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It may seem like everything is shutdown, but at least Christmas isn't canceled. In fact, it's coming early – as the Hallmark Channel, recognizing a nation's need for light-hearted distractions and feel-good entertainment, will air a bonus marathon of its original holiday movies all weekend long.

As first reported by Entertainment Tonight, starting at 11 a.m. on Friday afternoon, the Hallmark Channel will serve audiences with some of the most popular leftovers from its annual "Countdown to Christmas" holiday movie extravaganzas – starting with, who else, Candace Cameron Bure in "A Christmas Detour." The marathon will then keep rolling through the weekend with other favorites like "Switched for Christmas," "Christmas at Dollywood," "The Sweetest Christmas" (what, you thought Lacey Chabert wouldn't be involved too?), "Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses," "Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe" and "A Shoe Addict's Christmas" before finally ending with "Christmas in Rome" on Sunday night.

Now, this would normally be the part where I make fun of Hallmark movies for being making marshmallows look edgy and for having the same Mad Libs sheet of interchangeable plot points in every movie. (And if you click on the links above to my assorted Matt's Hallmark Holiday Hell columns, you'll discover that I already have.) But you know what? Not this time. There is nothing this country needs more right now than fluffy, mindless entertainment. (Well, OK, coronavirus tests too.) And in this constantly shifting world where seemingly the only predictable part of the daily news is that it'll probably be bad, if watching Candace Cameron Bure fall in love with a generically stubbled handsome gentleman for two hours gives you some sense of calm and relief  – and keeps you inside and social distanced from others – please have at it, guilt-free. 

Here's the complete lineup for the marathon:

Friday, March 20

11 a.m. – "A Christmas Detour"
1 p.m. – "Holiday Date"
3 p.m. – "A Christmas Love Story"
5 p.m. – "Mingle All the Way"
7 p.m. – "Christmas Under Wraps"
9 p.m. – "Crown for Christmas"
11 p.m. – "The Christmas Cottage"

Saturday, March 21

1 a.m. – "A Royal Christmas"
2:30 a.m. – "Marry Me at Christmas"
4 a.m. – "A Very Merry Mix-Up"
6 a.m. – "Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays"
8 a.m. – "Snow Bride"
10 a.m. – "Switched for Christmas"
12 p.m. – "Christmas at Dollywood"
2 p.m. – "The Nine Lives of Christmas"
4 p.m. – "Christmas at the Plaza"
6 p.m. – "Christmas Town"
11 p.m. – "Picture a Perfect Christmas"

Sunday, March 22

1 a.m. – "The Sweetest Christmas"
3 a.m. – "Coming Home for Christmas"
5 a.m. –  "Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses"
7 a.m. – "Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe"
9 a.m. – "Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy"
11 a.m. – "A Shoe Addict's Christmas"
1 p.m. – "Christmas Under the Stars"
3 p.m. – "Write Before Christmas"
5 p.m. –  "Christmas in Rome"