STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
The Hallmark Channel is forcing us to consider the question, how soon is too soon to start the holiday season?
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Their annual slate of Christmas programming started Friday, a full two weeks before Halloween. That's some serious mission creep.
INSKEEP: Although I'm OK with it, Leila.
FADEL: I know. I love Christmas...
INSKEEP: One of our...
FADEL: ...Programming.
INSKEEP: (Laughter) One of our colleagues had a red sweater last week, and I'm like, yay, it's time.
FADEL: (Laughter).
INSKEEP: For more than 15 years, the Hallmark Channel has been starting their countdown to Christmas earlier and earlier.
FADEL: The movies bring in hundreds of millions of dollars. Adweek estimated back in 2017 that one-third of Hallmark's revenues come from its investment in the winter holidays. I think it's all you watching these movies, right?
INSKEEP: Obviously. And this year, Hallmark began with a series called "Mistletoe Murders."
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "MISTLETOE MURDERS")
SARAH DREW: (As Emily Lane) Every charming little town has a dark underbelly if you know what to look for.
(As Emily Lane) How did you say he died?
PETER MOONEY: (As Sam Wilner) I didn't.
FADEL: A Christmas murder story might be one way to justify a very early start of the holiday lineup, like a Christmas-Halloween mashup.
INSKEEP: And then on Saturday, we had a princess from the kingdom of Zelarnia vacation at an American dude ranch, of course, and fall for a cowboy, of course, in "A Royal Montana Christmas."
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "A ROYAL MONTANA CHRISTMAS")
WARREN CHRISTIE: (As Huntley) Look, I understand how impractical this is. I looked up your country. It is very, very far away. What if we tried?
INSKEEP: (Laughter).
FADEL: I mean, a little bit predictable. They lean towards the predictable. That's what fans love.
INSKEEP: And they get 2 1/2 months of them.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU")
MARIAH CAREY: (Singing) All I want for... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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