The Hallmark Channel is making some shifts in its plans involving unscripted shows, according to a new statement.
Throughout 2025, Hallmark launched an expanded array of reality television shows. Both Jonathan Bennett’s “Finding Mr. Christmas” and Lacey Chabert’s “Celebrations” were renewed after successful initial seasons. In addition, several other fan favorite entertainers were tapped to lead new shows.
Hallmark referred to the collection of new and returning shows as “Reality TV with Heart.“ Both the network and Hallmark+, the organization’s streaming platform, had offerings available to viewers.
Benjamin Ayres, Ashley Williams, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Wes Brown, and Luke Macfarlane were among the fan favorite entertainers who headlined shows that debuted in late 2024 and throughout 2025.
Now, however, Hallmark is changing course.
Hallmark Is Pulling Back on Reality TV Shows
According to Realscreen on February 2, Hallmark is cutting back on its unscripted offerings. In a statement to the outlet, Hallmark Media asserted, “Our unscripted content remains a valuable tool to provide our viewers with real life stories that capture the Hallmark purpose, lifestyle and fandom.”
“We are constantly examining our content and refining to meet the needs and desires of our audience,” the Hallmark statement continued.
As a result, the network added, “We are transitioning our work in the unscripted area to include a limited number of specials and limited series at impactful times throughout the year, versus a full concurrent slate.”
The statement did not reference any specific Hallmark reality shows or personalities who may be affected by the shift in unscripted programming. But responsibilities are shifting for David Stefanou, who had been the head of unscripted television for the network.
A spokesperson for Hallmark Media told EntertainmentNow, “David’s head of unscripted role has been eliminated and he will continue to support Hallmark Media during the transition of the strategy shift.”
Fans of the Network Seem Generally Happy About the Changes Ahead
In July 2025, Stefanou addressed the expansion of unscripted programming with Variety. He explained, “We’re in the business of joy and heart. Our shows make people feel good. They offer possibility, transformation, and happiness, and that’s something people could use a little more and why they come to Hallmark.”
In November 2023, Hallmark announced it had added Stefanou to their team to lead their expansion of unscripted offerings. In the years before joining Hallmark, Stefanou worked in production on reality television series such as “Tori & Dean: Inn Love,” “Hustle & Soul,” “Love After Lockup,” and “Bad Girls Club.”
The statement Hallmark provided to Realscreen did not specify what Stefanou’s new role with the network would entail.
Hallmark fans shared their reactions to the news in the Hallmark Movies subreddit.
“I enjoyed the reality shows so this makes me sad,” one Reddit user admitted.
“Reality programming and Hallmark do NOT go hand in hand,” countered a pleased Reddit user.
“Yay! Thank God,” cheered another Hallmark fan.
Several commenters noted that they enjoyed Hallmark’s “Baked with Love” series. A holiday edition hosted by Mowry-Housley aired in late 2025.
An additional Reddit user commented, “Does it mean more movies? Then I approve.”
“Oh yay. I never once watched their reality programming. I was dismayed when they started delving more into the genre so I’m very glad to see them turning away from it before Hallmark falls into the reality trap like so many other channels before it,” read someone else’s comment.
thank god, enough of the “reality/unscripted” stuff….
Agree
Agree…would like more mystery series. Never watch reality stuff and miss the Hallmark I used to love.
I agree completely! Hallmark has been going in the wrong direction as far as I’m concerned. There’s enough of that junk on other channels.
Totally agree with you. Hallmark Mysteries are great! The one with Chris McNalley was good, but they only made ONE! They canceled the best one – Mystery 101 – and left us with a CLIFFHANGER! I also like the cooking mystery with Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker; plus the ones with Allison Sweeney.
I agree 100 percent. Make more of these plus more of some of the other mysteries.
I’m not a fan of reality shows!!
Loved Finding Mr. Christmas and Baked with love. The feel good reality shows are powerful. Sometimes watching a movie isn’t time permitting so a quick fill in, especially if it stays feel good are perfect!! Hope this will continue.
