In recent years, one of the most popular TV channels
has been the Hallmark Channel. Actually,
there are three Hallmark channels: the
flagship regular Hallmark channel, the Movies & Mysteries channel, and the relatively newer Hallmark
Drama Channel.
Yet of the three, the original
Hallmark Channel remains the most popular.
Movies & Mysteries places a close second while the Drama
Channel trails way back in the pack.
The secret of Hallmark’s success isn’t that much of a
secret—but one the networks are unlikely to follow. Hallmark is the premier champion of family
friendly programs. Violence is kept to
the absolute minimum. (If you don’t
count the occasional snowball fight as violence, then one will search in vain
for anything pugnacious.) Sex is barely
suggested and there are no bedroom scenes of either the married or premarital
kind. The unassuming TV watcher should
be forgiven if he came to conclusion that the standard plot’s entire aim is to
get the two principals to share a kiss.
All mild stuff indeed. As one commenter
has said: all “g” rated fair one could
watch with your children without the possibility that something blue or
otherwise off-color will pop up which require sensitive explanations
latter.
Religion is never far away from a hallmark story. The Christian moral cord is assumed. When religion does make an overt appearance,
it is usually in the form of a minister or generic church. No particular faith tradition is named but seems
to be vaguely Protestant. Whatever it
is, it is certainly not Lutheran—much less Catholic or Orthodox. At times, ones gets the notion that the faith
that guides of the makers of the program was not Christianity but Mormonism. But like I say, it is only a notion. As for living out their faiths in the
stories, one will get references to prayer or an occasional hymn—rarely more. Occasionally one of the principals is seen
either entering a church or leaving a religious service. It is far more likely the interior of the
church will be the setting for marriage.
Of late, Hallmark has broached the subject of homosexuality
in its storylines. So far, none of the main principles of the plot
are gay. Gay couples are recognized in
the narrative but in truth are purely tangential to the storyline. This is pretty small potatoes and is unlikely
to satisfy gay activists who want homosexuality normalized with a greater presence
in conventional programing. While open
homosexuality is indeed a reality of modern life, it is unsatisfying to an
orthodox Christian that there isn’t even a discussion of its morality.
All the same, the introduction of homosexuality into
Hallmark’s shows is a step that challenges its family friendly status. On a more positive note, Hallmark has introduced
multiracial couples into their stories.
At the present time, I have not seen a black man romance a white female
nor any other racial combination. Nevertheless,
I expect to see a multiracial romance on Hallmark sooner than later. I’d say the days when it was controversial
when a blond blue-eyed girl of solid New England stock became engaged to a black-haired
brown-eyed son of Italian immigrants are over.
It being the Christmas season, Hallmark carpets its broadcast
schedule with Christmas movies.
Christmas. Christmas. Christmas.
No war on Christmas here. Indeed,
Christmas is treated with abundant respect by Hallmark. A good half of the plots involve one of the
principles gaining the Christmas spirit while pursuing romance and realizing
their love interest. If you can appreciate Christmas movies 24
hours a day, every day, for six weeks out of the year, then all is well and
good.
All is well and good…until one stops ponder one of the
things said fairly consistently in one way or another in Hallmark’s Christmas
programs. The subject “What is Christmas all about?”
comes about fairly often. This is fairly
simple, but interesting question. One you’d
like to hear what friends and family have to say. Hallmark has a clear idea. Sometimes its answer merely suggested. Other times it is left unanswered. But often---maybe not often enough—Hallmark’s
answer is clear and direct. Christmas is
a time to gather with one’s family together along with other loved ones and
friends to share to enjoyment of each other’s company and the good time of this
special occasion.
The gathering of kin and kind has a lot to be said for
it; but, while it is certainly healthy and commendable, it is not the meaning
of Christmas. It is an admirable aspiration
among the unchurched and otherwise nonspiritual. The truth is far too many families are broken
and a regrettable number of the old spend the Holy days alone. The reasons span chasm of human experience: drugs, alcohol, greed, vicious disagreements…all
the way to callous neglect. As for drugs and alcohol, Hallmark rarely
deals these realities. It’s favorite
subjects revolve around a man and women—often high school sweethearts--
separated by years of different paths in life and finally coming together for a
purpose in the hometown. In other
tellings, two opposites are put together by circumstances. They spend an unusual amount of time together. Then, after several sessions of wine and/or
hot chocolate, both realize they are in love.
