A Dog Named Christmas
Encyclopedia
A Dog Named Christmas is a 2009 American television film that debuted on CBS as a Hallmark Hall of Fame
movie on November 29, 2009. The film was produced by Brent Shields, directed by Peter Werner
and written by Jenny Wingfield, who based the script from a novel of the same name by Greg Kincaid.
launches an "Adopt a dog for Christmas" program. Todd's unconditional love for animals enables him to embark on an endeavour to ensure that as many dogs as possible get adopted by the local community.
One dog in particular has grabbed Todd's heart and through intermittent flashbacks, viewers slowly discover the reasons for his father's reluctance to fully support Todd's efforts.
, the long-running anthology program of American television films. It was based on a novel of the same name by Greg Kincaid, which was published in 2008. He wrote the story almost ten years prior for his wife, Michale Ann, and his five children, who ranged in age from 9 to 13. Kincaid said his family hated the original story, particularly because of the unhappy ending. Kincaid rewrote the story over the next year, with a new ending that his family liked better. He named a character in the story after each of his children.
The novel was fast-tracked into a film production in January 2009. During the film's original broadcast on CBS
on November 29, 2009, the network sponsored a nationwide "Foster a Lonely Pet" program with Petfinder.com
, an online database of adoptable pets, which included more than 2,000 shelters and animal-rescue groups
across North America. After the end credits, a public service announcement
was aired featuring Greg Kincaid describing the promotion.
. It was outperformed in the ratings by NBC
's Sunday Night Football
broadcast of the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers
and the Baltimore Ravens
, which drew 17.3 million households. It was also seen by fewer households than CBS
's 60 Minutes
at 14.3 million and ABC
's Desperate Housewives
at 12.6 million, but outperformed Fox
's The Simpsons
(9 million) and Family Guy
(8.5 million).
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
movie on November 29, 2009. The film was produced by Brent Shields, directed by Peter Werner
Peter Werner
Peter Werner is an American television and film director.In 1977, Werner won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for directing the short film In the Region of Ice.Since then he worked on primarily directing television amassing a number of television film credits namely Mama Flora's...
and written by Jenny Wingfield, who based the script from a novel of the same name by Greg Kincaid.
Plot
A heart-warming tale of a mentally challenged young man named Todd McCray (Noel Fisher) living with his parents in the rural midwest. The story takes place over a two-week period over the Christmas holidays when the local animal shelterAnimal shelter
An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.Parrots, for example, are the third most common pet owned by people...
launches an "Adopt a dog for Christmas" program. Todd's unconditional love for animals enables him to embark on an endeavour to ensure that as many dogs as possible get adopted by the local community.
One dog in particular has grabbed Todd's heart and through intermittent flashbacks, viewers slowly discover the reasons for his father's reluctance to fully support Todd's efforts.
Cast
- Linda EmondLinda EmondLinda Emond is an American stage, film and television actress.-Training and career:Emond graduated with an MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle...
as Mary Ann McCray - Noel Fisher as Todd McCray
- Bruce GreenwoodBruce GreenwoodBruce Greenwood is a Canadian actor and musician. He is generally known for his roles as U.S. presidents in Thirteen Days and National Treasure: Book of Secrets and for his role as Captain Christopher Pike in the 2009 Star Trek film...
as George McCray - Carrie Genzel as Brianna Lewis
Production
A Dog Named Christmas is the 237th presentation by Hallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
, the long-running anthology program of American television films. It was based on a novel of the same name by Greg Kincaid, which was published in 2008. He wrote the story almost ten years prior for his wife, Michale Ann, and his five children, who ranged in age from 9 to 13. Kincaid said his family hated the original story, particularly because of the unhappy ending. Kincaid rewrote the story over the next year, with a new ending that his family liked better. He named a character in the story after each of his children.
The novel was fast-tracked into a film production in January 2009. During the film's original broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on November 29, 2009, the network sponsored a nationwide "Foster a Lonely Pet" program with Petfinder.com
Petfinder.org
Petfinder.com is an online database of adoptable pets in the care of about 13,000 animal welfare organizations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The site has facilitated 17 million adoptions in its first fifteen years. At any one time, 300,000 adoptable pets are listed: dogs, cats, rabbits, birds,...
, an online database of adoptable pets, which included more than 2,000 shelters and animal-rescue groups
Rescue group
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable new homes for them...
across North America. After the end credits, a public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
was aired featuring Greg Kincaid describing the promotion.
Reception
In its original American broadcast on November 29, 2009, A Dog Named Christmas was seen by 12.3 million households, according to the Nielsen ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
. It was outperformed in the ratings by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is a weekly American football game held throughout most of the season by the National Football League. Sunday night games have been played regularly since 1987 and have thus far aired on three different television outlets:...
broadcast of the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, which drew 17.3 million households. It was also seen by fewer households than CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
at 14.3 million and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
at 12.6 million, but outperformed Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
(9 million) and Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
(8.5 million).
External links
- A Dog Named Christmas at CBS.com
- CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of A Dog Named Christmas
- A Dog Named Christmas Official book website