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Melissa Joan Hart will star in and executive produce a new Lifetime thriller, “Killing the Competition,” TheWrap can reveal exclusively.

The juicy thriller, which debuts Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m. Et, stars Hart as Elizabeth Fenwick, a loving mother in her 40s who becomes enraged after her daughter is cut from her alma mater’s dance team. Hart also serves as an EP on the movie via her company Hartbreak Films.

Inspired by actual events, “Killing the Competition” follows Elizabeth, who was once her high school’s star dancer and prom queen, as she and her husband, Steve (Eddie Mills), help craft a similar path for their daughter, Grace (Lily Brooks O’Briant).

When Grace doesn’t make the team, however, Elizabeth becomes obsessed with the star of the dance team, Hannah (Valerie Loo), and her mother Nicole (Anzu Lawson), and eventually becomes involved in a shocking kidnapping plot.

“Killing the...

Actress Rita Moreno is set to star in the Lifetime Christmas movie, Santa Bootcamp. The film also serves as Melissa Joan Hart’s fourth directorial project for the network. Alongside Moreno, other cast members include Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Patrick Kassidy, Justin Gaston, Deanne Bray, and Zyra Singleton. Santa Bootcamp serves as a reunion between Hart and Winokur, as they both starred in Lifetime’s A Very Nutty Christmas.

The most wonderful time of the year may still be months away, but we don’t have to wait to learn about the movies that will be drawing us to our TVs for some holiday cheer. Two of Lifetime’s upcoming films feature an Egot winner and a Grey’s Anatomy reunion. The 2022 It’s a Wonderful Lifetime movie slate will include Egot award winner Rita Moreno and returning favorites Marissa Jaret Winokur and Sarah Drew. Moreno will be starring in Santa Bootcamp, along with Winokur, Emily Kinney, and Justin Gaston, and the holiday tentpole movie is directed by the network’s Queen of Christmas, Melissa Joan Hart. It’s a reunion for Hart and Winokur, who worked together in Lifetime’s 2018 film A Very Nutty Christmas. The new film also showcases the network’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, with deaf actors Deanne Bray and Zyra Singleton joining the cast.

Lifetime has added two movies to its upcoming “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” holiday slate, including the Rita Moreno-starring “Santa Bootcamp,” directed by Melissa Joan Hart, and Sarah Drew’s “Reindeer Games Homecoming,” which she will write, star in and executive produce.

Moreno will be joined by Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (“Hairspray”), Emily Kinney (“The Walking Dead”) and Justin Gaston in the holiday tentpole movie. Rounding out the cast are deaf actors Deanne Bray and Zyra Singleton. The film will mark a holiday reunion for Hart and Winokur, who previously costarred in the network’s 2018 film “A Very Nutty Christmas.” “Santa Bootcamp” will be Hart’s fourth directorial feature for the network, alongside “The Santa Con,” “Feliz NaviDAD” and “The Watcher in the Woods.”

“Santa Bootcamp” follows event planner Emily Strauss’ (Kinney) journey to finding the perfect Santa and inspiration to stage an impressive Christmas Gala for...

Grammy winner Jill Scott and 7th Heaven alum Barry Watson are set to star in a TV-movie series reboot of Highway to Heaven, the 1980s drama that famously starred Michael Landon as a helpful angel.

Scott will star as Angela, an angel who comes down to Earth to help people in crisis, while Watson will play Bruce, a junior high school principal who becomes aware of Angela’s true identity.

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Exclusive: An updated version of Highway to Heaven is coming to the small screen. Lifetime has greenlighted event movie series Highway To Heaven, a modern take on the classic Michael Landon TV series, starring Grammy winner Jill Scott (First Wives Club) in a gender-switching lead role, and Barry Watson (The Loudest Voice). Scott also serves as an executive producer.

Scott stars as new angel Angela who comes down to Earth to help people in crisis. Landon played the male version of the character in the original series, the angel Jonathan, who was sent to Earth to help people in need. Watson portrays Junior High School principal Bruce to whom Angela reveals her true identity.

Cast also includes Ben Daon (The Astronauts), Robert Moloney and Ashley Ross (A Series of Unfortunate Events).

In cooperation with Cindy Landon and the Michael Landon Estate, the movies are inspired by...

Conchata Ferrell, a three-time Emmy nominee who appeared in more than 200 episodes of Two and a Half Men and was a regular on L.A. Law‘s sixth season, died Monday at Sherman Oaks Hospital of complications following a cardiac arrest. She was 77 as a result She died peacefully surrounded by family.

Ferrell probably is best known for her role as no-nonsense housekeeper Berta on the hit CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. The role earned her a pair of Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy nominations in 2005 and 2007.

“She was a beautiful human,” Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer said. “I’m crying for the woman I’ll miss, and the joy she brought so many.” Added fellow Men star Charlie Sheen, “An absolute sweetheart, a consummate pro, a genuine friend. Berta, your housekeeping was a tad suspect, your ‘people’ keeping was perfect.”

The veteran...

Partnership kicks off at Efm with Stray, A Very Nutty Christmas, You Might Be The Killer.

Screen Media today on Tuesday (5) announced a sales partnership with Film Mode Entertainment kicking off at Efm this week.

The roster for buyers includes sci-fi thriller Stray, family film A Very Nutty Christmas, and comedy-horror You Might Be The Killer. Film Mode will also engage with buyers on Screen Media’s catalogue of more than 600 titles.

“Screen Media has been looking for new strategic partnerships as we begin to aggressively grow our business,” said Screen Media president David Fannon. “Partnering with Film Mode not...