From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:
Everything about Heartland, eh?
A Heartland Christmas scores 1.4 million viewers; repeats Christmas Day
From a media release:
CANADIANS’ HEARTS WARMED BY A HEARTLAND CHRISTMAS
- More than 1.4 million viewers tuned in for CBC-TV
holiday special on December 12 - New holiday classic to air again on Christmas Day
The heartwarming story of a Christmas-time race to save starving horses trapped in a remote mountain area touched a huge television audience Sunday night, as more than 1.4 million Canadians tuned in for A HEARTLAND CHRISTMAS. Based on CBC-TV’s top rated dramatic series, the two-hour television holiday movie scored a resounding ratings success.
Audiences will have another opportunity to watch A HEARTLAND CHRISTMAS when it airs again on Christmas Day (Dec 25th) at 9:00 p.m. (9:30 NT).
Written by Heather Conkie and directed by Dean Bennett, A HEARTLAND CHRISTMAS stars Amber Marshall as Amy, Michelle Morgan as her sister Lou, Shaun Johnston as Jack – Amy’s and Lou’s grandfather – and Chris Potter as Tim. Also in the cast are series regulars Graham Wardle as Ty Borden, Jessica Amlee as Mallory, Kerry James as Caleb Odell and Cindy Busby as Ashley Stanton, as well as guest stars Nicholas Campbell (DA VINCI’S INQUEST, THE REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) and Hélène Joy (MURDOCH MYSTERIES, DURHAM COUNTY).
A HEARTLAND CHRISTMAS is produced by Dynamo Films of Toronto and SEVEN24 Films of Calgary. The executive producers are Michael Weinberg, Tom Cox (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN) and Jordy Randall (TOM STONE). The series is produced by Tina Grewal (JEFF LTD.) with Heather Conkie (DARK ORACLE) serving as executive producer and writer.
New tonight: A Heartland Christmas on CBC
8:00 p.m. Movie
A Heartland Christmas – (2010) It’s a week before Christmas and holiday preparations are moving into high gear at Heartland. Lou’s new husband Peter may not be able to spend Christmas with her due to his father’s illness. Amy, Ty, Jack and Tim head out on a rescue mission when an anonymous call is received about starving, abandoned horses trapped in an avalanche. And Caleb and Ashley discover you don’t need expensive gifts to have the perfect Christmas. Michelle Morgan, Amber Marshall, Graham Wardle, Shaun Johnston, Chris Potter, Nicholas Campbell, Hélène Joy, Matthew Knight.
Heartland holiday special stars Nicholas Campbell
From Bill Brioux of the Toronto Star:
- Into the Heartland for the holidays
“Heartland a corny horse opera aimed at the sticks? Smile when you say that, partner. The Sunday night family favourite is CBC’s stealth hit, galloping off with a steady million viewers a week.” Read more.
From Eric Volmers of Postmedia News:
- Christmas in the Heartland
“Instead, we get a tale of family dysfunction, avalanches, death and starving horses. While it all comes to an appropriately uplifting end, getting there offers some of the more dramatic moments to have ever met Alberta’s cheery Fleming family during Heartland’s four-season run.” Read more.
From Bill Harris of the Toronto Sun:
- Da Vinci Star loves Heartland
“Having seen Nicholas Campbell in A Heartland Christmas, we had to ask him: Why are you so good at playing a crazy old coot? “After filming that, I lost about 20 pounds and got my hair dyed again so I’m looking more like myself,” the well-known Canadian actor said with a laugh.” Read more.
Nicholas Campbell guests on A Heartland Christmas
From Cassandra Szklarski of The Canadian Press:
- Canadian TV journeyman Campbell wonders what took ‘Heartland’ so long to call
“Since retiring his long-running role as Dominic Da Vinci on CBC-TV’s “Da Vinci’s City Hall” and “Da Vinci’s Inquest,” Nicholas Campbell has kept busy with a healthy stream of marquee guest spots, most recently with regular roles on the Showcase series “Haven” and CBC’s “Republic of Doyle.” And when it came to casting a gruff, hard-bitten Scrooge for a “Heartland” holiday special, the creators of the Alberta-set family series immediately thought of Campbell.” Read more.