Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark’s Hearts Around the Table: Josh's Third Serving

• Garry & Amy

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With a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in hand, we quickly chat about your next must-see TV series, Home is Where the Heart Is on Hallmark+, and then dive into Hearts Around the Table: Josh's Third Serving! When school budget cuts put both the band program and sports activities at risk, Josh faces off in a friendly competition with the new English teacher, Ella. As their chemistry heats up, they shift from rivals to partners, proving that collaboration can create something even more beautiful than what they could achieve individually.


Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/mood-of-summer

Amy:

Welcome to Pour the Wine. It's rom-com time where we'll sip some wine and review all things rom-com on the Hallmark Channel. I'm Amy.

Garry:

And I'm Gary.

Amy:

And it's time to Pour the Wine. I feel like move that bus and what do we have today?

Garry:

What are we drinking?

Amy:

We are drinking. Well, it looks like you're pouring a Josh. Only it's the fancy Josh, it's the Josh Reserve.

Garry:

The Josh Reserve.

Amy:

I know you're going to pour some more in mine oh okay, hold on One second.

Garry:

That was not enough. One second. She noticed I was it's been a day. Yeah, she noticed I was trying to cheat her on a little bit. Shortchange me and give yourself some more. That's fine, that's fine, I'm sorry, but we're good now we're good.

Amy:

We're good. Before we dive into the review, I think we should talk about something.

Garry:

And what is that something?

Amy:

We should talk about. Home is when the Heart Is. Aww, can we just? We love that show. Yes, we do we cannot speak highly enough of it. There's only been what four episodes so far.

Garry:

That we've watched.

Amy:

I'm not sure how many. There are going to be Six or eight probably.

Garry:

Probably Usually around. That Seems like we've been saying it anyways.

Amy:

So the premise is you have host Luke McFarlane and he's been in many Hallmark productions, most recently Catch Me If you Claws and Notes of Autumn in 2023.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

And Olivia Westbrook she's a designer and they are the hosts of this show and it's a reality show, but a reality in a good way.

Garry:

Yes, a really good way.

Amy:

They're not trying gotchas or anything, it's just a really good. And you know, remodeling a home show. So they remodel a few rooms and or like an outdoor area, yeah Right. And then they usually make something special to the family, and usually it's a home, whether the family has inherited or they're still living in their family home, correct. So the home is sentimental to them. And then Olivia and Luke find a way to bring something personal, sentimental, someone who's passed away. Usually they make something, or you know, like Olivia actually painted some pictures Right right, and it takes place in Georgia.

Amy:

And I mean they just, they're so genuine, the two of them.

Garry:

Yeah, I really like them two together. And you know what? They don't argue that much, no, no.

Amy:

Well, they don't argue at all. No, no, Well, they don't argue at all. They just have slight disagreements about design.

Garry:

Yeah, but they always you know, if one wants something one way, the other one's like I'm cool, but can you give me this?

Amy:

on this one, and that's the way it should be you come to the table with three things.

Garry:

I'll come to the table with three things. We both walk away with one and a half yes, yes, and you know, luke is actually a carpenter I know, can you believe it, and well I guess officially a carpenter or it works, wood works, yeah, and apparently his dad was too yeah, and he really actually literally makes things for the home, which is really great.

Amy:

It's just really cool. And you just see, especially that fourth episode was really sentimental. Yes, it was he luke, even gets teared up and olivia kind of gets sentimental it's yeah, you see him get emotional. That's why I just they just come across as so genuine and I have to believe that's how they really are personally and they both just seem like you know they really, really love the people, or they appear to anyway, the people who own the homes and they're really trying to help them.

Amy:

I mean I just I love it, I think it's great, I think Hallmark knocked it out of the park with that reality show.

Garry:

I do too, and I love how they listen to the people that are getting their house remodeled or the rooms remodeled. They really take the time and listen, and throughout the episode they always go back. Well, you know, they like this picture, and in this picture there was these colors.

Amy:

Yeah, that's a really good point yeah.

Garry:

I mean it's, they don't just do what they want.

Amy:

They really do what the homeowners want, and then they add a little flair, you know, of course, or maybe they convince the homeowners to do something that maybe they were reluctant to do, but it's always in a positive, good way. It's not a shock value, or? Anything they're not trying to. You know, make waves, and boy Luke does not like to paint wood real wood He'll do it. He's done it at times, but Olivia's always like, can we paint this? And he's like no.

Garry:

No, but he compromises, yeah, yeah, and he does like to create these little secret like cubby holes or hideaways.

Amy:

Surprises yeah, yeah little surprises. So yes, I agree with you.

Garry:

It's a really really good show.

Amy:

It is on Hallmark Plus, and a new episode drops every Thursday. And currently they've had four episodes, so you could binge four so far if you wanted to.

