Hallmark Channel

We need a little Christmas now.

The bizarre subculture of dime-store Christmas movies seems oddly pervasive this year, and has not gone unnoticed at SNL. The “Not Ready for Primetime Players” have at least one more gift in the form of a cut short, featuring host James Franco in an endless stream of indistinguishable Hallmark Channel classics.

Hallmark Channel, known for translating its warm and fuzzy brand of greeting card sentiment into quality TV programming, is getting into the original scripted series game. The network has signed 'Sex, Lies and Videotape' star, Andie MacDowell to star in 'Cedar Cove,' a two-hour TV movie/backdoor pilot.