GAC Family Copies Hallmark Channel With Great American Christmas In July

As part of the ongoing rivalry between Hallmark and GAC Family, the latter has launched its ‘Great American Christmas in July.

As fans of both Hallmark Channel and GAC Family know, there is major rivalry between the two networks. This includes GAC’s latest move, to copycat Hallmark’s Christmas in July, with Great American Christmas in July. Are they now taking things too far in this major feel-good network rivalry?

GAC – Family copycats Hallmark Christmas in July

As the rivalry between Hallmark Channel and the relatively new GAC family continues, the latter has already poached many stars. Among the talent that has jumped ship from Hallmark are stars like Danica McKellar and Candace Cameron Bure.

Now, GAC is doing a major copycat move, by copying Hallmark’s Christmas in July with one of their own. Dubbed “Great American Christmas in July,” they are even using another former Hallmark star to host it. Jen Lilley, who jumped ship in recent months, will be the host of Great American Christmas in July.

However, one major difference is that Hallmark is premiering three, brand new Christmas movies. In fact, these include My Grownup Christmas List, Campfire Christmas and Christmas in Toyland. Meanwhile, they will also feature some encore screenings of previous holiday fare. Moreover, Hallmark will screen My Grownup Christmas List on July 9.

GAC – Great American Christmas In July

As for GAC, they will be airing only encore presentations of their productions, with no brand new movies included. However, it is clear that GAC Family is majorly setting its sights on copycatting Hallmark.

While Jen Lilley is hosting the programming event, GAC will offer an encore viewing of one of the former Hallmark stars’ first Christmas movies, Royally Wrapped for Christmas.

Hallmark/GAC Family stars

Some Hallmark stars are involved in movies on both GAC Family and Hallmark. However, others have totally jumped ship. These include Candace Cameron Bure and Jen Lilley. In fact, back in January, Lilley received criticism for moving from one “feel-good” network to the other. However, she defended her move, saying GAC was more “diverse” and “loving” than Hallmark.

Speaking of her move, Jen told The Must-Watch Show that Candace “is the Queen of Christmas,” adding:

That’s literally some title that she’s been given. So, I’ll be the princess. Or the court jester. That’s what I’ll be.

While Lilley said GAC was more “diverse,” Hallmark has been getting pretty darn diverse in recent months. This includes LGBTQ+ programming and a charming movie with two actors with Down Syndrome.

Meanwhile, this coming Saturday will see the start of Hallmark’s new, original movies for the Christmas in July event. However, as mentioned before, GAC Family will have only encore airings of previous holiday movies.

Readers, what do you think of the rivalry between the two “feel-good” networks? Are you sticking with Hallmark, or also jumping ship to GAC Family? Let us know your feelings by dropping a comment below.

Jen Lilley [Image GAC Family/YouTube]