It's Festive Friday and Alonso is here to help review another Christmas movie we missed from 2024, The Holiday Exchange.

Wilde must cope with vacationing as a bachelor, so he decides to swap houses on an LGBTQ app with Oliver. In their efforts to escape their woes they end up meeting two locals who set romance on fire from LA to the charming town of Brilfax.

October 1, 2024 | VOD

• Taylor Frey as Wilde Williams
• Rick Cosnett as Oliver Whitlock
• Samer Salem as Julius Nasser
• Daniel Garcia as Henry Whitlock

Wilde wakes up in his Christmas pajamas, clearly sad because he’s newly single. Despite his ex trying to win him back, he just can’t do it. He decides he needs a change—so he hops on Mister B&B to find a place. He stumbles upon Oliver’s listing for a charming cottage in Brilfax. Conveniently, Oliver happens to be reading a very specific book: Single, Gay, and Holidating Yourself in LA. And where is Wilde from? LA. So, naturally, they decide to house-swap.

Wilde goes out to a bar and bonds with locals while trashing his ex. Meanwhile, Oliver attends a signing for the very book he’s been reading, just so he can tell the author, Julius, that it’s all wrong. Julius is initially taken aback by his critiques, but the sparks begin to fly.

Back in Brilfax, Wilde can’t resist calling his ex—and it does not go well. After a bath, he’s surprised when Oliver’s cousin, Henry, shows up out of nowhere during a snowstorm. They have some awkward banter, and Oliver agrees to let Henry stay. The next day, Wilde learns Henry is also an actor, just like his ex. So obviously, it won’t work. Spoiler alert: it does. They start hanging out, and after a fun night together, they walk in the snow and share a kiss.

Meanwhile, in LA, Oliver and Julius begin to spend more time together after Julius’ manager nudges him to reconnect. Things are going great.

But of course, each couple hits an “all is lost” moment. Wilde sees Henry talking to his manager—who also happens to be his ex—and it feels a little too familiar. And Julius finds out Oliver is a divorce attorney (which he failed to mention) and gets furious.

Luckily, it all works out. Wilde and Henry reconcile, and Wilde says he’s willing to move to LA to be with him. Oliver resigns from being a divorce attorney to pursue a nonprofit passion project, which makes Julius thrilled.

The couples reunite in LA for New Year’s Eve and have a great time—despite Wilde’s parents crashing the party.

September is here and Brian joins the guys to preview the movies Hallmark Channel will be releasing this month!

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The Groomsmen trilogy follows three best friends from different backgrounds and cultures as they come together to celebrate their wedding days.

September 6, 13 & 20, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Jonathan Bennett as Danny
• Tyler Hynes as Jackson
• BJ Britt as Pete

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Mystery Island success raises plans of expansion, and the Island team meets their Mystery Mountain counterparts for a friendly murder game, but the fun ends with a murder in plain sight.

September 14, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Elizabeth Henstridge as Emilia
• Charlie Weber as Jason

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A single mom agrees to be the partner of a bird enthusiast during a birding tournament but misunderstands the assignment and tells everyone she's his new girlfriend instead of just his teammate.

September 27, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Rachel Boston as Celeste
• Andrew Walker as John

Jack's joins the boys to chat about The Chicken Sisters Season 2, Episode 4: Let Your Hair Down, Y'all

It's Mae's bachelorette party, and Amanda commits to giving her notoriously over-planning sister a night full of carefree fun and making memories.

August 31, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Schuyler Fisk as Amanda
• Genevieve Angelson as Mae
• Lea Thompson as Nancy
• Wendie Malick as Gus
• Margo Martindale as Narrator
• Rukiya Bernard as Sabrina
• Caitlin Howden as Shawna

The episode kicks off with lots of strawberries. Making a good strawberry preserve takes time, ya see?

Gus is out and about dealing with the railroad arm, giving Nancy even more fuel for her fire to get that sucker fixed.

Amanda tells Sergio she has a new nickname for him—Biscuit—because he’s good at getting people out of jams. The sparks are flying.

Jag from Jag pays for all the wine for Mae’s bachelorette party, and she is overjoyed.

