Are Christmas movies on Great American Family fundamentally distinct from the holiday rom-coms on other channels? According to Bill Abbott, CEO of parent company Great American Media, the answer is a resounding yes. In an interview on TBN’s Praise show last week, he declared proudly that their films “are different, and they are not going to be the same experience.”
The difference, Abbott argues, lies in GAF’s determination to openly “celebrate the spirit of the season, which is faith and family.” He contends that while the plot structure of Christmas movies across channels may be similar, Great American Family sets itself apart by not being “afraid” to incorporate the religious foundations of the holiday, namely the birth of Jesus.
In Abbott’s view, mainstream Christmas films have largely been secularized and no longer reflect “the real meaning of Christmas.” He believes Hollywood usually portrays values like faith and family in a negative light. By contrast, Great American Family makes an intentional effort to “reinforce those values” through uplifting stories, high-quality production, and Christian talent.
Essentially, Abbott draws a line between faith-based and secular Christmas films, arguing that Great American Family lives up to the “reason for the season” in ways that other holiday filmmakers do not. Time will tell whether viewers flock to their films as an antidote to the secular anonymity of most cable Christmas rom-coms. But Abbott clearly believes there is an eager audience that wants their holiday spirit infused explicitly with “positive” messaging rather than vacuous tales of romance and snow.
For those interested in Christmas films focused directly on celebrating faith and family, Abbott argues Great American Family is in a class apart: “our films are different.”
