News
Hallmark Channel Chief Bill Abbott Exits In Aftermath Of Same-Sex Ad Controversy
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.
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.
It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.
In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.
However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.
Photo: JPI
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.
Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.
With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.
So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.
The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”
Photo: ABC
ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW
As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.
O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”
Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”
You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.
Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
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‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
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Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
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