Five Tree Christmas

The highs and lows of the Christmas 2020 Movie Season. I talk about the worst and most disappointing Christmas movies of 2020, and the best movies and actors that we got to see on our screens this year!

Join me for this conversation with Stephie Predmore. We have a fascinating, funny, and deep conversation about Adoption and Foster Care on TV and in the movies. You'll learn a lot, and you laugh out loud along the way. 

Love, Lights, Hanukkah! (Hallmark Channel): As Christina prepares her restaurant for Christmas, a DNA test reveals that she's Jewish! The discovery leads her to a new family and a new, unlikely romance over eight crazy nights. Stars Mia Kirshner, Ben Savage, and Marilu Henner. 

Project Christmas Wish (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries): For years Lucy has played Santa to her small town's community. As she grants a little girl's wish for a "Christmas like it used to be," she unexpectedly finds her own wishes coming true. Stars Amanda Schull and Travis Van Winkle.

A Christmas Princess (Amazon Prime): A prince from a small European country arrives in New York City to plan his family's annual Christmas charity dinner.

Inn love by Christmas (Lifetime): Mandy Leeds (Jonna Walsh), a successful young woman living in Miami, is climbing her way up the corporate ladder in the hotel industry. Though she doesn’t get back to her small northern hometown much, this year her Gram (Jayne Eastwood) is able to finally convince her to come home for Christmas. Mandy has another reason too – the quaint local inn is for sale, and she wants to acquire it for her company. With her eyes on the prize, Mandy travels back home but on her way there, she runs into Lucas Menzino (Jesse Hutch) — her high school rival — who also has his eye on the inn as well.

The Christmas Setup (Lifetime): The Christmas Setup follows the story of New York lawyer Hugo (Ben Lewis) who heads to Milwaukee with his best friend Madelyn (Ellen Wong) to spend the holidays with his brother Aiden (Chad Connell) and his mom Kate (Fran Drescher), who is also in charge of the local Christmas celebrations. Ever the matchmaker, Kate arranges for Hugo to run into Patrick (Blake Lee), Hugo’s high school friend and secret crush, who has recently returned after a successful stint in Silicon Valley. As they enjoy the local holiday festivities together, Hugo and Patrick’s attraction to each other is undeniable and it looks as though Kate’s Santa-style matchmaking is a success. But as Hugo receives word of a big promotion requiring a move to London, he must decide what is most important to him.

Christmas in Glenbrooke (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries): Longing to be accepted for herself and not just her wealth, an heiress heads to the small town of Glenbrooke, where she discovers the joys of a simple Christmas, community, and maybe even love. Starring Autumn Reeser and Antonio Cupo

Join me for a conversation with Megan and Jasmine. You know how Minnesota and New York City often show up in Christmas movies? Well, Megan tells us all about the magic of Christmas in New York City,  and Jasmine tells us with us what Christmas in Minnesota is like. You might think you know what Christmas in Minnesota New York City is like, but in this episode, Megan and Jasmine reveal their lived experiences of Christmas in "The City."

Reviews of Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas, Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve, Christmas Ever After.

Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries): Five guests are mysteriously invited to an inn to celebrate Christmas. With the help of the owner Ben, Sarah discovers that an event from the past may connect them and change their lives forever. Starring Lacey Chabert, Stephen Huszar.

Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve (Lifetime): When college sweethearts, Corinne (Kyla Pratt) and Rob (Brooks Darnell), get opportunities on opposite sides of the world, they decide to part ways and meet again in two years on Christmas Eve to see if they are really meant to be. However, when one shows up and the other doesn’t, the fate of their romance seems to have reached the end. Many years later the two end up bumping into one another when they are both hired to help bring together a Christmas Eve wedding. With many questions left unanswered, they are about to embark on a journey filled with romance and magic, just in time for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Ever After (Lifetime): Popular romance novelist Izzi Simmons (Tony® winner Ali Stroker) spends every Christmas at her favorite snowy bed & breakfast, but this year, she’s faced with an impending deadline and a severe case of writer’s block. Luckily, inspiration strikes in the unlikely form of the B&B’s new owner Matt (Daniel di Tomasso), who bears an uncanny resemblance to the handsome hero from Izzi’s novels. As both partake in the lodge’s annual itinerary of Christmas activities, Izzi’s writer’s block is cured and the first pages of her and Matt’s own love story may just be beginning.

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Evyn about all things plastic surgery. We discuss common done procedures that might be misunderstood, the often forgotten reconstructive side of plastic surgery, and what it's like to be a plastic surgery resident. Our conversation is a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy it!

Synopses:

The Christmas Listing (Lifetime): Julia Rogers (Lexi Giovagnoli) is an uptight, hardworking realty owner who has lost her Christmas spirit. She will have to spend five days at a Christmas Inn with her business competitor, Chad Everest (Travis Burns), in order to win over the badly needed listing of the Erickson Farmstead. While competing to win the listing, Julia and Chad discover that they have more in common than they thought.

Midnight at the Magnolia (Netflix): Longtime friends and local radio hosts Maggie and Jack fake it as a couple for their families and listeners in hopes of getting their show nationally syndicated.

Too Close for Christmas (Lifetime): When Hayley (Jessica Lowndes) accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her sister’s new in-laws, her seemingly perfect holiday takes a turn when Paul (Chad Michael Murray), Hayley’s brother-in-law’s brother, unexpectedly shows up. Still harboring a grudge against Paul for ending her last relationship, Hayley reluctantly spends time with Paul and slowly realizes she may have been too quick a judge on him.