas in those moments and make it a lot more special.
And I love the nuance between my character and Neal’s character going after Liza’s character because it really reminded me of ‑‑ I don’t know if anyone else has seen it, but “This Means War,” and I found that to ‑‑ is one of like my favorite romantic comedies and I just tipped that one right next to that just with the sprinkle of Christmas on it so I had a tremendous amount of fun with Neal and Liza.
NEAL BLEDSOE: That’s well put. I think for me, and I just watched the film actually last night, and it was the first time coming back to it since we shot it and I think the thing that stuck out for me the most was that this really allowed the people themselves to be real and the obstacles that they were overcoming to be real, and so often in the Christmas film landscape the problems of the people are eroded away to absolutely nothing. They don’t have any obstacle to overcome. It’s just like oh my god, I do love Christmas, wow. And there’s no ‑‑ there’s no hurdle to overcome so I think there’s no ‑‑ and therefore there’s no catharsis to ‑‑ for these people to learn any lesson and so it feels, in other words, in many of these things that I’ve done it feels that the force ‑‑ the plot has been forced upon them rather than these characters coming to these realizations themselves.
And to kind of go back to something that Liza said, which is that these characters all teach something to each other and because of that there’s this extraordinary human web in this film that at first blush you’re like how are we going to make this work, but it really is that all of these characters are working in triplicate to really feed off one another and therefore they come across as so utterly human in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen in pretty much any other Christmas film that I’ve been in. And that’s fine. I think that’s the genre of those other networks and those other films, but this really felt like the most human of Christmas films I’ve done.
NOELLE LEWELLYN: Thank you, both. That’s really great to hear about that it feels more human and hear about that nuance. We appreciate that.
QUESTION #7: Absolutely. This is for Nathan, Liza, and for Neal. When you go back to where you came from, sometimes the things that you thought were special turn out to be not so special, if ‑‑ if you get my nuance here.
When you have a childhood crush or a teen crush or whatever and you go back and you meet that person let’s say at a high school reunion, they are never what you thought they were. And this is not saying anything against you, Nathan, or the character that you play, but ‑‑ but what has that experience been like for you and what did you ‑‑ what informed the character that you played in this?
NATHAN WITTE: For myself, this — I feel like that Caleb and Natalie didn’t really get to connect back in high school and I feel like Natalie remembered Caleb more than Caleb remembered Natalie. And for Caleb, Natalie turned out better than, in his mind, what she was back in high school and I think that was in part because he’s ‑‑ he was totally enthralled in the school popularity and sports and ‑‑ and going after any chick that was kind of willing to put themselves in his way, and it was kind of the recognition of Natalie coming back again. It was like a refresher, a nice reminder because Caleb going through his difficulties and being in a small town. And if anyone knows what it’s like being in a small town there’s not much of a selection. And so having somebody that is not only way better than you thought she would have turned out to be come back into town, it’s kind of like a refresher, almost like opening up a brand-new present. And I think it was a little too far ahead for Caleb because he’s still dealing with a little bit of his adolescence that kind of gets in the way.
QUESTION: Liza.
LIZA LAPIRA: Yeah, Caleb to me is this shiny, glittering illusion. You know there’s ‑‑ there’s ‑‑ her projection and I don’t even think he plays into it because that sounds manipulative. I think he’s just a charming guy. I’ve got guys like this in my family and he’s just a charming guy and he is who he is. Like even at the end of the movie you don’t hate him. He’s just that guy that does that thing and he has his own love story and has his own, you know, he has his own life.
But as far as going back, I think in high school Caleb probably was the same in that he’s just this charming illusion, this dream guy, and he’s going to live his life and have fun. And I think the only difference between the Natalie/Caleb dynamic or, I should say, Natalie’s relationship to Caleb in high school and in present day is she has more access now. They were close as friends back then and, you know, of course she’s had success in her career. They’ve lived and had their careers and their lives, and now she has access and agency and so she can see that illusion up close. And, unfortunately, she doesn’t until, you know, she gets the help of her new friend, played by Neal.
QUESTION: And Neal.
NEAL BLEDSOE: Well, Howard, if I understood your question right, part of it is about what ‑‑ when we get what we wanted when we were children, when we get that as adults, how is that payoff different. Do I have that right?
QUESTION: Absolutely.
