TCA 2018: Hallmark Channel Renews ‘Chesapeake Shores’

Hallmark Channel has renewed its drama series Chesapeake Shores for a third season, one of several programming announcements made during the network’s annual Television Critics Association winter tour dinner event Saturday.

The series, which stars Jesse Metcalfe, Meghan Ory, Treat Willams and Diana Ladd, will return this summer for a 10-episode run, according to network officials.  

 “Viewers have fallen in love with the heartfelt and compelling storylines as each character navigates the complexities of life, love and choices,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Network Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks in a statement.  “We look forward to continuing and further exploring the multi-generational family journeys that people of all ages can enjoy and relate to, which makes Chesapeake Shores a fitting series for our brand and the quality, family entertainment we provide.” 

The network also announced it will debut the inaugural 2018 American Rescue Dog Show on Feb. 12. The special, hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Rich Eisen, will honor the traits and benefits of mixed breeds and rescued purebreds. In addition to competition in the ring, the show will highlight heartwarming stories of courageous dogs who have overcome tremendous odds to be rescued and find forever homes, said the network.

In addition, Hallmark said it would debut the fourth season of original series Good Witch on April 29.

Read More: MCN's Complete Coverage of #TCA18

On the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries front, the network has greenlit development for a new original movie, The Crossword Mystery, created by New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz. The network has tapped Lacy Chabert and Brennan Elliott to star in the film, which follows a crossword puzzle editor who finds her life turned upside down when she is pulled into a police investigation after several of the clues in her recent puzzles are linked to unsolved crimes, said network officials. 

The network has also signed Alexa PenaVega and Carlos PenaVega to star in a new movie penned by Garage Sale Mystery franchise writer Walter Klenhard. In addition, The Garage Sale Mystery franchise will return in August with four all-new original movies. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will also add long-running USA Network series Psych beginning Jan. 15 to its lineup, running three episodes every weekday from 6-9 p.m. leading out of three episodes of Monk, said network officials.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.