… who’s taking the crown?

Chinggay and Patty are finally in the same city to record the pod and talk Hallmark royalty. It was slim picking for March with only three royal movies. Spoiler alert: none of them were bad, but BMIH faves Andrew Walker and Mallory Jepsen reigned supreme this season. We’re introduced to actor Charlie Carrick, who we definitely want to see back on our screens. As usual, a Claire Niederpruem movie rules our hearts this month.

Royal-ish

Nichole Sakura, William Moseley

The Reluctant Royal

Andrew Walker, Emilie de Ravin

The Royal We

Mallory Jansen, Charlie Carrick

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… giddy all through February

Chinggay and Patty dive into the month of love with a lineup that was full of twists. Our tried and true regulars unexpectedly lost their usual #1 spot (sorry Lacey and Robert), but it was a three-way tie for the top for RLC, SMF, Janel Parrish, and past fave actors from Holiday Hotline and Ride. In this month’s FMK, both ex-husbands kick the bucket. Bonus: We score another IRL connection to the HCU.

An Unexpected Valentine

Lacey Chabert, Robert Buckley

The Wish Swap

Emily Tennant, Jake Foy

Return to Office

Janel Parrish, Scott Michael Foster

Sisterhood Inc.

Rachael Leigh Cook, Daniella Monet, Leonidas Gulaptis

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… a happy Hallmark New Year to all!

Chinggay and Patty start the 6th (!) season of the pod with two movies that were “good enough” and two movies that were pitch perfect. The true winners this month are the comeback kids—Laci and Julie, and David Elsendoorn and JPDP, Juan Pablo di Pace. Belgium got us giddy and giggling; Argentina had us falling in love; and Winter Escape had us planning our personal hypothetical meet-the-fam moments for our F***MarryKill husbands.

Polar Opposites

Rhiannon Fish, Markian Tarasiuk

Love of the Irish

Shenae Grimes-Beech, Stephen Hagan, Moira Kelly

The Perfect Setting

Laci J. Mailey, David Elsendoorn

My Argentine Heart

Julie Gonzalo, Juan Pablo di Pace

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… our top 12 tradition is back

Chinggay and Patty continue the annual tradition of ranking the best Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas movies of the year. 2024 was the year of the Nice List and the year of the Dan Jeannotte Redemption Award. We loved so many offerings this year that 20 (out of 40) made it into the Nice List. Also a year of forgiveness and redemption—where so many leads we abhorred, refused to pay attention to, and just plain disliked managed to get in our good graces and win us over. What a year for BMIH! We’ll see you again for our 6th season in 2025.

1. Three Wiser Men and a Boy (Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin)
2. Sugarplummed (Maggie Lawson, Janel Parrish)
3. Hanukkah on the Rocks (Stacey Farber, Darren Kagassoff, Marc Summer)
4. The Christmas Charade (Rachel Skarsten, Corey Sevier)
5. Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Hunter King, Tyler Hynes)
6. A Novel Noel (Julie Gonzalo, Brendan Penny)
7. Jingle Bell Run (Ashley Williams, Andrew Walker)
8. The Santa Class (Kimberly Sustad, Benjamin Ayres)
9. A ‘90s Christmas (Eva Bourne, Chandler Massey, Katherine Barrell)
10. The Finnish Line (Kim Matula, Beau Mirchoff, Nichole Sakura)
11. Trivia at St. Nick’s (Tammin Sursok, Brant Daugherty)
12. The Christmas Quest (Lacey Chabert, Kristoffer Polaha)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… after 10 weeks, we’ve made it through all the movies

Chinggay and Patty, gluttons of punishment that they are, participate in Hallmark+’s Cherry Lane trilogy and wildly regret it. They finish the season with one last Countdown to Christmas movie with newfound empathy for Jessica Lowndes, and the final Miracles of Christmas offering where it is established that in the HCU, you can trade in a Christmas stocking for a house.

• Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane (Benjamin Ayres, Catherine Bell, James Denton, Erica Durance, Julie Gonzalo, Ryan Rottman)
• Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane (John Brotherton, Erin Cahill, Brooke D’Orsay, Chelsea Hobbs, Ben Hollingsworth and Sam Page)
• Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane (Jonathan Bennett, Annabelle Borke, Corey Cott, Sarah Dugdale, Shannon Kook and Vincent Rodriguez II)
• Happy Howlidays (Jessica Lowndes, Ezra Moreland)
• Trading Up Christmas (Italia Ricci, Michael Xavier)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… in which Dan Jeannotte does not receive the Dan Jeannotte Redemption Award

Chinggay and Patty didn’t think this week would fare well since multiple recipients of the K in our F*** Marry Kill segment showed up as lead actors. However, Dan Jeannotte, Brooke d’Orsay, and most-number-of-appearances-in-this-season awardee Benjamin Ayres all get passing marks (read: we didn’t hate them). Hanukkah moves forward with its multiple year grand slam with Stacey Farber in Hanukkah on the Rocks. Plus there was no doubt that Kimberly Sustad would come out as top of the class with her excellent performance in the Santa Class.

• All I Need for Christmas (Mallory Jansen, Dan Jeanotte)
• Follow Yonder Star (Brooke d’Orsay, John Brotherton)
• Hanukkah on the Rocks (Stacey Farber, Darren Kagassoff, Marc Summer)
• The Santa Class (Kimberly Sustad, Benjamin Ayres)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… ‘‘twas a week of no naughties

Chinggay and Patty are flummoxed at how post-Thanksgiving week has had 4/4 movies on the BMIH Nice List. There’s a little bit of everything—neurodivergence with endearing kids, royal ridiculousness that we actually loved, plus Patty has yet another one-sided showdown with her nemesis, Barbara Niven (who won us over). But, it’s Janel Parrish who takes the crown as the inimitable Sugarplum in the best movie of the week.

• A Dance in the Snow (Erica Cerra, Mark Ghanimé, Vanessa Burghardt, Dorian Giordano)
• Private Princess Christmas (Ali Skovbye, Derek Klena, Erica Durance)
• Leah’s Perfect Gift (Emily Arlook, Evan Roderick, Barbara Niven)
• Sugarplummed (Maggie Lawson, Janel Parrish)

Thanks to ⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… we survived Thanksgiving Week, Hallmark-style

Chinggay and Patty live out the true Christmas miracle—watching all eight movies from Thanksgiving week. We got it all this week—a few awful ones that no one should watch (or rewatch), some middle of the road movies with people we love (s/o to Wes Brown and Marco Grazzini), a time-traveling dark horse of a movie, and then there are the hits. Props go to the Hallmark Scandi team for taking us to Iceland and Finland. And all hail the Chiefs for making this partnership with the Hallmark Channel the touchdown of the season.

• Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle (Rachel Boston, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Tanner Novlan, Matthew James Dowden and Max Lloyd-Jones)

• Believe in Christmas (Meghan Ory and John Reardon)
• Christmas Under the Lights (Heather Hemmens, Marco Grazzini)
• Deck the Walls (Ashley Greene, Wes Brown, Danny Pellegrino)
• The Finnish Line (Kim Matula, Beau Mirchoff, Nichole Sakura)
• The Christmas Quest (Lacey Chabert, Kristoffer Polaha)
• A ‘90s Christmas (Eva Bourne, Chandler Massey, Katherine Barrell)
• Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Hunter King, Tyler Hynes)

Thanks to ⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠ for our music and ⁠Paola Lazatin⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@butmakeithallmark

… and just like that, we’re back on the naughty list

Chinggay and Patty hate on half the movies that came out this week, but are fully in love and committed to #MIraclesOfChristmas “A Novel Noel” and #CountdownToChristmas “Three Wiser Men and a Boy.” Skip the below-average hospital movie and the even worse marriage boot camp movie in favor of repeat watches starring Hallmark regulars Julie, Brendan, Tyler, Paul, and Andrew. Bonus: An extra round of F and M because we cannot K anyone in this week’s best movie.

