Lori Loughlin has been released from prison after serving time for her involvement in the college admissions scandal. Loughlin and her husband paid off a man who promised to make her daughters’ college applications more attractive so they could attend prestigious universities after high school. Loughlin’s crimes did not just hurt her personally – she spent weeks in prison because of what she did to cheat her daughters into school – but it has also cost her professionally as well.

Now that Loughlin is an ex-con, her connection to the Hallmark Channel is flickering. Before the scandal, Loughlin was the channel favorite, but now she is being replaced by Alison Sweeney. Many people feel that Sweeney would be an excellent replacement for the disgraced Loughlin, but the die-hard fans of Loughlin simply do not agree.

If you’re not familiar with Alison Sweeney’s name, you’re probably familiar with her face. She’s been acting in Hollywood since she was four years old. But it was her role as Sami on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” that helped elevate her to the level of fame she enjoys today. She has acted on the soap since 1993.

“I was really lucky. I’m from LA, so it wasn’t a big fish out of water story, and my parents are super grounded and normal and real and tough and strict,” Sweeney said. “I was never left out on my own to figure that out. I was always really guided by my brothers and my parents, who were all very loving.”

Sweeney doesn’t just have the look for a Hallmark Channel favorite; she is also the acting chops to take on any role the network might throw at her – something Loughlin once did with all the grace she could muster.