Danica McKellar Leaving Hallmark to Join GAC Family
Another Hallmark Channel veteran is jumping ship, as Danica McKellar is leaving the network to join competitor GAC Family (formerly known as Great American Country).
According to Deadline, the Wonder Years alum has signed an exclusive deal with the rebranded cable channel that extends through 2023. The agreement will see her star in and executive produce four new films, starting with the January 2022 premiere of The Winter Palace.
McKellar has been a staple of Hallmark since 2015, known primarily for her roles in the network’s holiday movies. Her credits include 2018’s Christmas at Grand Valley, 2019’s Christmas at Dollywood, and 2020’s Christmas She Wrote. Her most recent film, You, Me, & the Christmas Trees, premiered on October 22 — it marks McKellar’s last Hallmark project for the foreseeable future.
GAC Family is helmed by Bill Abbott, the former CEO of Hallmark Channel‘s parent company Crown Media Family Networks. Abbott departed Crown Media in January 2020 following controversy around Hallmark’s decision to stop airing a commercial depicting a same-sex wedding (the decision was later reversed).
McKellar isn’t the first Hallmark veteran to make the jump. Earlier this month, former Home & Family hosts Cameron Mathison and Debbie Matenopoulos moved over to GAC Family, where they hosted the preview special Welcome to Great American Christmas. Meanwhile, When Calls the Heart alum Lori Loughlin makes her acting return in When Hope Calls, which is relocating from Hallmark Movies Now to GAC Family for its second season.
Several Hallmark regulars will also be headlining GAC Family’s upcoming holiday movies, including Chad Michael Murray, Maggie Lawson, Cindy Busby, Dillon Casey, and many more.
In addition to her work at Hallmark, McKellar also voices Miss Martian in the animated superhero series Young Justice and Judy Jetson in The Jetsons. She’s also written six non-fiction books, all dealing with mathematics.
Conversation47 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
C
I was devoted to Hallmark but they began to change the past year. Many movies have become unwatchable because they decided to join the “woke” club. Whoever is running Hallmark now is running it into the ground. They have really betrayed their viewership/demographics and once you lose your viewer, it is hard to get them back. Every friend I speak with has stopped watching Hallmark. Pretty much the only thing watchable are their older movies under Bill Abbott’s leadership. I paid extra to receive GAC families when I read their announcement… Hoping they make it
83 27
-
P
Now if we could just figure out exactly what it is that the 'convert' doesn't like about the Hallmark movies now...they don't really say...I wonder what it could be? And yes, that's sarcasm.
All I know is there is nothing sadder than ignorant, racist, uneducated, narrow-minded, out-of-touch people who are upset that they can't be ignorant, racist, uneducated, narrow-minded, and out-of-touch anymore without being identified for what they really are. They call it "woke"; I call it truth in advertising.
17 17
-
G
Just made aware of this. I will quit watching Hallmark. Have been disappointed in the changes they’ve made. I love Danica. Hope more follow her lead.
Had noticed small changes in some of the most recent movies. Just didn’t seem like Hallmark.
25 16
-
T
I used to watch every new weekly movie and I have a checklist to catch up with all their old ones.
I haven't watched a new Hallmark movie in a year... or the most recent season of Good Witch.
I'm happy to see the creation of GAC Family.
4 1
-
O
Oh, wow! You are clueless about what you are, aren’t you?!! I’m so sick of people using “woke” to describe what actually means INCLUSIVE!!!
5 4
-
T
I agree. I still watch some Hallmark movies, but their newer movies are not really that interesting at all. I enjoy a lot of their older movies from time to time though.
I predict that Hallmark is going to suffer next year when most of the favorites get replaced by unfamiliar and uninteresting actors.
28 6
-
-
B
One of my favorite actors. Hallmark used to be my every night channel. They are sneaking in little things I don’t agree with trying to please the Woke group. I just wish one channel would stay original based traditional. I watched a few new movies the last couple of years and I have turned them off after 10 minutes. The writer before knew how to write. Gods blessings Danica.
62 15
-
R
Whenever you folks whine about missing "traditional" programming, what you really mean is you want to see movies with all-white and all-heterosexual casts.
7 4
-
-
T
Last week GAC announced the appointment of Mary Dzabic as Chief Financial Officer & Sarah Murphy as Vice President of Advertising Sales and Marketing Partnerships. Both are former Crown Media executives.
Hallmark is starting to sound like a sinking ship.
26 3
-
R
I will be joining the converts!
23 3
-
G
I wish yall would bring cedar cove back and as a Christian I can not support the same sex couple movies I have always loved hallmark but I will cancel my subscription if they keep making those kind of movies so disappointed
31 12
-
C
I am sorry to see her leave and I was sorry to hear about the other ones that have left as well. I love Hallmark and those were my favorite characters. But I guess nothing ever stays the same. Sad in a way.
20 1
-
R
I have no problems with interracial couples...I can love everyone but as a Christian I cannot support gay couples or trans or this woke bs. I'm just trying to figure our which one supports what!! Anyone know the answer??
34 19
-
G
The new CEO
2 1
-
-
W
GAC Family seems to be really making itself a destination for family friendly content. I had to pare back my cable video package when the price increased and lost Hallmark, but the new GAC Family is there, so I really welcome this content. I hope some new version of Home and Family makes its way onto the channel.
15 2
-
R
Mixed race is not the issue.
8
-
O
It’s not racial but more about gay relationships in their movies.
7 1
-
B
GAC Family is helmed by Bill Abbott, the former CEO of Hallmark Channel‘s parent company Crown Media Family Networks. Abbott departed Crown Media in January 2020 following controversy around Hallmark’s decision to stop airing a commercial depicting a same-sex wedding (the decision was later reversed).
