Malinda Williams, Victoria Rowell Back Again For UP’s Merry Christmas, BabyPosted by Wilson Morales
May 11, 2016
Production is underway in Atlanta on the UP Original Movie Merry Christmas, Baby, a romantic comedy starring Malinda Williams (A Baby for Christmas, “Soul Food”), Victoria Rowell (Marry Me for Christmas, “The Young and the Restless”) and Karon Riley (Marry US for Christmas, 35 and Ticking). Merry Christmas, Baby is the fourth installment in UP’s highly successful Marry Me for Christmas movie franchise and will premiere in fourth quarter as part of the network’s “Everything You Love About Christmas” annual Christmas programming slate.
Merry Christmas, Baby airs on November 13 at 7pm on UpTv.
The film reunites the ensemble cast which includes GregAlan Williams (“Necessary Roughness,” “The West Wing”), Chrystale Wilson (Marry US for Christmas, “For Richer or Poorer”) and DeEtta West (Lyfe’s Journey, A Baby for Christmas). Merry Christmas, Baby is produced by Atlanta-based Swirl Films from a script by Rhonda F. Baraka (UP’s Marry Me for Christmas, A Baby for Christmas). F. Baraka is also directing.
In Merry Christmas, Baby, the Chandler family finds themselves in new and interesting places this holiday season. Marci (Malinda Williams) and her Aunt Elizabeth (Chrystale Wilson) have quit their well-paying jobs and formed an event planning business that is off to a rocky start. Elizabeth is missing having money for her personal luxuries like expensive manicures and pedicures, and Marci wants her daughter Chandler’s first Christmas and first birthday to be a huge celebration, but is quickly realizing she may not be able to afford it. They are extremely relieved when a big event job comes their way only to find out that the person hiring them is Marci’s nemesis, Adam Reid (Brad James, “For Better or Worse”).
Stephanie (Victoria Rowell), missing her boyfriend who is out of the country doing mission work, is feeling bored, lonely and unneeded. She starts to help her son-in-law Blair (Karon Riley), who is struggling in his solo law practice, and finds that she is a huge organizational help to him. Meanwhile, Myra (DeEtta West) and Donald (GregAlan Williams) are heartbroken that their daughter and her family are not able to come home for the holidays and decide to make a major life change.
“We’re delighted to bring Victoria Rowell, Malinda Williams and the rest of the talented cast back to UP this holiday season,” said Barbara Fisher, svp, original programming, UP. “In Merry Christmas, Baby, viewers will continue their journey with the Chandler family as they see the joy of not only gearing up for the holidays, but also planning an unforgettable first birthday party.”
UP’s Marry Me for Christmas franchise includes Marry Me for Christmas, Marry US for Christmas and A Baby for Christmas, all of which set premiere ratings milestones for the network. The three premieres ranked in top 10 for the time period among all cable networks with African-American demos.*
UP presents Merry Christmas, Baby, a Swirl Films production. Starring Malinda Williams, Victoria Rowell, Karon Riley, GregAlan Williams, Chrystale Wilson and DeEtta West. Directed by Rhonda F. Baraka. Produced by Eric Tomosunas and James Seppelfrick. Written by Rhonda F. Baraka. Director of Photography is Keith L. Smith with Keith Neal and David Eubanks serving as producers.