Garry:

Yes, and they're worth binging.

Amy:

They're worth binging.

Garry:

So what you got? Well, make sure you follow us on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode Definitely an episode If you listen on Apple or Spotify. You can leave us a review and hopefully, please, it's a five-star review.

Amy:

Fingers crossed. But if not, and it's positive, we're game.

Garry:

Yeah, positive.

Amy:

Just keep it positive and you can also like and follow us on social media. We'd like to hear from you. Yes, yes, you know, we're on the Facebook. We're on the Facebook. We're on the blue sky.

Garry:

We're on the.

Amy:

X.

Garry:

We're on everything and threads yes, yes, yes. So you know, drop us a line, Tell us what you think.

Amy:

Let us know, Let us know show. So are you ready to dive into today's review?

Garry:

After we have a trivia question.

Amy:

Another trivia question that I will not know.

Garry:

I'm actually going to give you the year this time.

Amy:

Oh, okay. All right, so here we go In 1991, Hallmark formed Crown Media and ventured into cable In 1991.

Garry:

In 1991.

Amy:

So what do you mean? They ventured into cable. They had the hallmark channel no, not yet.

Garry:

Okay, sorry, I had to stay.

Amy:

Oh okay, okay, I'm sorry, yes, so in 1991 they formed crown media yes, and they started to venture into cable it feels like not that long ago, but it was a long time ago and I don't want to actually think about how long ago it was, because that was a year after I graduated from high school and that was a long time ago.

Garry:

Okay, well, I graduated from high school way before, not way before.

Amy:

That, that's not true.

Garry:

Some years.

Amy:

Way, way back.

Garry:

Well, today we're reviewing the third Hearts Around the Table movie, josh's Third Serving that aired on Saturday, april 5th 2025. If you missed it, you can still catch it now on Hallmark.

Amy:

Plus Hallmark, plus I do not know why. I have an issue with that. I don't know, hallmark.

Garry:

Sorry, so tell us who's in this one.

Amy:

Who is in this one? Now, keep in mind, this is not a complete list of all of each actor's acting credits. We just like to highlight the Hallmark.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Productions they have been in. If there have been any, and just a few maybe from shows that we've seen or that we know are popular, or a movie or whatnot Correct, all right, let's dive in and I'm going to have a sip of wine.

Garry:

Drink your wine.

Amy:

It seems like you need it. Ooh Ooh, all righty. So Jake Epstein plays Josh Adler, one of Angie's fosters and the one who is the focus this particular movie. He was in for Hallmark. He was in two episodes of mistletoe murders which we need to watch. He was also in three of the four unwrapping Christmas movies.

Garry:

Okay, on.

Amy:

Hallmark, which we also have not watched and we should probably check those out. He was in the umbrella Academy five episodes of that and he was in suits 13 episodes of suits. Oh boy. In Suits. 13 episodes of Suits. Eat another bean pie, oh boy, oh gosh.

Garry:

Don't sing the whole thing, all right.

Amy:

All right Good. Stephanie Bennett plays Ella Hawthorne, the new English teacher.

Garry:

Yes, right.

Amy:

Who heads up the band?

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

Her Hallmark credits include His and Hers in 2024, which we just watched Correct. Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott Wedding Season in 2023. Christmas Class Reunion in 2022. The Nine Kittens of Christmas in 2021. The Nine Kittens of Christmas the Nine Lives of Christmas 2014. And her premiere on Hallmark was in 2014 on Signed, sealed, delivered, and she was in one episode that year. Okay.

Garry:

Yeah, outside of Hallmark Very busy.

Amy:

She was in Travelers oh really. Didn't you watch that?

Garry:

I didn't watch that. Travelers yes.

Amy:

I like Sci-Fi. That's when that was, and she was in one episode of Lucifer in 2017. Oh man, which we really liked. Mindy Cohn plays Angie Hartman, the foster mom, and we know her from the Facts of Life, the. Facts of Life.

Garry:

That's the only thing I know.

Amy:

That's right and you know she's kind of like Mrs Garrett. Yes, you know, because that was the coming of age series about an all girls boarding school, and Mrs Garrett was the.

Garry:

She was like the dawn, I forget what they Right, right.

Amy:

She was there and they would go to her for advice and she was always there, so she's kind of taken over that role now which is kind of cool, kind of cool. She voiced Nancy Francis in 35 episodes of the animated series the Kids in Room 402. Okay, and she voiced Velma in Scooby-Doo video games from 2002 to 2015. Whoa. Which is pretty cool and we most recently saw her in Palm Royale the Apple series.

Garry:

Yes, that was good, still good. I hope they have another season.

Amy:

Ashley Newbrough plays Jenna Whitaker. She's another one of Angie's fosters. She was in the Unwrapping Christmas Collection. She was in all four movies, I believe, and that was in 2024. Okay, it's about four friends who work in the store. All wrapped up, get it.

