A romance writer stranded in Upstate New York during a freak snowstorm finds herself torn between two hunky guys in the heartwarming seasonal movie, Must Love Christmas. Sounds like a juicy plot torn from one of the protagonist’s popular books! It’s true, writer Mark Amato says, “fiction and real life collide” in this story studded with furtive glances and delightful Yuletide decorations. “She’s basically the Danielle Steel of the holiday genre,” says Liza Lapira, who plays famed novelist Natalie Wolfe — a departure from the butt-kicking Air Force sniper turned vigilante justice seeker she plays on The Equalizer. “The wizard behind the curtain of all these cute Christmas novels is this neurotic New Yorker who’s sadly all alone in her Brooklyn brownstone.” (Credit: Bettina Strauss/CBS) While she’s beloved by fans, Natalie has lost her fire after being humiliated by an unflattering article and become something...
- 12/10/2022
- TV Insider
Liza Lapira Shares The Many Gifts Of Starring In CBS’ ‘Must Love Christmas’ Movie; Watch The Trailer
Exclusive: The holiday season has arrived and Deadline has your exclusive first look at the trailer for Must Love Christmas, starring The Equalizer’s Liza Lapira. The CBS TV movie premieres on December 11.
From Mark Amato, Must Love Christmas follows a renowned romance novelist (Lapira) famous for her Christmas-themed books who finds herself snowbound in the charming town of Cranberry Falls. While there, she unexpectedly becomes involved in a love triangle between her childhood crush (Nathan Witte) and a reporter (Neal Bledsoe) determined to interview her to save his dying magazine.
Liza Lapira as Natalie and Nathan Witte as Caleb
“Working on this film has been a joy on so many levels,” Lapira tells Deadline. “I’m such a huge fan of the genre, and with Must Love Christmas, I not only get to be in it but I’m playing the lead. That already makes me happy and excited.
From Mark Amato, Must Love Christmas follows a renowned romance novelist (Lapira) famous for her Christmas-themed books who finds herself snowbound in the charming town of Cranberry Falls. While there, she unexpectedly becomes involved in a love triangle between her childhood crush (Nathan Witte) and a reporter (Neal Bledsoe) determined to interview her to save his dying magazine.
Liza Lapira as Natalie and Nathan Witte as Caleb
“Working on this film has been a joy on so many levels,” Lapira tells Deadline. “I’m such a huge fan of the genre, and with Must Love Christmas, I not only get to be in it but I’m playing the lead. That already makes me happy and excited.
- 11/30/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
CBS has announced the cast for its 3 upcoming original Christmas movies for the holiday season this December. It was previously reported that The Talk co-host Amanda Kloots would star in one film and also serve as an executive producer. It is now revealed Paul Greene and Rebecca Budig will join star and executive producer Kloots in Fit For Christmas. Writer Mark Amato’s Must Love Christmas will star Liza Lapira, Nathan Witte, and Neal Bledsoe. And finally, Sheryl Crow will executive produce and write the title song for When Christmas Was Young, which stars Meghan Heffern, Karen David, and Tyler Hilton, from a script by screenwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller. Fit For Christmas tells “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...
- 10/14/2022
- TV Insider
CBS’ original holiday films will star many familiar faces for Christmas enthusiasts. The broadcast network will debut three original festive flicks in December, some starring their own talent. “The Talk” co-host Amanda Kloots and “The Equalizer” star Liza Lapira each lead their own film.
The network brought back original holiday movies in 2021 with “Christmas Takes Flight” and “A Christmas Proposal” — the first time CBS re-entered the space in nine years.
Paul Greene as Griffin, Scott Patey as Carl and Amanda Kloots as Audrey
“Fit for Christmas”
Sunday, Dec. 4, 8:30 p.m. Et (8 p.m. Pt)
Amanda Kloots executive produced and stars in “Fit for Christmas” alongside Paul Greene, best known for his many Hallmark holiday movies. The movie tells the story 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...
The network brought back original holiday movies in 2021 with “Christmas Takes Flight” and “A Christmas Proposal” — the first time CBS re-entered the space in nine years.
Paul Greene as Griffin, Scott Patey as Carl and Amanda Kloots as Audrey
“Fit for Christmas”
Sunday, Dec. 4, 8:30 p.m. Et (8 p.m. Pt)
Amanda Kloots executive produced and stars in “Fit for Christmas” alongside Paul Greene, best known for his many Hallmark holiday movies. The movie tells the story 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...
