The Hallmark Channel finds itself in the midst of some very real holiday drama…
…not over the movies it creates…
but the commercials it airs.
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The Hallmark Channel finds itself in the midst of some very real holiday drama…
…not over the movies it creates…
but the commercials it airs.
“Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”
“All kisses, couples and marriages are equal celebrations of love and we will no longer be advertising on Hallmark.”
“Being ‘family friendly’ means honoring love, not censoring difference.”
“Shame on Hallmark for airing commercials with same-sex couples and even considering movies with LGBT content and lead characters.”
Americans, in general, have become more accepting of same-sex marriage over the last decade.
However, the increase of acceptance has plateaued. For example, those accepting same-sex marriage grew from approx. 40% to 60% in the last ten years, but the percentage has recently still hovered around 60%.
Pew Research
More than 85M people watch Hallmark Channel during the holidays; that's roughly 1-in-4 Americans, often making it the most-watched cable channel. It pulls in a particularly powerful group of viewers for advertisers: women from 25-54. What do you think about this controversy?
A big movie studio let it go.
Critics panned it.
But “Bird Box”, Netflix’s biggest hit to date, may show the film industry has its blinders on.
Why it matters
a Classical measurement has either been box office or awards. This defies all of it. But creating a phenomenon is bound to translate into something.a
Netflix is eyeing the music industry, recently adding "Springsteen on Broadway" & Taylor Swift's "Reputation" concert to its offerings. Resale tickets cost $270 to as much as $40K/each; Netflix hopes not leaving your couch is incentive to sign up.
The man who gave life to Big Bird & Oscar the GrouchA is retiring after calling “Sesame Street” home for nearly a half century.
LA LA LA
Watch Now“Before I came to ‘Sesame Street,’ I didnat feel like what I was doing was very important. Big Bird helped me find my purpose. Even as I step down from my roles, I feel I will always be Big Bird. And even Oscar, once in a while!”
Playing Big Bird, standing 8 feet 2 inches, all these years has been physical challenging. Spinney stopped in 2015 after developing problems with balance, but remained the voice. Big Bird will now be played by Matt Vogel, Spinney's apprentice since 1996.
It’s show business’s ultimate accomplishment: winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony.
Only 15 people in history have done it…
3 of them did so last night.
John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice achieved “EGOT” status each winning an Emmy forA Jesus Christ Superstar Live.
Webber & Rice won an Oscar for Evita,A multiple Grammys & Tonys.
Legend has won 10 Grammys, an Oscar for his song in Selma &A aA Tony for co-producing Jitney.
“EGOT” became a thing afterA Philip Michael Thomas (a.k.a. Detective Rico Tubbs) pronounced his plan to win all 4 awards within 5 years.
He even emblazoned a gold medallion with “EGOT” and wore it.
That was back in 1984. He has not won any of the awards – or been nominated.
There are 5 others with "unofficial" EGOT status: those who won thanks to an honorary award vs. in competition with others. For more on who has accomplished the impressive EGOT feat, read on here.
More than a video game – now a bonafide phenomenon with more than 45M players worldwide – and it’s free.
move over, pac-man.
The Fortnite player to know? "Ninja" who's real name is Tyler Blevins. 27-year-old streams his games online, raking in $500K A MONTH. Rapper Drake even challenged Ninja to a game & 6M people tuned in. Click to watch him in action.
Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Cardi B…
all young celebrities choosing their spouses early.Will it last?A
Here's The Data
Singer Justin Bieber (24) engaged to model Hailey Baldwin (21).
Singer Ariana Grande (25) engaged to Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson (24).
Entertainer/Rapper Cardi B (25) married hip hop artist “Offset” (26).
Cold Hard Facts
Click Here: His Take“…older marriages now have higher divorce rates than those marrying 28-32. I didn’t see this 20 years ago.A The mystery is why this has happened.”
Marriage rates in America have dropped in recent years; Divorce rates have risen. Data is mixed on whether thats due to "cohabitation" without a ring & a date. A great new article addresses the data thoroughly - it's a must read:
“In a world full of De Niros,
be a Pratt”
Watch Now“God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you, believe that. I do.”
a He asked what I was doing that night, and I was honest. I said, a My frienda s inside buying me alcohol… He said, a Jesus told me to talk to you…a At that moment I was like, I think I have to go with this guy. He took me to church. Over the next few days I surprised my friends by declaring that I was going to change my life.a
Pratt has talked faith before - including at the Teen Choice Awards in 2017: a I would not be here with the ease and grace I have in my heart without my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.a Pratt highlights his charity work on his instagram feed: @prattprattpratt
He was a man in a cardigan who accepted you just the way you are. But how much do you know about Fred Rogers?
A new documentary pulls back the curtain on the unlikely TV star – 50 years after “Neighborhood” aired.
Flip: the true story
“The greatest thing we can do is show people they are loved and capable of loving.”
- Rogers was a Protestant minister, composer &A student of behavior.
- When the TV was introduced, he saw the need to make it a tool to help children.
- Rogers responded to every fan letter – over 1 million of them.
“If we in public TV can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable & manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health.”
- Up before 5AM, the vegetarian, who didn’t smoke or drink, would swim laps before work.
- He wrote scripts, songs, created the characters & puppet voices – all of which were some facet of his personality.
“I would like to do a program for people who are just about to go to sleep… We’ve heard that this slow-paced voice of mine can put people to sleep. So why not use it in that way?”
- Loved to get a laugh telling jokes or talking in puppet voices at home.
- Monty Python fan.
Watch him tell you.“I guess that’s the best thing about things. They remind you of people.”
- Many of the two dozen he wore were knitted by his mother.
- He wore one every day as part of the comforting ritual that opened the show.
- One is on display at the Smithsonian.
The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" isn't the only upcoming movie about Fred Rogers. Click to learn which Oscar winner will play Mr. Rogers on the big screen.
Two weeks after the Saudi Crown Prince met with the head of Walt Disney in Los Angelesa |aA Disney movie, featuring a groundbreaking prince, headlines as the first movie shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years.
Flip For Why It Matters
“Films are slightly edited and modified to reflect sensitivity to the local culture here in the region. But even with those modest edits a you can imagine what they are, sexuality and nudity are out a but we believe that those edits will be quite modest.”
AMC plan to open 40 theaters over the next 5 years in Saudi Arabia. Next movies? "Rampage" & "The Avengers"
29-year-old Irish Fighter Conor McGregor under arrest in NYC.
One of the biggest names in international sports…the first UFC fighter to hold two world titles simultaneously…now charged with multiple counts of assault.
McGregor & his entourage attacked a bus full of fighters, throwing chairs, trash cans, and anything else that wasna t pinned down, injuring several fighters and bystanders.
“If you beat me, I’ll say fair enough and I’ll come back better and get you the next time. You can’t keep me down. I learn from everything. Every experience makes me better.”
Although McGregor (21-3) hasn't fought in the UFC since he won the lightweight belt in November 2016, he reportedly made $140M from his August 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
“One of mama’s and I’s first dates, I climbed up a magnolia tree and I pulled off a magnolia bloom and I gave it to her.”
How Fixer Upper Changed TV
Show finished almost 5 years to the day of its debut (May 2013).
Definition of overnight success.
First episode? 1.9M viewers.
Averaged 14.5 M viewers weekly.
Irony? Chip & Joanna Gaines don’t own a TV.
Show gained viewers as others lost.
Chip & Joanna Gaines have big plans - including a new baby in July (child #5) - Read more on what's next (including a 'Magnolia Kids' line)