Hallmark's 2026 Countdown to Christmas Preview - What We Know So Far!

The Christmas sweaters have been pulled from the closet and the candy cane wine glasses are officially in service! We’re kicking off the holiday season a little early on this episode of Pour the Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time!

Hallmark’s 2026 Countdown to Christmas is coming in hot, and we’re taking a first look at everything that’s been officially announced so far. From familiar faces to fresh pairings, new romances, and festive new storylines, there’s plenty to talk about, and we’re just getting started! We’re breaking down the movies that have already caught our attention, sharing which ones are giving us serious can’t miss vibes, and talking about the locations that have an extra special connection for us. 

Countdown to Christmas is underway, and we’re ready to toast to another season of movies filled to the brim with holiday romance, cozy towns, and the magic of Christmas!

Pour your favorite Christmas “spirit,” get cozy, and press play! Cheers!

Send us an email to pourthewineitsromcomtime@gmail.com! We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Music from #Uppbeat

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

Transcript

Holiday Sweaters And Christmas Vibes

SPEAKER_00 0:07

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.

SPEAKER_02 0:15

And I'm Gary.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

And we have our Christmas gear deployed. So what sweater are you wearing, sir?

SPEAKER_02 0:25

I'm wearing the Fragile sweater.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

It's very busy, but it says fragile.

SPEAKER_02 0:31

Let me lean back with the leg lamp.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

The leg lamp.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

For those of you who are watching, but for those who you who are listening, it is the framework. It is the fragile.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

It is the fragile sweater.

SPEAKER_02 0:47

What about you? What are you wearing?

SPEAKER_00 0:49

I have a story behind what I'm wearing. When I was in college, so I obviously love sweaters. I love sweatshirts. I love big bulky sweaters. And I especially love Christmas sweaters. So my college roommate bought me a sweatshirt, and it says, I'm going to put the camera down if you're watching, it says, just say ho in ginormous letters with some kind of greenery, you know, and a berry on it. And the letters used to be red, but it's been a while since I've been in college. And so they are now very faded and pink. I mean, hey, I'm just happy I fit in the sweatshirt. There you go. So it's been a long time. But yeah, so just say ho.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

So there you go. Sweatshirts and sweaters deployed.

How We Cover The Full Schedule

SPEAKER_00 1:34

There you go. And it fits right in because today we're going to be discussing what we know so far for countdown to Christmas 2020.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

I'm so excited. I'm so excited. I'm ready for fall. I'm ready for Christmas. I'm ready for it all.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

I know. I know. And you know, Hallmark has been coming hot and heavy with the information. And so we've waited a little bit, you know, through all their press releases and there are lots of rumors about other movies. But today we're going to stick to what Hallmark's PR team has released to this point. Right. There's a lot more information floating around out there in the universe. So, you know, if you go, if you're on Instagram, be sure to check out Hallmark Enthusiast247. She is usually the first one.

SPEAKER_02 2:19

Yes, she is.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Uh, to post something. She gets, I don't know how she does it, but and she is the sweetest. We have chatted with her um from time to time. Christmas. She's yeah, she's usually great. She's usually usually the first. And then our friends, you know, Rich and Renee over at um Forever Hallmark Christmas. They are keeping a weekly tally of everything that's come out and rumored and who's gonna be starring in it. So if you check out their Instagram, you will get um some more information about what's rumored to be out there, whether or not Hallmark has actually published it yet.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

Right.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

But I think we're in for a pretty, pretty good year.

SPEAKER_02 2:58

A pretty busy year.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Busy, yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:02

All right. So you wanna get right into this?

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Well, I think it's important to say that once Hallmark releases uh right the countdown to Christmas, the official schedule.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

Yes. I'm sorry. I was I was zoning there for a minute. I was listening to you. But yes, once Hallmark releases their official countdown to Christmas calendar, what we decided to do is three episodes: one for October, one for November, and one for December. Right. And but we're gonna drop all three episodes at once.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Right.

SPEAKER_02 3:38

So you have a choice to do whatever you want to do with them. You can listen to them all at once, or you can listen to each one as the month comes up.

