discovery+ Announces November Programming Slate

discovery+ Announces November Programming Slate
Among the featured highlights: “90 Day: The Single Life,” “Kendra Sells Hollywood,” “Foodgod,” and “Undercover Underage.”
[via press release from Discovery, Inc.]
DISCOVERY+ ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER PROGRAMMING SLATE

Highlights Include 90 Day: The Single Life, Kendra Sells Hollywood, Foodgod, Undercover Underage and the First-Ever Holiday Central Hub

New York, NY – October 27, 2021 – discovery+, the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service from Discovery, Inc., today announced new and original programming that will be available in November. discovery+ is the streaming home for the holidays with the Holiday Central hub launching on November 1 including themed programming such as the scripted feature Candy Coated Christmas with Ree Drummond, Home Town: Ben’s Holiday Workshop and other seasonal favorites. Additionally, discovery+ will welcome new names in November including Kendra Wilkinson as she embarks on a new career as a real estate agent in Los Angeles in the new series Kendra Sells Hollywood. In Foodgod, the lifelong foodie visits hotspots with his celebrity friends including Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian West in search of the craziest, most exclusive restaurants and dishes. 90 Day fans can catch a new season of their favorite newly single cast members on 90 Day: The Single Life. November will also feature new True Crime titles including Undercover Underage, in which the team at the nonprofit organization SOSA works in collaboration with law enforcement to combat online sex abuse and exploitation.

Titles premiering in November include:

True Crime

· Undercover Underage – Tuesday, November 2

Every day, countless adults utilize the internet with insidious intentions to groom, sexually exploit, and abuse children online. Committed to stopping these perpetrators, child advocate Roo Powell and the team at her nonprofit organization SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse) work in collaboration with law enforcement to detect and identify the menacing adults who use the internet to harm children. Undercover Underage follows Roo as the 38-year-old mother of three transforms her appearance into a teen online. Once adults engage with Roo’s underage decoys, it’s a race against the clock to gather enough information to positively identify the offenders and get them on law enforcement’s radar.

· Unraveled: Experts on Trial – Monday, November 8

Following the success of The Long Island Serial Killer and Stalker’s Web, the third installment of the Unraveled anthology podcast and series exposes an alarming problem with the American criminal justice process: the business of forensic experts. Citing several cases as examples, co-hosts Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen expose serious flaws with forensic expert testimony that routinely leads to tragedy and injustice within the U.S. court system. It is a crisis in the courts that is decades in the making. The companion podcast is out now.

· Anni: The Honeymoon Murder – Saturday, November 13

Also known as ‘the honeymoon murder’ this is one of the most compelling and dramatic cases of the 21st century, and yet it is still shrouded in mystery. In November 2010, a millionaire couple from London were on honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa when they were kidnapped and 28 year old new bride Anni Dewani was later found dead having been shot through the neck. The case became infamous worldwide when after initally suspecting her death resulted from a violent robbery, teh police became convinced that the murder was orhestrated by her new husband Shrien Dewani.

· The World’s Biggest Druglord – Sunday, November 14

The World’s Biggest Druglord takes an inside look at Tse Chi Lop, a mysterious criminal mastermind behind the largest drug trafficking operation in history. Yet unlike Escobar or El Chapo, he was a virtual unknown. Investigators from the FBI, DEA and Australian Federal Police reveal how Tse stayed below the radar for more than a decade, quietly ending rivalries between the world’s top crime syndicates, from the triads, to motorcycle gangs, to Sicilian mobsters, for one aim… to make tons of money from drugs. Harvard professor, Laura Huang, reveals business insights, charting Tse’s rise, from committing petty crimes on the streets of Guangzhou, China, to deploying the latest entrepreneurial strategies, to ultimately capturing the global drug trade. More CEO than druglord, Huang examines how Tse capitalized on the shift in consumer taste from heroin to meth, to the tune of billions of dollars. That is… until he was caught.

