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?
Love the show fell in love with it from day 1 would like it 2 stay at a weekly show but if they go to 2 hour movies just bring them back sooner thank you
Amazing show! Sat all day Saturday, 2/14 and watched. I am not a sit and watch T.V. person. This was very unusual for me, my husband couldn’t believe it. Some of them I had seen before but it didn’t make any difference. I love the characters and the warm, caring messages that each show has. Hope they continue. I didn’t know it had been a weekly show. I only stumbled on it this last summer. I am so looking forward to seeing this show continue. This is the first time I have ever sent a comment on anything. Please keep… Read more »
We stumbled on Signed, Sealed, Delivered last summer; just watched by chance. We were hooked immediately! We love every thing about this show! We just watched the Saturday all day showings. I end brings tears to my eyes every show. I have never sat all day and watched T.V., but I didn’t want to miss this show. I had even seen a couple of them last summer. Didn’t matter. I didn’t know that it had been a weekly series. I have told many other people about this show and how great it is. I do wish it was on more… Read more »
A phenomenal series, with a positive message! Please reconsider the weekly series, as good, wholesome, family programming is hard to come by these days. Love, love, love the characters! The actors are amazing, and the message is uplifting and encouraging. It doesn’t get any better than this. I want more! We want more! Please don’t let these letters fall into the Dead Letter file, resurrect this weekly series, even if it is a two hour show! Love it. Thank you!
I am twenty years old, part of a generation who has lost what writing a letter means to people. This show is SOO good with so much heart and love and character. I love the whole cast- their quirks are very cute and after watching the marathon, I didn’t want the show to stop – I felt a part of their group. How could you cancel such a beautifully written and acted series? I want more 🙂 don’t let all these comments end up in the dead letter box!
Sooo disappointing !!!!! Such a beautiful idea for a series is so rare this days. I am from Israel and even though I had to translate every sentence, I loved to sit and watch it with my young son. For a change, he had the chance to see something different from all the vampires and killings that all the youngsters are watching this days. And you are taking it away. 😐 As a movie, is not the same like the routine “special time with mom” my son was used to. Please think again.I am sure you have children of your… Read more »
So dissapointed you are canceling the series. The best thing about Saturday night..
I agree with the above comments. This is a great wholesome TV show. Most TV shows are terrible! This program needs to continue weekly.
I cannot believe that Hallmark is cancelling this show. It was so good, I never thought it even had a chance of being cancelled. I was watching the reruns today, and thought it may be starting a new season. Each and every episode was heartwarming, bringing me to tears. Whoever chose to cancel this show needs to reevaluate what they are running day after day, week after week. How many reruns can one watch. TV is so filled with reality garbage, and then they cancel something with substance. The Christmas movie was good, but I thought the show was doing… Read more »
I so agree with all the previous comments. Do not cancel the weekly episodes. Do the weekly episodes and the 3 movies thru out the year. So disappointed when I found out today.
To the decision makers at Hallmark please keep Signed Sealed & Delivered a weekly series.
Today watching the marathon it is a shame not to be able to watch this heart warming
Program weekly. This cast is the best. Just watched the story about being locked in the vault. Great performances by Oliver & Shayne. PLEASE DON’T CHANGE THE FORMAT!!
Why would you cancel such a good family show? Looked forward to watching it every weekend, now nothing. You blew it Hallmark.
I think the worst thing that could have happened was taking this wonderfully weekly show and turning into a series of movies. Now you could do the movies but leave the show on air as it was.
We have looked forward to the series. 3 movies of our favorite show is not enough. This is the best show that Hallmark has, in our opinion. Are they trying to deprive us so that we would appreciate it more? I don’t watch any of the other Hallmark movies because they are all so predictable, same story, different characters, boring. Cedar Cove started well but became a soap opera, bummer. Come on Hallmark, give is more of Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
The movies would be nice, but not everybody can afford to pay extra for the HMM channel. Especially with what DirectTv charges. I’ll bet a majority of your viewers will not be able to afford it,I know I won’t and that’s a shame because WE really loved this show.