Grab a blanket and some eggnog, and get ready to snuggle up in front of the television, because Lifetime is bringing viewers a long list of Christmas films that give some of daytime's hottest stars Rudolph-like roles (i.e. front and center!).
The "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" slate of holiday movies includes 30 different original films this year, including A Christmas Setup, which marks the cable channel's first-ever holiday movie to feature a gay couple as the leads, and A Sugar & Spice Holiday, Lifetime's first holiday film led by an Asian cast. But you came for the soapy projects, didn't ya? So, keep reading for the complete list of Lifetime holiday films that feature daytime stars.
Lifetime's "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Schedule (all movies premiere at 8PM ET)
Saturday, November 15: The Christmas Edition
Stars: Aloma Wright (ex-Maxine Landis, Days of our Lives)
Summary: Jackie (Carly Hughes) is an up-and-coming journalist whose life is at a crossroads -- until she finds an unexpected opportunity to run a fledgling newspaper in a small Alaska town. Using a series of Christmas articles, she's able to quickly return the newspaper to profitability and soon falls in love -- both with her new home and the handsome son of the paper's former owner. However, when her old boss announces plans to take over the paper for herself, Jackie will need a Christmas miracle to save the paper and the new life she has created.
Friday, November 20: A Taste of Christmas
Stars: Gilles Marini (ex-Ted Laurent, DAYS; ex-Dr. Gohde, The Bold and the Beautiful)
Summary: When Natalie (Anni Krueger) learns her cousin Francesca (Nia Vardalos) must cancel the Christmas Eve opening of her new Italian restaurant, Natalie's heart goes out to all of the guests who were planning on attending. Since no one should be alone on Christmas, Natalie decides to make the opening happen any way she can. However, the attractive but pessimistic Chef Stefano (Marini) believes it's impossible -- there are only three days until Christmas! But Natalie insists that problems are just opportunities in disguise, and soon, she convinces Stefano that they can do it. At first, these opposites do not attract, but feelings begin to change when they find themselves working side by side. With Stefano's help, Natalie learns that cooking, like Christmas, isn't about perfection -- it's about sharing it with the ones you love.
Saturday, November 21: Feliz NaviDAD
Stars: Mario Lopez (ex-Dr. Christian Ramírez, B&B)
Summary: Directed by Melissa Joan Hart, the film follows David Morales (Lopez), an Arizona high school principal and single dad who lost the holiday spirit after also losing his wife a few years ago during the Christmas season. David will do anything to avoid Christmas, so he moonlights as a delivery driver during the holidays. But this year David's fourteen-year-old daughter, Noel (Paulina Chavez), and his live-in sister, Marissa (Marycarmen Lopez), are determined to bring the yuletide spirit back to the family and, with a little luck, also help David find love again via online dating. So, when Sophie (AnnaLynne McCord), a witty musician and customer on David's delivery route, swipes right on him, something magical happens between them.
Monday, November 22: Homemade Christmas
Stars: Michelle Argyris (ex-Kendra Lennon, General Hospital)
Summary: Every year, ambitious young woman Megan (Michelle Argyris) uses the weeks leading up to Christmas to become the ultimate holiday freelance assistant for hire, helping with any Christmas-related tasks for extra income. But when the opportunity arrives to save a Christmas party and dazzle her crush, she must choose between the man of her aspirations and Mr. Right.
Saturday, November 28: Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding
Stars: Debbi Morgan (ex-Angie Hubbard, All My Children; ex-Harmony Hamilton, The Young and the Restless; ex-Jennifer Tartaro, B&B; ex-Dr. Ellen Burgess, GH)
Summary: Lifetime's first-ever Christmas sequel to last year's hit movie, Merry Liddle Christmas, Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding once again follows Jacquie Liddle (Kelly Rowland) as she and Tyler (Thomas Cadrot) try to plan their perfect destination Christmas wedding. Naturally, Jacquie's plans go awry when her boisterous family intervenes in her planning, and her snooty wedding planner quits in protest. While nothing goes as initially planned, Jacquie and Tyler get a Christmas wedding more memorable than they could have ever dreamed.
Sunday, November 29: Once Upon a Main Street
Stars: Patrick Duffy (ex-Stephen Logan, B&B), Ryan McPartlin (ex-Hank Bennett, Passions)
Summary: Amelia Lewis (Vanessa Lachey) is super excited when she buys an available storefront, planning to open a year-round Christmas shop. But her celebration comes to a screeching halt when she discovers that Vic Manning (McPartlin) has also bid on the property. Amelia and Vic have the same idea: get to the seller, Elder Dubois (Duffy), and convince him to sell his space to them. Despite the holidays, Elder is down in the dumps. It's the first Christmas without his wife, and he's in no mood to chair the decoration committee for the "Battle of the Main Street" yearly holiday competition with the neighboring town. Hoping to win favor with Elder, Amelia and Vic volunteer to take over his duties. After continually bickering and trying to one-up each other, the two combatants learn to work together and even get the merchants on Main Street to put aside their differences for the greater good. Everyone, including Amelia and Vic, realize that compromise is the key that leads to a happy -- and romantic -- ending.
Saturday, December 5: Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve
Stars: Brooks Darnell (ex-Nate Hastings, Y&R)
Summary: When college sweethearts Corinne (Kyla Pratt) and Rob (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.
Friday, December 18: Christmas on the Menu
Stars: Shanica Knowles (ex-Simone Burch, Y&R), Cynthia Gibb (ex-Suzi Carter, Search for Tomorrow)
Summary: Josie Jennings (Kim Shaw) -- a celebrated, romantic, 35-year old chef in the city -- heads home to spend the holidays at the quaint, magical bed and breakfast where she grew up, and where her mother, Shannon (Gibb), has just opened a new restaurant. Famous food critic Tanner Rhodes (Clayton James), who has given Josie harsh reviews in the past, comes to town to review the new restaurant and Josie's Christmas cuisine. As the holidays unfold, Josie and Tanner get to know each other better, and a romance soon begins to blossom. But will Tanner find a way to right his wrongs, write a rave review for the bistro's delicious cuisine, and win Josie's heart by Christmas Eve?
What do you think about this year's Lifetime holiday films that star soap opera actors? Which of the Christmas films are you most looking forward to watching? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
