Thoughts on Holiday Movies

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I grew up with the tradition that at a certain time of the year, our tv screens at home were constantly filled with holiday movies.  A quick check of the TV Guide (oh yes, that bible of channels back then) to see when to watch such traditional fare  like Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Holiday Inn, A Charlie Brown Christmas (cartoon), Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (cartoon), Santa Claus is Coming to Town (cartoon), and of course the classic of all classics It’s a Wonderful Life.

I got older and the movies graduated to The Grinch, A Christmas Story, The Santa Claus, Elf, Home Alone, and Love Actually.  And the Hallmark movies.  Oodles of them!

You leave home but somehow the traditions made growing up during the holidays follow you, especially when your mother calls to see if you are watching the movies (you are), she’s sniffling (as she always does) because, hey, holiday movies.  Hallmark has this down pat.  And after Thanksgiving they start running Christmas movies 24/7 (2 channels) which makes my mother giddy with seasonal bliss.  All the movies have a similar look and comforting feel, nothing too out of the ordinary to upset its viewing audience. Snow, adorable couple which has always looked the same movie after movie (often the same actors) and picturesque small towns in New England or lately the Northwest, ala islands in the Puget Sound. Similar scripts with heartwarming happy endings, usually with the snow starting to swirl about the couple’s head as they kiss (under the mistletoe, under a star, skating rink, etc.).

And almost always the couple is  white and hetrosexual. Very homogeneous right down to the religion. Which shouldn’t be surprising given Hallmark’s years in business, background, and, yes, audience.

Now that has started to change as people of color have appeared in roles as main characters, not just as the person running through the scene or the best friend you never see again. But something happened last week that made me wonder if Hallmark is thinking of making another tentative step forward again.  Hence this blog today.

There I was trying,once more to get involved in a story that just refused to contain my interest, my RPG laid closeby calling my name, the dogs were on the bed, and I had the new Hallmark Christmas movie playing on the tv, Road to Christmas.  I was only half heartedly paying attention to it when I heard some dialog like “you and your partner have your own Christmas traditions”….and boom! Interest engaged!

So story about a tv chef named Wise, her 3 adopted estranged sons (the Wise men ,get it?), and the young woman who works for her who reunited  them at Christmas time during a tv special.  She gets a boyfriend out of it too. Well, it turns out that one, (sweater, black rim glasses, perfectly coiffed hair) runs a animal rescue with his partner where it seems they live as well.  They have developed their own holiday traditions for themselves.  I blink.  They, uh, seem to be a couple. Huh. No touching, no indication of that really, cause Hallmark.  And at the end when the brothers are reunited at their mother’s home in the lovely picturesque mountains, guess who is watching it happen on live tv, adoringly, from their pet rescue/home?  Yep, it’s the partner. Home alone.

But it made me think. Was it a step forward?  Or was I reading too much into it?  Classic gay guy(s)?  Or Hallmark’s version of nerdy pet rescuer? Hmmmm.  Don’t know excerpt I’ve read that guy over and over again in countless M/M novels. So yes, I recognized him.  I think you all would too.  Thoughts, anyone?  Did anyone else see that movie?

Hallmark isn’t the only cable channel with holiday movies on it.  There’s Lifetime (Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever is one in case you were wondering), ABC Family, Oxygen, and a couple whose names escape me at the moment.  The amount of diversity in the movies varies, from none to, well, let’s say getting better.  Holiday movies really seem like the last frontier in my mind that remains to be (and needs to be) broken.  I’m hoping what I saw is the first baby steps taken by a major player in the holiday movie industry.  I can always hope.  Tis the season after all.3+

Until then I will have Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, Charlie Brown and that woeful tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas, Love Actually and Colin, God of Sex, White Christmas with “Sisters”,Miracle on 34th Street and that cane, and of course, Clarence and his bell in It’s a Wonderful Life.  And all the other countless movies and memories that mean the holidays to me.  How did I forget A Christmas Carol, every single version?  Oh my!

So yes, my tv is full of holiday movies, my Kindle getting primed with holiday stories, of which the reviews are just now starting to be posted.

And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, November 11:

• Thoughts on Holiday Movies
• This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, November 12:

• Beat of Their Own Drum by KM Neuhold Release Blitz
• Release Blitz,for Lucky Town by Morgan Brice
• Promo for Rick R. Reed
• A MelanieM Review: Mary, Queen of Scotch by Rob Rosen
• A Lila Review: Death Benefits by William Holden
• A Free Dreamer Review:  A Vampire’s Heart by Kayleigh Sky
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Loving Loch by Kris Jacen

Tuesday, November 13:

• In The Spotlight Tour and Giveaway:Renewing Forever by Kelly Jensen
• Release Blitz A Kiss Before Christmas by A E Ryecart
• On Tour with Rob Rosen on Mary, Queen of Scotch
• An Alisa Release Day Review: Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga
• A MelanieM Review: Renewing Forever by Kelly Jensen
• A Lucy Review: A Kiss Before Christmas by A E Ryecart

Wednesday, November 14:

• In the Spotlight Tour for Heart of a Redneck by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga
• Release Blitz – A Vampire’s Heart – Kayleigh Sky
• Alan Semrow Ripe: Letters *Author Tour*
• A Chaos Moondrawn Review: The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick
• A Jeri Review: Pay It Forward (Giving Back #1) by Nic Starr (
• An Ali Release Day Review: Blood Red Roulette by Jana Denardo

Thursday, November 15:

• DSP Promo Z.A. Maxfield
• Pay It Forward by Nic Starr Author Promo Tour
• Release Blitz Tour – LA Witt – The Husband Gambit
• Release Blitz & Review Tour – Mr Frosty Pants by Leta Blake
• An Ashlez Review Kinky Pride Collection by Shannon West, TS McKinney, Sara York, Susan E Scott
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Nova Praetorian by N.R. Walker
• A Stella Review: Bishop Ridge (Sawyer’s Ferry #2) by Cate Ashwood

Friday, November 16:

• HARMONY INK GUEST POST Gene Gant
• Release Blitz – Irresistible Indigo (D’Vaire, Book 9) by Jessamyn Kingley
• Review Tour – Ari McKay’s Seeking Solace (The Walker Boys #3)
• A MelanieM Release Day Review: Fair Isn’t Life by Kaje Harper
• A MelanieM Release Day Review: Cops and Comix (Murder and Mayhem) by Rhys Ford
• A Lucy Review: Seeking Solace (The Walker Boys #3) by Ari McKay

Saturday, November 17:

• Release Blitz – Walking In A Winter Wonderland – Claire Castle
• A MelanieM Review:  Best in Show by Kelly Jensen