MELISSA JOAN HART AND MARIO LOPEZ STAR IN THE CAPTIVATING ORIGINAL TELEFILM, "HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS," PREMIERING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, DURING ABC FAMILY'S "25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"

Markie Post and June Lockhart Among the Cast

Burbank, CA (November 12, 2007), Melissa Joan Hart ("Sabrina, The Teenage Witch") and Mario Lopez ("Dancing with the Stars") star in the romantic holiday comedy "Holiday in Handcuffs," a story about a modern young woman who has a breakdown at Christmas and desperately kidnaps a handsome guy to take home to her parents. Can she keep her misdeed a secret from her family and convince them that they are a happy couple or will their Christmas be ruined? The two-hour original movie will premiere during "25 Days of Christmas," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 (8:00-10:00p.m., ET), on ABC Family.

In "Holiday in Handcuffs," Hart plays Trudie, a young woman with a funky, artistic sense of style and a creative spirit. A continuous disappointment to her parents, she's a would-be painter stuck working as a waitress. After blowing an interview at a "real" job and getting dumped by her preppie, superficial boyfriend, Trudie suffers a spontaneous nervous breakdown. Panicked at the thought of going home alone for the holidays, Trudie kidnaps a handsome and well-dressed customer, David Martin (Mario Lopez) with the sole -- and admittedly ill-advised -- purpose of bringing him home for Christmas and introducing him to the family as "the one."

After a long drive out to the family cabin in the middle of nowhere, David quickly realizes that he has little chance of breaking free from this wacky bunch. The Chandlers appear to be the perfect family, but when David sees how inadequate Trudie feels around them, he agrees to play along with the charade until he can break free. But, odd as it sounds, he adapts quickly to the crazy family that welcomes him with open arms. Soon enough, they are all enjoying a happy Christmas when the police bust in on their holiday fun. Will David want Trudie arrested�. or realize she is rather arresting?

Also starring are Markie Post ("Scrubs") as Mom Chandler, Tim Bottoms ("That's My Bush!") as Dad Chandler, Vanessa Lee Evigan ("The Young and the Restless") as Katie Chandler, Kyle Howard ("My Boys") as Jake Chandler and the legendary June Lockhart ("Lassie") as Grandma.

"Holiday in Handcuffs" is an ABC Family Production and was written by Sara Endsley. Ron Underwood directs the two-hour movie. Executive produced by Jody Brockway and Craig McNeil.