- 10/14/2022
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
After airing two original holiday movies in 2021, CBS is going to once again be getting into the spirit this year. The network has ordered three new original holiday movies that will air in December 2022. Award-winning musician Sheryl Crow will executive produce and write the title song for one, The Talk‘s Amanda Kloots will star in and executive produce another, and holiday film writer and producer Mark Amato will pen the third. Crow will executive produce and write the title song for When Christmas Was Young, from a script by screenwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller. The Nashville music-themed movie centers around “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,” CBS teases.
- 4/11/2022
- TV Insider
CBS is keeping it festive by ordering three new original holiday movies to air in December.
Sheryl Crow will executive produce and write the title song for When Christmas Was Young, a tune-themed flick fro screenwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller planned for the 2022 holidays. Here’s the official logline: “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.”
Executive producers are Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass (Everywhere Studios), along with Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring for Lighthouse Pictures.
Amanda Kloots (The Talk) will headline and exec produce Fit For Christmas from writer and executive producer Anna White (Christmas Wonderland). It follows Audrey,...
Sheryl Crow will executive produce and write the title song for When Christmas Was Young, a tune-themed flick fro screenwriter and bestselling novelist Robert Tate Miller planned for the 2022 holidays. Here’s the official logline: “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.”
Executive producers are Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass (Everywhere Studios), along with Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring for Lighthouse Pictures.
Amanda Kloots (The Talk) will headline and exec produce Fit For Christmas from writer and executive producer Anna White (Christmas Wonderland). It follows Audrey,...
- 4/11/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
After hopping back on the Holiday movie train last year, CBS’ is taking it full steam ahead in 2022. The Eye network is expanding its presence in the lucrative holiday-themed film genre, ordering three new holiday themed projects set to air this December: “When Christmas Was Young,” “Fit For Christmas” and “Must Love Christmas.”
“When Christmas Was Young” is described by CBS as a music-themed film set in Nashville, focusing on a music manager who attempts to secure the rights for a Christmas song that a failed singer-songwriter wrote years ago. The film will be executive produced by Sheryl Crow, who will also write the title song, and the script will be written by Robert Tate Miller. Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass executive produce for Everywhere Studios, while Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring executive produce for Lighthouse Pictures.
“Fit For Christmas” will star “The Talk” host Amanda Kloots as Amanda,...
“When Christmas Was Young” is described by CBS as a music-themed film set in Nashville, focusing on a music manager who attempts to secure the rights for a Christmas song that a failed singer-songwriter wrote years ago. The film will be executive produced by Sheryl Crow, who will also write the title song, and the script will be written by Robert Tate Miller. Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass executive produce for Everywhere Studios, while Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring executive produce for Lighthouse Pictures.
“Fit For Christmas” will star “The Talk” host Amanda Kloots as Amanda,...
- 4/11/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
CBS is gearing up for the 2022 holiday season by ordering three new films, including ones from Grammy winner Sheryl Crow and “The Talk” co-host Amanda Kloots.
“Soak Up the Sun” singer Crow will executive produce “When Christmas Was Young,” described as a Nashville-themed movie, with a script from screenwriter and novelist Robert Tate Miller. The film will follow “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,” per the network.
Crow will also write the title song.
Joining Crow as EPs are Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass (Everywhere Studios), with executive producers Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring for Lighthouse Pictures.
Kloots of CBS’ “The Talk” will star in and executive produce “Fit for Christmas.
“Soak Up the Sun” singer Crow will executive produce “When Christmas Was Young,” described as a Nashville-themed movie, with a script from screenwriter and novelist Robert Tate Miller. The film will follow “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,” per the network.
Crow will also write the title song.
Joining Crow as EPs are Tom Mazza, David Calvert-Jones and Karen Glass (Everywhere Studios), with executive producers Shawn Williamson and Jamie Goehring for Lighthouse Pictures.
Kloots of CBS’ “The Talk” will star in and executive produce “Fit for Christmas.
- 4/11/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
It will be a Desperate Housewives reunion on Hallmark Channel. Two former stars of the ABC drama, James Denton and Teri Hatcher, will headline A Kiss Before Christmas, a holiday movie that will premiere during the cable channel’s annual Countdown to Christmas programming event.
It is the first time the pair has worked together since Desperate Housewives ended in 2012. Their characters had an on-again, off-again relationship in that series.
Marilu Henner co-stars, and Denton also executive produces.
