On Wednesday, August 20, news broke the news that Hallmark eliminated 30 jobs. The network wants to transition to more feel-good shows, such as When Calls the Heart and Good Witch.
Hallmark Media Layoffs
Thirty people lost their jobs at Hallmark Media. One of those people was Jimmy Holcomb, who was the Vice President of Production. One of Holcomb’s projects was The Watsons Go to Birmingham, which was financially backed by Walden Media.
This business move suggests that Hallmark wants to transition into a new direction. A Hallmark spokesperson told Deadline, “This means an ongoing exploration of specific roles and functions. While these decisions are never easy, we have eliminated 30 roles across multiple areas of the organization and have restructured parts of our business with the goal of investing in capabilities that will propel our business into the future.”
What This Could Mean
This news comes weeks after Michelle Vicary returned to Hallmark. She previously helped the network establish the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Drama, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. She is also behind beloved programs like When Calls the Heart and Good Witch.
Vicary previously served as Crown Media’s lead programming and production executive before she left the company in 2021. In a stunning twist, the company rehired her. This report suggests that their audience can expect more programming like WTCH and Good Witch. Fans have been holding out hope for a Good Witch revival, in which the cast is already on board.
That’s not the only change Hallmark has made. The company moved out of its headquarters on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City and relocated to Burbank, where the old NBC lot is located. Many shows have been making moves lately. The Bold and the Beautiful just moved out of Television City to Sunset Las Palmas Studio.
What are your thoughts on the news about Hallmark’s layoffs? Do you think this means that Good Witch could return? Would you like to see more wholesome shows like WCTH? Sound off below in the comments section.