Nancy is still trying to get signatures for the railroad arm, but people aren’t nearly as eager to fix it as she thought they’d be.

Frank Jr. is trying to convince his boss to let him make good chicken to sell. The boss loves the chicken but not the idea.

Then the Fish arrives. She came to try the chicken after seeing it on Chicken Clash. She asks to give her compliments to the chef, and—plot twist—it turns out she’s Sergio’s ex-wife! In this show, her name is Nikita, and she asks Sergio to come be the head chef at a new restaurant she’s starting.

Jay visits Gus for help writing his vows. He wants to know more about what she was like as a kid.

Mae welcomes all her friends to her fancy bachelorette party. Her friends just want to drink the wine they like, but Mae’s not having it—this is her fancy party. When she overhears her friends and sisters joking about it, she kicks everyone out.

Sergio meets up with Nikita to hear more about her ideas.

Meanwhile, Amanda gathers the girls to throw Mae a “make-good” bachelorette party—doing something Mae will definitely hate: a scavenger hunt.

Frank Jr. does the math and realizes it’ll only cost two cents more to make good chicken. His boss is shocked it’s so little. Maybe there’s something there. What Frank’s keeping secret is that it’s the same recipe the Chicken Sisters use.

Amanda, Mae, and their friends have a great night out—until Amanda sees Sergio and Nikita kissing across the street. What she doesn’t hear is him saying no to both the restaurant and to Nikita.

Amanda and Mae share a heart-to-heart.

Gus is cleaning when Clayton comes in, and the two end up slow dancing.

Sergio deletes “Do Not Answer” from his phone just as Amanda texts him to say she’s not going to get in the way of him and Nikita.

Brian pops in to help review the newest Hallmark Channel movie, Catch of the Day.

On the eve of becoming a NY executive chef, Sophie returns home to help her family's flailing restaurant and runs into Cam, an old crush who makes her question everything.

August 30, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Emilie Ullerup as Sophie
• Michael Rady as Cam
• Katie Lee Biegel as Abigail

We’re in a fancy kitchen. “Yes, Chef!” The head chef is anxiously waiting for a big review to drop. Sophie chimes in and says it doesn’t matter what The Times thinks. Nice thought, but no one’s buying it.

Cut to fisherman Cam, who runs Easton’s Fish Market. He’s short-staffed but making it work.

The review comes in — four stars! Sophie is promoted to sous-chef.

She calls her sister to share the big news, but things aren’t great back home. Their family restaurant is bleeding money, and her sister is ready to sell. Sophie says she’ll think about it. Abigail suggests she come back, help out, and stick around for the 4th of July.

Sophie asks for time off. It doesn’t go well. She’s never asked before, but three weeks turns into just ten days.

When she arrives, she’s horrified to find… frozen fish! She heads to the docks for fresh fish, promptly falls into a net, and gets rescued by Cam. Surprise — they already know each other. They even kissed back in 7th grade. Banter sparks, and Sophie goes on her way.

Back at the restaurant, tensions rise between the sisters. Abigail’s been grinding to keep the place alive, and Sophie swoops in buying pricey fish like that’s the magic fix.

Meanwhile, Sophie keeps crossing paths with Cam. A local blogger spreads the word that a big-city chef is back in town, which makes Sophie’s boss furious.

The sisters start interviewing potential managers. One guy is a perfect fit — but before he can commit, Cam (unknowingly) offers him a better-paying job. Perfect Cam means no harm, but Sophie’s frustrated.

Later, she apologizes, and sparks fly. They finally kiss.

The next day, she cooks him dinner, sharing her dreams. Her boss wants her to cook for someone opening a restaurant in Vegas — a chance that could change her career. When Sophie leans in for another kiss, Cam pulls back. He doesn’t want to stand in the way of her dreams.

The Vegas dinner starts rocky, but Sophie nails it. She’s offered the head chef role.

Just as she’s ready to rush out of town, she can’t find Cam — until she learns he’s been secretly framing her old photos. What a guy. They say their goodbyes.

But when Sophie’s about to board the helicopter, she can’t go through with it. She quits. She chooses to stay, help run the now-thriving family restaurant, and, of course, be with Cam.

She tells her family, finds Cam, and they seal it with some very good kisses.

