This photo provided by NBC shows, Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter in the episode "Contorno," during season 3 of the NBC television series, "Hannibal." (Sophie Giraud/NBC via AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
NBC is bringing the curtain down on "Hannibal" at the end of its summer run.
The drama about a psychiatrist turned serial killer won't return for a fourth year, the network said Monday. The series was canceled because of poor ratings.
"Hannibal" is based on a character portrayed in several Thomas Harris novels. Another Harris novel, "The Silence of the Lambs," was the source of the 1991 movie that was followed by a 2001 sequel.
In a statement, "Hannibal" executive producer Bryan Fuller credited NBC for keeping the series on the air despite its low ratings and dark subject matter.
"Hannibal," starring Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy, will finish out its current run with 10 more episodes on Thursdays at 10 p.m. EDT.
Its followers may be hoping the series will find new life elsewhere, as NBC's canceled "Community" did when it moved to Yahoo.
This image released by Hallmark Media shows Hunter King, left, and Tyler Hynes in a scene from "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. (Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media via AP)
Two new Christmas TV movies have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding.
"Christmas in the Spotlight" debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world's biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger as a pro football player, who meet and fall in love — not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
"It's clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don't know them and I don't know what is going on behind the scenes. I only know what's been put out there," said Eirene Tran Donohue, a longtime, devoted fan who jumped at the opportunity to write a script even loosely based on her favorite musician.
She was inspired by the couple's support of each other's accomplishments, particularly Kelce's ease with dating the star despite the glare of the spotlight, adding, "I love the way that he celebrates her."
Tran Donohue wants fellow Swift fans to know she wrote the script with them in mind.
"There are so many Easter eggs," she said of little details added that a Swift fan would pick up on. "I put in as many as I could."
Then, on Nov. 30, Hallmark will air "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story." Instead of a nod to Swift, it's an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark's headquarters is also in Kansas City, so it makes sense why the company chose the Chiefs to be highlighted.
In this story, written by Julie Sherman Wolfe, sparks fly when a new employee for the Chiefs organization (Tyler Hynes) meets a woman — played by Hunter King — whose family's dedication to the team goes back generations.
Sherman Wolfe, a San Francisco 49ers fan, said she got the call a week after Super Bowl LVIII, when the Chiefs... Read More