There are usually complications with various elaborations but, in the end, our smitten couple
bond in love.
Hallmark’s most successful series, “When Calls The
Heart”, while it centers on the town’s lone school teacher, Elizabeth Thatcher, follows the
lives of a wide set of characters in a fictional Hope Valley somewhere in
western Canada. While “When Calls The Heart” can be a bit more serious than Hallmark’s
typical fare, it still follows the network’s family-friendly, feel-good formula.
The series has had a few Christmas specials. All well received and popular. But “the meaning of Christmas” remains much
the same. A baby may be born. Kindness may be extended to ill-fortuned strangers
or hermits living in the wild nearby.
Still, the message of love and second chances comes through.
Hallmark is basically innocent, light fun. We should not fault it for what never claimed
to be—which would presumably be “The Christian Channel”. While many of its characters across its many
programs do make references faith and prayer and we may see characters going
into or coming from a church service, the particular contents of their faith
are never discussed. Which is what one would
expect if you were wanting the widest audience possible. Nevertheless, in such a case, one would think
Hallmark would be more circumspect when it comes to telling the world “What Christmas is all about”.
Truth be told, it is not just Hallmark which equivocates
on this point. Think about all the
Christmas movies you have seen and ultimately almost all do the same fudging. Short of
those film expressly made about the Nativity; the storylines are driven by engines
that don’t have anything to do with “What Christmas is all about”. The two come to mind are revenge and romance. Revenge.
I think of BEN HUR. Not exactly a
Christmas movie, although it does begin with the birth of Jesus. But certainly, the engine that drives
Hallmark movies is romance. Hallmark
understands that women have an abiding longing for romantic stories. Stories which provide an uplifting respite
from everything else on television, factual or fictional, and for most women,
an always welcome dose of romance. Romance
with no bedroom scenes or even a suggestion of a sleep over. The Hallmark Christmas movies span the scope
in quality-- with none reaching any dramatic height although one may come upon moments
in which the interaction between actors may transcend the format. But then the makers at Hallmark aren’t going
for KING LEAR and won’t be mistaken for it.
Which still leaves us with the original issue of “Just
What Is Christmas all about?” For all
the right tones Hallmark makers hit in their Christmas movie, “love and the
gathering of kith and kin” would only satisfy you if one were determinately secular
and revisionist. The modern celebration of Christmas—if one
were the proverbial man from mars—is a confusing menagerie of cut evergreen
trees, mistletoe, garlands, stringing lights on houses, Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, the North Pole, Santa, elves, wrapped presents,
oceans of alcohol, a wide range of local customs, and this baby born in a barn. The Christmas soup is a problematical delicacy
from which the major ingredient is barely discernable.
Yet, for the Christian, it all come down to that pesky
baby born in the barn. Personally, I
love Christmas. I love everything about
it and I don’t see any purpose in getting all superior about it. It does seem like every time you turn around there
a hand stuck out wanting your money. But
even that can become a positive feature of Christmas. Santa doesn’t confuse me and didn’t confuse
me as a child. Santa, like all the
saints, is an example of something about Christ. In the case of Santa Claus, it is his freely
giving nature which reflects Christ’s generosity to all.
But Santa doesn’t consume Christmas.
Instead, he is only a beginning which can lead one to the true meaning
of Christmas. Admittedly, imperfect as
it is, Santa is a glimpse—and only a glimpse—of the “God-Among-Us”. For this Lutheran, as much as I might appreciate
tradition, my impulse is to always dial direct.
For that, among tv specials, one stands out above all others. First broadcast December 6, 1965, A CHARLIE BROWN
CHRISTMAS told its story when toward the end it suddenly tackled the question
of what Christmas was all about. And
they hit it dead on.
Crestfallen, Charlie Brown loudly asks if
anyone knows what Christmas is all about; Linus says he does, walks to center
stage, asks for a spotlight, and recites the annunciation to the shepherds:
2 In those days Caesar
Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman
world. 2 (This was the first census that took place
while[a] Quirinius was
governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went
to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of
Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he
belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He
went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and
was expecting a child. 6 While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no
guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the
fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. 10 But
the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will
cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today
in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. 12 This
will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly
host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth
peace Good will to men
