The Hallmark Channel, famous for its Christmas movies, is finally adding some (holiday) diversity to its mix: Hallmark is now in the business of making Hanukkah movies!
Forbes reported that the channel “has two movies with Hanukkah themes under development that it plans to air next year.” One of the films, tentatively titled Holiday Date, will have “Hanukkah elements.” (That makes us think it’ll probably just be a Christmas movie with one or two Jewish people, maybe a menorah thrown in there, a la the “Happy Hanukkah” uttered to Mr. Hooper on the iconic Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.)
It’s not the first time Hanukkah will appear on the Hallmark Channel. In 2012’s Hitched for the Holidays, the protagonist, Julie, needs a fake boyfriend to “placate her Jewish mother for the holiday season.” Obviously, she falls in love with him.
While people are excited for some Hallmark representation, others have already begun making jokes about them. Because, obviously.
If they really understood Hanukkah they’d do two good movies and six others that are nothing special. https://t.co/VFAqArKLfv
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) November 30, 2018
And other are already pitching plots:
Small-town Jewish doctor David works the emergency room shift over Christmas. New York literary agent Jen – visiting her parents – falls while decorating the house and sprains her ankle – and finds more than she expected at the hospital.
call me @Hallmarkhttps://t.co/wzQgU2uQF4— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 3, 2018
Title: Finding Hanukkah
Plot: Brunette woman shows up to a small town, having lost the Hanukkah spirit. She meets a rugged Jewish cowboy who helps her rediscover her love of Hanukkah.
Dear Hallmark, please send all royalties to https://t.co/vH6jznS5El https://t.co/SmSBzDa2zH
— Steph (@aka_savannah) December 1, 2018
Christmas movies in header image via letterboxd.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