SPEAKER_00 3:47

Right. So you can kind of hear, otherwise, it would be a terribly long episode. Oh my gosh, which you know, I don't people don't mind, but yeah, it would be it'd be like a three-hour podcast or something. So that's that's how we're gonna do it. I think that'll be the best way for us, but we will drop them all at one time, and then you can dive in wherever you choose, whichever month you choose to dive in.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

You choose.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

Yeah. All right, so are you ready to dive in to what we know so far for countdown to Christmas? 2026.

Holiday Touchdown Bears Love Story

unknown 4:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

All right, so we have three premiere dates. Three out of I don't know how many movies 25, 30, 40. No, I'm just kidding. Not 40, probably. Hopefully, not 40. So kicking things off for Countdown to Christmas will be Holiday Touchdown, a Bears Love Story that will premiere Saturday, October 17th. Now, that is the same weekend that Countdown to Christmas started last year.

SPEAKER_02 4:43

Ooh, coincidence.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

I know, it's pretty exciting. So this one stars Lindsay Fonseca and Robert Buckley. How can you go wrong there with that pairing? I can't. You cannot. Uh-huh. I think I think we have a lot of first-time pairings this go-around, also. But you will also see Bears cameos like head coach Ben Johnson, current tight ends, Colston Loveland, and Cole Comet.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 5:05

Alumni Mike Singletary. Aww. Connie Payton, Walter Payton's wife. Aww. Touch of my heart. Dan Hampton, Charles Tillman, and mascot, Staley Du Bear Duh Bear. Shh Staley Dub Bear. Now there is no writer listed yet for this, but when we were talking to Julie Sherman Wolf, she hinted at something coming up. She did not say what. We have no idea. This may or may not be it. Maybe it's a different movie. But fingers crossed, maybe she wrote this one.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

And if she did, we're in for a good one.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

We are in for a treat. Because she wrote the Chiefs love story. She wrote Holiday Touchdown, a Chiefs love story. So we shall see. We do have a director. The director is Dustin Reichert. He um also is going to be directing another movie This Countdown to Christmas, which we'll mention in a minute. But Dustin is Hallmark royalty pretty much as directoring as directing goes. He directed two movies in 2025: Holiday Touchdown, A Bill's Love Story, and A Newport Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:08

So, and we don't have a synopsis yet for this movie, but I'm guessing it's gonna have to do with a little bit of football.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, a little bit of Chicago, which we love.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

Yeah. So I am here for it. I grew up a Bears fan. I grew up near Chicago. Um, and then I became a Colts fan when I got old enough to know better. Ha ha. Just kidding.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Too funny.

SPEAKER_00 6:32

But I did grow up. I had the Walter Payton, you know, uh sweat van, or not Walter Payton, I'm sorry. Um, Jim McMahon. He was the quarterback at the time. And if you know anything about the Chicago Bears when they won the Super Bowl, they sang the Super Bowl shuffle. I knew it by heart, had a poster, yada, yada, yada. So I'm pretty excited about this one. What about you?

SPEAKER_02 6:51

No, I'm really excited about it. Because, you know, when they first came out way back when, I wasn't too into the movies, right? But the holiday, the touchdown, the touchdown. The first one.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

Yeah, we didn't see the first one.

SPEAKER_02 7:03

Man, were we ever singing out or what?

SPEAKER_00 7:06

When it aired. I know. Well, after we watched a Bill's Love Story, we're like, this is really good. And then we went back and we watched Holiday Touchdown at Kansas City. Yeah. So we, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:16

So we're not missing this one. We're gonna watch it when it airs. So how about that?

SPEAKER_00 7:20

So I'm here for it.

SPEAKER_02 7:22

You ready to move on to the next one?

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Let's move on to the next one.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

But before we do, I just want to show you something else. We have our candy cane glasses. Right? There you go.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

As the influencers do. If you're if you're listening and not watching, we have wine glasses that have candy canes on them, and they're adorable, and we love them.

SPEAKER_02 7:41

And the bottom of the stem looks like um those peppermint candies.

