After several years away, Jen Lilley has returned to Hallmark. She stars in the new movie “A Royal Setting,” which premieres on March 28 and co-stars Dan Jeannotte. Ahead of the movie’s premiere, Lilley reflected on her decision to leave Hallmark in early 2022. She left to join the network’s former CEO, Bill Abbott, at Great American Family.
Jen Lilley Was ‘Promised the Moon’ to Change Networks
Lilley talked about the decision during the March 23 episode of the “Hallmark Mysteries & More” podcast. She said it was “such a hard decision” to leave Hallmark and join Abbott as he ramped up Great American Family.
She noted that Abbott had been “my biggest cheerleader at Hallmark.” In addition, Lilley explained, the discussion about the move began in 2020. As fans will remember, that was in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, Lilley noted, “everybody” at Hallmark was “navigating over to Great American.”
The biggest Hallmark departure came from Candace Cameron Bure, whose move was announced in April 2022. As Variety noted, Bure signed a massive deal with Great American Family. The new deal gave her a much bigger role than she had with Hallmark.
Soon after it was announced that Bure was leaving, quite a few others followed. Danica McKellar made the move, as did Trevor Donovan. Eventually, other Hallmark stars such as Cameron Mathison, Carlos PenaVega, and Alexa PenaVega made the transition, as well.
In making her decision to head to Abbott’s network, Lilley said during the podcast, “I didn’t know if I had any allies left [at Hallmark], and I was promised the moon” to go to Great American Family.
She was asked if she regretted that decision, and Lilley hesitated briefly. “It was just one of those decisions that I made at the time,” Lilley says before trailing off. She added, “I don’t know. I think everything happens for a reason, so I can’t say that I regret it.”
“It’s like I regret it and don’t regret it at the same time,” Lilley admitted.
The Star of ‘A Royal Setting’ Hopes to Do Additional Hallmark Movies in the Future
It seems there was no hesitation about returning to Hallmark once she had the opportunity. She noted, “I really can’t stress how grateful I am” to be back with Hallmark.
Returning was “such a wonderful experience,” because “It did feel like putting on your favorite pair of shoes. It was so much more comfortable and easy than I anticipated it being, and there was no drama at all,” Lilley shared.
She noted that she had stayed in touch with many of her colleagues who remained at Hallmark after she left, and everybody was always on good terms.
Lilley loves “A Royal Setting” and wasn’t shy about saying, “I hope it’s not my last” with Hallmark.
She also pointed out that she’s never been one to “throw shade,” and “I’m not gonna say one bad thing about either situation.” However, Lilley emphasized, “I was just glad to be back” at Hallmark.”
I don’t discount some of the reasons people left Hallmark and I would love to follow them but Great American Family is not on my cable company’s offerings up to now. I find it is available in an extra charge offering. I already pay almost $300.00 for cable and internet. It is the only high speed internet in rural areas and at that, it is inconsistent. If GAF could negotiate into a more friendly access, we would love to join in.
It’s definitely worth the extra $$ to support GAF
I prefer channels that are more inclusive.
I found Hallmark to be inclusive long before GAF. They hired people of all backgrounds BUT it was known for and made the number one cable channel for being family oriented. You could leave Hallmark on all day with kids around and not have to worry about them seeing things you didn’t want them to see yet.
After Bill Abbott left, Hallmark changed radically. I cannot leave it on while my niece’s children are over.
I wish they would make GAF available in my area because Hallmark got rid of a lot of their loyal stars.
I have never seen anything on Hallmark I would not let my kids watch. I like is and while GAF is offered free on my cable package I refuse to watch it. I do not approve of their anti-inclusive policy
You are so right on.
I am absolutely thrilled that JEN LILLEY is back at Hallmark… I just love her. I think she should be a staple like Lacey. Although my favorite movie of all times is A PARIS CHRISTMAS WALTZ with Jen and Matthew Morrison. I would love to see more of those to working together….but I am happy Jen is back at Hallmark where she belongs..Thanks for bringing her back..Looking forward to watching the new movie tonight on hallmark!!
Hallmark is my favorite and all my favorites are there so I’m glad she’s home again.
I hope she stays and hope some of the others come back as well 🙏 Hallmark is my favorite
I am glad to see her back at Hallmark. She was always a favorite.
I have tried to watch GAC but it’s just not as good as Hallmark. The acting and stories aren’t as good.
Plus, I don’t want to watch a network that promotes exclusion and that your beliefs aren’t right if you don’t align with them.
Completely agree with you!! Well said!
Agreed
I am not a member of Hallmark anymore due to the fact that alot of their movies are cookie cutter movies. Same plot with different location and different actors! Once in a great while they will have a Super Great movie! I get movies from them thru Hulu. So I am fine with that arrangement.
GAF is available on Frndly as is Hallmark at a nominal charge.
So sorry Lilley has opted to return to Hallmark.. who made the choice to go Woke… GAF is truly the family oriented channel, not Hallmark.
I guess you think family doesn’t include the millions of LGBT families just the ones you like. Sorry but we are just as much of a family as you and more so in that we accept everyone not just small mined people like yourself. Remember is you aren’t WOKE then you are asleep.
Am so glad you are back!!!
I love that great American family is a abbreviated GAF because I do not GAF about all the super religious stuff they broadcast all the time!😂
Good One!
GAF movies are terrible. I can’t watch the crap they try and call – movies. All they do is push religion at the viewers like it is a cult. It just gives me the creeps.
Hallmark, you’re my tv ride-or-die. I love ya!!!
What I found disturbing about GAF is that they hired Lori Laughton(sp?) who was involved in getting her daughter into college by not so honest means. Not very Christian like of her yet she was hired. Pretty hypocritical of GAF.
Doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance. She did go to prison and paid her debt to society. It is sometimes difficult for me to get past what she did. On the other hand I try to treat her as I would like to be treated.
Hallmark just announced that they are bringing Lori back for the next season of When Calls the Heart, so I’m finished with it.
So Happy Jen is back at Hallmark. I’m a BIG Fan of Hallmark(I LOVE my Christmas Movies) & Special Shows like WCTH, The Way Home the Good Witch(which needs to come back Permanently). I’m a Catholic, but it’s way too much on the Religious things on GAF. I do watch GAF once in a while.
I will definitely give you that one. But there is still something with Hallmark that seems to pull me in. Different actors in different places same kinda storyline and it repeats. But, Hallmark just has that “it” for me. Everyone can have a preference, it’s not a major thing.