· Chasing Ghislaine – Monday, November 22

From executive producer and international best-selling author James Patterson and New York Times best-selling author and journalist Vicky Ward comes an explosive investigative documentary series, Chasing Ghislaine. Ghislaine Maxwell is many things: a fallen socialite, an alleged sexual abuser and an accused sex trafficker of minors. But with the spotlight often focused on her employer, one-time lover and accused accomplice Jeffrey Epstein, the full breadth of Maxwell’s alleged crimes and the many vital secrets she still keeps have remained closely guarded – until now. Chasing Ghislaine will change everything we think we know about the Epstein saga and the woman at the center of it all.

· The Baby Killer Conspiracy – Saturday, November 20

In 1998 solicitor Sally Clark was jailed for murdering her 3 children who had died of cot death. The key evidence came from Professor Sir Roy Meadows and his ‘Meadows Law’ “one cot death is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder”. The killer stat that jailed her was 1 in 73 million. That stat was eventually discredited, and Sally freed, but her life was ruined beyond repair. In this series, speaking to relatives and the victims of those wrongly accused, we uncover the stories of the women still fighting from behind bars – and follow the last and final appeal of Kathleen Folbigg, who has spent the last 18 years in prison, currently dubbed ‘Australia’s deadliest female serial-killer’ for allegedly killing her four children.

Love & Relationships

· 90 Day: The Single Life – Friday, November 12

Moving past their failed romances, some of the biggest names in the 90 Day universe must navigate the modern dating world and overcome cringe-worthy encounters, ghosting and, as is truly fitting for the franchise, traveling to other continents for a first date.

· Candy Coated Christmas – Friday, November 19

Molly Gallant is a Beverly Hills marketing executive whose carefully planned life takes an unexpected turn when she takes a business trip to the picturesque town of Peppermint Hollow, the “Peppermint Capital of the World.” where it begins to seem as if fate, and the weather, are conspiring to keep her there. Starring Molly McCook (Last Man Standing) as Molly Gallant, Aaron O’Connell (The Haves and The Have Nots) as Noah Winters, John McCook (The Bold and the Beautiful, and real-life father of Molly McCook) as Fred Gallant, Lee Garlington (Broken) as Kim Winters, Jae Suh Park (The Big Short) as Gracie, newcomer Landry Townsend as Dakota Winters, Lonzo Liggins as Patrick, Dia Frampton as Chloe, and Food Network’s own Ree Drummond as bakery owner Bee.

· Wife Swap Australia – Monday, November 22

Two wives from completely different backgrounds with opposing morals, social behaviours and parenting styles, swap lives for one week.

Food

· Foodgod – Sunday, November 14

Foodgod is a lifelong foodie who has gained 11 million followers for his unique celebration of all things food on social media and in his self-titled series, executive produced by Kris Jenner, he takes his obsession to the next level in search of the boldest, craziest and most exclusive restaurants and dishes. In Foodgod, he visits hotspots in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas and Miami accompanied by celebrity pals, including Jenner, Kim Kardashian West, Fat Joe and Criss Angel.

· Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco – Tuesday, November 16

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has two passions, making people laugh and eating. He loves food and the craft behind it, but has questions about where it comes from, how it’s made and why we eat the way we do. He will take a comedic deep dive into the culinary world he loves but sometimes doesn’t understand by talking and cooking with the world’s top chefs, restaurant owners, other comedians and his own family. Go on a journey with this comedian, social observer, and exasperated food lover, as he explores, digests, and answers his own hot button questions in the world of food.

· The Great Soul Food Cook Off – Saturday, November 20

The Great Soul Food Cook-Off is a first-of-its-kind soul food cooking competition series celebrating Black chefs and the Black culinary traditions that are the cornerstone of American cuisine. Today, we see Black culture recognized like never before in music, film, fashion, TV, sports, and more, but that same cultural recognition remains long overdue in the kitchen. OWN has partnered with discovery+ via the original series, “The Great Soul Food Cook-Off,” in a cooking competition that finally spotlights the culinary contributions of Black chefs with challenges designed to highlight the past and present of soul food. Eight chefs will go head-to-head throughout the show in this high-stakes, spiritual, and emotional competition, but only one competitor can take home the grand prize of $50,000.

