Fall Into Winter (2023, T.W. Peacocke)

1/7/24

Ride, Season 1 Episode 7 "Ride or Die" - photo preview

SHARK WEEK 2022 › The Requin — (2/7)

Ranking of “BIG LITTLE LIES” Season 2 (2019) Episodes

Below is my ranking of the Season Two episodes of HBO’s “BIG LITTLE LIES”.  Based on Liana Moriarty’s 2014 novel and created by David E. Kelley, the series starred Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz and Laura Dern:

RANKING OF “BIG LITTLE LIES” SEASON TWO (2019) Episodes

1.  (2.07) “I Want to Know” - In the series finale, Celeste Wright questions her mother-in-law Mary Louise Wright about her late husband Perry’s childhood during a child custody hearing.  Madeline Mackenzie worries the lie about Perry’s death is tearing the Monterey Five apart.

2.  (2.02) “Tell-Tale Hearts”- Renata Klein faces an uncertain future when her husband Gordon lands in legal trouble.  Celeste opens up to Mary Louise about her relationship with Perry.  Madeline’s husband, Ed Mackenzie, confronts her about her secrets.

3.  (2.04) “She Knows” - Renata throws her daughter Amabella a disco-themed birthday bash; after attending a prying bankruptcy hearing with Gordon.  Bonnie Carlson’s mother, Elizabeth Howard, suffers a stroke during the party.  Celeste begins to unravel under a drastic decision made by Mary Louise.  Madeleine and Ed remain at odds over the revelation of her secret.

4.  (2.05) “Kill Me” - Bonnie struggles with her mother’s recovery.  Renata tries to help Celeste by meeting with Mary Louise.  Celeste attends a custody hearing initiated by Mary Louise.  Celeste’s twin sons, Josh and Max, along with Jane Chapman’s son, Ziggy; are bullied by a boy at school.

5.  (2.06) “The Bad Mother” - Celeste is blindsided by Mary Louise’s attorney at the custody hearing.  Bonnie contemplates a solution to her mother's suffering and her own ongoing guilt.  The Monterey Five feel the pressure of increased scrutiny of Perry's death.

6.  (2.01) “What Have They Done?” - Bonnie exhibits worrying behavior, following the night of Perry’s death.  Madeleine is shocked when her daughter Abigail says that she does not want to attend college.  A grief-stricken Mary Louise arrives in Monterey.

7.  (2.03) “The End of the World” - Mary Louise sets her sights on Jane and Ziggy after learning the truth about the latter’s paternity.  Renata discovers that Amabella is experiencing a crisis at school.  Madeleine and Ed attend couples therapy.  Celeste struggles with the possibility that she was addicted to Perry.

Alexander Elliot, James Tupper and Rohan Campbell in “The Hardy Boys”

With her milestone 50th birthday just one week away, Mindy (Teri Hatcher) realizes she’s in the throes of a bonafide mid-life crisis. When her daughter Rita (June Laporte) comes home to their lake house for a long weekend with her girlfriend Emily (Matreya Scarrwener) and Emily’s uncle Sam (James Tupper) life throws her another curveball – Sam is Mindy’s former high school sweetheart she hasn’t spoken to in more than three decades. The weekend takes another unexpected turn when Rita confides in Mindy that she plans to surprise Emily with a proposal and wants her dad – Mindy’s ex-husband Marc (Brian Markinson) – to join them. Between two exes under one roof vying for Mindy’s affection and trying to talk Rita out of the big 50th birthday party she’s planning, Mindy has a lot to navigate. As the weekend progresses, an assertiveness inside her awakens and Mindy finds herself not only embracing her life, but discovering what it is she truly wants as she gets ready to start the next chapter.

The Hardy Boys (2020)

The Hardy Boys on Hulu was a charming and nostalgic trip back in time, with a familiar detective flair. Great for fans of the series, and for those just meeting Frank and Joe. 4/5 Stars, more in the link.

