It's not just a movie: Hallmark crew loves Buffalo

Cast and crew from 'Holiday Touchdown' fell in love with Buffalo - and not just the Bills.
Hallmark's 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story' debuts Nov. 22
Actors Holland Roden and Matthew Daddario star in Hallmark Channel's 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story' Photo credit Jim Fink/WBEN

East Aurora, N.Y. (WBEN) - Love may be the theme and backdrop for the Hallmark Channel's "Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story" but to the cast and crew of the movie, their love extends to Buffalo and Western New York.

The movie, which makes its official debut on Nov. 22 on the Hallmark Channel, is one of several -including a trio of holiday-themed movies - shot in the region this year.

But, talk to producer Andrew Gernhard or any of the cast members and they all, universally say, they love Buffalo and would come back here in a heartbeat.

"The city won my heart," said Holland Roden, one of the movie's central characters.

Roden is not alone.

The cast members who attended a Nov. 13 preview party in East Aurora all agreed with Roden's love of all things Buffalo.

"The people are just so warm," said Steven Schirripa, star of the "Sopranos" and "Blue Bloods."

And, the food.

Schirripa is a big fan of Mulberry's in Lackawanna and Ilio DiPaolo's in Blasdell while actress Tracy Polan loved various sushi places.

Roden, Daddario and fellow actor Andrew Walker all attended the Buffalo Bills' home opener and will be back at Highmark Stadium for Sunday's Bills-Tampa Bay game.

Walker says the Bills are now his favorite NFL team and second only in his sports love to the Montreal Canadiens from his native Montreal.

And add Daddario to the growing members of the Bills Mafia fan base.

"The Bills' fans are just so infectious," Daddario said. "I'm now one of them."

Featured Image Photo Credit: Jim Fink/WBEN