Me too! I enjoyed both of them very much! I hope they come back.
I, too, enjoyed these two Christmas themed shows. It was a nice fill-in for the continuous movies from years gone by, something new to enjoy! Hope we see something like this again!
I enjoyed them too
Enjoyed the above reality shows, but that was enough.
I expanded my cable package to get Hallmark channels. I have been dismayed by the reality shows, which I don’t watch. I have not been happy with the programming for the last year and has me rethinking, which cable package I can cut down to.
I also stopped my Hallmark cable when they took Movies away from Movies and Mysteries. Then Hallmark made mysteries but only aired them on their new streaming channel. Meanwhile those of us that were paying for Movies and Mysteries got nothing except reruns. And the reruns of old TV shows were showing the same reruns every 6 to 7 weeks. I called my cable provider and said stop my cable add-on of Hallmark.
Hallmark became the most watched cable channel because of its family-friendly movies. People loved that and it showed by Hallmark becoming #1. Then they got some horrendous management types in who changed what was on, started pushing away their loyal actresses and actors, took the Movies and Mystery channel and made it the rerun king of watching the same shows reruns every 6 to 7 weeks. Who did they think was going to pay for that nonsense? Not me? When they took the movies away from Mysteries they lost me as a Hallmark cable subscriber.
It does sound like Hallmark with getting their old management back might be on the right track. But I won’t be subscribing to a Mystery channel only. I notice from the write-ups that Hallmark is starting to remember and use the stars who made them what they were The Number 1 Watched Cable Channel.
I would rather see additional seasons of The Way Home than the reality shows!
Right? All reality shows make me cringe….
Yes!! Me too!! I love “The Way Home”!!
Finding Mr. Christmas should stay as well as the Cruises and other shows that show interacting with the stars.
Agree.
I am glad they are moving away from the reality shows. There are other channels for that. Hallmark has always been where you could turn on the TV to Hallmark and watch a love/comedy movie. This is what we want back. We don’t want Matlock, Golden Girls, Diagnosis Murder and Murder She Wrote on until 6pm either. You are only showing 2 movies a day!
I agree
So glad to hear they are not expanding the reality shows. Never watched them nor did I like them. More movies please.
Because of the horrible decision to show continual showing of old series on both Hallmark channels for the better part of the day, I watch movies that I’ve saved. I prefer to watch those than the old series (some I loved in their time) but I don’t want to constantly live in the past! That’s not what I signed up for!
Agree. I’ve watched these old shows over and over through the years. There should be enough Hallmark movies for the regular channel and the Mystery channel. I started watching Great American Family due to their movies. They are doing the same thing. Murder She Wrote is on until 4pm today.
Don’t want to watch reality shows on Hallmark and don’t want to watch sitcoms either. Just movies.
Enough with reality and old tv shows like Gilmore Girls. I love Hallmark movies but not all the old TV shows during the day. More happy movies please.
Glad to see they’ve realized they strayed too far from what made them who they are. Hopefully they return to movies and more *mystery series.
When I discovered the Hallmark channel I was delighted to find a venue where life moved at an easier pace – yes, there were minor problems presented in the script but they were solvable. These movies took me to places I will probably never visit but was able to see as the plot developed.
I have no interest in reality type shows or cooking shows. There are already TV channels that are dedicated to that type of show.
I sincerely hope that Hallmark’s statement of a revisit to programming will bring back the familiar story plots, both romance & mystery, along with the talented actors the viewers love.
Switch daytime older programming shows to night. Have seen all the Murdered She Wrote too many time to mention but not the Matlock and Diagnosis Murder shown during the day. If you’re going to to use older programming at least change it up so we get to see “new” older programming .
Quit the reality programming, hate seeing people make fools of themselves. Go back to tried and true actors and perhaps, not holding my breath, to the caliber of programming from Hallmark Hall of Fame days when there was actual quality content worth watching.
