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Hallmark Channel Spoilers – Jonathan Bennett Talks About The Competition
Jonathan Bennett has a clear perspective: “There are two kinds of people in this world: those who enjoy Hallmark movies and those who are lying,” he shared with TV Line. Having appeared in numerous Hallmark films, often highlighting significant LGBTQ moments, Bennett is now ready to take on a new role.
As the host and co-creator of Hallmark’s inaugural reality competition series, he aims to find their next holiday heartthrob in “Finding Mr. Christmas”, which debuts on Thursday, Oct. 31, exclusively on Hallmark+.
In the following discussion, Bennett reveals everything you need to know about the show and the upcoming movie featuring the winner. First, he talks about the concept behind the new project.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – The Concept
Bennett shares, “Hallmark has woven itself into the fabric of pop culture within the entertainment world. It’s come to the point where all my actor friends are constantly asking, ‘How can I get a role in a Hallmark Channel movie?’” Bennett shares.
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Having participated in Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing With the Stars, along with being a regular host on Food Network, Bennett got to thinking.
“What if we leveraged my experience in reality competitions to engage the audience in the quest to discover the next Hallmark star?” You’ve got to admit, it certainly is an intriguing idea.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – The Challenge-Here’s How It Works!
Each episode includes a Festive Faceoff, such as creating an ugly Christmas sweater or making a snowman while blindfolded, testing the contestants’ holiday spirit and helping judges and viewers learn about them.
Next is the Star Quality challenge, where they take common themes from Hallmark movies and turn them into unique tasks.
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For example, in the first episode, there’s a meet-cute scene with a real Hallmark actress, and the contestants have just 10 minutes to prepare.
Two guys will act out the scene together, competing for the actress’s attention; other challenges involve learning the Christmas waltz and facing questions from an E! News reporter.
Bennett emphasizes that these challenges cover everything needed to be a Hallmark leading man, both on and off camera.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – Johnathan Bennett Shares Advice For The Contestants
Bennett, a seasoned Hallmark veteran, shared some straightforward wisdom with the contestants: “I told them, ‘Just be yourself-it’s all about embracing your true self and allowing it to come through. Ultimately, America will connect with who you genuinely are, just like they do with the Hallmark star; those stars essentially portray aspects of their own personalities. For instance, I don’t step into a Hallmark film and try to completely transform who Jonathan Bennett is.”
Bennett not only hosts but also judges with Melissa Peterman, known for her standout role alongside Reba McEntire-Bennett describes their roles by saying, “I’m like the RuPaul, and she’s the Michelle Visage.” Each episode, they are joined by a guest judge, including familiar faces from Hallmark like Erin Cahill, Tyler Hynes, B.J. Britt, Nikki DeLoach, Rachel Boston, and Brooke D’Orsay.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – Contestant Qualifications
When it was time to choose the potential Mr. Christmases, Bennett explains that the main rule was that they couldn’t have appeared in a Christmas movie before.
This led to a mix of contestants, including a marketing salesman with no acting background and an actor from the touring Hamilton cast who has never worked in TV or film. “We were really just searching for people who love Christmas and want to be in Christmas movies, along with the passion and excitement to try something new.”
For Bennett, who is openly gay and has participated in many of Hallmark’s LGBTQ initiatives, it was also crucial that Finding Mr. Christmas showcased a diverse group of contestants. “As long as you have charm, humor, heart, kindness, and the qualities we’re looking for, you can definitely be a Hallmark holiday hunk,” he emphasizes.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – The Prize!
The future Mr. Christmas will be starring alongside Jessica Lowndes in the upcoming film Happy Howlidays, set to premiere on December 21 on the Hallmark Channel. This role was specifically chosen for the winner of the reality competition series.
After filming wrapped up in April, Hallmark Channel shifted into development mode, sifting through their slate of movies to find the perfect fit for the winner, as Bennett explains.
Notably, neither Lowndes nor the winner participated in a chemistry test during Finding Mr. Christmas, since the selected film and its romantic lead were both contingent on the competition’s outcome. That is something totally unique to the genre.
Hallmark Channel Spoilers – The Surprise!
Don’t anticipate the usual competitive fighting typical of this reality genre. Bennett shares, “We had grown men showing bravery by being open about their fears and the things that make them uneasy in life.
They engaged in deep, meaningful conversations with each other naturally in the house, which led to a brotherhood we didn’t foresee. We expected a group of fun guys looking good in Christmas sweaters and doing silly challenges, but we were surprised by the level of heart and openness displayed in these episodes.
There were times I thought, ‘Can we do a take without them crying?’ because there were almost too many tears in some episodes.”
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