Hallmark Channel is making an unusual move. They’ve decided to change their Signed, Sealed, Delivered series from a regular weekly series to a series of two-hour movies on sister channel Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
The first new movie — Signed, Sealed, Delivered For Christmas — will air on November 23rd. Three more films are expected for 2015.
Here are the details:
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS ANNOUNCES ‘SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED’ FROM MARTHA WILLIAMSON, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF ‘TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL,’ MOVES TO HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES WITH NEW EXTENDED FORMAT
Franchise to Include Multiple 2-Hour Original Movies; First Film, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered For Christmas,” Premieres November 23
Crown Media Family Networks announced today that Hallmark Channel original weekly scripted series, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” executive produced and written by Martha Williamson (Executive Producer of “Touched by an Angel”), will move to sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries as a movie franchise consisting of a series of two-hour original films. Debuting on November 23 at 9pm ET/PT, 8C, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered For Christmas” will be the first movie in the franchise, with three more slated for 2015.
“We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Martha Williamson and to bring her brand of rich and poignant stories to viewers on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries,” said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president, programming and network publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. “At their core, the narratives on ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ revolve around mystery and suspense, with compelling characters and dramatic storylines that will be enhanced by an extended format.”
“When Bill Abbott and Michelle Vicary asked if I can evolve the ‘Signed Sealed Delivered’ franchise into a series of movies, I was honored to continue the Hallmark tradition of quality family movies,” said series Creator and Executive Producer Martha Williamson. “At the heart of ‘Signed Sealed Delivered’ is Oliver, a modern day gentleman with old world values played brilliantly by Eric Mabius,” she added. “He and his wonderful team of postal detectives will continue to surprise us and sometimes make us laugh as they work to solve mysteries behind letters, even mysteries of life.”
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will introduce viewers to the “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” franchise by airing a marathon of the series on Saturday, October 11 from 11am – 11pm ET/PT, 10C.
Returning as the “POstables,” Oliver O’Toole (Eric Mabius, “Ugly Betty”), Shane McInerney (Kristin Booth, “Orphan Black”), Rita Haywith (Crystal Lowe, “Smallville”) and Norman Dorman (Geoff Gustafson “Primeval: New World”) will take millions of viewers on new adventures as they uncover the mysteries of lost missives and return them to their intended recipients, profoundly changing lives in the process.
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” is a comedic drama that follows the lives of a group of postal workers who transform themselves into an untraditional team of detectives to track down intended recipients of undeliverable mail. Their missions take them out of the office into an unpredictable world where redirected letters and packages can save lives, solve crimes, reunite old loves and change futures by arriving late but somehow on time.
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” is a Muse Entertainment production in association with MoonWater Productions. Executive Producers are Martha Williamson (“Touched by an Angel”), Joel S. Rice (“Cyberbully”) and Michael Prupas (“The Kennedys”). Harvey Kahn (“The Haunting Hour”) is the producer.
ABOUT HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES
Recently rebranded from Hallmark Movie Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a 24-hour digital cable network featuring a unique mix of content, including all new original movies that are dramatic, cinematic and thought-provoking; new original mystery movies that focus on the lighter side of the suspense genre, as well as classic acquired series such as Murder She Wrote, Matlock, and Perry Mason. The network is also home to annual holiday programming franchise, the Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas, as well as presentations from the award-winning Hallmark Hall of Fame library. One of television’s leading destinations for compelling family-friendly entertainment, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries can be seen in 55 million homes in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition) and remains one of the fastest-growing networks in cable. Along with sister network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
ABOUT MUSE ENTERTAINMENT
Muse Entertainment is a leading film and television production company and international distributor known for its well-crafted and high-quality productions. Since its founding in 1998, Muse Entertainment has won over 100 awards and garnered over 300 international award nominations. Muse Entertainment is currently shooting the 6-hour event series “Tut” in Morocco and the second season of the sci-fi series “Helix” in Montreal. Most recently the company produced four seasons of the supernatural dramatic series “Being Human”, the first season of the dramedy series “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” two seasons of the wartime dramatic series “Bomb Girls” and several TV movies for Disney and Hallmark channels. Muse’s 8-hr. historical drama “The Kennedys,” sold to networks around the world by Muse Distribution International, earned 10 Emmy Award nominations, winning four, as well as the DGA award for best director. Its 8-hour event series” Pillars of the Earth” also won an Emmy and many other awards. Muse’s other award-winning programs are “Cyberbully,” “Durham County” (Seasons I, II, III), “Ben Hur,” “The Last Templar,” “Impact,” “Human Trafficking,” “Answered by Fire,” “This is Wonderland” and “Tales from the Neverending Story.” Muse Entertainment maintains production and development operations in Montreal, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver. For more information, please visit www.muse.ca
ABOUT MARTHA WILLIAMSON
Martha Williamson made television history when her CBS series “Touched By An Angel” set a new standard for an inspirational family drama when it grew to a weekly audience of 25 million viewers during its initial nine year run. As Executive Producer of the ground-breaking series, she was the visionary who guided the series into previously uncharted territory with her unique brand of storytelling that produced more than strong ratings; it changed lives. She went on to seal her place in history when she became the first woman to solely executive produce two one-hours simultaneously with “Promised Land,” which aired for three years on CBS. She began her career in comedy with the producing teams for Carol Burnett and Joan Rivers and went on to write and produce situation comedies such as “The Facts of Life,” “Family Man” and “Jack’s Place” for all the networks before making the transition to one-hour drama. Her work has been inducted into the Television and Radio Hall of Fame and honored with numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murray Responsibility in Television Award, the Templeton Prize Epiphany Award and nine Emmy(R) nominations.