SPEAKER_00 7:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:46

So there you go. They're cute. All

Holiday Ever After At Disney World

SPEAKER_02 7:48

right. So the next countdown to Christmas movie is uh Holiday Ever After. A Disney World Wish Come True is set to premiere Saturday, November 28th. And this game is Drumroll like no one knows, right? Lacey Shabert, Travis Van Winkle. We're also going to see Christy Carlson Romano, and she is the voice of Kim Possible. And Richard Kind.

SPEAKER_00 8:17

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

I'm sorry. I swallowed the wrong words.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

It's too kind. It just choked you up. I know it choked me up, right? Veteran actor Richard Kind. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

Um, Ryan Landos both wrote and directed it. Ryan wrote and directed two 2024 Countdown to Christmas movies. Uh Sugar Plumbed, which we loved. And Santa Tell Me. Tell me a secret, Santa. Tell me. Tell me. I need to tea. The Pemperman.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

We love that one also.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

The synopsis for this one, which we do have, is a woman's perfect Disney World Christmas turns chaotic when she finds her awful blind date staying next door. As their families pass, keep crossing, holiday magic sparks unexpected feelings. So what do you think about this one?

SPEAKER_00 9:06

How can you go wrong?

unknown 9:07

I know.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

I mean, Lacey Shaber, Disney World, Christmas time. I mean, it's like you're talking directly to my heart.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

I know. I know.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

There's just all kinds of buzz around this one. And you know, it's just, it's just gonna be so exciting. And, you know, it is airing the weekend after Thanksgiving, though. I mean, that's the Saturday after Thanksgiving. So I'm hoping a lot of people tune in, you know, because what else are you doing the Saturday after you're recovering from the big meal on Thursday? You've probably done your shopping Friday and Saturday, and you just hang out with the family and watch the new holiday ever after movie, right? There you go. Lacey Shaber. And we have some we have a little bit of Disney history.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

Yes, we do Christmas Day. Ooh, because what? What? Tell me. What?

SPEAKER_00 9:56

What? What happened?

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Tell me.

SPEAKER_00 9:58

Someone carried a ring around with him all day long with us and the kids on Christmas Day at Magic Kingdom.

SPEAKER_02 10:08

Yes, and let me tell you how scared I was of losing this thing. Because we got on plenty of rides. No idea. I was so it's like the Hallmark movie.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

You could have made a Hallmark movie that day because I was so scared my palms were sweating.

SPEAKER_00 10:23

It was ugh. And we have and what's great is you know, those were the days before you had like the little chargeable, like everyone's phone was dead by the time you proposed at night.

SPEAKER_02 10:34

Yes. Which was in front of the castle right before the fireworks.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Right before the fireworks.

SPEAKER_02 10:39

You know how busy it gets. You have to go and camp out hours before.

SPEAKER_00 10:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

And one of the children decided they needed to go to the restroom.

SPEAKER_00 10:48

They had to use the restroom.

SPEAKER_02 10:50

And it's like, oh my God, you got like 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 10:53

But well, what's funny is you were stressing out about him, and we have four kids between us. We had four kids there, and he he ran, you know, the oldest ran to the bathroom, and then he came, and you were like stressing about him getting back. And I was like, Why are you freaking out? He'll he know he's like a teenager, he'll find his way back. We're all good. Yeah, they all love the fireworks. They I didn't understand why you were stressing out. You wanted him back for the big moment. So we have one picture because everyone's phone was dead except for one. We got one picture in during the moment. So it was pretty exciting.

SPEAKER_02 11:24

I got down on one knee in front of everybody right before.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Everybody around us and proposed. And everybody cheered. Oh, right, right. Here I am.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

She said yes.

unknown 11:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

All right.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

So let's move on to the next one.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Let's

A Grand Biltmore Christmas Time Twist

SPEAKER_00 11:39

move on. So, premiering Saturday, December 5th, we have a grand Biltmore Christmas. This one is going to star Holland Roden and Niall Matter. We'll also see Andy McDowell and Jonathan Franks is going to return as Winston.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Ooh.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

This was written by Marcy Holland. In addition to penning a Biltmore Christmas, the OG, she has written several Hallmark movies, including Caught by Love, The Christmas Quest, and Time for You, Time for Him, and Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas. The Time for Christmas. This is the second movie of 2026 that will be directed by Dustin Rikert. Oh, yeah. I can't wait. He really does have an extensive list of Hallmark projects as both producer, director, and writer. I mean, he's just so multi-talented. So all right, the synopsis. In 1895, Elizabeth meets Michael, a teen trespasser at Biltmore House.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Rude.

