When Hope Calls will be back. The drama series has been renewed for a second season but is moving to the new GAC Family channel. Formerly known as Great American Country, GAC Family is run by President & CEO Bill Abbott, the former CEO of Hallmark Channel parent Crown Media Family Networks.
In addition, Lori Loughlin (below) will reprise her When Calls the Heart role as Abigail Stanton in the two-part second season premiere, When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas, which is slated for Saturday, December 18th.
(Crown Media)
This is Loughlin’s first acting role since completing her sentence in connection with the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal. It’s unclear if Loughlin will return to Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart which was renewed for a ninth season in May. The channel previously cut ties with Loughlin over the scandal in 2019.
A spin-off of When Calls the Heart, the When Hope Calls series kicks off in 1916 and centers on two sisters, Lillian (Morgan Kohan) and Grace (Jocelyn Hudon), who were orphaned and separated as toddlers. Now that they’re adults, Lillian and Grace have reunited and opened an orphanage in the ranching town of Brookfield.
The first season of When Hope Calls was released via the Hallmark Movies Now streaming service August-October 2019. Hallmark Channel later aired the episodes February-April 2020.
Here’s the official announcement about the When Hope Calls renewal:
GAC Family Announces Original Series ‘When Hope Calls’ Season Two Set to Premiere December 18
Lori Loughlin Reprises Beloved Character in Return to Television
NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GAC Family today announced season two of the hit series “When Hope Calls” will premiere exclusively on the network this holiday season. Lori Loughlin (“When Calls the Heart,” “Fuller House”) is set to guest star in the original series reprising the role of her beloved TV character, Abigail Stanton. The two-part premiere titled “When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas” debuts Saturday, December 18. The announcement was made today by Bill Abbott, President & CEO of GAC Media.
Season two of the hit series “When Hope Calls” will premiere exclusively on GAC Family
GAC Family (formerly Great American Country) launched on September 27 under the tagline “Stories Well Told” and features family-friendly, holiday-themed movies and series that celebrate American culture, lifestyle and heritage.
“When Hope Calls” is set in Brookfield, a town on the western prairie with a deep sense of acceptance, love, and family, and is a TV spinoff of award-winning author Janette Oke’s novel series, “When Calls the Heart”. In the World Premiere of “When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas, Part 1,” a Christmas festival worthy of Harper’s Bazaar happens in Brookfield as the community is one of three contenders in the magazine’s search for America’s #1 Country Christmas Town. The entire town is preoccupied with creating the essence of Christmas for the photojournalist’s lens, though, behind the scenes, residents are not living the spirit of the season. In the midst of the fuss, a stagecoach appears, and out steps Abigail Stanton and her son, Cody who have brought a troubled boy to Lillian’s orphanage. Episode 201 of “When Hope Calls” premieres Saturday, December 18 at 8 pm ET/PT.
In the World Premiere of “When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas, Part 2,” photojournalist Paul Franklin is wrapping his research on the community of Brookfield as a contender for America’s #1 Country Christmas Town. By now, Paul blends in as the town prepares for Christmas Eve. Lillian, the orphans, and Gabriel are running out of options to restore the troubled boy’s hope for better times. Just when all seems lost, a secret Santa appears to fulfill all holiday wishes, and Abigail has a profound conversation with a dear friend from the past. Meanwhile, Paul’s lens is recording every miraculous moment. Episode 202 of “When Hope Calls” premieres Saturday, December 18 at 9 pm ET/PT.
Executive Producers of “When Hope Calls” are Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., Alfonso H. Moreno, Kaitlyn Greenough, and David Anselmo. Producer is Kym Crepin. Supervising Producers are W. Michael Beard and Michael Shepard. Director is Bradley Walsh. The spinoff series is created by Alfonso H. Moreno.
The “When Hope Calls” Season One cable debut in February 2020 averaged a 2.0 household rating and 2 million Total Viewers. [Source: Nielsen, February 23, 2020]
Additional casting information will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT GAC Media
GAC Media, LLC is home to Great American Channels: “GAC Family” Stories Well Told and “GAC Living” Life Well Lived. As the flagship service, GAC Family celebrates American culture, lifestyle and heritage with original holiday-themed, family-friendly movies and series. GAC Living is the unscripted companion to GAC Family that celebrates Great American family-friendly traditions every day and every season. GAC Media, LLC was established in June 2021 and was organized by Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partners LLC and Bill Abbott. Its ownership primarily consists of US-based family offices.
What do you think? Are you a fan of When Hope Calls? Will you watch season two on GAC Family?
Hi I’m from Florida. I change my dish packages to be able to get GAC family but I missed when calls the heart part one and part two Christmas When will you re-broadcast those and when will the official season 2 stat? Yes I will watch the season two and I’m not going to watch when calls the heart because of the storyline on the last episode. They lost me as a viewer when they didn’t let Elizabeth choose Nathan. So maybe Nathan will come to your show and we can continue to watch him there I watch every movie… Read more »
Hello I just now seen this I want to still be able to watch it I have dish for my provider what channel will it be on , when hope calls I have missed it please please email me and let me know thank you Teresa
What day and time will season 2 air? I saw the Christmas part 1 and part 2 but do not want to miss any other episodes
If you subscribe to Friendly TV you get both Hallmark and GAC channels, along with Lifetime and others
I AM DISAPPOINTED WON;T BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN HOPE CALLS I DONT GET GAC
would love to watch but the GAC channel is too expensive. I will miss it as I loved the show. So sorry Hallmark will not have it.
Happy
This is the best news, I am so happy about this and look forward to watching many movies and shows on this channel. It sounds to me as if they are focused on family, which is so refreshing and needed. I’m glad that Lori is back for a guest appearance, I hope to see more of her in the future.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged.
I believe in forgiveness she paid her price . But do not think she should be able to make the money she was making. Or show back on TV. I think she should have a probation period. Just like people being released from jail.. just my opinion.I will not be watching. Thank You.
I am extremely disappointed that beloved Hallmark Channel staples are moving to GAC. It’s greedy and selfish for those of us who can’t pay for a bazillion streaming channels. These will be two more shows that I have loved from the beginning no longer being watched.
Glad Lori is back everyone deserves a 2nd chance !
I watched show first season and have missed it terribly but I don’t currently have that station I just have Spectrum Cable how can I get??
Directv has the channel
Well I did watch, but fortunately I don’t get the GAC. If it was still on Hallmark I would no longer watch, now that Lori is on it.
I will not either she needs to ve on probation and not go directly back on tv just like prisoners. I forgive but you need to not only serve your time but pay other consequences.
I am happy to hear that Lori is back . I wish they would put her back in when calls the heart.
I am excited about Lori coming back . I will watch when hope call my favorite is when calls the heart. I would love to see lori back on when calls the heart. In this world we live in these two shows are what we need. Everyone makes mistakes if you think you don’t then you need to take another look. Lori welcome back.