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?
It is extremely disheartening that Hallmark has cancelled Signed, Sealed, Delivered as a series. Although I, like the other posts I have read, am glad I will still be able to see these wonderful characters and stories in movies it is not going to be enough. PLEASE bring back the series and do movies, too.
I agree with all above. Why in the world are you dumping such a great series? I looked forward to a new episode every week! Whoever made this decision must have had a brain infarct! Keep the series and also do the movies, otherwise we have to keep watching the same (some stupid) movies and marathons over and over.
Quite frankly I change the channel most of the time. Keep the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series! I will watch each episode of it over and over.
I am terribly disappointed in Hallmark, (or is it CBS), for cancelling the series. It was something to look forward to on Saturday nights. And as to the change in format, that too stinks! I stopped watching your channel except for Christmas movies, and most of them now on the regular Hallmark Channel. I have had enough Jessica Fletcher to last a lifetime and if I hear her voice or see one more rerun of Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, Hart to Hart, Perry Mason and let’s not forget Mr. Ed, I will kill my television! Why don’t you go… Read more »
My mother and I were so disappointed. We always watched the first season together when a new episode came on. We’ve been waiting for the second season and come to find out it’s not even coming… not what we wanted to hear. Wish it would stay as a TV series.
I read all the above comments and totally agree. I would prefer series rather than the planned 2 hour movies. It is a great show with a great cast.
Everything that everyone has said, I agree with. I loved the stories, loved the characters and looked forward to watching it every week. I was looking forward to it coming back weekly. I have watched reruns each time they have been on and could watch them over and over like I do so many other favorites – Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary, etc. They make me laugh and cry as they tell the stories that make you feel for the characters. It is one of the few shows that I watch because there really is nothing else… Read more »
So disappointed that Signed, Sealed and Delivered has been cancelled as a weekly series. While I am glad we will at least have a few movies, changing it to Hallmark’s secondary channel is only going to reduce viewership because many people do not have that channel. Sadly, these types of shows are no longer what many if not most people desire now.
Such a cute show! Disappointed it will only be a few movies a year!mcccar@
I am SO DISAPPOINTED in Hallmark’s terrible decision to take Signed, Sealed and Delivered from a weekly show to two movies. I so looked forward to this show. Please bring it back. Would FAR RATHER see this one, than the soap opera and disappointing show Cedar Cove has become. It’s the show that should be two movies, not the moving and romantic Signed, Sealed and Delivered.
Please, please, do not take away the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. This is one of the best newer TV shows. Keep the series on Hallmark Channel and do the movies on the Movies and Mystery channel. It gives more options for viewing. I enjoy watching Hallmark shows and movies over and over as do many of my friends. Quality family shows are rare. Please save this on! .
This is such an uplifting show. I’m delighted for the two hour movies but can that be in addition to the weekly series? It has become a highlight in my week; a warm, wonderful way to end one week and start the next. What can we do to make sure we don’t lose these great programs?
What a shame to end such a great series of family entertainment. Hallmark wise up and return this series.
I agree with the other commenters – This is a great show and I never missed an episode. Please reconsider and place it back on your channel on a regular weekly basis. What a shame when a wholesome series has to give way to pressure!
I am so very pissed to find out this news…ugh…why can’t they leave good shows alone
WHY is it that EVERY time a great FAMILY show comes on…they cancel it??? We loved sitting down as a family and watching. We are so disappointed we’re considering canceling our channel. They replace it with crap like the new witch series coming out. BOO Please bring it back weekly!!!
We need more family programming!