SPEAKER_00 12:39

Who vanishes. When he returns 20 years later, a magic hourglass pulls her to the present. She must return home before being found and before love alters her destiny.

SPEAKER_02 12:50

Dun dun dun.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

What do you think?

SPEAKER_02 12:53

Um, to be truthful, and we talked about this when we first heard that they were doing a second one. I was like, no, don't mess with it. It would the first one was so good. But then they released a trailer, and I was like, whoa, I got goosebumps. This looks really good.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

So I'm excited about this one. What about you?

SPEAKER_00 13:14

I am too. I, you know, and that is being totally honest. We were kind of, it wasn't like we thought it was going to be terrible, but we were like, you know, it's like you don't mess with the class. Everybody, a Built More Christmas is just so beloved by so many people, including us. And I knew it wasn't like a sequel or anything, it was just a different story, you know, in that it that takes place there.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

Right.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

Um, but then we kind of got excited about it. We're like, you know what? It can work. We're open-minded, right? We're gonna go with it, and we're really excited. So we are, and we are going to be going to the Biltmore. Yes, we are when it is decorated for Christmas, which I am super excited about.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

I know, I can't wait.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

We were supposed to go last year and we couldn't because of something that came up and we had to cancel our trip, and we're very bummed out. However, comma, we are going this year. We are going this year. We are going this year.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

Helen Hyde.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

So no, I think I think in Holland Roden and Nile Matter, I mean, we just you know, we just love them. And I mean Andy McDowell, hello, you know. So I I'm I'm really excited to see this one. So this one will premiere the weekend after Thanksgiving.

SPEAKER_02 14:25

Right, right. Right. So I'm looking forward to it.

The Nights Before Christmas Time Loop

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Yeah. So we do have some movies that we know about, but we do not have the premiere dates of them yet.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

So we're just gonna talk about them real quickly.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:38

And catch you up to speed. So the next one is The Nights Before Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:47

And this one stars Lacey J. Maley and Tyler Hines, Mr. Mr. 007.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Oh gosh. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 14:56

Double 07. Anyways, this will be Mark Tyler's 28th Hallmark movie and 14th Christmas movie overall. Can you believe it?

SPEAKER_00 15:05

Good for him. Man. Yeah. Good for him.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

I mean, oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 15:10

So half of his movies have been Christmas movies.

SPEAKER_02 15:12

Right. And half have been not. And one's gonna be a Jane.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

He's an equal opportunity.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

There you go. There you go. The director is Lucy Guess. This will be Lucy's eighth Hallmark project as a director in three years.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Oh, she's been busy.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

Yes. And she acts. Oh no, I know. It's like where do you find the time? But keep doing it because we love it.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

We love it.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

A few of her projects include Christmas at the Catnip Cafe, the Santa Claus, and Jingle Bell Run, in which all three we loved.

SPEAKER_00 15:46

I was gonna say, not too shabby. Not too shabby.

SPEAKER_02 15:50

And that was most of hers during that year, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:54

So the synopsis for this one is one Christmas Eve, Marty, stuck in a rut and wishing for more time, wakes up to find journalists who doesn't remember him.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Journalists.

SPEAKER_02 16:06

He's living the same day. I skipped. He wakes up to find he's living the same day over and over again. I skipped. Sorry, my glasses.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Have a sip of wine, then go back in. Hold on.

SPEAKER_02 16:19

Hold on.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Okay, you really do.

SPEAKER_02 16:22

All right, let's start this over. The synopsis. One Christmas Eve, Marty, stuck in a rut and wishing to move uh for more time, wakes up to find he's living in the same day over and over again. Then he falls for Chloe, a newly out-of-wort journalist who doesn't remember him when Christmas Eve resets. And that's what sucks, you know? Very groundhogue. And even I do, I do, I do with autumn resort.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

Oh, yeah, with autumn resort. Remember that one?