Not a fan of the realty shows and glad they are going away.
You can keep the reality shows. I pay extra for Hallmark/Mysteries channels and am tired of seeing sitcoms that can be watched for free on other channels. I don’t watch reality shows, never cared for them. Hallmark/Mysteries should only be airing movies, not sitcoms. Know your audience. Have special days of programming..when it’s an actor’s birthday then run their movies all day long, even the earliest ones. Open your vault and please stop showing the premiere movies on 1 night then 5 more times during that same week. Your library should have plenty of movies to alternate. Listen more to your viewers….they got you where your at…
I sincerely hope that the Hallmark brand does drop all the reality series. I don’t like them and don’t watch them. There are other channels for that. I too pay extra for all the Hallmark channels and was not happy when they added reality series, and, of course, still seeing those same old reruns during the day. We’ve had enough. Movies are what we want during the day and on evenings until midnight. If Hallmark has to have reruns, then mix it up to not showing repeats so close together and have them from midnight to 6 a.m. only!! Also, try some new old reruns. (We can see all those old reruns on the free channels.) Please go back to showing movies all day from 6 a.m. to midnight. We prefer the old, tried & true actors that made Hallmark #1, not the new, unknown actors. Also, go back to clean, traditional, normal content, NOT the over the top, bad acting, new age agenda being pushed on us. My husband says we shouldn’t be paying for that crap. Please bring back the good, old, clean, traditional Hallmark! Thank you.
Oh Please please get rid of reality shows. Please get back to showing HALLMARK warm and fuzzy movies. Too many old fashioned series When calls the heart, heartland and others… Hallmark always had loving family friendly movies any time of the day. I went to hallmark last night and there was not 1 movie on..There were reruns of golden girls, reba, little house on the prairie…I was so disappointed. And the stars of these movies always put movies together that had meaning and not a rush movies that has no depth!!!!!! What is wrong??? I hope Jen Lilly is back for good,, Alicia Witt alway had cute movies, Kellie Martin.. Now there are young people that have no depth in their acting….If you are going to have reruns then please do movies that everyone loves from years ago. But now you show a new movie once and move it over the hallmark+.. WHY??? you are going to lose viewers. We love the warm fuzzy movies that really tell loving stories. They are made too fast and some of the new actors have no experience and acting leaves a lot to be desired. so HALLMARK PLEASE BRING BACK MOVIES THAT ARE GOOD AND NOT STUPID CORNY MOVIES.
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Yes!! I agree!!
I love the old movies when Hallmark stared. Now they are so predictable when boy meets girl. Hope they start showing those again. They were good. Lean family movies.
I saw only a few of the new Christmas movies that they actually shared on regular Hallmark. I cannot afford to pay for another streaming station. Shame on them for making us watch all the old movies over and over. I mainly watch the channel where most of the Hallmark actor went to. They made some great family movies.
So happy to learn reality shows will take a backseat! Thank you!
If it’s not broke, why are you trying to fix it. Stick with the love stories! No more reality shows! Keep the mystery shows on your murder and mystery channel.
I love the Hallmark movies, they make me feel good and escape reality for a while. Most reality TV shows are not for me. There are plenty on other stations, so why add more?
I’m glad for the changes but need more changes. Get rid of the old series and extend movies all night. Get rid of Golden girls,Walton’s and reba
Please renew finding mr.christmas. i absolutely loved it. And please go back to playing movies all day and night and stop playing old sitcoms and old shows that you can watch on other channels. Bring back miracles of christmas and leave the mystery movie’s on the mystery channel. Also please make more dramatic gay love movie’s and hire more teenage boys in the movies and not always have young girls in them. They never have sons its always daughters.
I liked Finding Mr. Christmas…hoping thst will renew!
I enjoy the Mistletoe Murder Mysteries during Christmas. I hope to see them continued!
I enjoy all Hallmark movie AND Mystery Movies.