Starring: Rohan Campbell, Alexander Campbell, James Tupper, Keana Lyn Bastidas, Linda Thorson, Bea Santos, Adam Swain, Atticus Mitchell, Riley O’Donnell, Cristian Perri, Rachel Drance My Rating: 4/5 Stars Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Critics, 73% Audience Rotten Tomatoes Description: “After the tragic death of their mother, Frank and Joe Hardy’s father relocates the boys to their mother’s hometown…

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Playing for Keeps (2012)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

Playing for Keeps is a nothing of a movie. Its parts are so mismatched that any of them feel like they should be cut to make the picture better but if you went ahead with that advice, there wouldn’t be anything left. It’s not even fascinating bad, or infuriatingly bad, it’s just a waste of time. Even the people in charge seemed to know this, as the DVD for this $55 million dollar romantic comedy has no special features whatsoever, not even a trailer!

Former professional soccer player George Dryer (Gerard Butler) has moved to the United States to rekindle a relationship with his son, Lewis (Noah Lomax). When he begins teaching Lewis’ soccer team, the two have something to bond over, but the numerous single moms attending the games and practices also want George's attention…

Essentially, this is a romantic redemption story. George blew it years ago with Lewis’ mom, Stacie (Jessica Biel). He’s just learned she is engaged to Matt (James Tupper, so not in this movie he hardly feels worth mentioning). George wants to make ammends but things just keep coming up and he winds up disappointing his family over and over. It’s also a wacky romantic comedy centering around this handsome man who's biggest problem is that women just won’t leave him alone. Divorcee Barb (Judy Greer), ex-sportscaster Denise (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and married-but-looking-to-have-an-affair Patti (Uma Thurman) all want to jump on George's bones as often as possible. The women's unshackled libido leads to “hilarious” scenarios where Patti sneaks into what she thinks is George's bedroom (actually, it’s his landlord’s). Later, our protagonist can’t get through a soccer game without getting a call from Barb, who will burst into tears unless he gives her attention. The only real prospect is Denise, but the film subliminally tells you she’s not good for George.

What do I mean by that? Let’s begin by making one thing even clearer: this is not a good movie. It’s so poorly written and so thin you could predict just about every beat, even after downing a dangerous cocktail of sleeping pills and alcohol. The film's agenda is plainly clear: it wants you to want George and Stacie to get back together. Normally, a bad rom-com would do this by making her fiancé a jerk. It’s a cheap tactic that undermines the romantic lady’s intelligence but we’ve seen it done a thousand times. Instead, this film makes you understand the upcoming nuptials should take place because… nothing. Matt has a bad haircut and likes to wear sweaters. That’s all we know about him. I don’t think he and Lewis exchange more than six words in total so the boy won’t be heartbroken after he and his mom split up. After all, she can’t REALLY love Matt. Not when her son’s father says he wants to get back together. I mean yeah she’s getting fitted for a wedding dress but you know how women are; unless they’ve been married for years and are blissfully happy, they’re still fair game ;) That seems to be this story's thesis, anyway. I’d love to see the mirror universe version of this movie, where we focus on Matt, who is this great guy that does everything right but sees his future bride whisked away by her deadbeat ex that screws a different, insane woman every night, shows up late for EVERYTHING, can’t pay his rent, doesn’t even have a job and can’t even ride on the coattails of his past fame because he’s a European soccer player in the U.S.

I don’t actually think this film has any kind of twisted beliefs about what families should be like but I am going to point out that the woman George has the most in common with, the one he should get romantically involved with is discarded because she does things the movie wants you to believe are wrong. I’m probably looking too much into it but you don’t have to find any weird angle to see this film as mysoginist, or just plain stupid.

We haven’t even gotten to the other sub plot involving Carl King (Dennis Quaid), Patti's pompous, unfaithful husband. He bribes George with a fat stack of bills to ensure his daughter will sing the national anthem at the beginning of each match while his son always serves as the team goalie. You think the bribe thing is going to lead somewhere. It doesn’t.