SPEAKER_02 16:53

That one was good too.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

She just keeps she keeps waking up and getting married over and over and over again.

SPEAKER_02 16:59

And it's so funny because she yeah, we're not gonna talk about it, but uh it was really, really good. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

But this this definitely does sound like you know, a little bit of Groundhog Day. And I have to say the synopsis uh that we read is one that we shortened because Hallmark has these really grand there you guys, I'm grand which is really great, but we kind of shorten them just for time and for the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

So there you go.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Um yeah, I think this sounds really kind of fun, you know. It's it's been done before, but yeah, um, I'm really curious to see what they do with it and how they do with it. And of course, I mean Tyler Hines, and we love Lacey Mailing. I think it's gonna be Chesapeake Shore.

SPEAKER_02 17:41

I think it's gonna be one of the hits this year.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Yeah, well, obviously. Well, how could it not be with Tyler Hines? Come on now. I know, I know.

Christmas Delivered Tech Meets Small Town

SPEAKER_00 17:50

All right, well, speaking of Autumn Reaser, she will star in Christmas Delivered with Wes Brown. This is their this is a first-time pairing for them, also. Now, we didn't see any writers listed yet, but it will be directed by David E. Strasser. He's directed several Hallmark projects, including the two Nelly Nose mysteries, which are so fun. So fun. Go watch those. Uh, The Wish Swap and a Glenbrook Christmas, which also starred Autumn Razor. All right, here we go. Kimberly Carr escapes to Canada for a quiet Christmas with her grandmother, but her plans are upended when she meets Ben Chambers, whose troubled app needs her tech expertise. Though skeptical that the app belongs in a small town, Kimberly agrees to help and finds herself drawn to Ben.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

Ooh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

Big shock, right?

SPEAKER_01 18:43

I know, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:44

Now, what's interesting about this is on um Instagram, I did a little digging, and Jennifer Cass or Jennifer Aspen and her husband are the creatives behind this. Of course, Jennifer is an actress and she's been in a few Hallmark movies. She's also been the executive producer on several Hallmark productions, including last year's Christmas Above the Clouds. She's executive producer on two this year as well. This one and Holiday Ever After. A Disney World which should come true. Right. So what Jennifer said when Hallmark Enthusiast24-7 posted about this movie, this is what Jennifer commented, and this is a quote. Letting you know this story was my idea, inspired by staring at a little red truck. And my husband, David O'Donnell, and I were creatives on it and brought it to life. Very proud of our very real winter wonderland surrounding our precious little red truck. Oh. So I wonder if this was actually filmed in winter or in the cold based on that.

SPEAKER_02 19:49

Sounds like it, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Yeah. And we love a red truck. We have kind of a farmhouse theme at our house for Christmas. We have a few red trucks, so yeah. So what do you think about this one? About an app?

SPEAKER_02 20:02

I am I'm looking forward to it. I like a good old, you know, modern Christmas movie where they use modern. Oh, yeah, with like the tech.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:12

Yeah. So I I'm looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

Well, and I like the angle that she's kind of skeptical because it's a small town. And why do you need an app in a really small town? Because everybody knows each other. And I I think it's gonna be interesting, actually. I'm kind of intrigued. And we just adore her. Yeah. And Wes Brown is so good too. Yeah. He's I mean, he can bring the funny or the serious, you know.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

So yeah. And I'm loving the pairings so far in these. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

First-time pairings, I think a lot, a lot this count down to Christmas.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

All right. So we're gonna move on.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

We're gonna move on. A few more

Untitled Road Trip With Ashley And Allison

SPEAKER_00 20:47

to talk about. I know.

SPEAKER_02 20:48

We will be getting an untitled movie starring Ashley Williams and Allison Sweeney.

SPEAKER_00 20:52

Well, it's untitled so far.

SPEAKER_02 20:54

So far, right.

SPEAKER_00 20:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:56

Right. It will also star Steve Lund. Ashley and Allison will star and executive produce the movie. So there you go. Double hatted there.