Garry:

All wrapped up, I get it.

Amy:

She was in Operation Nutcracker in 2024 and Small Town Christmas in 2018.

Garry:

And those are both Hallmark productions. Awesome Michelle.

Amy:

Morgan plays Sherry Adams, another one of Angie's fosters. She played Amanda Sinclair on the young and restless from 2013 to 2024. Her debut Hallmark movie was Christmas with a kiss in 2023. All right why I didn't say the Hallmark Christmas with a kiss first. I don't know, but I'm sorry.

Garry:

I apologize to Hallmark. It was that one sip of wine you had right.

Amy:

Yeah, I think that went straight to my head. Catherine Davis plays Kiki Mercer, another one of Angie's fosters Her Hearts Around the Table movie will be next.

Garry:

Yeah, can't wait, and it's the final one of this particular four movie collection?

Amy:

yeah, but maybe there'll be more with more fosters, who knows?

Garry:

stay tuned for hallmark.

Amy:

She was in all four of the unwrapping christmas movies also in 2024 I know they all kind of. She was in six degrees of santa with steve lund who plays andrew, and that aired on Lifetime. That was in 2022.

Garry:

Oh, okay.

Amy:

Steve Lund plays Andrew Clarington, jenna's first love. Also the name of the first Hearts Around the Movie. Yes, hearts Around the.

Garry:

Table, table.

Amy:

Movie. Too much wine For Hallmark. He was in two episodes of the Mistletoe Murders. He's been in several Hallmark. He was in two episodes of the Mistletoe Murders. He's been in several Hallmark movies, like I just mentioned. He was in Six Degrees of Santa, which aired on Lifetime, with Catherine Davis who plays Kiki Kiki. He was also in an episode of the Good Witch.

Garry:

The Good Witch.

Amy:

Six episodes of Schitt's Creek which we loved we really loved that one. And one episode of Suits, where his credit is attractive guy.

Garry:

That's my role.

Amy:

That's your role Attractive guy. He stole it from you. He stole it from you.

Garry:

No, I let him have it.

Amy:

Okay, you let him have it. Brendan Morgan plays Evan James, Sherry's boyfriend.

Garry:

Mm-hmm.

Amy:

His first acting credit is from 2022.

Garry:

2022.

Amy:

2022. For Hallmark, he was in a Jane Mysteries movie in 2024 and Christmas with a Kiss in 2023. Okay, he was in another Christmas movie, but it was on Netflix in 2024. It was called Meet Me Next Christmas and it's where he races through New York City with a woman right to get tickets to the sold-out Pentatonix concert.

Garry:

Yeah, that was.

Amy:

Concert. Okay, i'llix concert. Yeah, that was Concert. Okay, I'll be fine. I'll be fine. I've had one little baby, sip. Okay, justice James plays Rory Nelson, one of Angie's current foster teens. So here's the thing when we did the review for the first Hearts Around the Table movie, jenna's First Love and I looked up all the actors he did not have any other acting credits other than the Hearts Around the Table movies.

Amy:

He had Jenna's First Love and then the three that are coming the three after it he didn't have any, but when I was looking the other day, all of a sudden stuff appeared, so I don't know if what is Hallmark doing. It wasn't Hallmark, it was IMDb, so I'm not really sure. So I apologize to Justice, because that is not his only acting credits. Let's see, they are his Hallmark premiere though. So the Hearts Around the table movies are his homework premiere, but it's definitely not his first acting gig. So I don't know how. I don't know what happened there.

Amy:

He was in the series beyond black beauty 11 episodes in 2024 okay he was in a series called ruby and the well, which I'm not familiar with. One episode in 2022. And he's done voices in several animated series, including Paw Patrol and.

Garry:

Blue's Clues and you.

Amy:

Blue's Clues. Yeah, that's still around. Blue's Clues. We just figured out Blue's Clues. Millie Davis plays Gina Taylor, Angie's newest foster, who we meet in this particular movie. This is her Hallmark debut. She also was in Umbrella Academy. Oh, my goodness, she was on Netflix.

Garry:

She was in Umbrella.

Amy:

Academy, which is on Netflix. She was in six episodes in 2024. And she too has voiced a lot of animated series, most recently the Bravest Knight, six episodes in 2024, and that's on Hulu. Galapagos X. That just sounds fun.

Garry:

I know I say it five times.

Amy:

I'm not even going to try because I'm already not speaking well tonight. So she voiced in 26 episodes of that in 2023 and 2024. And that is actually a Canadian animated series.

Garry:

And she's from.

Amy:

Canada. Wow, there you go. Vijay Mehta plays Vik Gupta, the Alumni Association Chair.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Was that his?

Garry:

role.