• To Have and to Holiday (Madeleine Arthur, Robert Bazzocchi, Eric Close)
• Christmas on Call (Sara Canning and Ser’Darius Blain with a cameo appearance by Donna Kelce)
• A Novel Noel (Julie Gonzalo, Brendan Penny)
• Three Wiser Men and a Boy (Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Margaret Colin)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art. Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… it’s another Hallmark homerun this week

Chinggay and Patty are in utter disbelief because all four movies on Week Five of #CountdownToChristmas and #MiraclesOfChristmas are worth everyone’s time. We’re celebrating excellent ensemble casts in all the movies, a unique anti-hero, fun and of-the-moment culture clashes, Andrew Walker as a Spon-Con ex pro-athlete, and a delightful first movie from Angela Kinsey of The Office. Bonus: Two special mentions for the Dan Jeanotte Redemption Award.

• A Reason for the Season (Taylor Cole, Kevin McGarry)
• Christmas with the Singhs (Anuja Joshi, Benjamin Hollingsworth)
• Jingle Bell Run (Ashley Williams, Andrew Walker)
• Confessions of a Christmas Letter (Angela Kinsey, Alec Santos)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@makeithallmark⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… Hallmark, you sneaky little minx

Chinggay and Patty are floored. Every one of Week Four’s movies was worth watching; and an entire ensemble cast receives the Dan Jeanotte Redemption Award for proving us that first impressions can be changed given a good script and good direction. Here we discover our love for a sexy drawl, Europeans in Hallmark movies, and a wacky meta comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Bonus: two rounds of FMK.

• Five Gold Rings (Holland Roden, Nolan Gerard Funk)
• Trivia at St. Nick’s (Tammin Sursok, Brant Daugherty)
• Santa Tell Me (Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing, Benjamin Ayres, Christopher Russell, Kurt Szarka)
• ‘Tis the Season to Be Irish (Fiona Gubelmann, Eoin Macke)

Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠⁠ for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@makeithallmark⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

… take a shot every time we ask, “What are we doing, Hallmark?”

Chinggay and Patty share a mild case of anger towards Hallmark for continuing to push its musical agenda with the wrong people and for hard-selling A-listers but giving us Z-list plots. Props to Warren Christie for coming out of the dark side and for Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s aunties for giving us the perfect comfort watch (and two newcomers we hope to see on the channel again). Special mention goes to singer-swimmer Jordan Litz.

• A Carol for Two (Ginna Claire-Mason, Jordan Litz, Charlotte d'Amboise)
• My Sweet Austrian Holiday (Brittany Bristow, Will Kemp)
• Our Holiday Story (Nikki DeLoach, Warren Christie)
• Holiday Mismatch (Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick)

Thanks to ⁠⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠⁠ for our music and ⁠⁠Paola Lazatin⁠⁠ for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠@makeithallmark⁠⁠ and on Instagram: ⁠⁠@butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty soldier through three duds and end with a rewarding 10/10 movie directed by Corey Sevier, newest inductee to the But Make It Hallmark Hall of Fame. We walk you through problematic casting, perfect pairs with imperfect plots, and actors we love who give us a bad case of friendzone sibling energy. Rachel Skarsten steals the spotlight with her wackiest, zaniest performance yet.

• This Time Each Year (Allison Sweeney, Niall Matter)
• Operation Nutcracker (Ashley Newsborough, Christopher Russell)
• The 5-Year Party (Katie Findlay, Jordan Fisher)
• The Christmas Charade (Rachel Skarsten, Corey Sevier)

Thanks to ⁠Pietro Lazatin⁠ for our music and ⁠Paola Lazatin⁠ for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: ⁠@makeithallmark⁠ and on Instagram: ⁠@butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty end their hiatus with the first week of Countdown to Christmas. Chris McNally loses his WCTH glow, while Carlo Marks climbs the ranks thanks to his earnestness. A kid cancels out our tendency to hate on one of Hallmark’s staple actresses. And Robert Buckley tops the week’s Nice List once again. Bonus: Chinggay becomes friends with a Hallmark movie writer.

• Holiday Crashers (Lyndsy Fonseca, Danielle Monet, Chris McNally, Jag Bal)
• Scouting for Christmas (Tamera Mowry-Housley, Carlo Marks)
• ‘Twas the Date Before Christmas (Robert Buckley, Amy Groening)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty are swept away by the month’s travel-themed movies. Andrew Walker bares his arms under the Malta sun. Italy and Greece go head to head in two very samesy movies with two equally stellar European leading men. As per usual, rom com queen BJL steals our hearts (and makes us want to eat all the cheese). Bonus: Patty’s real-life Hallmark A-lister sighting in NYC.