SPEAKER_01 21:05

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 21:06

As they did in the Barcelona movies, which we loved. Man, I'm telling you, them two together is a trick.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

They are really so good.

SPEAKER_02 21:16

The writer is Alejandro Alcoba. He has one hallmark writing credit, an episode of the series ride. There you go. The director is Yankee, Crystal Lowe.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

Oh my god. I know. I know. Supposed to bowl.

SPEAKER_02 21:34

Um Make Her Mark re uh recipient, Sarah Sarah Wilson Thacker, is set to Shadow Lowe. So she gets a chance to be with Crystal as she directs this.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

And that's Ashley Williams um you know, dream the Make Her Mark Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:52

That is so cool.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

Um program for lack of a better word. Yeah.

unknown 21:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:57

So we're looking forward to this. And a synopsis. Is Chicago lawyer Cassidy scrambles to get home to Nashville for Christmas after a cancel flight forces her to team up with free-spirited traveler Joe and her truck driver brother? Chase.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

That was a lot. Okay. Joe and her truck driver brother.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

As their journey hits one snag after another, Cassidy and Chase spark a romance while Cass Cassidy and Joe forge an unexpected friendship. Production begins this month in Vancouver.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

That's so exciting. I'm sure we'll see Instagram posts about this one. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_02 22:37

Oh my gosh. You think they'll do another podcast like they do with Barcelona? I really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Yeah, I can't remember what it was called, but we listened to it. They did um they did a podcast while during the filming, right? They got together of the two Barcelona movies. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:55

It was so cool. And it was fun because they were having technical difficulties on the first and second episode.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

Yeah, their podcast. Yeah, it was pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

They worked it out and it was really great.

SPEAKER_00 23:04

So but you know what's interesting about this one is it kind of reminds me of like planes, trains, and automobiles. Yeah. Perhaps without maybe the plane or the train. I don't know. It's just an automobile. Um, it kind of has that kind of vibe to it, but and of course the personalities, you know, Cassidy's a little more uptight, and uh what's the other one? Joe, she's more laid back, right? And it's kind of like weren't the two Barcelona movies like that, only it was opposite. Ashley Williams played the one that was more laid back, and Allison Sweeney played the character who was more serious.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

Right.

SPEAKER_00 23:41

Right, yeah. Right. What do you think?

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Ah um I think is this a Christmas or a Thanksgiving movie?

SPEAKER_00 23:49

Oh, the question. Well, I think this is Christmas. I think this one is definitely Christmas.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

We were talking about trains, planes, and automobiles. I that's why I brought it up. I just thought it was cute. I don't know. I'm looking forward to it because you know, you got overall, not just the actors, but the crew itself. I mean, with crystal. I mean, come on. This is I think this is gonna be good. I'm looking forward to it. What about you? You think it's gonna be good?

SPEAKER_00 24:14

I'm here for it. We're getting lots of Chicago. We're getting lots of Chicago. I'm here for it, even though it's not really filmed in Chicago. You know, maybe the B-roll. We'll see some Chicago.

SPEAKER_02 24:25

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 24:26

All right.

Mistletoe And Mimosas Bar Rivalry

SPEAKER_00 24:27

Next up, we have Mistletoe and Mimosas. It is like a movie after our own heart, only mimosas and not one. I mean, what a great time.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Teach yourself. Come on.

SPEAKER_00 24:38

I'm already in. I'm already in. This one stars Tamara Maury Housley and Christopher Palaha.

SPEAKER_02 24:45

Oh, man.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

Another first-time fairy.

SPEAKER_02 24:47

Oh my god, this is gonna be interesting.

SPEAKER_00 24:49

Tamara's gonna be here, she is an executive producer as well. Super excited for her. And of course, Russell Hainline. He is the writer of this movie, and he has written so many great Hallmark movies, including the last two wise men movies, Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper, The Santa Summit, and the Santa Class. So he's I mean, he's all right, you know. He's all right, right? His resume's okay. We didn't see a director listed yet. But here's the synopsis. After inheriting her uncle's struggling Christmas-themed bar, a Manhattan business consultant returns to upstate New York determined to save it before selling, only to face off with its trendy new competitor. As Claire and the competitor's charming co-owner Zach battle through a festive 12-day challenge, rivalry gives way to romance and forces them to reconsider where they truly belong.

