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Sunday, Dec. 18
9:00 p.m. ET/PT
CBS

 
Starring

Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother)

Rob Lowe (The West Wing)

Angus T. Jones (The Rookie)

Rebecca Gayheart (Beverly Hills 90210)

 
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TELEVISION

CBS Airs 'The Christmas Blessing'


CBN.com Nashville, TN – The heartwarming holiday drama of Christmas miracles, The Christmas Blessing, based on The New York Times best-selling book of the same name by celebrated author Donna VanLiere, is set to debut Sunday, December 18 at 9 P.M. ET/PT as the CBS Sunday Night Movie.

The made-for-television movie stars Golden Globe nominated actor Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D. and his new hit show How I Met Your Mother), Golden Globe nominee Rob Lowe (The West Wing), Angus T. Jones (The Rookie and his current hit TV show Two and a Half Men), Rebecca Gayheart (Beverly Hills 90210 and Scream 2). Country music star Blake Shelton joins the cast of characters and performs his song “Nobody But Me.” Dove Award-winning, Grammy nominated group NewSong also makes an appearance and performs their new holiday single “The Christmas Blessing.”

The movie continues the story begun in The Christmas Shoes -- a film based on VanLiere’s same-titled The New York Times and USA Today bestseller, and 2002 Retailer’s Choice Award fiction winner -- which also aired on CBS. The film became the highest rated TV movie of 2002, attracting 17 million viewers.

The Christmas Blessing reacquaints viewers with Nathan Andrews (Harris), one of the main characters from first movie, who is now grown and a medical resident. After losing a patient, old memories come rushing back, and he begins to ponder his future. Nathan moves back to his hometown where he falls in love with a beautiful, young teacher named Megan Sullivan (Gayheart). One of her students, Charlie Bennett (Jones), also wins a special place in Andrews’ heart as they both share having lost their mothers at an early age. While coming home may have felt like the best thing to do, Andrews realizes he has traded one set of problems for another. As his world begins to crumble, he finds himself questioning God, fate, and the fragility of life. Only a Christmas miracle will pull him through this downtrodden time.

The Christmas Blessing, the CBS Sunday Night Movie, was produced by Craig Anderson Productions in association with Beth Grossbard Productions. Craig Anderson and Beth Grossbard (The Christmas Shoes) are the executive producers. Karen Arthur (True Women) directed the film from a screenplay by Wesley Bishop.

Author Donna VanLiere’s The Christmas Hope, the third book in the widely popular Christmas Hope series which includes The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing, released November 1, 2005, debuting at No. 23 on the New York Times best-seller list. A deal has already been signed for CBS to make a movie of The Christmas Hope for 2006.

Donna VanLiere is an actress, speaker, and best-selling author of several books, including They Walked With Him, the 2002 Silver Angel Award-winning Sheltering Trees: The Power, Promise and Refuge of Friendship, and High Calling: The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband. VanLiere also has written several full-production plays and hundreds of sketches for churches and events. She has served as emcee and dramatist for Women of Faith Marriage Conferences featuring Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. Larry Crabb, and Dr. Kevin Leman, and has performed with the Arise Easter Tour -- highlighting some of today's top Christian music artists. VanLiere and her family live in Franklin, Tenn.

 

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