‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ a win-win for Hunter King

Amid the seasonal deluge of virtually nonstop Christmas movies, what makes Hallmark’s “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” airing Saturday, stand out?

“I think it’s when you take everything that the brand, the Hallmark universe, stands for, and then you take everything that the Kansas City Chiefs kingdom stands for, and you merge the two together,” said Hunter King, 31. “Their core values are so similar, and the fans of both are just incredible.

“The Hallmark universe has amazing, dedicated fans, and the Chiefs some of the most loyal, loud fans I’ve ever seen in my life! Put the two together into this epic Christmas movie — because who doesn’t love a Christmas movie? — and even if you are not a sports fan or Chiefs fan, you’re still gonna find something you will love and relate to in this movie.

“Even if this is your first time watching a Hallmark movie,” she promised, “you’re going to find something you love about it. We’re going to hook you up. We’re going to get you in.”

In the “Holiday Touchdown” setting, King plays die-hard Chiefs fan Alana Higman whose family is competing to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest.

The process is judged by Derrick (Tyler Hynes), director of fan engagement who’s down to Alana’s family and two other finalists.  He goes “undercover” to suss out the best fan family which promises regrets, complications and semi-suspense amid Alana and Derrick’s blooming relationship.

“There’s a feeling the movie captures, which feels reflective of the city of Kansas City, Missouri, as well as the team,” Hynes said. “There’s an earnestness and a sincerity that the story of the family and Hunter’s character embodies.

“It’s inclusive where people from all walks of life, whether they like football or like the Chiefs or like another team, or like Hallmark movies or like the Travis and Taylor love story, can meet in the middle on this movie and find community with each other. For at least a couple hours.”

As the film pivots around a Fan of the Year contest, how does that mesh with Hunter’s fans?

“I don’t know if you could ever compare. They’re a different beast,” she said, having first-hand experience from years on “The Young and the Restless.”

“There’s a passion that surrounds football but I will say that the audience who loves these Hallmark movies, they share a similarity with the Chiefs fans. A certain authenticity and earnestness.

“There’s a sincerity there. That’s certainly why I continue to make these movies: I have an unconditional love for both Hallmark and the Chiefs!

“Whichever fans you talk to, they share that quality.”

“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” airs Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel 

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