Christmas is already underway at the Great American Family (GAF) channel, a family-friendly alternative to Hallmark owned by Great American Media (GAM). On Oct. 12, GAM’s chief creative officer, Candace Cameron Bure, announced that Great American Christmas would begin on Oct. 13, with 20 new Christmas movies releasing from Oct. 14 through Dec. 23.
“I am thrilled to invite you to the third year of the most heartwarming holiday experience on television,” Bure said on Instagram. “Great American Christmas on Great American Family is here!…We’re bringing you Great American Christmas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
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Great American Christmas Kicks Off on Friday the 13th
Candace Cameron Bure is an actor, producer and Christian who in 2022 announced she had left the Hallmark Channel and signed with GAM. Bure dealt with several controversies that year, including when former “Dance Moms” star JoJo Siwa claiming Bure was the “rudest celebrity” Siwa had met.
Bure also faced criticism following a statement to The Wall Street Journal that Great American Family “will keep traditional marriage at the core.” She made that comment in response to a question regarding whether GAF will feature LGBTQ+ love stories as the Hallmark Channel is now doing.
Nevertheless, Great American Family had a strong finish to 2022, reporting that it was ending the year as “the fastest-growing network in all of cable television,” in part due to the performance of its 18 Christmas movies.
This year’s Christmas event, “the most expansive in the history of Great American Christmas,” features a 20-movie release beginning with “Destined 2: Christmas Once More,” which premiered on Oct. 14.
Viewers will recognize some familiar actors, a number of them Christians, including former “Days of Our Lives” star Jen Lilley, who stars with Matthew Morrison in “A Paris Christmas Waltz,” premiering Nov. 19.
Former “The Wonder Years” star Danica McKellar, a Christian and friend of Bure’s, stars with Damon Runyan in “A Royal Date for Christmas,” premiering Nov. 25.