There’s a new Hallmark series that’s hitting the silver screen this fall and after learning what it’s all about, it’s definitely a must-watch.
Adapted from The NY Times Bestseller and Reese’s Book Club Selection by KJ Dell-Antonia, The Chicken Sisters follows a generations-old feud that’s divided a small town. Starring Schuyler Fisk (Sam & Kate, Orange County), Genevieve Angelson (The Handmaid’s Tale, Good Girls Revolt), Lea Thompson (Switched at Birth, Back to the Future) and Wendie Malick (Young Sheldon, Shrinking, Just Shoot Me!), the hatchet may be buried once and for all thanks to an opportunity of a lifetime.
“I only became familiar with the book once I became aware of the show and had read the scripts… I just thought they did such a wonderful job adapting it. The characters are all so nuanced and flawed and not perfect and complicated,” Schuyler Fisk, who plays Amanda Moore Hillier in the series explains to Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder when asked why she wanted to join the cast in a virtual interview. “I love these characters and the premise so much, and it was such a dream to be a part of.”
“It was really the talent behind this [that made me want to be part of this project],” Genevieve Angelson, who plays Mae Moore shares. “Every tier of this production that you go down… there is such a ‘blow-you-mind’ talent and that was the thing. It was a fabulous crew.
Dipped in southern charm and served up with a saucy side of romance, the family drama takes place in the fictional town of Merinac, where a rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants – Mimi’s and Frannie’s – has left the founders’ families fractured and the locals taking sides. When popular cooking competition show Kitchen Clash comes to town, this could be the recipe for ending this feud once and for all. But things are fixing to heat up both inside and outside of the kitchen as the reality show spotlight causes sparks to fly as secrets are spilled and feathers get ruffled.
On a more serious note, The Chicken Sisters covers real-life topics such as family dynamics, anxiety, abandonment — and even hoarding — to not only let viewers know that they aren’t alone when it comes to everyday struggles, but to also encourage them to accept their loved ones for who they are rather than who they wish for them to be.
“I think if anyone says that their family dynamics are not complicated, they’re just lying. If there’s not any sort of family drama in your life, I think something might be wrong,” Schuyler laughs. “It was fun to explore that gray area that we all find ourselves in sometimes. I felt connected to that part of these characters.”
“I think there’s also a real deep longing for community. I think with our phones and with COVID and everything, we’ve lost the sense of community. So I love this show because you really get a sense of the whole town and the, these families and the interconnectedness of all of us and how we all actually really need each other,” Lea Thompson, who plays Nancy Hillier adds.
“We’re all flawed characters in this thing, but we’re all doing the best we can with what we’ve got. I think there’s a compassion that sort of permeates this whole world that ultimately wins out and makes it all possible,” Wendie Malick, who plays Augusta “Gus” Moore says.
For more on The Chicken Sisters, watch our full interview with Schuyler, Genevieve, Lea and Wendie below. Don’t forget to catch the world premiere today, September 10th on Hallmark’s reimagined streaming service and membership rewards program Hallmark+, with new episodes airing every Thursday.
