Alison Sweeney has been delighting Hallmark audiences together with her Hannah Swensen mysteries for a couple of decade now, and which means fairly just a few truffles, cookies and different delicacies have been consumed whereas the baker-turned-detective solves her instances. And sure, with regards to Actuality Bites, the most recent Homicide, She Baked thriller on the 2025 TV schedule, the actors actually are consuming the meals, as Sweeney advised CinemaBlend that she’s acquired a “agency” rule towards faux consuming.
With a few Loveuary choices among the many upcoming Hallmark motion pictures, loyal viewers of the community’s TV motion pictures have been additionally handled this month to Actuality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Thriller. I acquired to talk to Alison Sweeney forward of its premiere to ask about all of the blueberry deliciousness, and he or she advised me that as a producer she insists the solid really partake within the meals their characters are consuming. She mentioned:
I’m type of a tough, old-school, powerful producer in that approach, although. I’m actually agency with all people that you just can not faux eat… I say to folks, ‘No, you can not simply eat, like, half a chew of a lettuce leaf. It’s important to eat. You’re gonna do it. Eat. Take an actual chew, and we’ll work out the right way to edit round it.’ I might reasonably go for it and have to repair it after than do the tacky not-eating consuming factor. And likewise it’s a present about cookies and baking, proper?
It’s true that whereas Actuality Bites incorporates all of the sleuthing you’ve come to anticipate from the Hallmark Thriller sequence, in addition to a little bit romance between Hannah and Chad, and even some Monty Python-inspired humor, there’s additionally, in fact, loads of dessert. She’s not incorrect about how ridiculous it seems when actors fake-eat (keep in mind the brouhaha over Kim Kardashian fake-eating the Past Meat merchandise she was peddling?).
Within the film, which Alison Sweeney additionally wrote, a TV crew takes over The Cookie Jar to movie a present there, and it seems even the visitor stars have been made to comply with Sweeney’s rule. She spoke about all of the planning that goes into tailoring the meals to the actors’ necessities in addition to ensuring the meals isn’t an on-camera distraction, saying:
The visitor stars are all forewarned. We offer gluten-free stuff if wanted or if they’ve allergy symptoms, however we’re like, ‘No, you’re actually consuming on this scene, and also you’re actually taking an enormous chew in each take, and we’ll make it easier to nevertheless we will, however that basically must occur.’ After which I’ve to speak to the prop division [because] they should be the proper of cookies that individuals can eat. You’ll be able to’t have snap, crunchy cookies which can be loud and peculiar. A variety of thought goes into this.
I’d should think about the solid members are grateful that Alison Sweeney and the crew go to such lengths to maintain them protected and cozy, as a result of after studying concerning the This Is Us actor who needed to preserve consuming almost uncooked meat for a scene, I might think about that not each set is as accommodating.
When you missed Actuality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Thriller when it premiered, no worries! The homicide thriller and all of its candy treats will re-air subsequent at 6 p.m. ET Saturday, February 22, on Hallmark Thriller.