For Love & Honey (Margaret Clunie, Andrew Walker)

Two Scoops of Italy (Hunter King, Michele Rosiello)

A Greek Recipe for Romance (Danielle C. Ryan, Rafael Kariotakis)

Savoring Paris (Bethany Joy Lenz, Stanley Weber)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty are at an all-time low because Hallmark’s Countdown to Summer movies literally put them both to sleep. BMIH’s shortest episode yet goes through this snoozefest, one movie at a time—so you don’t have to. Our silver lining? Andrea Brooks and the return of BMIH’s favorite kid actor, Averie Peters.

Everything Puppies (Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Stephen Huszar)

A Whitewater Romance (Cindy Busby, Benjamin Hollingsworth)

Big Sky River: The Bridal Path (Erin Krakow, Robert Buckley)

A Lifelong Love (Andrea Brooks, Patch May)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty throw the gauntlet with super serious Spring Into Love pronouncements. One, bobs are making a comeback thanks to Aimee Teegarden and Erin Krakow. Two, Dan Jeanotte is officially out of Patty’s doghouse. And three, Chinggay declares Sarah Drew to be the HCU’s very own Meryl Streep. Cuties Robert Buckley and Juan Pablo di Pace add sizzle and charm to this month’s lineup and make for an interesting F*ck, Marry, and Kill.

An Easter Bloom (Aimee Teegarden, Benjamin Hollingsworth)

Blind Date Book Club (Erin Krakow, Robert Buckley)

Falling in Love in Niagara (Jocelyn Hudon, Dan Jeanotte)

Branching Out (Sarah Drew, Juan Pablo di Pace

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty fixate on their current Hallmark kinks: Patagonia sad dads and crumbs from a kind friend-to-lover. This week’s movies fall under No Man’s Land season, where random themes reign supreme — female empowerment care of fighter pilot moms and car mechanic daughters. Two favourite actresses, Erin Cahill and Rachel Boston, return for less than stellar movies; and two favourite Hallmark hunks Niall Matter and Tyler Hynes battle it out (and fail). At the end of the day, it’s the dude who scratches the dependability itch that trumps all.

John Mayer dependability kink

A Taste of Love (Erin Cahill, Martin Kove)

The More Love Grows (Rachel Boston, Warren Christie)

Come Fly with Me (Heather Hemmes, Niall Matter)

Shifting Gears (Katherine Barrell, Tyler Hynes)

Guiding Emily (Sarah Drew, Antonio Cupo)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty get loud, proud, and prejudiced because it’s Austen month on the Hallmark Channel! It is a truth universally acknowledged that when certain actors who BMIH has deemed disgraced come on-screen, you get a pod filled with intense rage. On the opposite end of the spectrum, this season is also happily full of intense longing, love, and female empowerment… thanks to the dazzling display of talent presented by old faves Will Kemp, Mallory Jansen, and newcomer Eliza Bennett. Fellow Jane-ites, you’ll need to give this ep a listen.

Love & Jane (Alison Sweeney, Benjamin Ayres)

Sense & Sensibility (Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia, Dan Jeannotte)

Paging Mr. Darcy (Mallory Jansen, Will Kemp)

An American in Austen (Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark

Chinggay and Patty actually get through New Year New Movies without a hitch! The year started with a slew of sports offset by Hallmark’s usual tropes. Rugby + fascination with a foreign land, golf + dead moms, aerial silks + small town festival. The one movie that managed to steer clear of any tropes, of course, took our breath away—and we have Laci J. Mailley’s fabulous bob and Marco Grazzini to thank for that.

A Scottish Love Scheme (Erika Durance, Jordan Young)

Love on the Right Course (Ashley Newbrough, Marcus Rosner)

Betty’s Bad Luck in Love (Laci J. Mailley, Marco Grazzini)

Romance with a Twist (Jocelyn Hudon, Olivier Renaud)

Thanks to Pietro Lazatin for our music and Paola Lazatin for our cover art

Follow us on Twitter: @makeithallmark and on Instagram: @butmakeithallmark