Amy:

He's in charge of the money Doling out the greenbacks, the money, the purse strings right, that's right For. Hallmark. He was in the Jane Mysteries A Deadly Prescription movie in 2024. He was in an episode of the Good Witch in 2018. We love the Good.

Garry:

Witch, I know Talk about binging a series.

Amy:

He was also in a series called Orphan Black Echoes. He was in one episode in 2023, and that's on AMC, okay, and he was also in the Hardy Boys two episodes in 2020.

Garry:

Ooh, the Hardy Boys.

Amy:

Priya Rayo plays Jane Gupta, Vic's wife. Now the only thing on IMDb is this movie for her.

Garry:

Until tomorrow.

Amy:

Until tomorrow. So if that changes I will let you know, but this is her only acting credit. Is this movie Josh's Third Serving?

Garry:

That's hard to say too. And guess who wore the pants? Mm-hmm, huh, she did.

Amy:

Oh, I was like where are you going with that? This is a G-rated podcast no, no, no.

Garry:

She wore the pants. She told them yeah, you're going to dole out that money.

Amy:

Yeah, okay, yeah, she did. Diane Johnstone plays Deirdre Taylor, gina's grandma, and, like Priya, this is also the only thing listed for her. Oh, my goodness, I don't trust it anymore, I know right. Al Bernstein plays Principal Geller. This is his Hallmark debut. He was in a movie called Blackberry in 2023. He also was in the Umbrella Academy. Okay, one episode in 2020. One episode of Nip Tuck in 2010.

Garry:

One of your favorite shows Risqué oh yeah, can't talk about that here either.

Amy:

Oh yeah, can't talk about that here either. He was also in the movie how to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in 2003 with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

Garry:

Oh, Matthew.

Amy:

Matty, I don't know, he doesn't go by that, I just threw that out there.

Garry:

I know All right.

Amy:

Monica Rodriguez Knox plays Sandra Prentiss. She's the PTA president. Yeah For Hallmark. She was in the Love Club one. Monica Rodriguez-Knox plays Sandra Prentiss. She's the PTA president. Yep For Hallmark. She was in the Love Club one episode in 2025. The Jane Mystery's Too Much to Lose in 2024. And Falling in Love in Niagara in 2024. She was also in one episode of Mayor of Kingstown in 2022.

Garry:

Okay, yeah, that was a good show too.

Amy:

Troy Blundell plays Rick Bander, the track scout. His Hallmark work includes the Jane Mysteries Too Much to Lose in 2024, like Monica Rodriguez-Knox, mistletoe Magic in 2023, and A Nutcracker Christmas in 2016. And A Nutcracker Christmas in 2016. He also was in two episodes of the Handmaid's Tale in 2017 and 2018, and he was in one episode of Warehouse 13, which we really liked. That was a really good show.

Garry:

Yes, I loved Warehouse 13.

Amy:

That was really, really unique. Yeah, chris Gores plays Logan and this is his only acting credit listed.

Garry:

Oh yeah.

Amy:

Another one, another one. Jocelyn Zuko plays Miss Curtis, the counselor who administers the testing on Gina. Oh, you know, I didn't say who is Logan.

Garry:

Logan, yeah, you did.

Amy:

So Chris Gores plays Logan. But who is Logan?

Garry:

Oh, you know what I don't know?

Amy:

We'll have to find that.

Garry:

I'm not sure who Logan is. We'll let you know in the next podcast Well, maybe not. Who knows?

Amy:

All right, so anyway. Jocelyn Zuko plays Miss Curtis, the counselor who administers the testing on Gina. Her Hallmark credits include the Jane Mysteries murder at Mosby in 2024 and A Royal Queen's Christmas in 2021. She was also in another Christmas movie called Santa's Got Style in 2022. It wasn't Hallmark, but Catherine Davis, who plays Kiki, was in that one also with her.

Garry:

All right.

Amy:

And she was also in one episode of Schitt's Creek, and that is a wrap, my goodness. There's so many. Well, we don't want to leave anybody out because it's an acting credit for them.

Garry:

No part is too small. No part is too small. There's so many. Well, we don't want to leave anybody out, because it's an acting credit for them. No part is too small. No part is too small, that's correct, so we're going to name them all.

Amy:

Name them. We're going to name that good-looking guy. And if you know reality TV, you know that reference.

Garry:

So is it time to drop the synopsis after all those characters? I think it is.

Amy:

I think it is. I think it is. Here we go. Hearts around the table, Josh's third serving. When after-school programs see their funding cut, teachers Josh and Ella turn to fundraising before banding together in search of a larger donation, falling hard along the way.

Garry:

Ooh, falling in love. So what did you think about it?

Amy:

Well, I actually thought it was pretty great. There were a few misses, but overall I thought it was pretty great. I loved getting to see Josh's personality highlighted.