Home

· Kendra Sells Hollywood – Wednesday, November 17

Kendra Wilkinson, reality TV star and former resident of the iconic Playboy mansion, will take on a new career as a freshly minted real estate agent in the exclusive discovery+ series, Kendra Sells Hollywood. The six-part docuseries will follow the model and best-selling author as she embarks upon a new career as a real estate agent in Los Angeles. With no prior industry experience, Kendra will rely on her signature humor, resilience and unwavering work ethic to learn the ropes and land her first sale.

· Home Town: Ben’s Holiday Workshop – Friday, November 19

In Home Town: Ben’s Holiday Workshop, Ben Napier (HGTV’s Home Town) will welcome father-daughter duo Captain Sig and Mandy Hansen from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch to make special wood creations just in time for Christmas. Ben also will team up with dancer and TV personality Stephen “tWitch” Boss and his wife, Allison Holker Boss, host of Design Star: Next Gen, to build an interactive wall display for a local children’s center play space.

Adventure

· Space Titans: Musk, Bezos, Branson – Thursday, November 4

A new wave of space exploration has begun. The year 2021 will go down as the year that billionaires went to space – with highly publicized launches around their big budget orbits. NASA has engaged the help of private companies to send astronauts into orbit, and to go even further into space exploration. Space travel isn’t just for NASA astronauts now. But how did we get here and what is next in the incredible race to space?

Animals

· Carole Baskin’s Cage Fight – Saturday, November 13

Carole Baskin was thrust into the spotlight when “Tiger King” transformed the big cat activist and business owner into a pop culture phenomenon. The series fueled rumors about Baskin’s business and personal life, which she dismisses as gossip spread by her foes in an effort to detract from her life’s mission: to finally end the abuse of big cats in the United States. In Carole Baskin’s Cage Fight, audiences will witness a very different side to Carole Baskin. In the two-part doc series, Baskin and her husband Howard, along with their team, get their hands dirty and investigate the treatment of big cats, often coming into direct confrontations with dangerous operators.

· The Mighty Underdogs – Wednesday, November 17

The absolute pinnacle of the fierce world of dog show competitions are the AKC National Championship and the Westminster Dog Show, but it takes countless hours of practice, grit, and determination to get there. And while the adult competitions are fierce, emotions run higher in the junior division where kids are still learning the ropes of competition on top of figuring out who they are as individuals and where they fit in the world. In this all-new coming-of-age competition series, The Mighty Underdogs, brings a never-before-seen look inside Junior Showmanship where teen handlers compete among thousands for one of the limited, and highly coveted spots at the Westminster Dog Show, while also navigating the everyday journey of being a typical teenager! Get ready to meet this unique group of champions who reveal the heart, spirit, and what it ultimately takes to be “best in show.”

Competition

· Good with Wood – Friday, November 19

Mel Giedroyc rules the workshop as woodworking enthusiasts battle it out to be Britain’s best woodworker. They’ll build wonderful works that combine epic scale with fine craftsmanship in order to impress the judges and stay in the competition.

· Meet Your Makers Showdown – Saturday, November 27

Meet Your Makers Showdown, hosted by Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated actress, recording artist and crafting enthusiast Chrissy Metz, is a crafty new competition series that showcases the country’s top artisans as they test their ingenious creativity, unique skills and passion for their craft to win bragging rights and a $10,000 cash prize. Working in a variety of mediums, the competitors’ creations must impress the judging panel, including inspiration judge LeAnn Rimes, a multi-GRAMMY Awards(R) winning singer, songwriter, actress and author; Mark Montano, craft expert judge Mark Montano, a best-selling author, designer and TV host; as well as a weekly guest judge.

Paranormal & Unexplained

· Shock Docs: Demon in the White House – Friday, November 26

Demon in the White House reveals the historic origin of paranormal activity at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This new Shock Doc uncloaks the horror that two grieving First Ladies may have unwittingly invited into their temporary home – spirits that may still torment America’s presidents, their families, and their closest advisors.

