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Hallmark Channel Chief Bill Abbott Exits In Aftermath Of Same-Sex Ad Controversy

Photo: Hallmark

Looks like there is still fallout from the Hallmark Channel pulling several ads from wedding planner, Zola that centered on a same-sex lesbian couple kissing at their wedding.

Now, Bill Abbott, who has been Crown Media Family Networks president and CEO for the last 11 years, is exiting the company.  The announcement was made today by Mike Perry, president and CEO of Hallmark Cards Inc.

No successor has been named. “I have tremendous confidence in the Crown Media management team and, with this team in place, I will begin a search for Bill’s replacement,” Perry said. “I want to thank Bill for his many years of success and contributions to Crown Media and wish him continued success.”

Prior to the firestorm against the cable outlet for pulling the Zola ads, (after conservative group One Million Moms petitioned to have the ads removed) and the network complied, the company was doing well.

Abbott presided over a period of growth and visibility for Hallmark including: Christmas programming and regular opportunities for seasoned A-list stars that in return attracted viewers and ratings. Bill Abbott’s exit is the latest result of Hallmark’s efforts to quickly turn the page on the bad PR.

Deadline reported that according to people familiar with the internal discussions, many people at the network expressed their preference for restoring the ad quickly, while Abbott went against their wishes and kept it off the air.

So, what do you think of Abbott stepping-down and Hallmark parting ways with him? Do you enjoy Hallmark Channel programming or find its fare and formula not diverse and inclusive enough? Comment below.

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Once Hallmark starts showing LBGTQ crap – I’m gone. I always thought Hallmark followed more closely with my Christian values, but if they follow the way of the rest of TV, I will no longer watch it. I liked a lot of their shows, but I won’t have this garbage in my house where my young grand children might see it.

Seriously? Soaps are moral and kissing is not? SMH.

A lot of folks who describe themselves as “Christians” are supporters of a serial adulterer who has about 1500 documented lies coming from his mouth since he’s been squatting in the White House.

Now admittedly, I haven’t spoken to my Former Employer in a long time, but I suspect he might find that a little more offensive than two people kissing in a commercial that airs on a channel full of bland, sappy programming.

Barb…So I guess that means you don’t watch The Young and Restless and General Hospital.

This is the biggest lie Lordy do you people never stop take your crap and literally shove it! The ad never showed them kissing !!! It was humorous actually quite funny why does the left insist on making a drama out of nothing!!!

In other words why don’t you leave these people alone if this is their beliefs leave them alone let it go

“get off the cross”

red green yellow.. all means the same thing to every body. common sense… mind your own p’s and q’s.. for those who “choose” to mix with

rally ! every one.. I’ve been to the rodeo

aint no charge lesser than mine… I pay the bills … mortgage, utilities, food on the table

I stand equal

his step down is freeing

on another note : from what I can gather… Mark Steines, “settles” lawsuit with ? hip hip hooray. He … stood with his female co-workers. Hallmark thought he would take the bullet

not so fast… I hope Hallmark also, pays for their decision to FIRE Mark Steines

CLEAN UP THE MESS your stench is indelible

We’ll never know the real politics behind closed doors for Abbott’s departure. I just know I enjoy the Hallmark Channel. I may not have watched everyday, back-to-back, like over Christmas, but it was a welcome relief from our daily news, Million Moms, and politics. It may be formula…so are our soaps…and I find it is almost as diverse as our soaps. With pleasant stories, some actors I recognized from the soaps, and stories that always end right. Even our soaps don’t let stories that initially end right stay that way for long.

Everyone calls out for their Rights, not every one has the desires/stomach to see LBGTQ kissing.. Doesn’t make straight people wrong or selfish. We have our rights to keep our belief. It’s called desires!

how sad to leave the house and not see any thing more than what you want

I left when they reinstated the gay commercial. I will not support a gay channel or company. Will not go into a store or buy a card from them again unless they go back to real family values.

Heather…So I guess that means no ABC/ General Hospital, or CBS/Young &Restless.

Real family values?

You mean like an orange man who orders his immigrant brides via mail order and then cheats on them with porn stars when they’re pregnant?

Hell, I have better values than that, and I’m the Devil!

this is exciting… leave, enough room for color… a shared moment…a start

Yes, if you don’t like Hallmarks programs then change the channel. Majority of Americans approve of the network’s movie.

As to you the small majority of Americans who want to push their lifestyle on others. Simply said, get your own network and problem is solved

I think that if Hallmark continues to show these types of commercials and add gays to their programs they will eventually not have a hallmark channel. I cannot understand why we do not have rights as conservative Christians in America. Losing Bill Abbot will forever change hallmark.

News

Jordi Vilasuso Joins the Cast of ‘The Bay’

The Bay has added Jordi Vilasuso to the cast of its Daytime Emmy-winning streaming series. Vilasuso himself dropped the news in a video teaser from Soap Hub during his appearance over the weekend from the Samantha and Friends event.

Jordi is best-known for his Daytime Emmy-winning role as Tony on Guiding Light, Rey on The Young and The Restless, Griffin on All My Children, and Dario on Days of Our Lives. He will now become as series regular in the role of Justin Ramos.

The role was previously played by David Lago (ex-Raul, Y&R) and Justin hasn’t been in the story since season 5.  In story, Justin is the brother to Janice Ramos, previously played by Lilly Melgar, and is the son of Nardo played by A Martinez.