Garry:

It came out His comedic.

Amy:

Yes, yes, I'm glad we got to see more of that and his story. You know we learned that comedy is a coping mechanism. A little bit of a story anyway, right, I thought the chemistry between him and Ella was great, yep, and really worked, and I'm really enjoying getting to see more and more of the foster sibling dynamics.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

When they come together for the Sunday suppers, whether they're going for a car ride or going for a walk or just talking, I'm just, I'm really, really liking and appreciating the family dynamics of a nontraditional family.

Garry:

Exactly.

Amy:

I think that's great. I was surprised that we met a new foster. I know, Already in this one, but when I thought about it, I love that it showed reality, because things happen all the time.

Garry:

On a daily?

Amy:

You never know when somebody is going to need you, and I'm sure you know we've never fostered children, but I'm sure that's what it's like. You know there's a need and they have people they can call, which is great. God bless them and I just yeah, I thought that that was. I mean, I was surprised, but then I realized that it just shows the reality and I thought that was cool. We just talked about Josh. His funny personality, like the veggies and tummy, makes cupcakes more yummy when he says things you know like that, I hate your verbatim memory.

Garry:

Exactly.

Amy:

And then I have to mention the music. There was a song at the very beginning that I loved, yes, and then there was a song after Angie goes to school to pick up Gina, but it's before a coffee shop scene, I think with Andrew and Jenna and Josh. And Josh yeah.

Garry:

So what about you? It did have some really good music in this particular movie.

Amy:

I'll have to look up the songs. Yeah, yeah.

Garry:

I too, I really enjoyed it. You know, when I saw the commercials I was thinking, oh man, look at these green screens, right, and I didn't know what scenes or the content behind it, but it actually really worked. So I was happy with that. And I too liked the dynamic of all the characters, and in this particular movie they had more. It seemed like they had more around the table yeah moments than in the one than in cherries.

Garry:

For sure, yes, yeah, which is kind of weird, but anyways, yeah, um, but one thing I did notice um, there also seemed to be a lot of like um life learning lesson yeah, there are a lot in the car while they were driving.

Amy:

Yes, I have that list. Yeah, okay, yeah definitely.

Garry:

I just wanted to make sure, for sure.

Amy:

But like you, said We'll talk about that a little bit later too. I'm going to bring that back up.

Garry:

Give a shout out to grandparents, right? I mean to take care of kids, yes, when they're at their golden ages and, unfortunately, if something happens, it's you know. She had to be put into an assistant living.

Amy:

Oh, the grandmother, the grandmother of.

Garry:

But you know, just give them kudos, because, oh, gina, the new foster.

Amy:

The grandma of Gina was. She was under her grandmother's care. Yeah, did they say what happened to her parents? I can't remember.

Garry:

No, no, they didn't.

Amy:

But she was living with her grandma and then her grandma just, you know, because of age, it's just hard Her grandma, yeah, like you said, had to go into assisted living.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And then Gina was then forced to go into a foster home.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And that's where Angie comes in. Yeah, and that's where Angie comes in, right. So, but yeah, god bless grandparents who are able to do that. And then you know, unfortunately, age just.

Garry:

It catches up to you. I know you don't want it to, but you know, mentally you're still young, but physically it just If that scientist is out there, that can stop the aging process please, Aria, please. Anyways, did you have any favorite scenes?

Amy:

I had a few. I had a few. I had a few. The scenes with Josh and Ella in general just really highlighted their chemistry. I thought their meet-cue, the PTA meeting them, finally joining forces. They were kind of against each other at first and then I just thought all of that really worked.

Garry:

The.

Amy:

Sunday supper at the end with them also. I mean there was more to that Sunday supper at the end with them also, and I mean there was more to that Sunday supper. But I liked you just mentioned it the car ride with Kiki driving Gina to get tested. Gina was going to get tested for a learning I don't want to say learning disability, but they weren't sure what was going on, right?

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

So she ends up, you know, being diagnosed with what? Add or ADHD, adhd, yeah, I like that. In that vein, we saw a lot more of Kiki, this movie. You know, I like that. She was giving Gina a pep talk and I just thought about the other movies. In Jenna's First Love, jenna has the heart-to-heart with Rory. Right Remember when they can't find him. And then Josh had the heart-to-heart with Kyle, his athlete in the second in Sherry's second act. And now you see Kiki having the heart-to-heart.

Amy:

It's like they're taking the lessons that they learned and really helping these younger kids come up. Like you know, they're kind of paying it forward.

Garry:

They're like a big brother, big sister.

Amy:

Yeah, they're paying it forward, so I kind of like that Good catch on that. See what I caught, wow. And then I love the final Sunday supper scene. There was a lot that went on. The crew is growing. They're going to need a bigger boat.

