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Passport to Love starring Shae Robins and Mason D. Davis is an original movie premiering February 10, 2024, in celebration of Great American Valentine's! What Is Passport to Love About? Robins plays Nicole, an international travel writer who has scored a dream seaside rental to research her newest vacation article. To her chagrin, the rental has also been booked to Kade (Davis), a marketing rep for a competing travel magazine. The pair share an immediate spark, but when each returns home, Kade's company orders him to exploit the friendship for business gain, since Nicole is a rival. The pair's paths cross repeatedly until the two discover that they have much more in common than a love of travel. Passport to Love Isn't the First Great American Family Movie for Shae Robins and Mason D. Davis Shae Robins captured the hearts of Great American Family viewers when she starred in the 2022 hit, Destined at Christmas, opposite Casey Elliott. When fans petitioned for a sequel, Great American Family responded with a second installment in 2023--Destined at Christmas: Christmas Once More. A third and final installment is planned for Great American Christmas 2025. Robins also appeared in the 2021 GAF release, Love in Aruba. Passport to Love will be the third Great American Family movie featuring Mason D. Davis. He previously starred opposite Robins in the 2021 movie, Identical Love and enjoyed a strong supporting role in the network original, Happily Ever Emma. Watch the Trailer for Passport to Love Great American Family is synonymous with family-friendly programming that emphasizes faith, family, and seasonal celebrations. Passport to Love will be a wonderful addition to their Great American Valentines catalog. Be sure to watch the trailer below. #PassportToLove #ShaeRobins #MasonDDavis #GreatAmericanFamily #GreatAmericanValentines

Hallmark fans are concerned about how the network's plans to revamp their channels will impact programming. Why Is Hallmark Renaming Its Channels? If it isn't broken, why fix it? Hallmark's popularity has exploded over recent years as more and more people have continued to turn to the brand for feel-good movies with happy endings. To meet the demand for entertainment that celebrates all seasons of the year, the company has consistently offered a full slate of new movies for New Year, New Movies, Loveuary, Spring into Love, Summer Nights, Fall into Love, and Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas events. It's not uncommon for networks to rebrand to stay fresh and competitive and court different demographics for their viewership, but Hallmark brass points to another reason for the change. Lisa Hamilton Daly, Hallmark programming EVP, says the goal is to "ensure that viewing experiences across all networks and platforms are uniquely authentic." It seems Hallmark wants to streamline its channels so that each one offers a genre-specific lineup with the appropriate feel. What Are the New Names for Hallmark's Channels and When Will They Change? It looks like Hallmark Channel itself will remain unaffected. Hallmark Drama, however, will change to Hallmark Family on February 28. According to the channel's recent tweet (which was later deleted), viewers can expect to "continue to enjoy timeless storytelling for the whole family centered around faith, love, and community." The word choices are very interesting. Great American Family (GAF), a channel birthed by former Hallmark Channel CEO, Bill Abbott, has branded his network as one that celebrates faith, family, and country. GAF has enjoyed a long winning streak of being the fastest growing network, which makes one question if Hallmark Drama's rebrand to Hallmark Family is in response to GAF's growing popularity. When Hallmark began introducing LGBTQ characters into their storylines, fans rejected the perversion and flocked to GAF for programs that reflected their morals and values, and GAF has continued to fill the void that Hallmark created. Currently, syndicated shows comprise much of Hallmark Drama's schedule, with only one movie per weeknight and several on weekends. Hallmark's comment that viewers can "continue to enjoy timeless storytelling...." sounds like a nice way of saying the channel will primarily be playing oldies. We will have to wait and see. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will become Hallmark Mystery on March 6. This means the channel will be focused on airing "fun and engaging mysteries," according to Daly. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has already been moving in this direction. After canceling older mysteries like Mystery 101, Garage Sale Mysteries, and others, the network has replaced them with new favorites, like Curious Caterer, The Dancing Detective, and Gilded Newport Mysteries. Hallmark star, Paul Campbell, just announced that Hallmark has given the greenlight for a second movie in The Cases of Mystery Lane franchise. True Justice: Family Ties premiered earlier this year with Nikki DeLoach and Benjamin Ayres, and Crimetime: Freefall is set to air near the end of February. Sleuthers have asked for more mysteries, and Hallmark is producing them--signed, sealed, and delivered! Fans Are Concerned How Hallmark's Changes Will Affect Their Viewing and Have Questions The biggest concern of fans is how the change will affect the annual Miracles of Christmas. This brand of holiday movie is typically more dramatic. Hallmark has indicated that Christmas movies will air on Hallmark Mystery, but they will be infused with more mystery. Does this mean the premieres will still be moving and dramatic but with added mystery, or will the heartfelt, tearjerkers now fall under the Hallmark Family umbrella? If so, this presents a problem for viewers. Hallmark Drama is available for streaming, but many basic cable packages don't include the channel. Fans who can't afford to purchase higher-tiered cable plans or add another streaming service are worried they will miss the movies. Is Hallmark Family be branded as a "cleaner" more family-friendly channel to win back the viewers they lost to Great American Family due to their insistence on including LGBTQ characters? Mystery fans seem to be the biggest winners in all of this. Plans for more mystery movies and series are in the works. Hallmark Channel will likely continue with light-hearted romcoms, but it remains to be seen where fans of drama will turn to when they want a movie with less fluff and more substance, if they aren't able to afford adding Hallmark Family to their plans.

News about Mario Lopez joining the Great American Family channel is plastered all over social media like it's a huge deal, but not everyone knows who he is. Who Is Mario Lopez? Mario Lopez is best known for his role as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell--an NBC sitcom that aired from 1989-1992 that followed a group of friends and their principal at a Los Angeles high school. Lopez has enjoyed an extensive career on a variety of fronts. He has made appearances in countless TV shows, movies, and soap operas. He's been a voice actor, contestant on Dancing with the Stars, and TV show host for programs like Extra and Access Hollywood. He's written three non-fiction fitness books, starred on Broadway, and helped revive the 80's Puerto Rican band, Menudo. In addition, Lopez hosts the national iHeart radio program On with Mario Lopez. He's been nominated for multiple entertainment awards and received two daytime Emmys for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. Lopez probably looks familiar, even if you can't pinpoint where you've seen him. What Will Mario Lopez Be Doing for the Great American Family Brand? Lopez has inked a multi-year, multi-picture deal with Great American Family, and his first venture will be a 2024 Christmas movie where he will star alongside his wife, Courtney Lopez. Lopez won't be pigeonholed into just the Great American Family network. He will also star in content across all of GAF's linear networks: Great American Faith & Living, Great American Pure Flix, Great American Adventures, and the digital channel, Great American Faith & Home. Great American Family CEO, Bill Abbott, released this statement, "We welcome Mario to Great American Media and look forward to his many creative contributions to our ever-growing, emerging brand of beloved faith and family entertainment." Lopez's prolific career has made him a pop culture icon, and his talent will undoubtedly draw new viewership to Great American Family. Great American Family Seems to Be Trying to Placate the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Crowd One reason fans have switched from Hallmark to Great American Family is due to the inclusion of LGBTQ characters and an over-emphasis on diversity and inclusion--buzz words that parade as anti-racism though they are the epitome of racism. "Diversity" and "inclusion" means replace white people with other races based on skin color rather than talent, qualifications, or character. While Lopez is, indeed, qualified for the job, his public statement about the partnership with GAF is mildly troubling: “Throughout my career, I’ve aimed to create a body of work that appeals to diverse audiences and, above all, brings joy to people. Joining Great American Media is immensely fulfilling. I look forward to creating uplifting, inclusive, and diverse content, viewed through a positive lens for all ages. At this stage in my life, family is the most important thing to me. Being able to share family-friendly stories representing diverse voices is a true blessing,” Lopez said. Subtract the words in