topic Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT in Community Chat

HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Puppy Lips — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:41:45 GMT

So apparently the Hallmark Channel is being sued for age discrimination. Allegedly the higher ups said that Lacey Chabert (42) and Holly Robinson Peete (60) were getting too old to play those parts and they want to look for younger actors.

Personally, I don't find anything wrong with that. Producers and Directors have a right to find the actor that fits that part. If they think they are too old, I don't think they have an obligation to continue to use the same actors over and over again. Give some younger women and men a shot at those parts.

What do you all think?

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

beckyb1012 — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:44:43 GMT

I saw this in the news yesterday and what struck me was reading Robinson-Peete was already 60. I think if the movie calls for a certain age then yes hire them but if you have longtime fan favorites you can continue writing movies for that age bracket as well.

"Grandma finds Christmas Love Again."

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Meowingkitty — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:44:44 GMT

I never watch Hallmark movies so it doesn't really matter to me.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:45:40 GMT

The role should be played by an actor who best represents the age of the character as written. Perhaps the writers could develop roles written for mature actors?

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

DrakesMomma — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:48:15 GMT

Is Hallmark doing the same for male actors?

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Icegoddess — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:53:38 GMT

I don't watch Hallmark, so the question for me is do these two people play the same characters each time or are they different characters. I could see how replacing actors playing the same character, like in a series, might have a point. But, if each show is a stand-alone show with all new characters, I just don't see how they have a case.

I've seen where even seasoned actors have to try out for parts, so why would these people think they are entitled to be cast?

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

They CallMe MRWILKES — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:22:35 GMT

Neither Lacey nor Holly filed the suit. They are not parties in the litigation.

It's basically a Wrongful Termination suit, with age discrimination as one of the causes of action.

It was filed by a former Hallmark casting director who cited the two actresses as examples used by executives as being "too old."

Other actresses referenced in the suit include Terri Hatcher, Kelly Martin and Alison Sweeney.

Four male actors are also noted.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

CelticCrafter — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:57:21 GMT

if they think they're too old then I guess I'm a freaken fossil!

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

msgb — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:57:43 GMT

I watch the movie for who is in it.

Lately if I do not know at least someone in the movie I usually do not watch.

To me it is not the age but the person in the movie.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

tansy — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:04:04 GMT

I prefer when an actor fits the role, including age.

Are these two in a series then? I don't watch Hallmark anymore.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Puppy Lips — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:16:13 GMT

As far as I know, these are not series of movies (Lacey may have been in one series of wedding movies for Hallmark though.) But as far as I know, most all are stand alone movies.

My DH likes to watch them. I get a bit tired of them because there are the same plot points over and over again, and everything is perfect at the end. That is not a true representation of life, and I guess that is the point.

Yes it was a former casting director who filed the suit. And frankly, it sounds like she may have been too old to do her job effectively. Companies should not be required to keep people in their employment forever. At some point, you ARE too old to keep working efficiently, and that age is different for everyone.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Estellee — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:16:14 GMT

I still see Lacey in recent movies.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

santorini — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:17:50 GMT

I like that channel but sometimes it feels like it's all produced by the high school drama department. They use the same actors and actresses way too much. I wish they would let other people "try out" for the parts.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Puppy Lips — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:20:41 GMT

@santorini wrote:
I like that channel but sometimes it feels like it's all produced by the high school drama department. They use the same actors and actresses way too much. I wish they would let other people "try out" for the parts.

And I wish that they had slightly better looking guys. Some are okay. Others just don't do it for me. I have to have a reason to give up two hours of my day, lol.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Spacrazy — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:20:42 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
if they think they're too old then I guess I'm a freaken fossil!

😂😂😂

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

pigletsmom — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:33:07 GMT

I've thought a few times that some of the actors seem to be getting a little old for what they write. I would like them to write for a slightly older audience, especially at Christmas since they do soooo many movies now. I liked the Teri Hatcher/James Denton movie. The recent movies they did about the wedding veil struck me because I think they had Lacey Chabert pregnant. I guess she's ok age wise for it but it didn't feel like it.

The only reason I ever found the Hallmark channel was because I was channel surfing and one of my life long crushes Gregory Harrison popped up on my screen. I stopped and was a little stunned when it turned out he was the father.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:48:44 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
So apparently the Hallmark Channel is being sued for age discrimination. Allegedly the higher ups said that Lacey Chabert (42) and Holly Robinson Peete (60) were getting too old to play those parts and they want to look for younger actors.

Personally, I don't find anything wrong with that. Producers and Directors have a right to find the actor that fits that part. If they think they are too old, I don't think they have an obligation to continue to use the same actors over and over again. Give some younger women and men a shot at those parts.

What do you all think?

@Puppy Lips

I never watch those shows because they seem all the same to me.

Are these Hallmark shows supposed to be portraying "young love" and create feelings of nostalgia in the viewing audience?

Older people find love a second ... and third time, so it's all about the storyline, IMO. Why can't they do both?

What isn't known is if any of the actors have contracts that commit the network to using them repeatedly, or if each movie produced as a one shot deal.

"Producers and directors have a right to find the actor that fits the part" is one way of looking at it, but they can always have the writers re-write small sections to modify the ages of the characters.

Actually, they can modify anything. No script is set in stone.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

CelticCrafter — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:00:15 GMT

@Puppy Lips they remind me of Danielle Steele novels. Changes the names and locations.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

Puzzle Piece — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:04:57 GMT

The noive.

Producers and directors have the say so as to how a character should come across. If someone is too old for a part, then another is often chosen. That all goes with that profession.

Re: HALLMARK LAWSUIT

JoyFilled Warrior — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 22:36:59 GMT

@DrakesMomma wrote:
Is Hallmark doing the same for male actors?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@DrakesMomma

Great question.