Garry:

Yes, they are Do you know what that's?

Amy:

We're going to need a bigger boat.

Garry:

We're talking Noah's Ark. I do not know. No, I don't.

Amy:

Jaws.

Garry:

Jaws, Come on now. We're going to need a bigger boat, but you're going way back though.

Amy:

Oh my goodness Well that's one of the iconic lines from that movie.

Garry:

If you're a movie buff, you know, I know, and you are Okay, you've got a ton of those, you and your favorite scenes. My favorite scene was when Andrew and Angie were driving around. Andrew was actually driving Angie around to show her spots where he thinks Jenna would appreciate a proposal.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

And it's funny because at each stop Angie was like uh-uh.

Amy:

No.

Garry:

No, no, uh-uh. So they had like an aquarium, a hot air balloon the Washington Monument. And I think there was one more. But I just thought that was really really kind of cool because in between the places he was showing her they were in a car and they kind of had some good talks.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, the two of them.

Garry:

So that was my favorite scene.

Amy:

I'll circle back to that a little bit later. Yes, I didn't want to give too much away. No, no, no, no, what you said is fine. I'm not going to circle back to that.

Garry:

But I also liked it. Like you, I liked the coffee shop, the Willems coffee shop discussions between Josh and Ella. Between Josh, oh yes yes, yes, yeah, those were pretty funny, yeah, and actually Andrew was kind of funny in that one too.

Amy:

He was kind of quirky in that one.

Garry:

What's your middle name?

Amy:

Mystery yeah, he was. It was like okay, he was almost like dad jokes he was doing. You know he was. It was like okay, he was like almost like dad jokes he was doing. You know, andrew was.

Garry:

And it was kind of sad because there was another coffee scene between Josh and Ella and he kind of opened up a little bit to her about, you know, when he first got to the foster home with Angie he was so afraid that if he messed up and it's kind of like Rory that Angie would just kick him out. Yeah, and that's so sad. Yes, and when you know people can act when it makes you feel for them, right. And then that scene I was like, oh man.

Amy:

Well, because kids are already inclined to want to please their parents or their guardians or whatever, and it's just magnified when your home life is the way. You know if it's the way it was for him, and then he goes to a foster home. So I would imagine a lot of foster kids. That is sad feel that way that if they make one little mistake, they're going to be kicked out.

Garry:

Yeah, you know so yeah, goodness for angie, because she always makes them feel, yeah, you know, like like a human, like they're wanted.

Amy:

So and listen to and heard and seen and good point, good point, so did.

Garry:

Yeah, good point, good point. So did you have any cheers?

Amy:

Did I have some cheers? Yes, I had a few cheers.

Garry:

Just a few. You want me to go one on one? Yeah, let's do one on one. Let's do one on one.

Amy:

Okay, so the first thing I'll talk about is just the overall notion that the arts are just as important to kids as sports.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And resources can make all the difference. I just thought that overall general theme that you know, because sports get more of the glory a lot of times and get a lot of most of the money.

Amy:

They sure do To be totally honest, if you're a big football school, that's where the money goes. If you're, you know, and everybody sees that. But the arts, I really like that. They focused on the arts and how they do help children grow and learn and think outside the box, and you know. So I just I really I don't know. I really like that theme, you know. I mean I was athletic but if you ask me to play Pictionary I would run and hide because I can't draw a stick figure.

Amy:

You know what I mean Me either I can't, either I mean I appreciated the arts, but it was just like, but it's just as important. I mean, gosh, I wish I could draw something that would have come in handy in elementary school and middle school when we had to draw these pictures. I mean, I'm awful at drawing, so I always envied people like that. I thought that that was so cool. And then again, like I just mentioned, the resources are so important because it does matter. Yes, it does, especially now if you don't have the funding. I mean, look at all the kids who play travel ball.

Garry:

Like when we were younger.

Amy:

Even when I mean, when our kids were younger travel ball was just maybe starting to become a huge thing. But I know, when I was playing sports I didn't play it privately, I didn't play travel. I don't know anybody who did honestly, and I was a pretty good athlete, you know. And I just think nowadays if you don't have the money to play travel ball, it sucks if you have natural ability and you can't get the funds to advance.

Garry:

Yeah, and back in the day it was seasonal, so baseball was in. February to the, you know end of summer, and then you didn't play anymore until the following year. Now kids are playing baseball year round. Yes, yeah, and I think you're going to start seeing that in pros that I mean more home runs, kids seeing more pitches.

Amy:

Right.

Garry:

I mean, I've noticed it because I grew up playing baseball and football Right, and you can just see the amount of talent that is coming out now.

Amy:

Yeah, it's just you have got to be the best of the best, to be the top of the top, you know.

Garry:

And you know, get on those people.

Amy:

So what about you? What's one of your cheers?