bold from his statement and reread it. THAT is what he should have said. There was no need for Lopez to make his deal with Great American Family about race. He's being brought on board because of his talent and appeal. Race should be irrelevant. It looks like GAF is trying to get the woke mob off the network's back by highlighting diversity, and it's disappointing that they can't celebrate signing celebrities based on merit alone. Mario Lopez's Personal Life According to Wikipedia, Lopez married actress Ali Landry in 2004 after six years of dating, but the marriage was annulled in just two weeks after Landry learned he had been unfaithful to her at his bachelor party. Lopez's next significant relationship was with Karina Smirnoff, his Dancing with the Stars partner, but the two called it quits within two years of dating. Lopez met his current wife, Courtney Mazza, on Broadway. They married in 2012 and have a daughter and two sons. Lopez is Catholic and states that he attends church weekly. He was even baptized in the Jordan River in 2018. In addition to his expansive accomplishments, he is also a huge advocate for fitness and an amateur boxer who has earned his purple belt. What Do You Think of the Addition of Mario Lopez to Great American Family? Judging my Lopez's long and prosperous career, he will likely create and star in movies we will love. Share your thoughts about this new addition to the "family" in the comment section below! #MarioLopez #GreatAmericanFamily

Jane Austen remains a wildly popular author with a massive following more than 200 years after her death. Countless adaptations of her novels have been produced, yet Hallmark has managed to rework Austen's magic into a series of movies that are premiering in the network's annual 2024 Loveuary celebration. Will Kemp Leaves His Mark as Mr. Darcy If you enjoy Hallmark's version of Mr. Darcy but are unfamiliar with the Austen character, here's a quick recap. Mr. Darcy is introduced in Pride & Prejudice, and he represents the stereotypical aloof, romantic hero. His "pride" in his nobility and social stature causes Elizabeth Bennett to develop a "prejudice" against him. Over time, both experience personal growth and learn to see each other in a different light. They overcome their contempt toward one another and fall in love. Hallmark captures the same romantic progression perfectly in Paging Mr. Darcy. Eloise Cavendish (Mallory Jansen) finds Sam Lee (Will Kemp) quite off-putting. Although she's a professor who specializes in Austen's literature, she doesn't like playing "dress-up" or being the center of attention. Sam, on the other hand, relishes his role as Mr. Darcy for the annual Austen conference and loves performing in front of his adoring audience. Just like Austen's original characters, things aren't quite how they appear. Eloise avoids dressing in period costumes, not because she's a stuffed shirt, but because she is scarred from wearing a Regency-era costume to homecoming and having everyone make fun of her. Similarly, Sam is quite introverted, but in costume, he becomes a different person--one who is charming and outgoing. When a former associate of Sam's sees him on the golf course as Mr. Darcy, he belittles Sam, which makes him not so different from Eloise after all. Eloise is clamoring for a professorship at Princeton, and she must impress Dr. Victoria Jennings, Sam's aunt. Sam agrees to help Eloise score points with his aunt, but he has an ulterior motive--an unsavory man is vying for the same position, and Sam worries he's emotionally manipulating Victoria to gain an advantage. Sam ends up misreading the situation and nearly separates his aunt from her one, true love. The relational drama is SO Austen! Kemp more than does justice to the character of Mr. Darcy. He's suave, charming, and a wonderful dancer in the movie. Paging Mr. Darcy Includes Plenty of Emotional Drama Typical of an Austen story, there is plenty of romantic drama to go around. In addition to the budding feelings between Eloise and Sam and the unexpected romance between Victoria and Crispin, Mia, Eloise's sister, is a constant source of emotional upheaval. When her boyfriend, Rob, doesn't propose the way she expects, she ends the relationship and joins Eloise at the conference where she swings from crying buckets of tears to flirting playfully with Sam. It's only when Rob performs a grand gesture that he's able to win Mia back. Paging Mr. Darcy is scripted in Austen-style to poke fun of the shallow drama surrounding romantic relationships. Are Jane Austen Conferences a Real Thing? Eloise is the keynote speaker at the Jane Austen League of America Conference. Does such an annual conference exist? It does! It's called JASNA--an acronym for Jane Austen Society of North America. JASNA was formed in 1979, and its membership has