Hallmark Channel Renews ‘When Calls the Heart’
MultiChannel News
Series Finished In Top 5 In Its Saturday Night Timeslot
By: Mike Reynolds
Hallmark Channel is bringing When Calls The Heart back for a second season.
The network, which said it was leaning toward a renewal at its upfront presentation in New York in March, has ordered a sophomore run from Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy Television.
Based on the Janette Oke novel of the same name, the period piece averaged a 1.5 household rating for its 10-episode first-season run, making it one of the top five performers in its Saturday night timeslot.
When Calls The Heart is Hallmark Channel’s second original series, behind Cedar Cove, which will return for its second campaign this summer. The third series, Martha Williamson’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered, is currently airing on Sunday nights.
“The success of When Calls The Heart proves the show fills the niche of quality, family-friendly entertainment that audiences want to see in today’s crowded television landscape,” said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president of programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, in announcing the pick-up. “The overwhelming wave of support from the show’s legion of fans tells us that they have fallen in love with its great storytelling and we are thrilled to have it continue.”
Starring Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing, the series tells the tale of a young teacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) who begins a new chapter in her life in a 19th century coal mining town and learns the lessons of life, love and loss. Thatcher arrives in Coal Valley, a 19th century coal mining town, for her first classroom assignment, shortly after a mine explosion has claimed the lives of most of the community’s men, leaving behind their widows—including kind-hearted Abigail Stanton (Loughlin). The newly widowed women face many challenges as they confront life alone in Coal Valley, and find their faith is tested when they are forced to work in the mines to make ends meet. As Thatcher adapts to the frontier lifestyle, she also begins to fall for handsome Mountie Jack Thornton (Lissing). Jack Wagner and James Brolin appeared in the final episodes of the first season, looking to bring justice to the coal mining tragedy.