Garry:

One of my cheers was how Hallmark brought the proposal back to the Sunday supper table between Andrew and Jenna when he proposes to her. Even though this was Josh's movie, they brought that in and he finally realized that was the place to do it.

Amy:

I have that as one of my cheers too.

Garry:

Yes, so what did you think about it? Yeah, no.

Amy:

I agree Everything you just said. I didn't mean to step on your toes. No, that was family Cheers too, yes. So what did you think about it, Did you? Yeah, no, I agree Everything you just said.

Garry:

I didn't mean to step on your toes. No, that's fine.

Amy:

But yeah, I had that as well, that it was a low-key proposal. He realized he didn't have to go big or go home, and big ones are fine, there's nothing wrong with that, but you don't, it was at Sunday supper. That's their thing, exactly. So, yeah, yeah. So go ahead with another cheer, cause I kind of hijacked that one a little bit.

Garry:

Can we just give a shout out to Evan he finally got a Sunday supper Finally.

Amy:

Yes, I had that too.

Garry:

Yes, yes, he did not get one.

Amy:

I have that written down that Evan finally made the Sunday supper.

Garry:

Yes, yes, my supper, yes, yes, my man evan got his dinner, his supper. So finally that we saw anyway I'm sure, and so what's another one for you?

Amy:

um, this is a really small one. But when, when gina first meets everybody and um, josh says I'm just josh and she goes hello, just Josh, nice to meet you, just Josh. And I was like just Jack. Now do you know what that's from Is?

Garry:

that the Shining.

Amy:

Oh, no, well, I can see where you went there, but no.

Garry:

I don't know, just Jack.

Amy:

Just Jack Will and Grace.

Garry:

Oh, yes, will and Grace Jack on Will and Grace.

Amy:

Oh, yes, will and Grace. Jack, on Will and Grace, he used to go, just Jack, and put his hands by his face.

Garry:

I'm glad you said that, because I was going to say the mask.

Amy:

Well, that might have worked too, but yeah, but that's a little one. I loved seeing Gina how they had teen Gina advocate for herself to her grandma to convince her grandma to get her testing. She knows she needs help and you know her grandma's old school and is like you know no, you're fine, being different is okay, but she needs help.

Amy:

She doesn't understand she's struggling and she really advocated for herself and I thought it was great, because so often we don't give kids enough credit. They're more resilient than we give them credit for and she I just really liked that. They showed that.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And that could be a positive thing for other kids. Even watching that movie Like hey, I can speak up for myself If something's not right, I need to be able to speak up to it.

Garry:

Yes, always speak out, especially girls. Yes, and women, don't ever be afraid to speak out.

Amy:

What about you?

Garry:

Jumping off of yours. I also love how Angie was telling Gina who wants to be normal.

Amy:

You know who wants to be the same. Yes, I have that too.

Garry:

The world would be boring if we were all the same. It's an Angie-ism and I love how she always makes them feel, you know, and when she said that you could see it on Gina's- face that she was like oh yeah, I can see that.

Amy:

Yeah, I have the quote. No one is normal and thank goodness for that. What a boring world it would be yes, yes, that's so funny, you brought that up. We're samers and we don't discuss.

Garry:

No, no, we do not discuss On purpose. So that was it for my chairs.

Amy:

I have a couple more.

Garry:

Oh goodness.

Amy:

Going back to Kiki and Gina in the car ride and you talked about this Kiki's. You know how many life lessons there were. We just sort of talked about one with Angie. When Kiki says Gina's kind of being hard on herself in the car and then Kiki says would you say that to someone else? Is that the?

Garry:

advice you would give someone else. That was a good.

Amy:

Yes, I thought that was really profound, because so many of us do that. It's so weird how we don't give ourselves the grace that we give others.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Our self-talk and self-doubt is so detrimental but we all do it at times. But I just like that life lesson in the car ride also that was really good. And then when Kiki says or I don't know if it's Gina, I think it might be Kiki who says you know, if my recipe doesn't turn out the way that I want, I find one thing that I liked in it.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And I was like. You know that's a really good thing to do too, and I, you know, I think I'm generally positive and try to do that also, but that's just good advice. You know, the world could be crashing down, but find one positive thing, just one.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

I mean, it doesn't have to be big or grand, just one positive thing and focus on that.

Garry:

You know what I say. If you fail, it's just another way. You found a way not to do it.

Amy:

Right another way. You found not to a way not to do it, right, right, so you gotta figure out. You figured out that it could be done that way. So now we know, let's move on to the next way. So so and that. So that's a wrap for me for cheers, because you talked about you know we talked about the angieism, the final sunday supper scene the grand yeah, so all right, so let's just go on to jeers.

Garry:

Did you have any jeers, or?

