Not a Hollywood Horror Story: Actor Loves Making Hallmark Movies.
Newsbusters; Hollywood has become synonymous with cynicism, entitlement, hypocrisy and group think. Its products and its people seem to be in a race to the bottom.
Then there’s Kristoffer Polaha, who seems to be none of those things and (shockingly) he’s actually quite successful. In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, Polhala says he has achieved great satisfaction in his career not by appearing in blockbuster network series after blockbuster network series, but by becoming a mainstay in Hallmark movies — Dec. 16 will mark the release of his fifth Hallmark movie.
Polhala admits that he was reluctant at first to do any work for Hallmark, whose channels have traditionally been the haunt of senior citizens and the families of their grandchildren. But after doing one film with them (The Dater’s Handbook), Polhala and his wife became convinced that Hallmark practiced “love” where other networks did not — in their loyalty to their audiences as well as their actors. MORE
An uplifting message of love in every film, especially around Christmas.
What’s not to love?
This is also the actor who played John Galt in the movie version of Atlas Shrigged.
The only Gun Free Zone I approve of.
Thankfully I cut the cable over a year ago, so this year I’m spared the never ending drivel of chick flicks loosely associated with Christmas. . . until the wife rents them. . .
I don’t own a TV, and haven’t been in a theater since about 1999. No opinion really, except that if it is affiliated with Hollywood It’s bad.
I can only take so much CHRISTMAS when it starts after Halloween and runs till who knows when. My wife has it on all the time, that’s why we occupy opposite ends of the house! 🙂
I always characterized them more as a network primarily featuring commercials strung together with a few minutes of good programming.
My Sweetie was a big fan.
Yo Doc. When Mrs. Manderin pops in any of the countless versions of “Pride and Prejudice,” I pop on some heavy metal to get the Victorian stench out!
Occasionally I watch HMC movies myself, mostly I watch HMC when that is what my wife wants to watch. Kind of pre 1960s stuff, simple formula feel good stories, free of filthy language, and gory violence. No need to feel embarrassed, or an urgent need to change channels or turn it off, if mom or kids walk in.
I rate movies on a two star scale: (1) things blow up and/or (2) it makes me laugh. A lot of people like Hallmark, but their fare on my two star scale is usually pretty low.
Mrs. Lazlo likes the Hallmark channel.
Not enough shootouts or drygultching for Lazlo’s taste
What? Surrender my Man Card? Never. Why not fix my eyelids open and put on the Oxygen network or Oprah network, torture and mind control ala Clockwork Orange?
Hallmark Channel had more viewers than CNN in Oct.
NO
and
I DO NOT.
I don’t watch it…not fond of syrupy sweet fare.
However, when they do re-runs of Jesse Stone (w/Tom Selleck) I’ll watch.
Doc November 23, 2018 at 6:22 pm
I’m in the same boat…but I can’t complain about HM movies…shmaltzy, but at least clean.
I really like Kristoffer Polaha, but I just can’t do the Hallmark movies. Or Lifetime. Etc.
I don’t watch the HC, but I completely understand the reasons for its success. Kudos for understanding their audience and given that audience what the audience wants.
It’s Xmas year round on that channel.
At night they have old episodes of Frazier which has held its own. I actually think most episodes wouldn’t be made today so many gay comedy mix ups and most of the actors were gay. Watch and see.
Mrs. R loves the Hallmark Movie channel, especially around Christmas time. Sometimes we “watch” it together, but being a multi-tasker, I usually read IOTWReport at the same time. Good, wholesome, family-oriented stuff, but I feel the testosterone draining out of me when it is on.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, has anyone watched The Ballad of Buster Scruggs? Kind of Twilight Zone meets the wild west. Weird, as you would expect from the Cohen brothers. But I kind of like it.
Mrs Wiredog loves the Hallmark channel. Put me to sleep, but at least it is not a show involving buying, selling or renovating houses. Those shows make me want to clean a loaded gun.
Tony R, just noticed Buster Scruggs is on netflix , going to pour some whiskey and give it a try.
Too schmaltzy and saccharin for my personal tastes, I can feel diabetes setting in whenever I try to watch it. But good clean fare otherwise.
Hallmark is a breath of fresh air when one is overwhelmed with the crap on other channels. I confess to enjoying some if their movies on occasion just for that reason.
And do NOT confuse Hallmark with Lifetime, as they are complete opposites. Hallmark is all about optimism, love, hope. Lifetime is the Battered Woman Channel, with an endless supply of victimhood to share angst with. Awful stuff.
I don’t buy their damn cards either.
I watch em with my family, sometimes (rarely) they’re good, most of the time we just spoof them. :]
Hallmark movies honour our Military….and all the men are good-looking….what’s not to watch????
I confess to watching HC sometimes. Mostly around this time of year. Don’t normally like the romance shtick, but it’ll do in very small doses. But haven’t had a TV in over a year, so no shtick for two seasons and don’t really miss it.