In A Kiss Before Christmas, real estate development executive Ethan Holt (Denton) is a married father with two teens. On Christmas Eve, he is disappointed to learn he’s losing out on a promotion and laments that his “nice guy” way of doing business has held him back in his career. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Ethan’s casual wish that his life had taken a different course becomes reality. He wakes...
It is the first time the pair has worked together since Desperate Housewives ended in 2012. Their characters had an on-again, off-again relationship in that series.
Marilu Henner co-stars, and Denton also executive produces.
In A Kiss Before Christmas, real estate development executive Ethan Holt (Denton) is a married father with two teens. On Christmas Eve, he is disappointed to learn he’s losing out on a promotion and laments that his “nice guy” way of doing business has held him back in his career. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Ethan’s casual wish that his life had taken a different course becomes reality. He wakes...
- 10/6/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The holidays are all about bringing people together.
Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas is going the extra mile this year by staging a Desperate Housewives reunion.
This isn't just any reunion, either. This one is big!
Former Desperate Housewives co-stars James Denton and Teri Hatcher are reuniting in A Kiss Before Christmas, which will premiere during Hallmark's annual Countdown to Christmas event.
Denton, who just wrapped up seven successful seasons on Good Witch, executive produces A Kiss Before Christmas, marking the first time that Denton and Hatcher will have worked together since their iconic series ended in 2021.
It is the first on-screen reunion of Any of the characters we had grown to love from Wisteria Way. That's big news!
Denton plays real estate development executive Ethan Holt, a married father with two teens.
On Christmas Eve, Ethan is disappointed to learn he's losing out on a promotion and laments that...
Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas is going the extra mile this year by staging a Desperate Housewives reunion.
This isn't just any reunion, either. This one is big!
Former Desperate Housewives co-stars James Denton and Teri Hatcher are reuniting in A Kiss Before Christmas, which will premiere during Hallmark's annual Countdown to Christmas event.
Denton, who just wrapped up seven successful seasons on Good Witch, executive produces A Kiss Before Christmas, marking the first time that Denton and Hatcher will have worked together since their iconic series ended in 2021.
It is the first on-screen reunion of Any of the characters we had grown to love from Wisteria Way. That's big news!
Denton plays real estate development executive Ethan Holt, a married father with two teens.
On Christmas Eve, Ethan is disappointed to learn he's losing out on a promotion and laments that...
- 10/6/2021
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Desperate Housewives robbed Susan Mayer and Mike Delfino of their happy ending back in 2012, so here’s hoping Hallmark Channel can rectify that egregious error with a little holiday magic.
Teri Hatcher and James Denton are set to reunite in A Kiss Before Christmas, a new movie premiering during Hallmark’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” event, TVLine has learned.
More from TVLineTV's Greatest Season Ever! Was It 2004-05, With Lost, Grey's, Deadwood, Desperate Housewives, 24 and House?Lori Loughlin Sets Return to Acting With When Calls the Heart SpinoffHow Chesapeake Shores (and Abby) Said Goodbye to Jesse Metcalfe's Trace
Here...
Teri Hatcher and James Denton are set to reunite in A Kiss Before Christmas, a new movie premiering during Hallmark’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” event, TVLine has learned.
More from TVLineTV's Greatest Season Ever! Was It 2004-05, With Lost, Grey's, Deadwood, Desperate Housewives, 24 and House?Lori Loughlin Sets Return to Acting With When Calls the Heart SpinoffHow Chesapeake Shores (and Abby) Said Goodbye to Jesse Metcalfe's Trace
Here...
- 10/6/2021
- by Andy Swift
- TVLine.com
Hallmark Channel announced that former “Desperate Housewives” stars James Denton and Teri Hatcher are reuniting in the upcoming original film “A Kiss Before Christmas.” The film will premiere during Hallmark Channel’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming event. This is the first time the pair has worked together since the “Desperate Housewives” series ended in 2012.
“A Kiss Before Christmas” follows the story of Ethan Holt (Denton), a real estate development executive and married father with two teens, who learns he’s losing out on a promotion on Christmas Eve. Due to his laments paired with some Christmas magic, Holt awakes the next morning to find that his life is entirely different. He’s no longer married to his wife Joyce (Hatcher), doesn’t have his children and is CEO of his company. He has only a day to reclaim his original life.
“A Kiss Before Christmas” is from Crown Media Productions,...
