Hallmark Channel will not renew its afternoon talk show series Marie for a second season, the network announced Tuesday.
The daily talk show series, starring singer/TV personality Marie Osmond, was launched last September as a replacement for The Martha Stewart Show after the network pulled Stewart due to poor ratings. The network said in a statement that it is moving in a different direction with its daytime programming format toward more “lifestyle” like its Home & Family series.
“As the network examined and explored its work in daytime, we determined that the best direction for this daypart is to offer quintessential lifestyle service shows that inform and entertain our viewers with how to, tips and ideas for living their best lives," said Hallmark. "We also find these types of shows best serve today's demand for digital video.”
Associated Television International will take the series out into syndication for fall 2014.
"We always believed that in order for the Marie Osmond talk show to flourish and resonate with viewers across the nation, we would embark on a multi-platform strategy incorporating broadcast, cable and digital opportunities," stated Jim Romanovich, ATI's president, worldwide entertainment. "Our initial exposure on Hallmark Channel provided the perfect launching ground, and we're delighted with the unprecedented media attention Marie and the program has enjoyed. Based on the interest and requests from many groups and key stations across the country, next fall, we're making Marie available to several outlets. We're excited to bring one of America's most beloved icons to viewers in a big way."
Hallmark will continue to air new Marie episodes through August and then will offer encore episodes through the fall beginning Sept. 28, said the network. It’s unclear what show will take over Marie’s afternoon timeslot.
Here’s the full Hallmark statement:
Hallmark Channel is in a phase of true transformation to a much more diversified portfolio of family friendly entertainment that includes original movies and acquired series in addition to original primetime scripted series and a full original daytime line up. With so many talk show offerings in the daypart, particularly in broadcast syndication, Hallmark Channel has decided not to greenlight a second season of its Critics Choice Award nominated talk show, Marie, starring Marie Osmond. As the network examined and explored its work in daytime, we determined that the best direction for this daypart is to offer quintessential lifestyle service shows that inform and entertain our viewers with how to, tips and ideas for living their best lives. We also find these types of shows best serve today's demand for digital video.
We are extremely grateful to Marie Osmond, whose immense talent and dedication to excellence is unmatched in entertainment. Marie is a consummate professional and outstanding human being in every way possible. We have enjoyed working with her on the talk show and know her passion to create an offering of such high quality will find great success in syndication.
Marie production company Associated Television International will take the talk show into syndication next fall, 2014, said the company.