11 5
-
P
Where can I find GAC channel? Never heard of it but I want to follow my favorite stars.
6 1
-
R
What is this "woke movement" everyone is speaking of? Is it because they are incorporating more African American movies on Hallmark? Is that why people are switching over to GAC?
9 4
-
G
I dont know either is waht im trying to figure out ok wahts woke mean
1
-
O
The misguided far left used WOKE as their buzz word to imply that they are enlightened about how the world should be as opposed to the rest of us who are living in the dark. In their eyes everything should be free, and anyone who becomes suddessful is obligated to share with all the lazy lowlifes who never try.
2 4
-
-
C
Not so much African American movies but movies featuring mixed race main couples. Hallmark has been regarded as old school traditional for decades and now people are dropping them because the channel isn't running what that demographic wants to watch. If they want black content, watch BET.
11 19
-
-
G
Not spporting same sex story lines has nothing to do with your claim to Christianity
4
-
P
I am so dissappointed to see so many of my favorite stars leaving Hallmark. They will be really missed. I don’t know what GAC is but will try to find them on there.
4
-
R
Show you don’t read your Bible
3
-
B
Hate to see Danica leave. My favorite.
4 1
-
O
Abbott left Hallmark over their refusal to show an ad showing a same sex wedding. Guess he is “woke” too. 🤦🏻♀️
2
-
R
The woke club are the opposite of the Christian people here or who " claim" to be Christian but can't watch two same sex couples fall in love or dance, get married etc. Love is love people. Heaven forbid your child comes out to you one day. Oh right then you can turn them away and claim you are STILL Christian. Shame, shame, Shame!
4 2
-
B
Gotta love all the American christians clutching their pearls because *gasp* two men danced together! 😳 is that a white woman kissing a non white man?😳 if there is a god he is very disappointed in y’all.
8 6
-
P
Hallmark didn’t hard her back. The GAC Media did!
1
-
O
WOW, some of you are NOT Christian at all. Go ahead though and keep saying you are, when you are clearly NOT. God almighty.
3 2
-
G
I'll assume you voted for the guy with 5 kids to 3 wives? What did the good book say about that?
1
-
G
Yes, followers of the Prince of Peace, who allegedly adhere to a book filled with instructions to love everyone, even their own enemies should definitely turn away from a portayal of 2 consenting adults who love each other but aren't a man and woman. And not all gay people or couples are 'left'. Some may even vote like you! Isn't that scary???!!!! Leave the judgement to a higher power and get over yourself.
2 1
-
C
Hallmark is showing Gay and interracial....whats the problem?
4 3
-
O
I have always enjoyed hallmark, but their desicision to go left with gay couples have really caused me to stop watching programs that I enjoyed. As a Christian I CAN NOT support this programing. I enjoyed watching the actors who have left hallmark. If this GAC channel are going to support that type of programing I WILL NOT bother to add that channel to my dish. network
12 5
-
-
O
They are all showing their true colors. Self-righteous hypocrites, So, it was okay when Bill Abbott took money from the LGBQT community, but not okay to show representation of the LGBQT community. I'll be shocked if GAC produces any movies with interracial couples. Thus, making his and their hypocrisy evident.
-
O
Honestly, she is a weak actress. We don't get GAC here and won't be leaving Hallmark
-
O
I’m glad to see Danica McKellar go! She over acted her parts, it became nauseating.
The others mentioned I will will miss!
-
O
I am sorry to see her leave. I watch Hallmark all of the time. I have noticed that my favorite actor Chris McNally has not had a new movie in a long time. Has he gone from the movies? I would love to have a list of the actors that will not be starring in any more movies. How can I get one?
-
P
What is the "woke" club?
-
C
Hallmark use to be a great family channel to watch with young and older kids. But now they have too much same sex relationships that I can’t have the movies on in my house with the little kids around because we are not ready to explain why two people of the same sex are kissing. If I wanted to have to explain this sort of stuff to a 5 year old I might as well let them watch daytime soap operas, hallmark newer movies are worse that the day time drama soaps. Terrible disappointing and we will not watch any of hallmarks movies. Also, let’s not talk about how the new writers completely destroyed The last season of good witch. I hope gAC family does a re vive of good witch like it use to be before hallmark killed it off.
2 3
-
O
I am so happy some people are cool with “supporting” interracial couples; but use their Christianity to not “approve” of LGBTQ characters? Shows you use Christianity to hide behind your hate and really don’t understand the teachings of Christ. Shame on you all
5 6
-
G
I’m glad these actors are moving over to GAC. Never watch this channel before. But Hallmark is going the wrong way. They are trying to go woke, it won’t work for me. And they hired back Laughlin, what a joke. She is a criminal and a cheat along with her daughter. Wrong move again Hallmark. Gone for good.
1 4
-
B
GAC is more woke than Hallmark. Hallmark started their diversification this year. Danica must be democrat and a member of the woke crowd. Sorry to see her leave.
11
-
O
I hate to see these Actors and Actress leave. But why did u have to bring Politics. This is why the world is coming to.
2
-
C
Because tv is forcing the WOKE agenda into every aspect of our lives. Every tv ad has black actors, every tv show caters to that agenda. !3% of the population is saturating the media. The SJWs lost their minds trying to get Levar Burton as the new Jeopardy host even though there are plenty of black game show hosts. They are not fighting for equality, they are fighting for supremacy and trying to claim ownership of everything they had no part in creating.
2 6
-
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services