Photo: JPI

Vilasuso’s new role reunites him with his former Days of our Lives father, Daytime Emmy-winner, Martinez, where in Salem they played Dario and Eduardo Hernandez.

The Bay is nominated for five Daytime Emmys this year including Outstanding Drama Series at the upcoming 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 7th.

Check out the video announcement of Jordi coming to The Bay with his new co-stars, Eric Nelsen, Kristos Andrews, Mike Manning and creator and EP, Gregori J. Martin below.

Now let us know, looking forward to seeing Jordi in his new role on The Bay? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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General Hospital

The Stars Come Out In Support of Nancy Lee Grahn’s ALS Benefit (Photos)

Boasting an incredible line-up of daytime soap opera star power, Nancy Lee Grahn’s (Alexis, General Hospital) ALS Benefit “Daytime Unites” held its fundraising event over the weekend on Saturday May 4th.

According to a post on X from Grahn following the event, she revealed that the fundraiser raised over $71,000 for ALS research. Stars from GH who participated included: Genie Francis (along with husband, Jonathan Frakes), Dominic Zamprogna, Kristen Vaganos, Kate Mansi, Maurive Benard, Laura Wright, Evan Hofer, Parry Shen, Lane Davies, Carolyn Hennesy, Michael Easton, Lydia Look, Tabyana Ali, Maura West, Adam J. Harrington, Cynthia Watros, and Lisa LoCicero.

In addition, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Don Diamont and Annika Noelle, The Young and the Restless’ Jason Thompson, Trevor St. John, Kate Linder, Melissa Claire Egan, and Christian LeBlanc, and Days of our Lives Stephen Nichols and Patrika Darbo, and more were also on-hand.

In her message on X, Grahn, the two-time Daytime Emmy-winner expressed, “Thanks to my beautiful friends who showed up, along with some extraordinarily kind Daytime fans, we raised over 71k for ALS. Truly grateful for the privilege to help move the needle a little closer to finding a cure.”

Now below check out some of the snaps featuring several of your favorites from the soaps below.

Photo: JPI

GH’s Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) and Maurice Benard (Sonny) strike a pose with former castmate Jason Thompson (ex-Patrick, GH, now Billy, Y&R).

Photo: JPI

B&B’s Annika Noelle (Hope) with the host with the most, Nancy Lee Grahn.

Photo: JPI

GH’s Adam J. Harrington (John “Jagger” Cates) attended Nancy’s event, his first with his new GH co-stars.

Photo: JPI

Y&R’s Peter Bergman (Jack) flanked by GH’s Car0lyn Hennesy (Diane) and Grahn.

Photo: JPI

Good buds and former OLTL co-stars, Y&R’s Trevor St. John (Tucker) and Michael Easton (Finn).

Photo: JPI

GH’s Cynthia Watros (Nina) showed her support for ALS and her co-star Nancy Lee Grahn’s fundraising efforts.

Photo: JPI

Star Trek favorite, Jonathan Frakes, with his wife, GH’s iconic, Genie Francis (Laura).

Photo: JPI

Two of the soaps and GH’s finest, Maura West (Ava) with Maurice Benard.

Photo: JPI

Tucker meets Tucker! The former Tucker McCall of The Young and the Restless, Stephen Nichols (Steve, Days) meets the current Tucker McCall, Trevor St. John!

Photo: JPI

The Davis girls showed up in support of their on-screen mother played by Nancy Lee Grahn- Kristen Vaganos (Molly) and Kate Mansi (Kristina).

So, what do you think about the star power of Nancy’s event? Glad to know they raised over 71K to help find a cure for ALS? Comment below.

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General Hospital

GH’s Tabyana Ali Responds to Nicholas Chavez Exit: “I Hope That We Will Get the Chance to Work Together Again Someday”

The “Sprina” that everyone knew and loved is not coming back in the form fans have been accustomed to, at least, anytime soon after Nicholas Chavez last week confirmed his exit from General Hospital.

After months of speculation if Chavez would return to his soap role, after exiting to film a leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, he revealed he has stepped away from the role via a post on his social media accounts.

Now, the other half of Sprina, Tabyana Ali, has offered up her thoughts on Nick’s exit from the series. Speaking to Soap Opera Digest, she shared, “I want the best for him and all of his endeavors and I hope that we will get the chance to work together again someday. I also want to show my gratitude to Sprina Nation as well.”

Photo: ABC

As to what the future holds for Trina, and where the character goes from here, Tabyana would like to see a character turn, adding, “I would like her to have a vendetta story or a revenge story. Or the love of her life is gone and now she just turned evil a little bit.”

However, Ali is very aware that Trina is not wired like that emotionally, at least, as she is written now, “I don’t know how much that would be possible. She’s such a kind-hearted person at her core.”

Photo: ABC

How would you feel if the show recast the role of Spencer with another actor, and brought Spencer back from the “dead”, given that his body was not found? Would you like to see another actor paired with Tabyana? Or, should Trina find happiness with a new love, and THEN, a recast Spencer shows back up?

And you never know, as Nicholas Chavez put it in his exit statement, “While there are no current plans for me to return, we are still talking very openly about future possibilities for Spencer in Port Charles.”

Vote in our poll below, and let us know what your hopes are for Trina’s future, via the comment section below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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