It's Mighty Monday and Ryan is here to help us chat about the 1996 classic sports movie, Space Jam.

In a desperate attempt to win a basketball match and earn their freedom, the Looney Tunes seek the aid of retired basketball champion, Michael Jordan.

November 15, 1996 | Theaters

• Michael Jordan as Himself
• Billy West as Bugs Bunny
• Wayne Knight as Stan Podolak
• Bill Murray as Himself
• Larry Bird as Himself
• Charles Barkley as Himself
• Patrick Ewing as Himself
• Muggsy Bogues as Himself
• Larry Johnson as Himself
• Shawn Bradley as Himself

Little Michael Jordan is up late, playing basketball outside. His dad tells him to keep shooting until he misses. Michael says he wants to play ball at North Carolina. As he runs toward the hoop and jumps, the scene transitions to adult MJ jumping, leading into a 5+ minute highlight reel of Jordan clips. Honestly, it could’ve been an hour longer and I still would’ve been in.

Michael then retires from basketball, and we transition to outer space. We’re dropped onto Moron Mountain, a struggling amusement park. Its owner, Mr. Swackhammer, decides the best course of action is to kidnap the Looney Tunes to be the park’s new attraction. His little henchmen head to Earth to hold the Tunes hostage, but Bugs Bunny convinces them to allow the Tunes to defend themselves, challenging them to a basketball game since the aliens are so small.

After seeing a documentary about basketball and learning there are professionals, the aliens travel to Earth and steal the talents of Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues. Using this talent, they transform into giant, baller versions of themselves known as the Monstars.

When the Looney Tunes see how big the Monstars are, they realize they need help. They need the greatest to ever do it: Michael Jordan.

They track MJ down at the golf course and literally pull him through a hole. Honestly, MJ handles it surprisingly well and he’s in.

Back on Earth, the real NBA players discover they’ve lost their ability to play, leading the league to suspend the season until they figure out what’s happening.

It’s time for the big game, and the Monstars dominate the first half. The Tune Squad is devastated.

During halftime, MJ’s assistant Stan (who showed up earlier in the movie) learns how the Monstars stole the players’ talent. This discourages the Tunes even more—until Bugs pulls out MJ’s “secret stuff,” which is just water, but convinces the squad to believe in themselves.

MJ raises the stakes with Swackhammer, as only he would: if the Tune Squad wins, the Monstars return the stolen talent. If the Monstars win, Jordan will spend the rest of his life as Moron Mountain’s newest attraction.

The Tunes fight back, but with only ten seconds left, they’re down to four players. Luckily, Bill Murray shows up to even things out.

In the final moments, Jordan talks to Bugs, uses cartoon physics, stretches his arm across the court, and slam-dunks for the win.

After Swackhammer berates the Monstars, Jordan helps them realize they only served him because they were small. Fed up, the Monstars stuff Swackhammer into a missile and launch him to the moon. They then relinquish the stolen talent and decide to stay with the Tunes.

Meanwhile, Jordan and Stan return to Earth, restoring the NBA stars’ abilities. Their encouragement convinces Jordan to return to the league—and the rest is history.

Alonso is here to help us chat about the 2024 Christmas movie, The Holiday List.

A woman sets out a well-intentioned plan of bringing her dysfunctional family together in the wake of the family's matriarch, her mother-in-law.

November 22, 2024 | Various VOD Streamers

• Brittany Snow as Charlie
• Lucas Bravo as Wesley
• Simon Callow as Samuel
• Chloé Jouannet as Jackie
• Elektra Kilbey as Lola

Charlie and her husband, Wesley, visit his family after the death of Wesley's mom. His sister, Jackie, shows up with her girlfriend, Lola—but it’s unclear if their dad realizes Lola is more than just “a girl who’s a friend.” It quickly becomes clear that this family is a bit dysfunctional. Wesley and Jackie immediately start arguing, while Wesley keeps bringing up the fact that Charlie was flirting with the cab driver on the way over. That’s dad’s cue to slip out and head to the pub by himself.

The night spirals, and everyone ends up getting wasted. After Wesley falls asleep, Charlie stumbles into the kitchen, finds Wesley’s mom’s diary in a box, and writes a list of “things the family needs to do” inside it.