NEAL BLEDSOE: So I think that’s a really insightful question. Thank you for asking it. I think that would ‑‑ that certainly plays itself out in ‑‑ in their love ‑‑ in their love story and what happens to this thing. Do we find it as valuable, in other words, as adults as we did as children and I think that that is such a profound question. It’s something that I could ask myself about acting. It’s something I could ask myself about really kind of anything because who we were as children and why we needed those things that we thought would make our lives complete or thought we would make us the best version of ourselves, those things inevitably change as we become older and if they don’t that speaks to a certainly kind of regression of who we are as adults.
So, yeah, of course. And I think in attaining those things that we so desperately wanted as kids, once we get them as adults we’re allowed to re‑examine them and say like, wow, this actually doesn’t matter as much and I am ‑‑ I am whole without this thing. They become totems and the totems then perhaps become illusions.
QUESTION: Very well spoken. Yes, very, very good.
NOELLE LEWELLYN: Thank you, all. Thank you, Howard. And that is actually the time we have for today. I would love to thank all of our panelists and all of you for joining. We are really grateful. And we are going to say goodbye with Liza who has a few final thoughts.
LIZA LAPIRA: Okay. Oh, I see me. I don’t want to see me. Telling myself. Everybody, I’m just ‑‑ thank you for being here. I hope you guys enjoy the movie. I hope you see it. I can’t wait. It’s a joyous, fun ride and there’s some sweet relationships in it and I ‑‑ I can’t wait to hear what everybody thinks.
And on a personal note, it has just been a career highlight and a thrill to lead one of these movies. As I said, I’m a big fan of this genre and ‑‑ and, as I said, again, it’s been a thrill to be a protagonist, period, but then a protagonist in this great story. And coming from someone who didn’t see many protagonists growing up, this has just been an embarrassment of riches. And the fun that the cast and I and the crew and the collaborative nature of making this is apparent on screen, and I am ‑‑ I’m very, very proud of that. And I hope you all enjoy it.
NOELLE LEWELLYN: Thank you, Liza. We really appreciate that. Thank you, everyone. Please stay tuned. Our panel for the CBS original movie “When Christmas Was Young” is up next.
MORE INFO:
CBS ORDERS THREE NEW ORIGINAL HOLIDAY MOVIES FOR 2022
Award-Winning Musician Sheryl Crow to Executive Produce and
Write the Title Song for “When Christmas Was Young”
“The Talk’s” Amanda Kloots to Star in and Executive Produce “Fit for Christmas”
Prolific Holiday Film Writer and Producer Mark Amato to Pen
“Must Love Christmas”
CBS announced today that it has ordered three new original holiday movies to air in December 2022.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will executive produce and write the title song for WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS YOUNG, a Nashville music-themed movie from a script by screenwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller (“Hope at Christmas,” Forever Christmas). The story follows a headstrong music manager in desperate need of a hit song for his last remaining client, who finds himself falling for a gifted singer-songwriter with abandoned dreams of making it big, as he attempts to secure the rights to a Christmas song she wrote years ago. Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass (Everywhere Studios) will executive produce, together with executive producers Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring for Lighthouse Pictures.
THE TALK’s Amanda Kloots will star in and executive produce FIT FOR CHRISTMAS from writer and executive producer Anna White (“Christmas Wonderland”), the tale of Audrey, an enthusiastic Christmas-obsessed fitness instructor at a beloved, financially beleaguered community center in quaint Mistletoe, Mont., who begins a holiday romance with a charming, mysterious businessman, complicating his plans to turn the center into a more financially profitable resort property. The movie will be produced by Brad Krevoy’s Motion Picture Corporation of America.
Mark Amato, who has created a dozen holiday-themed films, including last season’s CBS Original movie A CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL, as well as “A Kiss Before Christmas,” is writing MUST LOVE CHRISTMAS. In it, a renowned romance novelist famous for her Christmas-themed books finds herself snowbound in the charming town of Cranberry Falls, where she unexpectedly becomes involved in a love triangle between her childhood crush and a reporter determined to interview her to save his dying magazine. The movie will be produced by Brad Krevoy’s Motion Picture Corporation of America.
In December 2021, the CBS Original movies “Christmas Takes Flight” and “A Christmas Proposal” were the first original holiday television movies to air on CBS since 2012, and the newest additions to CBS’ longstanding holiday programming slate, which includes family-favorites like The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS and the annual broadcasts of beloved animated classics, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.”