Chyler Leigh back on TV

Per TVLine The Way Home will primer on Hallmark Channel at 9/8 central on Sunday, January 15. There a short trailer imbedded in the article.

Bumping this up since it primers on 1/15. Here’s the official site with previews, first look, photos, and other goodies.

https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-way-home

Halfway through and I’ve been throughly enjoying this series. As I expected the performances from Chyler and Andi McDowell are great. I was concerned I would only be able to see Alex and while it helps that Chyler’s changed her look a bit I really shouldn’t have worried at all because a good actor just makes you see the character they’re playing. Episodes 4 and 5 are IMO particularly strong performances, as we know Chyler can make the audience feel all the feels.

All episodes have passed my personal TV show test which is pretty simple does the show keep my attention or do I find myself reaching for the book I’m reading or my phone. For anyone who wants to catch up it’s on Peacock and possibly on demand or available for purchase Amazon.

I haven’t searched for subsequent ratings but the series got off to a strong start.
The Way Home’ On Hallmark Becomes Sunday’s Second Most-Watched Program On Cable

Except for the first episode the titles are all songs mostly from the late 90s.

Spoiler reviews of each episode so far.

Episode 1 - Mothers and Daughters
Stream It Or Skip It: STREAM IT. Solid performances, a pretty well-thought-out time travel concept, and an avoidance of schmaltz makes The Way Home a good show to watch with your family.

‘The Way Home’ Review: New Hallmark Series Delivers Engaging Family Drama, With a Twist

TVFanatic

Episode 2 - Scar Tissue also the title of a 1999 song by Red Hot Chili Peppers
TVFanatic

Episode 3 - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing also the title of a 1998 song by Aerosmith
TVFanatic

Episode 4 - What’s My Age Again? also the title of a 1999 song by Blink-182
TVFanatic

Episode 5 - Don’t Dream It’s Over also the title of a 1986 song by Crowded House
TVFanatic

Halfway through and I’ve been throughly enjoying this series. As I expected the performances from Chyler and Andi McDowell are great. I was concerned I would only be able to see Alex and while it helps that Chyler’s changed her look a bit I really shouldn’t have worried at all because a good actor just makes you see the character they’re playing. Episodes 4 and 5 are IMO particularly strong performances, as we know Chyler can make the audience feel all the feels.

All episodes have passed my personal TV show test which is pretty simple does the show keep my attention or do I find myself reaching for the book I’m reading or my phone. For anyone who wants to catch up it’s on Peacock and possibly on demand or available for purchase Amazon.

I haven’t searched for subsequent ratings but the series got off to a strong start.
The Way Home’ On Hallmark Becomes Sunday’s Second Most-Watched Program On Cable

Except for the first episode the titles are all songs mostly from the late 90s.

Spoiler reviews of each episode so far.

Episode 1 - Mothers and Daughters
Stream It Or Skip It: STREAM IT. Solid performances, a pretty well-thought-out time travel concept, and an avoidance of schmaltz makes The Way Home a good show to watch with your family.

‘The Way Home’ Review: New Hallmark Series Delivers Engaging Family Drama, With a Twist

TVFanatic

Episode 2 - Scar Tissue also the title of a 1999 song by Red Hot Chili Peppers
TVFanatic

Episode 3 - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing also the title of a 1998 song by Aerosmith
TVFanatic

Episode 4 - What’s My Age Again? also the title of a 1999 song by Blink-182
TVFanatic

Episode 5 - Don’t Dream It’s Over also the title of a 1986 song by Crowded House
TVFanatic

And scanning through my cable service, tonight's episode is entitled "Building a Mystery"...named for a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. The song also won the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) for Single of the Year in 1998. That same year it won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, beating the likes of Mariah Carey (Butterfly), Paula Cole (Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?), Shawn Colvin (Sunny Came Home) and Jewel (Foolish Games).

Hallmark has renewed The Way Home for a second season.

https://deadline.com/2023/03/the-way-home-second-season-ordered-hallmark-channel-1235275355/

The season finale wrapped up most of the storylines but also left a huge cliffhanger in the final scene. TVLine did an interview with Chyler which does contain spoilers. Some spoiler free things from that interview and other observations. Chyler’s also Executive Producer; I love that she’s doing that. She sings Alanis Morrissett’s “You Learn” in episode 8. She recorded it in a studio, recording it allowed it to be played in the background of scenes her character wasn’t doing karaoke in. She’s getting little bits and pieces about season two but still had the same questions as the viewers. I can say the final scene is a continuation of the very first scene in the first episode, it adds maybe 15 more seconds that tease possible storylines for season two. IMO this was a brave/bold move in this new landscape of the next season being far from guaranteed. The series was well received buy critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes season one as a whole has a critics score of 100% and an audience score of 88%.