Documentaries

· Set! – Friday, November 12

Once a year, a group of feverishly determined table setters vie for the “Best of Show” ribbon at the Orange County Fair table setting competition. Often referred to as “The Olympics of Table Setting,” contestants can spend over 6 months preparing their table to compete and ultimately be judged. A mere misplaced soup spoon can mean the end for an otherwise perfect table. But like any competition, it is not without its dramatics. Old rivalries, controversy, and eccentric personalities come to a head as SET! explores topics far beyond the silverware

· Keep Sweet – Wednesday, November 24

Warren Jeffs was the Prophet of the FLDS, an offshoot of Mormonism. Jeffs’ demanded absolute loyalty, and instituted complete adherence to the religion, requiring strict dress codes, banishing community celebrations and casting out followers who didn’t fall in line. His controversial reign ended with a conviction for sexual assault with underage girls, landing him in jail for life. Ten years after his arrest, those left behind attempt to rebuild their community. KEEP SWEET is an allegory for the unsettling reality we are living through in America. Can we learn how to live with one another despite our different ideologies, or are we destined to live apart?

Magnolia Network

· From the Source – Friday, November 19

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Katie Button explores the origins and stories behind different delicious ingredients. She also shares her knowledge of cooking techniques to inspire others to be more curious, creative and joyful cooks.

Immersions

· Surfing Santa – Friday, November 26

Get in the holiday spirit by catching a wave with the one and only Santa Claus. This journey to a surfer’s paradise invites audiences to relax and celebrate the festive season from the beach.

· Cozy Holiday Kitchens – Friday, November 26

Step into the kitchen to prepare holiday meals with four chefs from around the world. This episode takes viewers on a journey to India, Mexico, Ethiopia, and the United States to experience festivity through food.

· Festive Fireplaces of the World – Friday, November 26

Cozy up next to fireplaces from all over the world. An extraordinary group of over 30 global filmmakers take viewers to the farthest corners of the earth to experience the unique warmth and comfort of sitting by a fire.

For more information on discovery+, visit discoveryplus.com. You can follow discovery+ on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

###

About discovery+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

Premiering November 19th Exclusively on discovery+ Food Network’s First Scripted Feature “Candy Coated Christmas”





Premiering November 19th Exclusively on discovery+ Food Network’s First Scripted Feature “Candy Coated Christmas”
The title is only one highlight of Food Network’s much-anticipated annual holiday fare, which this year features more than 98 premiere hours of entertainment.
[via press release from Discovery, Inc.]
PREMIERING NOVEMBER 19TH EXCLUSIVELY ON DISCOVERY+ FOOD NETWORK’S FIRST SCRIPTED FEATURE “CANDY COATED CHRISTMAS”

Plus, Step Behind the Camera with The Pioneer Woman in Candy Coated Christmas: Behind The Scenes with Ree Drummond Streaming Monday, November 1st

Meet the cast, watch how Ree makes her famous treats for Bee’s Bakery and enter for a chance to win special Candy Coated Christmas items Join the #CandyCoatedChristmas conversation all holiday season

NEW YORK – October 13, 2021 – Food Network has announced that Candy Coated Christmas, its first-ever scripted feature, will premiere on Friday, November 19 on discovery+. The title is only one highlight of Food Network’s much-anticipated annual holiday fare, which this year features more than 98 premiere hours of entertainment. Candy Coated Christmas will be available exclusively on discovery+, as part of the streaming service’s holiday content, which will include exclusive originals and a wide variety of seasonal programming from across the Discovery portfolio of brands.

“With Candy Coated Christmas, we’ve created a unique viewing experience for the more than 100 million viewers who watch Food Network every year, including the most ardent fans of one of our biggest stars, The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond,” said Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer, Discovery Inc. “This is a movie gift for anyone who loves the holidays and has a passion for cooking, baking and spending time with family, but it’s also a respite from the daily grind. You can watch, breathe, feel and believe — even if it’s only for two hours.”

Viewers can join Ree Drummond, host of The Pioneer Woman and one of Food Network’s most popular stars, for an exclusive “making of” journey as she prepares to shoot her first acting role. From wardrobe fittings to meeting the cast and crew, and from her first scene to when the director called wrap, Ree will share many memorable moments leading up to her feature debut in the special, including sharing how some of her own recipes were used in the feature and a quick on-set candy-coated trick. Candy Coated Christmas: Behind the Scenes with Ree Drummond, streams Monday, November 1 on discovery+.

