Hallmark Channel Kicks Off The Holiday Season Tonight With 'The Thanksgiving House' A World Premiere Film

Tonight begins the Hallmark Channels annual "Countdown to Christmas" with the first of several new original movies, The Thanksgiving House at 8 p.m. (repeats over the weekend) starring Lindsay Wagner,  Bruce Boxleitner, Justin Bruening, and Emily Rose.

ABOUT THE FILM:  Emily Rose (“Haven”) stars as Mary Ross, a lawyer who inherits a house in Plymouth, MA from her late aunt, only to discover from Everett (Justin Bruening) a local historian, that it could be located on the site of the first Thanksgiving!  Emily’s greedy boyfriend (Adam Kaufman) wants her to sell sell sell! But Mary is encouraged by a couple of unlikely helpers, Everett’s parents (Emmy® Award winner Lindsay Wagner and Bruce Boxleitner), to use the home as a catalyst in reaching out to the father who abandoned her as a young girl. The true spirit and meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday sits at the core of a very special film.

Starting November 2, Hallmark Channel will engage viewers with its award-winning social media executions by showcasing “The Meaning of Christmas” campaign. These applications will offer fun, interactive and shareable experiences on multiple social platforms throughout the holiday season, including six customizable, sharable and personal cover photos of holiday-themed art, enabling fans to transform their Facebook cover photos into personal expressions of the season. Also, part of Hallmark Channel’s philanthropic initiative to give to those who need it most, the network is creating a unique, geo-targeted wish map app enabling users to share their personal “The Meaning of Christmas” traditions with friends and family across the country and will donate one dollar to the Salvation Army on behalf of the first 10,000 user submissions. Additional executions include shareable “If Life Was Like A Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie” meme posters and a “Countdown to Christmas” tab on the Hallmark Channel Facebook page that includes weekly programming schedules, links to Hallmark Channel holiday themed games and a video player showing exclusive sneak-peeks of upcoming Hallmark Channel Original Movie Premieres.

You’ll want to keep Hallmark Channel close by as a magical and inspiring touchstone for all your family’s yuletide festivities, adding a heartwarming touch of merriment to the season.

Sandi Berg is also a freelance journalist and writes about television for several magazines including Written By (Writer's Guild of America), Life After 50 and Whole Life Times Magazine.