When Calls the Heartreturned to Hallmark on Sunday, but Abigail Stanton was noticeably absent.
The drama series aired the first episode of a two-night event sansLori Loughlin, weeks after the actresspleaded not guiltyin thecollege admissions cheating scandal.
In mid-April, series star Erin Krakow (Elizabeth Thatcher) announced that the show had been renewed for a seventh season during the premiere of the Hallmark Channel movieBottled with Love.
“You’ve already heardWhen Calls the Heartwill returning with a special two-night event Sunday, May 5, and Monday, May 6,” Krakow said. “I’m also thrilled to announceWhen Calls the Heartseason 7 coming next year! We can’t wait to get back to Hope Valley.”
Loughlin, 54, starred as Abigail Stanton on the show from 2014 up until early this year, when the networkcut tiesafter she and husband Mossimo Giannulli were charged in the nationwide scandal involving elite colleges and universities including Yale, Georgetown, the University of Southern California and Stanford.
Bettina Strauss/Crown Media
The network dropped Loughlin on March 14, halting the development of future projects and claiming it would not air any past content featuring the actress.
When Calls the Heartproducer Brian Bird issued a lengthy statement informing fans that the show had not been canceled, and wouldreturn with new episodes after a “retooling” hiatus.
Mossimo Giannulli and Lori Loughlin.Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA
Loughlin and Giannulli, 55, are facing felony charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud after they allegedly paid $500,000 to have daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose recruited to the USC crew team, despite the fact that neither rowed. (It is unclear whether or not Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose are believed to have known about the alleged scheme.)
If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for each charge.
Attorneys for the couple have entered formal pleas of not guilty of the charges against them. The couple previouslyturned down a plea deal— and they continue to insist that going to trial is in their best interest.
From left: Olivia Jade Giannulli, Lori Loughlin and Isabella Rose Giannulli.Gabriel Olsen/Getty
“Lori feels like so much damage has been done publicly that the only way for her to counter it is to fight this case in court,”a source told PEOPLE. “She feels like once all the evidence is presented, that people will understand how things happened.”
“She doesn’t want to spend time in jail,” the source said, “but she knows that any sort of plea or conviction at this point will include jail time. Her only chance of avoiding jail is to go to court and be found not guilty.”
source: people.com