grown from 100 members to 5,000. Each year, the JASNA non-profit hosts a 3-day conference where scholars lecture on Austen. The event includes workshops, exhibits, and entertainment as well as a banquet and Regency ball. Hallmark does an excellent job incorporating all of these details into Paging Mr. Darcy. JASNA has also branched into 81 regional groups for those who need more frequent doses of activities built around their favorite author. JASNA produces a publication that is mailed to members quarterly as well as a monthly email bulletin. The organization also sponsors contests and other activities that keep the appreciation of Austen alive. Fun Moments in Paging Mr. Darcy Austen is known for her comic genius, and Hallmark incorporates some of their own into Paging Mr. Darcy. First, the Regency treats are given special names, like Mansfield Chunk and Praline & Prejudice. As Mia lays in the hotel room bed lamenting her failed relationship, viewers spy the TV playing in the room, and on the screen is Hallmark's Unleashing Mr. Darcy. Hallmark is famous for including cameos in their newer movies, and fans are treated to a brief glance of Benjamin Ayres, who is driving the golf cart. Ayres isn't a random choice--he stars in Love & Jane during the same Loveuary event celebrating Austen. Was Jane Austen a Romantic? Despite the constant critique and dissection of Austen's works, it's been difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to her own romantic alliances. It appears Austen believed one should only marry if they were in love. She has been linked to Tom LeFroy, but no one knows if this was a small flirtation or a deeper love. It's rumored that Austen was in love with a clergyman named Samual Blackall whom she met on vacation. One researcher theorizes that vying for Blackall's love created a rift between her and her sister. Austen also accepted a marriage proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, but she broke off the engagement the very next day. Austen never married. Austen died at the young age of 41, but the cause is uncertain. Some believe it was a result of Addison's Disease, while others suggest it was from tuberculosis, cancer, or cataracts caused by arsenic poisoning. We many never know. Maybe Eloise Cavendish's quote in Paging Mr. Darcy is the most accurate interpretation of Austen's stance on romance. When a fellow passenger on the plane assumes Eloise is a romantic for reading an Austen novel, Eloise states that Austen was not a romance author, but a "comic genius, social realist, a pro assassin taking down the powerful and infatuous with a well-aimed dagger of a sentence." If you are new to Austen, you can order all of here works below: Is Paging Mr. Darcy Worth Watching? While there are some Hallmark fans who simply don't enjoy Austen's works or watching period movies, the majority of viewers expressing their opinions on social media about Paging Mr. Darcy are enchanted by a movie that is authentically Austen. #PagingMrDarcy #WillKemp #MalloryJansen #Loveuary #HallmarkChannel

Who doesn't love a happy ending? If life only mimicked a romcom movie, we could rest easily knowing that the struggles of today would eventually work out for the best. Our enemies would redeem themselves, we'd reach the pinnacle of success in our careers, and our love lives would surpass the fairytale. In reality, life can be complicated while beautifully unpredictable. Loose ends aren't always tied, promotions don't always come, and our significant others are unlikely to be royals in disguise. Toggling between Hallmark and Great American Family, movies abound that allow us to escape to a happy place where everyone is nice, communities are close-knit, families aren't broken, seasons are celebrated, faith is promoted, patriotism is a virtue, and romance is clean. What You'll Find at RomCom Review Here's what you can expect from RomCom Review: Honest reviews of Hallmark and Great American Family movies Articles about new movie premieres Links to the latest Hallmark and Great American Family DVDs and other merchandise to help you celebrate the current season Movie schedules Celebrity birthdays and MORE! What you won't find are glowing reviews about movies that stink (we're not putting lipstick on pigs here) or endorsements of Hallmark movies that contain same-sex relationships. Join Us on Social Media to Discuss Hallmark & Great American Family Movies Our Hallmark and Great American Family Facebook groups and pages are ideal community spaces where you can join tens of thousands of fans from across the globe to share your thoughts and engage in lively discussions about all the romcoms, mysteries, dramas, and series that air on the respective networks. Click the buttons below to join us on Facebook! One way or another, we can all experience a happily ever after!