“I am so incredibly honored that Food Network asked me to play Bee the bakery owner in Peppermint Hollow,” said Drummond. “If I get to be in just one movie in my life, I want it to be a Christmas movie.”

Candy Coated Christmas stars Molly McCook (Last Man Standing) as Molly Gallant, a Beverly Hills marketing executive whose carefully planned life takes an unexpected turn when she takes a business trip to the picturesque town of Peppermint Hollow. The movie also stars Aaron O’Connell (The Haves and The Have Nots) as mint entrepreneur Noah Winters, John McCook (The Bold and the Beautiful, and real-life father of Molly McCook) as Molly’s father Fred Gallant, Lee Garlington (Broken) as Kim Winters, Jae Suh Park (The Big Short) as Gracie, newcomer Landry Townsend as Dakota Winters, Lonzo Liggins as Patrick, Dia Frampton as Chloe, and Food Network’s own Ree Drummond as bakery owner Bee. Directed by Ellie Kanner (Love and Sunshine) and written by Alex Yonks and Kanner & Joey Plager, Candy Coated Christmas is produced by MarVista Entertainment in association with Go Films. The executive producers are Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment along with Ellie Kanner and Joey Plager.

Fans can head to Food Network and discoveryplus social platforms for a sneak peek at the set of Candy Coated Christmas with Ree and go behind the scenes in Peppermint Hollow. Plus, get to know Molly, Aaron and the cast, watch how Ree makes her famous treats for Bee’s Bakery and enter for a chance to win special Candy Coated Christmas swag. To join the conversation, use #CandyCoatedChristmas this holiday season.

ABOUT CANDY COATED CHRISTMAS

Molly Gallant was counting on seed money from her father to help launch an exciting new venture with her best friend. However, just as she and her dad are supposed to be jetting off to Hawaii for their annual Christmas trip, Molly learns that the family business is facing bankruptcy. The only way to recoup the funds she needs is to sell her late mother’s childhood home in the town of Peppermint Hollow, Washington: the “Peppermint Capital of the World.” Molly fully intends to get the house on the market and get out of the cold to sunny Hawaii by Christmas, but then she meets the current renters, Noah Winters and his family, who warmly welcome her into their home, sharing their holiday traditions with her. It begins to seem as if fate, and the weather, are conspiring to keep Molly in Peppermint Hollow, even as she begins to appreciate the value of family. And she and Noah may discover a new way to make a mint… together.

# # #

ABOUT DISCOVERY+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world and spanning 220 countries and territories; the portfolio also includes direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+ and Food Network Kitchen, along with premium brands Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, S

cience Channel, and the multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport.

ABOUT MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles-based MarVista Entertainment is a leading global independent studio that produces and distributes a variety of content across the world. With a library showcasing nearly 2,500 hours of content, and with approximately 60 new movies per year added to the company’s development and distribution pipeline, MarVista has become one of the largest suppliers of movies to the worldwide marketplace. MarVista has an expansive distribution footprint spanning more than 125 global territories and is a pre-eminent programming partner to major streamers and cable networks including Netflix, Hulu, Discovery+, Tubi, Disney Networks, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, NBC Universal, OWN, Nickelodeon, BET and other Viacom Networks, as well as key international platforms.



Food Network Wraps Production on First-Ever Scripted Movie “Candy Coated Christmas”





Food Network Wraps Production on First-Ever Scripted Movie “Candy Coated Christmas”
It stars Molly McCook, Aaron O’Connell, Jae Suh Park, John McCook, with the network’s own Ree Drummond making her feature debut.
[via press release from Discovery, Inc.]
FOOD NETWORK WRAPS PRODUCTION ON FIRST-EVER SCRIPTED MOVIE “CANDY COATED CHRISTMAS”

