Due to the amazing and not entirely unexpected popularity of Dolly Parton’s and producer Sam Haskell’s Coat of Many Colors on NBC on December 10, the network has made a decision to rebroadcast the film on Christmas night (Friday, December 25) at 7 p.m. central time.
The movie, which dominated viewership across the US in almost all age categories on December 10, has been critically lauded and the staggering statistics tell the story.
According to Tony Maglio, author of TheWrap: “With three-day delayed viewing numbers in, NBC’s Dolly Parton‘s ‘Coat of Many Colors’ made-for-TV movie is now most-watched in 6 years. The film was already a big hit ‘live’ — and it’s now set a record for delayed viewing. The movie’s 2.548 million additional total viewers in three-day delayed viewing is the biggest lift ever for a broadcast movie. It originally scored 13 million total viewers, per Nielsen’s Live + Same Day ratings, so per L + 3 Day numbers, “Coat” has now eclipsed 15.5 million total audience membesr. Now, ‘Coat of Many Colors’ is the most-watched broadcast TV movie in more than six years. ‘Coat’ also rose 27 percent in the key 18-49 demographic, reaching a 2.34 from a 1.84. That is the highest rating for a broadcast movie in nearly five years — a span covering 158 entrants.
In an early-December interview with Haskell, he offered this summary – a “CliffNotes-type” version of the inspirational film: “Faith, hope, family, forgiveness, love – that’s what Coat of Many Colors is about. But, there are other really import messages in this movie other than that; like anti-bullying which was just as prevalent in the ‘50s as it is today and it can be cruel.”
The buzz on the street is that not only do viewers want to re-visit the film on Christmas night; many of their recorders will be set for future viewing. In light of the major programming shuffle in Friday night’s schedule, NBC apparently is more than happy to accommodate.
Along with others in the complex cast, newcomer Alyn Lind portrays the nine-year-old Dolly Parton in the film, with Jennifer Nettles playing the part of Parton’s mother and Ricky Schroder tackling the intense portrayal of her father. Ole Miss alum and Haskell’s close friend of 30 years, Gerald McRaney, plays her grandfather; and Haskell’s daughter, Mary Lane Haskell, plays the part of Miss Moody, an influential grade school teacher of Parton’s who taught a one-room schoolhouse in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains.
“Dolly and I were absolutely thrilled with America’s response to Coat Of Many Colors,” Haskell wrote in a note to HottyToddy.com via email this morning. “The cast and crew have been sending me notes all week to share in the excitement. I pushed everyone so hard to give the best that they had to this project and they did!”
“I have compared Coat of Many Colors to the classic children’s story Stone Soup where an entire town, hungry during the Revolutionary War, gave the best they had to the pot of soup being cooked in the center of town. As a result, they cooked a massive pot of delicious soup and were able to feed the entire town.”
“From Dolly and me, to our director Steve Herek and producer Hudson Hickman; to our writer Pam Long, our editor Maysie Hoy and musical composer Ray Bunch; to our actors Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Gerald McRaney, Mary Lane Haskell and the rest of our talented cast …. everyone put the best that they had into this movie – and, as a result, we served up a project that has blessed the world,” Haskell said.
“Putting hope, faith and dreams at the forefront of this film allowed us to touch so many people. Enjoy Coat Of Many Colors with your families on Christmas Night, and thank the good Lord above for your many blessings,” he concluded.
Coat of Many Colors will air Sunday December 25, on NBC at 7 p.m. central time. For more information and to view trailers for the film, visit NBC.com.
Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com
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