“A Kiss Before Christmas” follows the story of Ethan Holt (Denton), a real estate development executive and married father with two teens, who learns he’s losing out on a promotion on Christmas Eve. Due to his laments paired with some Christmas magic, Holt awakes the next morning to find that his life is entirely different. He’s no longer married to his wife Joyce (Hatcher), doesn’t have his children and is CEO of his company. He has only a day to reclaim his original life.
“A Kiss Before Christmas” is from Crown Media Productions,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Katie Song and Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Vanessa Hudgens has boarded Netflix’s The Knight Before Christmas, a feature which the High School Musical and Rent: Live star will also executive produce.
The pic, directed by Monika Mitchell and written by Cara Russell, follows a gallant English knight who seeks out his true quest after a sorceress inadvertently sends him from the medieval era to present day. While there he soon finds himself falling for a caring high school science teacher who is disillusioned by love. Josh Whitehouse, who stars in MGM’s reboot of Valley Girl and the upcoming HBO Game of Thrones prequel, also stars. Cameras will roll this April in Ontario, Canada.
Also serving as EPs with Hudgens are Brad Krevoy, Amanda Phillips Atkins, Eric Jarboe, Jimmy Townsend, and Lorenzo Nardini. Mark Amato is the consulting producer with David Anselmo producing. The Knight Before Christmas is a Motion Picture Corporation of America production.
The pic, directed by Monika Mitchell and written by Cara Russell, follows a gallant English knight who seeks out his true quest after a sorceress inadvertently sends him from the medieval era to present day. While there he soon finds himself falling for a caring high school science teacher who is disillusioned by love. Josh Whitehouse, who stars in MGM’s reboot of Valley Girl and the upcoming HBO Game of Thrones prequel, also stars. Cameras will roll this April in Ontario, Canada.
Also serving as EPs with Hudgens are Brad Krevoy, Amanda Phillips Atkins, Eric Jarboe, Jimmy Townsend, and Lorenzo Nardini. Mark Amato is the consulting producer with David Anselmo producing. The Knight Before Christmas is a Motion Picture Corporation of America production.
- 3/20/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated With Corrected Membership Figures: TV writer and producer Shawn Ryan was the top vote-getter in the WGA West’s board election, which saw a turnout of 22.4% of the guild’s members casting ballots. Ryan, creator and showrunner of The Shield and The Chicago Code, got more votes than all of the incumbents in the race, with his name appearing on nearly 67% of the 1,835 ballots cast. The guild has more than 21,000 members, according to its latest filing with the Department of Labor. The guild said there were about 8,200 members eligible to vote.
All five incumbents — Chip Johannessen, Scott Alexander, Michael Oates Palmer, Katherine Fugate and Marjorie David — won re-election to two-year terms on the board. Fugate finished second in the voting, with her name appearing on 1,124 ballots (61.3%), followed by Johannessen (1,071, 58.4%); Alexander (965, 52.6%); Aaron Mendelsohn (964, 52.5%); David (952, 51.9%); Palmer (817, 44.5%); Jonathan Fernandez (722, 39.3%); and Peter Lefcourt, who was elected to a one-year term (648, 35.3%), filling the vacancy...
All five incumbents — Chip Johannessen, Scott Alexander, Michael Oates Palmer, Katherine Fugate and Marjorie David — won re-election to two-year terms on the board. Fugate finished second in the voting, with her name appearing on 1,124 ballots (61.3%), followed by Johannessen (1,071, 58.4%); Alexander (965, 52.6%); Aaron Mendelsohn (964, 52.5%); David (952, 51.9%); Palmer (817, 44.5%); Jonathan Fernandez (722, 39.3%); and Peter Lefcourt, who was elected to a one-year term (648, 35.3%), filling the vacancy...
- 9/17/2014
- by David Robb, Special To Deadline
- Deadline
The WGA West has issued its final list of 18 candidates, including five incumbents, who will be competing for eight seats on the its board of directors in the September election. Incumbents Chip Johannessen, Scott Alexander, Michael Oates Palmer, Katherine Fugate and Marjorie David will square off against challengers Shawn Ryan, Chris Derrick, Cynthia Riddle, Peter Lefcourt, Shernold Edwards, Peter Murrieta, Doug Atchison, Stan Chervin, Jonathan Fernandez, Courtney Ellinger, Mark Amato, Aaron Mendelsohn, and Aaron Fullerton. The guild will host its annual Candidates Night forum, where members can grill the candidates, on September 3 at the guild’s La headquarters. Ballots […]...
- 7/23/2014
- Deadline
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