THE NETWORK’S PIONEER WOMAN IS MAKING HER FEATURE DEBUT, JOINING STARS MOLLY MCCOOK AND AARON O’CONNELL

Premiering on discovery+ this Holiday Season

NEW YORK – August 25, 2021 – Candy Coated Christmas has wrapped production. The film is a discovery+ entry into original scripted content and built on Food Network’s exponential popularity during the holiday season. It stars Molly McCook (Last Man Standing), Aaron O’Connell (The Haves and The Have Nots), Jae Suh Park (The Big Short), John McCook (The Bold and the Beautiful), with the network’s own Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) making her feature debut. The fictional story takes place during the holidays, set in the picturesque Peppermint Hollow, the Peppermint Capitol of the world. Candy Coated Christmas will deliver on the food-centric content that Food Network fans love and it will bring in audiences that enjoy the feel-good stories associated with the holiday season. Directed by Ellie Kanner (Love and Sunshine) and written by Alex Yonks, Kanner and Joey Plager, Candy Coated Christmas is produced by MarVista Entertainment in association with Go Films. Executive producers are Ellie Kanner, Joey Plager and Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment.

Food Network’s unscripted series attracted more than 55.4 million P2+ viewers during 2Q21 while during the same time, Ree Drummond’s popular series, The Pioneer Woman drew more than 13.1 million P2+ viewers.

“Last year, nearly 60 million viewers watched Food Network between Halloween and New Year’s Day,” said Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer, Discovery, Inc. “Food Network fans live for the holidays, so creating a Christmas movie featuring one of our biggest stars is an exciting way to expand our offerings and to showcase an incredibly popular talent like Ree. We’ve created the kind of Christmas movie that only we can — it’s a perfect gift for our passionate fans.”

Drummond, known for her long-running Food Network series The Pioneer Woman and her role as co-host of Christmas Cookie Challenge, makes her feature debut, bringing her down-to-earth appeal and real-life experiences as a proprietor to her role as the owner of a bakery who warmly befriends a newcomer to town.

“Candy Coated Christmas was so much fun to be part of; it had all the magical elements that make holiday movies so special,” said Drummond. “Any initial nerves I felt about joining this project completely melted away when I stepped into the sweet, charming world of Peppermint Hollow!”

Adds Larry Grimaldi, SVP Creative Affairs, MarVista Entertainment, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Food Network and discovery+ on their first scripted holiday movie. Combining MarVista’s long-standing expertise in telling quality, feel-good holiday stories with Food Network’s promise of providing entertaining lifestyle content is a perfect recipe to bring joy to the world.”

About Candy Coated Christmas

Molly Gallant (Molly McCook), a Los Angeles-based marketing executive on top of the world, is planning a new business venture with her best friend and heading to the airport for her annual holiday father-daughter trip to Hawaii when she learns that the seed money she was counting on for her business has disappeared. Molly’s father (John McCook) suggests she visit the small town where her late mother grew up, as an old family home may be the key to the start-up money she needs. Packed for the beach, Molly arrives in snowy Peppermint Hollow, where the first person she meets is the owner of Bee’s Bakery, Bee (Ree Drummond), giving her a warm introduction to the friendly denizens that reside in the Peppermint Capitol of the world. The Winters family, Noah (Aaron O’Connell), Kim (Lee Garlington) and Dakota (Landry Townsend), currently renting the house Molly’s mother grew up in, invite her to stay with them and offer her a lost connection to her own childhood memories and the possibility for a newly ‘minted’ business begins to take shape.

# # #

ABOUT DISCOVERY+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world and spanning 220 countries and territories; the portfolio also includes direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+ and Food Network Kitchen, along with premium brands Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport.

ABOUT MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles-based MarVista Entertainment is a leading global independent studio that produces and distributes a variety of content across the world. With a library showcasing nearly 2,500 hours of content, and with approximately 60 new movies per year added to the company’s development and distribution pipeline, MarVista has become one of the largest suppliers of movies to the worldwide marketplace. MarVista has an expansive distribution footprint spanning more than 125 global territories and is a pre-eminent programming partner to major streamers and cable networks including Netflix, Hulu, Discovery+, Tubi, Disney Networks, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, NBC Universal, OWN, Nickelodeon, BET and other Viacom Networks, as well as key international platforms.