Amy:

I hate to even say this, because you talked about it as a positive, but the green screens are killing me they're killing me the dc when you talked about them driving around in dc while I appreciated them doing the that scene. Yeah, oh, the monument green screen, the monument green screen. I know, the green screen, the hot air balloon, the scream. It's so bad. I'm so sorry, it's just so bad. I know I shouldn't focus on it. The aquarium was decent. The aquarium was somewhat decent.

Garry:

Hallmark needs alumni to give them some money so they can actually shoot on. I know they need to fundraise, they need to fundraise.

Amy:

What about you?

Garry:

I had one the band. It only had four members the band.

Amy:

Well, not everybody wants to be in band. I know but four when you're a big track school or whatever. Yeah, little band people, that's all right.

Garry:

And in such a moldy room, genie was part of it. I know, I know Well they turned that around.

Amy:

But, yeah, not a lot of people in the band. For me another jeer would have been Vic, saying you can call me sir.

Garry:

to Josh it just felt out of place yeah.

Amy:

It was weird. And then when he says it all feels too messy right now to Josh, yeah, when he're trying to get the money from not trying to get the money, but they're trying to advocate for themselves to for him to donate the money to both causes, yeah, I just thought that that was a weird, like it just didn't work for me and then the next day he's texting him saying okay, for the next 10 years we're going to do one project each year.

Garry:

It was, it was like you said it, like like he shot it down for like no reason at all and he came back the next day and goes here's what we're doing okay, we're good.

Amy:

Yeah, it was I don't know.

Garry:

I just didn't think that that. I'm with you on that. So did you have? Any other jeers no, I actually had the same thing with with gupta with gupta or vick v Vic. Yes, the same thing actually so I don't know what it is. I'm not gonna bring that up again no, that's alright.

Amy:

That's alright with um. So I did have to say why did we have to wait until practically the end to see Sherry? I know we didn't see her hardly at all this and I loved her. I feel like the first episode she had all that wit and banter and the looks that you know, andrew, and then this, the second one, was about her. Obviously she was in the whole thing, but they didn't even really capitalize on her personality really yeah and that one and then this one.

Amy:

We hardly saw her at all and I was just disappointed because I want more of sherry. So I'm hoping maybe the next you know, maybe kiki's movie her and kiki have more you know personal yeah scenes so with each other and how does a book swap make money? That that's a good point can you when they're doing so?

Amy:

they're doing fundraisers, right, they're trying to raise money for the band, for the band room and for a track, and josh and ella are kind of competing fundraisers, right, they're trying to raise money for the band room and for a track, and Josh and Ella are kind of competing fundraisers right. And he's doing a book swap. I want someone to what did.

Garry:

I miss. No, she's doing a book swap. He's doing candy bars.

Amy:

Oh, right, right, right, right, right, that's right. That's right because she's in English Duh Okay, how does that raise money? I?

Garry:

need help with that. I have. No, I can't answer that for you. This is funny. 1-800-hallmark, that's all I'm saying. There you go.

Amy:

There you go. And then did we get Josh's full story. Like I know, he talked about how his parents were young.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

How home life was chaotic and he used humor to cope Yep, so I get that.

Garry:

But did we find out why he ended up in Angie's care as a foster?

Amy:

Right, that would have been my only other.

Garry:

Yeah, jeer, yeah Jeer.

Amy:

So do you have any other oh-by-the-ways that we didn't discuss?

Garry:

No, not really. I think that's. I think we hit on well. That's. I think we hit on well. I hit on everything that I caught during the movie yeah, what about you? Yeah, I think, I think so so we're gonna call it a wrap I think we're gonna call it a wrap.

Amy:

I think we're gonna wrap it up well thanks for listening.

Garry:

Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also follow us on social media. If you really really like the show and are listening on apple podcast or spotify, leave a five-star review. And if you really really like the show and are listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a five-star review. And if you didn't really really like the show, you know you can still leave a five-star review.

Amy:

You can still do it or leave a positive review. Leave a positive Hopefully you won't leave a negative review. This has been kind of a longer this might be. Is this one of our longest podcasts?

Garry:

This is probably Because we've had a lot of discussion. This is probably the longest podcast. This is probably. Yes, it is definitely the longest podcast so far.

Amy:

We didn't do the corks Out of how many corks out? Of five corks. How many would you?

Garry:

give it. You know what I'm going to give it a five. I yeah, I think I'm going to go with a five.

Amy:

Despite the green screens, I'm going to give it a five also.

Garry:

Good, good, we're on the same page.

Amy:

Right. So make sure you join us next Wednesday for our review of the fourth and final Hearts Around the Table movie, Kiki's Fourth Ingredient, airing Saturday night, April 12th 2025, on the Hallmark Channel and streaming the next day on Hallmark Plus. You can also join us on Tuesdays for our reviews of Hallmark series. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening.

Garry:

Cheers.