The second season of The Way Home with Chyler Leigh and Andie MacDowell will primer on Hallmark Channel on 1/21/2024. It’s definitely not a show that a viewer can pick up without watching the first season. The first season of “The Way Home” is streaming on Peacock and Hallmark Movies.
https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-way-home-return-date-hallmark-promo-1235630544/

The Way Home with Chyler Leigh and Andie McDowell has been renewed for a third season by Hallmark. If you haven’t been watching this show because it on Hallmark it’s not like anything else on that network. Romance isn’t front and center. It’s more about family relationships and all the messiness involved in that with added time travel twists. Season 2 has two more episodes. You can catch up on all episodes on Peacock.
https://tvline.com/news/the-way-home-renewed-season-3-hallmark-channel-1235143656/?fbclid=IwAR0DSTMPluz00v0EM9QmMoUWwmBpHT83-EQr5u59BAZp0hIvm8J28aiFNt4

Season 3 of The Way Home will primer on January 3rd on Hallmark Channel. In November it was an announced that season 3 would premiere on Hallmark Media’s new streaming service Hallmark+ for its third season in January and make its linear debut in the fall.

However, “after hearing from the many passionate, loyal fans,” the show will now premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, January 3, at 9 p.m, and will stream the next day on Hallmark+. Devoted audience members of “The Way Home” had been grumbling — particularly in Facebook groups — about the idea of being forced to subscribe to another streaming service, with some even threatening to boycott the show.

This made me very happy as did not want to pay to watch a new season of show on a streaming service when the previous seasons were part of a service I already paid for. It did not matter that I would eventually be able to watch it 9 months later. Hallmark Media tried to create tiered access where fans who could afford to pay had access before those who can’t. I understand a new show being exclusive to a streaming service but cry foul at moving an existing show.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-way-home-moves-hallmark-channel-season-3-1236248958/

Season 3 of The Way Home will primer on January 3rd on Hallmark Channel. In November it was an announced that season 3 would premiere on Hallmark Media’s new streaming service Hallmark+ for its third season in January and make its linear debut in the fall.

However, “after hearing from the many passionate, loyal fans,” the show will now premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, January 3, at 9 p.m, and will stream the next day on Hallmark+. Devoted audience members of “The Way Home” had been grumbling — particularly in Facebook groups — about the idea of being forced to subscribe to another streaming service, with some even threatening to boycott the show.

This made me very happy as did not want to pay to watch a new season of show on a streaming service when the previous seasons were part of a service I already paid for. It did not matter that I would eventually be able to watch it 9 months later. Hallmark Media tried to create tiered access where fans who could afford to pay had access before those who can’t. I understand a new show being exclusive to a streaming service but cry foul at moving an existing show.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-way-home-moves-hallmark-channel-season-3-1236248958/

And the episode titles will give some kind of clue as to where things will be. I checked my cable box for upcoming eps of The Way Home. The first episode of season 3 is titled "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." referring to the only #1 hit song in 1974 for Canadian rock legends Bachman Turner Overdrive. It's noted for Randy Bachmann's stuttering.

The second episode is titled "The Way We Were." Named for the Barbra Streisand ballad as well as the title of her smash 1973 film. The soundtrack was just as much a hit.

The vibe of the upcoming season of Way Home clearly is focused on 1974...which is the year of my birth...yes last year I turned 50!!!!! By the way, according to Billboard's website which can let you check to see what was #1 on the hot 100 going back to the early days of rock and roll and pop, The Way We Were, was the #1 hit the week of 2/17/1974 when I was born. And it was her first time at the top of the charts.

No doubt there might be a Watergate reference here or there given that was the major story that year along with the last full year of the Vietnam War and the year Hank Aaron (RIP) became MLB's all-time home run hitter after batting his 715th dinger surpassing Babe Ruth.

When Chyler was born in 1982, the #1 song the week of her birth was "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. And when Melissa Benoist entered the world in October 1988, Def Leppard's "Love Bites" was #1.