The next morning, Jackie discovers the diary and assumes the list was written by their mom—a set of wishes for the family. The list itself is simple: spend more time together and reconnect as a family.

As the visit continues, Charlie and Wesley fight but eventually commit to really diving into their marriage and making it work. Jackie’s girlfriend proposes and they decide to get married, and the family comes together to spread their mom’s ashes.

The Department of Destiny was able to arrange an interview with Liam & Cora!

We had such a fun time talking with Katie & Lachlan - we hope to have them back soon (and to see more of them on Hallmark Channel)!

Katie Stevens is an American actress and singer who first captured national attention as a finalist on season nine of American Idol. Transitioning from music to acting, she quickly found success on television with her breakout role as Karma Ashcroft on MTV’s hit series Faking It. Stevens went on to star as Jane Sloan in Freeform’s The Bold Type, earning praise for her heartfelt performance as an ambitious young writer navigating friendship, love, and career in New York City.

Recently, she has brought her charm and talent to Hallmark Channel movies, with the three Providence Falls movies. This is her FIRST time on Deck the Hallmark.

Lachlan Quarmby is an Australian-born actor who has been steadily building a name for himself with roles across television, film, and stage. After training in the performing arts and honing his craft in both Australia and the United States, he has appeared in a variety of projects that showcase his versatility—from heartfelt dramas to lighthearted comedies.

Like Katie, he has recently taken on leading roles in Hallmark Channel movies with the three Providence Falls movies. This is also his FIRST time on Deck the Hallmark.

Jack's joins the boys to chat about The Chicken Sisters Season 2, Episode 3: Daddy's Home, Y'all

Amanda, Nancy, and Gus try to mend fences following their Ultimate Kitchen Clash episode's airing, and Mae enlists Sabrina's help with wedding planning.

August 24, 2025 | Hallmark Channel

• Schuyler Fisk as Amanda
• Genevieve Angelson as Mae
• Lea Thompson as Nancy
• Wendie Malick as Gus
• Margo Martindale as Narrator
• Rukiya Bernard as Sabrina
• Caitlin Howden as Shawna

We get a flashback of Gus falling for Clayton. She fell for him despite him being one of Frannie’s boys. It shows him leaving her while she was pregnant, and she never saw him again.

Fast forward to the present: Clayton’s back, looking dang good.

It’s Sunday, and everyone is at church — including Frank Jr. — as the pastor talks about forgiveness. After church, down in the fellowship hall, Mae and Shawna try to convince Amanda to go on a date with Officer Eddie. She reluctantly agrees when he shoots his shot.

Frank Jr. walks up, tells his mom, Amanda, and Mae off, and storms out.

Meanwhile, Linzey complains to her mom about how annoying Frankie’s boyfriend, Dud, is. Sabrina launches into a “momalogue” about how everything that happens in life shapes you and makes you a more interesting person… or at least, that’s the point.

The mayor stops Nancy from leaving and tells her that if she wants the town to fix the broken train arm, she’ll need to gather 300 signatures.

Clayton tries to talk to his daughter Mae, but it’s awkward. He tells her he’s her dad, and they sit down for a conversation.

Later, Nancy catches Gus hoarding stuff in the closet. Gus admits she’s freaking out because Mae’s dad is back in town. As Nancy helps her clean, she mentions she might be going on a trip for a couple of months with the pastor. Gus doesn’t take it well — she’s grown to really love being close to Nancy after hating her her whole life.

Frankie and Linzey hang out, and Frankie reveals a secret: she started a social media account to showcase her mom’s artwork. She also admits she and Dud haven’t even kissed yet. Instead of seizing the moment, Linzey says, “Let’s go get you kissed, then.”

Amanda’s date with Eddie ends early when duty calls. Sergio happens to walk in to pick up food, and Amanda invites him to sit. Afterwards, they share a long hug — clearly tempted to kiss — but part ways.

Later, Linzey rings Dud’s doorbell and runs, giving Frankie and Dud their first kiss.

Mae thanks her mom for calling Clayton and bringing him to town.

The episode ends with Clayton knocking on Gus’s door, apologizing for not being there.