What do you think? Is this a good move? Would you prefer that it continue as a weekly series or are you okay with a series of movies instead?
You have a GREAT hit and you want to dump it? You have the best show on TV now. It is a Family show with all the compassion, which a lot to people lack, mystery, and TOTALLY a family show. HALLMARK has always produced such great shows, but to cancel and GREAT HIT like this is unfair to your viewers. Please reconsider your decision. The characters are perfect and the story lines could be never ending.
I think we are all in agreement. It is unfathomable that Hallmark would cancel this series. We need to get a petition started. Would anyone be willing to do this? (I’ve signed many petitions before, but never started one)
I’m very disappointed to hear that Hallmark has decided to ditch the weekly episodes in favor of 3 “movies” instead. I love the series and looked forward to some GOOD, CLEAN, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT on a weekly basis last year. How sad that Hallmark would dump it in favor of….what??????? When you have a hit on your hands, you don’t dump it in favor of old re-runs. I’m sure MONEY was at the top of this “decision”. I’m ashamed that Hallmark would do this.
Extremely disappointed it won’t be a weekly series. With all the idiotic shows that are still on weekly, I’m wondering what the rationale was for the change! “Touched by an Angel” was weekly. Why can’t “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered” stay the same. The only thing I can say is that at least we will still have some episodes that will be broadcasted.
I loved the Christmas movie and I am glad there will be more, but I would also love to have the show back on a weekly basis.
Great program. Keep it weekly, but do special movies also.
I absolutely love this series and I too found out by accident. So amazing and uplifting. I wish it would continue weekly. I was sad when touched by an Angel ended, I just hope signed sealed delivered will remain as long as possible.
I’m very disappointed the show was cancelled. It was the one thing I looked forward to watching. Now that you’re changing it to movies, and changing to another channel, it makes it more likely to be missed. Please consider changing it back.
I found this Series by accident, but what an accident it was. I just cannot wait for yet another weekly episode, plus the fact it is on earlier in the evening so it does not clash with anything else, I just hibernate in my own little world and get into it.
living in the U.K. I really hope I am able to purchase this on a DVD. (Region 2). The story lines are brilliant. Well Done.
Frances Hilary.
Have been watching for the return of Signed Sealed and Delivered. Missed any announcements on November program. The channel switch didn’t help. Very disappointing. Hope to see dates, times, etc. when next programs broadcast. Preferred series format used last year. Excellent program. So few choices of decent programming. Hope I don’t miss future showings, Will the Christmas program be shown again and, if so, when?-
You can buy the Christmas movie online. It was for sale at Walmart when it first aired.
I was so disappointed to hear of the cancelation of Signed, sealed, delivered. There are so few positive family shows on television these days. I loved everything about it. Great characters! Interesting stories and even the scenery was very beautiful? Made me want to visit Colorado and I don’t even know if any of the scenes were shot there. I did love the Christmas movie, but I really wish the T.V. Show would come back.
Could not agree more! It’s such an uplifting show! Hope it comes back (but ONLY with the cast)
How typical. FINALLY get a good Christian based show on and guess what……well everyone knows. G l ad they will have movies BUT COME ON, the show is WAY WAY W AY, FAR AWAY ABOVE THE CRUD THAT IS ON NOW!!!!!!!!
I, too, am so disappointed that they stopped the TV show. The movies are great, but 4 a year are not enough. The messages were so great and the characters as well, not perfect, but so easy to take to heart. Please bring them back.
Not into witches good or bad. So that series will not get my attention
Weekly please!! nice to have a show that is not full of sex, lies, murder, etc. I love the characters and the stories. LOVE this show, mini movies will not be enough. (drop Home & Family and you will have a great slot for this series!)
I agree with everyone else, please bring back SSD as a weekly show. I am glad there will be movies periodically but a weekly series is the right decision and not just periodic movies. This weekly show is a great show for everyone. Today there is so few shows that everyone can watch w/o sex and bad language. The Hallmark Channel is one of the best channels to watch and promotes family which is very important in this day and time. We need more of these weekly shows which inspire and the whole family can watch. I also enjoy When… Read more »
AGREE
Sooo…What you have decided is that the format that lifted your ratings through the roof, is going by the wayside.Signed Sealed and Delivered was one of the reasons we started tuning in on a weekly basis…leading to looking for other entertainment as well. So some whelp decides to have a “Brilliant” idea to change formats and you run with it for a sister channel. Dumb as anything else I’ve heard from money grubbers… a little transparent, but typical. Stop trying to maximize profits by ‘tinkering’ and return to a formula that got america to tune in for all those feel… Read more »
You hit the nail on the head. Giving into the pressure AGAIN.