Playing for Keeps knows what it wants to be - sorta - it’s just hobbled by all of these extraneous elements that someone was too infatuated with to cut. It's the worst kind of mess - a forgettable one. (On DVD, September 9, 2021)

@gactv - Take a peek behind-the-scenes with star Lori Loughlin on the set of TONIGHT’S new, original movie, #AChristmasBlessing , with co-stars @mrjamestupper & @jesse_hutch! #GreatAmericanChristmas #GreatAmericanFamily #WelcomeHome 🎄

Mid-Love Crisis - October 9th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

On the eve of turning 50 and her daughters' nuptials, Mindy Quinn finds herself doing the most unexpected thing: rekindling a romance that ended thirty years ago. Starring Teri Hatcher, James Tupper.

Watching Great American Family's Christmas in July lineup provides the perfect (indoor, air-conditioned!) respite from the scorching heat, but we're really just counting the days until fall and the return of cool nights, crackling fires, the scent of pine and most of all—a new crop of Christmas movies. Great American Family's coming out of the gate strong in 2023 with 21 new movies. Among the stars you can expect to see shining this season: Full House fan fave Lori Loughlin.

Loughlin will star alongside James Tupper in Blessings of Christmas.

Here's everything we know so far about Blessings of Christmas.

What is Blessings of Christmas about?

Renowned TV star Mandy Gilmore (Lori Loughlin) says goodbye to her hit culinary series, A World of Food, with plans to travel the globe dining in all 142 Michelin star restaurants. Before jetting to Paris, Mandy stops in Milwaukee for a simple transaction: to hand over the deed to her deceased aunt’s food pantry, Angel’s Fare, which was recently purchased by adjacent business owner, Adam Carraway (James Tupper). Things change when pantry volunteer, Otto Nessen (Jesse Hutch) reminds all that Aunt Susie’s love of cooking was truly her love of feeding and inspires one more holiday feast for those who need it most.

Fun fact: This isn't the first time Loughlin and Tupper appeared together in a movie. They previously starred opposite each other in Fall into Winter on Great American Family.

Who's in the Blessings of Christmas cast?

Lori Loughlin (Mandy)

Loughlin previously starred as Abigail Stanton on Hallmark Channel's long-running series, When Calls the Heart and made an appearance as the same character on When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas. She also starred in the popular Garage Sales Mysteries on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

James Tupper (Adam)

Tupper starred opposite Courtney Thorne-Smith in the Emma Fielding Mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. He most recently starred in My Family Christmas Tree with Aimee Teegarden and Mid-Love Crisis with Teri Hatcher.

Related: Lori Loughlin Returns to the Small Screen in Great American Family's Fall Into Winter

Jesse Hutch (Otto)

Hutch previously starred as Luke Bailey on Hallmark Channel's first original series, Cedar Cove. He has since starred in several holiday films including B&B Merry opposite Jen Lilley, Christmas in Toyland and Becoming Santa.

Has production begun on Blessings of Christmas?

Production recently wrapped in July on Blessings of Christmas.

Who wrote Blessings of Christmas?

Alfonso Moreno wrote Blessings of Christmas. Moreno was a showrunner on When Calls the Heart and wrote several episodes on the popular Hallmark series. He also wrote episodes of When Hope Calls, Drop Dead Diva and NCIS.

When does Blessings of Christmas premiere?

An exact date has yet to be announced, but Great American Family's Christmas programming event begins Oct. 20. Check back here for updates!

Related: The Complete List of Hallmark Channel Stars Who've Moved to Great American Family!

Does Parade.com have a sneak peek from Blessings of Christmas?

Yes! Even though production just wrapped on Blessings of Christmas, we do have a couple of images from set. Take a Parade exclusive first look below.

The Requin