HALLMARK MEDIA, NFL, SKYDANCE SPORTS AND THE BUFFALO BILLS
ANNOUNCE THE STARTING LINEUP FOR
HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN: A BILLS LOVE STORY
HOLLAND RODEN, MATTHEW DADDARIO, TONY DANZA,
TRACY POLLAN, CAROLINE AARON, STEVE SCHIRRIPA AND PATTI MURIN SUIT UP
BUFFALO BILLS HEAD COACH SEAN MCDERMOTT, RAY DAVIS, DAMAR HAMLIN,
DION DAWKINS, DAWSON KNOX, REID FERGUSON,
DEWAYNE CARTER, JOSHUA PALMER AND
LEGENDARY BILLS ALUMNI JIM KELLY, STEVE TASKER,
THURMAN THOMAS, SCOTT NORWOOD AND ANDRE REED GET IN THE GAME
New, Original Movie Set to Premiere This Year During Hallmark Channel’s
16th Annual Countdown to Christmas Programming Event
Production Begins Today in Buffalo, NY.
Holland Roden (Holidazed, Teen Wolf), Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters), Tony Danza (Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Tracy Pollan (Natalee Holloway, Justice for Natalee Holloway, Law & Order: SVU), Caroline Aaron (Ghosts, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Steve Schirripa (Blue Bloods, The Sopranos) and Patti Murin (Broadway’s Frozen, Mystic Christmas)are named to the starting lineup for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, a new, original movie premiering this year during Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas, the reigning MVP of holiday programming. Production begins today in Buffalo, NY at iconic locations throughout the region including Highmark Stadium – which is heading into its final season as the Bills home field – and in Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Taking a break from the NFL’s off-season and getting into the game are Head Coach Sean McDermott, Running Back Ray Davis, Safety Damar Hamlin, Offensive Tackle Dion Dawkins, Tight End Dawson Knox, Long Snapper Reid Ferguson, Defensive Tackle DeWayne Carter and Wide Receiver Joshua Palmer. Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, former teammates Steve Tasker, Thurman Thomas, Scott Norwood and Andre Reed, along with Bills play-by-play announcer Chris Brown will also see action during production. And paying homage to the late, great broadcast journalist and die-hard Bills fan Tim Russert, his son Luke Russert rounds out the team.
“We are so excited to have a stellar ensemble cast that is truly an acting dream team,” began Samantha DiPippo, Senior Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Media. “The addition of Coach McDermott along with the current Bills players and alumni gives us the winning combination to bring to life this heartwarming story that celebrates the bonds of family and community and, of course, there’s romance with a touch of Christmas magic.”
The Quinns and DeLucas have lived next door to each other for decades in the shadow of Highmark Stadium – the home of their beloved Buffalo Bills. With their longtime friendship rooted in being proud members of Bills Mafia, the two clans have enjoyed cherished traditions that revolve around cheering for their favorite team – especially at the holidays when they celebrate the last home game before Christmas. Pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn (Roden) and the Bills’ VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca (Daddario) have always been close friends, but Gabe has always held a torch for her -a fact obvious to their families (Pollan, Aaron, Schirripa, Murin)…and everyone else who crosses their path. When Morgan learns from her Uncle Tommy (Danza) that someone anonymously helped her family get by after he was drafted more than 60 years ago – and that he continues to receive a Christmas gift each year to this day –she decides to find his benefactor and give her uncle a Christmas he’ll always remember. Aided by Bills Mafia friends of theirs, Morgan and Gabe work together to unwrap the gifter’s identity. Along the way, Gabe’s love for Morgan deepens and in turn, she begins to see him in a new light though neither is daring enough to admit their feelings. Meanwhile, Morgan’s hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked. That is, until Gabe takes matters into his own hands and uses his connections with the Bills to pull off the surprise of a lifetime for Morgan and both their families that will make this a Christmas they’ll never forget.
Skydance Sports serves as the Executive Producer of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story. The studio is a joint venture between Skydance and the NFL to produce premium content across a broad range of sports and formats.
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story is from Hallmark Media. Jonathan Eskenas and Kimberley Bradley are executive producers. Andrew Gernhard serves as producer and Molly Mayeux is line producer. Dustin Rikert directs from a script by Vanessa Marano and Danielle Morrow.
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