SPEAKER_02 25:48

Aw. This is gonna be cute.

SPEAKER_00 25:51

I think this is gonna be a fun one, actually. A really fun one.

SPEAKER_02 25:55

I mean, you can't go wrong with some mistletoe and some mimosa, so no.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

I mean, I yeah, yeah. You can't you just can't.

unknown 26:02

Yeah.

Single At The Wedding Friends To Love

SPEAKER_02 26:03

All right, so we're gonna move on to single at the wedding. Single at the wedding. Snistar, is it dahlia? Is it Reiki?

SPEAKER_00 26:13

I'm not sure if it's Richie or Reiki.

SPEAKER_02 26:15

I'm sorry, if I pronounced your name, I I apologize. I'm not very good with names. And Jonathan Bennett. And who doesn't love Jonathan? Oh my gosh, he's so now you see him walking around on them cruises with them tanks, with them arms showing up. He got the guns going on. He's been working out. He's been working out. Looking good, looking good. I see them almost. We don't have a writer or a director yet that we know of.

SPEAKER_00 26:41

That we know of.

unknown 26:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:42

But the synopsis is after striking out in love, longtime friends Susie and Alec vowed to take a break from weddings and matchmaking until Susie's sister announces a last-minute Christmas wedding. Ah, you know them sisters. Oh man. Forced to spend the week as the only singles in the family, the best friends begin to see love and each other in a whole new light.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

Mm-hmm. So they're singles only.

SPEAKER_02 27:11

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 27:11

And they vow not to attend any more weddings, and then they get thrown into the wedding of a family member. Sounds about right.

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:19

I think it sounds really cute. I mean, Jonathan Bennett, you know, he's great because he can really bring like the over-the-top comedy and just, you know, like the over-exuberance that he can bring, and then he can also be serious. And I just I love that about him.

SPEAKER_02 27:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:37

So I think the pairing of those two.

SPEAKER_02 27:40

It's gonna be good.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

I think it's gonna be good. What do you think?

SPEAKER_02 27:43

Oh, definitely. Like I said, I'm I'm wondering if he's gonna be wearing some of them T's, you know. Oh, uh in the movie, probably not to show off his guns.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

Is that what you're saying? Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 27:54

Is he going to be looking forward to this one too? I I like a wedding, wedding movie. So we'll see. It kind of reminds me of wedding crashers, only not. But only not.

SPEAKER_00 28:03

You're like, it's like wedding crashers, except it's not like wedding crashers. No, no. No, they're not crashing a wedding, they're actually invited to the family members' wedding.

SPEAKER_02 28:11

No, I know, but it sounds good. I I'm looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 28:15

All right, so those those are the movies that we know so far.

SPEAKER_02 28:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 28:20

And there are more to come because I don't know how many did we just talk about.

SPEAKER_02 28:23

Oof. Plenty.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

Like eight. Eight, yeah, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

Eight movies, about eight movies or so, and there are a lot more to come.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

Yep.

Mistletoe Murders Season 3 Timing Guess

SPEAKER_00 28:34

And um we also have we also know that mistletoe murder season three is coming. But the question is when. Now we know they filmed it, we know they wrapped it. Um, of course, that stars Sarah Drew, Peter Mooney, Sierra Marilyn Riley, Kylie Evans, Gene Yoon, David Hewitt, just a great cast, and Laura Amhersey. Um, so season one premiered on Hallmark Plus only in 2024. Then Hallmark brought it linear, they brought it to the Hallmark channel last year, and it premiered on Friday, October 17th. And they aired two episodes because they if you haven't seen Mistletoe Murders, please go watch season one and season two. It is so, so good. But they aired they aired both episodes on Friday night, part one and part two, because they do like a two-episode arc where the murder happens, then you find out who did it. Um so when is it gonna start?

SPEAKER_01 29:34

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 29:35

Will they air so will they air season one and season two first, which would take them probably to like maybe mid-November? Because there's only six episodes in a season.

