The old joke used to be that a country song couldn’t be a hit if it didn’t include mention of a dog, or a truck, or a gun, or a divorce or two. I won’t deny that most of my favorite country songs do include at least one or more of those elements, but I think there’s another art form which is at least as predictable.That’s the Hallmark Christmas movie.I’ve been near a TV set when one of these low-budget movies is on the air to have determined that the formula the cable channel uses is as predictable as the commercials for purchase of everything under the sun for just $19.95 (plus shipping and handling) that interrupt them.You can’t have a Hallmark Christmas movie unless the holiday is threatened by something or some one, 2 people who’ve been separated for some reason reunite just in time for Christmas bells to ring at midnight, or an all-American Christmas celebration is saved by someone who returns home after living in some far off city to rekindle long lost love again just in time to celebrate a family Christmas. The formula must work because Hallmark plays their Christmas movies for 2 months. I guess I’d rather watch or listen to reruns of classic sports games even if I know what the outcome will be.  Hope Santa will forgive me. That’s the way I see it.