SPEAKER_02 29:47

Right.

SPEAKER_00 29:48

Right?

SPEAKER_01 29:48

Right.

SPEAKER_00 29:49

So and then if they aired season three starting in like late November, it would go into December. Are they gonna do that? Or is the season three premiere just gonna air maybe starting October well starting the Friday before the Bears movie.

SPEAKER_02 30:07

True. True.

SPEAKER_00 30:08

Which is October, so it would be October, is it gonna start October 16th?

SPEAKER_02 30:13

Ooh. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

I don't know. And I haven't I haven't even caught wind of any other series that might be coming because last year we had Finding Mr. Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 30:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:24

Um, we had the baking one baked with law, I can't remember the exact name of it, but it was with Tamara Maury Housley. Um we had that one also, right?

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

So, but I haven't uh seen or heard anything about uh any reality or unscripted shows, right? Anyway, so yeah, me either.

SPEAKER_02 30:44

But I'm looking forward to it because we really enjoyed this series. Yes, both seasons. Yes. I mean, the chemistry between everybody just clicked. I really loved it. I just love it.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

It's so so good. And if you haven't had a chance to watch it and you want to listen to our recaps instead, we have recapped every episode. Yes, we did season one and season two. Go check out those episodes, and then you'll be caught up by the time season three premieres whenever it airs.

SPEAKER_02 31:14

Right.

SPEAKER_00 31:15

Whenever it decides to air.

SPEAKER_02 31:16

So but don't wait too long because the days are flying and it'll be upon us soon.

SPEAKER_00 31:21

Oh, I know. It's gonna be here before you know it. Listen. So, overall, I mean, and based on what we've seen, like I said, what Forever Hallmark Christmas and Hallmark Enthusiast 24-7, whatever they've posted, it looks like they've posted a lot of other movies, a lot of other pairings. Um, it's gonna be a solid countdown to Christmas.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

I mean and and we usually draw, right? Last year we we put a bunch of ornaments in a bag in a bucket, and we drew each one of us drew on what movie we're gonna watch for that month. Yes. And I don't know, man.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

I I we haven't decided yet what we're gonna do. Well, because last year it was it was a new movie Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes Friday, and then Thanksgiving weekend, there were like seven movies.

SPEAKER_02 32:08

I know.

SPEAKER_00 32:09

I just don't have the bandwidth.

SPEAKER_02 32:10

We don't have no and then you have football going on.

SPEAKER_00 32:14

I mean, I really want to, and so what we did is we drew and then and then after Christmas, you know, we we started going back and doing the ones that we really enjoyed and and reviewed those.

SPEAKER_02 32:24

We just because we watch them all, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

Yeah, we did watch them all. We just didn't have time to do that.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

We didn't have time to review each and every one of those.

SPEAKER_00 32:31

Um, we're gonna try to. I I don't know. We haven't we haven't ironed that out yet.

SPEAKER_02 32:34

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 32:34

We've only ironed out the preview episodes.

SPEAKER_02 32:39

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 32:41

All right, so is that a wrap?

Tell Us Your Picks And Subscribe

SPEAKER_00 32:44

That's a wrap. I I hope everybody let us know, you know, in the comments on social or send us an email to pour the wine it's romcom time at gmail.com and let us know what you're most excited about coming this countdown to Christmas that you've heard so far, or some pairings that you hope happen in the future.

SPEAKER_02 33:05

Yeah. I agree with you.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

Let us know.

SPEAKER_02 33:08

Yeah. And if you want to help other Halmart fans find us on social media or on Apple or Spotify, give us a five-star rating. Or if you enjoy watching our episode, you can catch us on YouTube at Pour the Wine is Romcom Time. But don't forget to click that bell or that subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.

SPEAKER_00 33:26

And like I mentioned, you can send us an email to porthewine is romcom time at gmail.com and let us know your thoughts about anything hallmark related. We would love to hear from you.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

Yes, we would.

SPEAKER_00 33:37

Follow us wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram and the TikTok so you don't miss a thing. Yes. And make sure you just say ho. Ho. Until next time. Cheers. Cheers.