Here’s What It Really Takes to Be Hallmark’s Leading Holiday Man

Here’s What It Really Takes to Be Hallmark’s Leading Holiday Man

As a dedicated follower of Hallmark movies, I must admit that “Finding Mr. Christmas” has truly captured my heart this holiday season. Having grown up watching these charming rom-coms, it was a delight to see the network venturing into a new era with this innovative reality show.


A Hallmark holiday flick that truly sleighs requires a few essentials: A small-town bursting with charm, a meet-cute and a made for TV hunk.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the beloved “Mean Girls” alum, Jonathan Bennett, is your host for Hallmark’s groundbreaking reality series, “Finding Mr. Christmas.” This unique show offers an exclusive look into the quest for the perfect holiday leading man, featuring 10 promising actors who are competing in a range of festive challenges. The lucky winner not only earns the coveted title of “Mr. Christmas,” but also secures a place as Hallmark’s upcoming heartthrob.

Although Hallmark is well-known for its role as a “Mecca” for holiday-themed romantic comedies, this reality show propels the cherished network into a fresh new chapter.

In an exclusive chat with Francesca Amiker from TopMob News, Jonathan shared his desire for viewers to exclaim, “This is Hallmark?”, and he believes they successfully achieved that goal.

The idea for the show stemmed from re-evaluating how the network selects their leading heartthrobs.

In Jonathan’s words, “Everyone seems to cherish and appreciate Hallmark movies. They enjoy the familiar plotlines, and they tune in because they know what to expect.” He then mused, “Why not make a heartthrob by turning the process of becoming a Hallmark hero into a game?” And that’s exactly what we accomplished with the movie Finding Mr. Christmas.

Though the process of finding Hallmark’s next hunk may be unconventional, the contestants had a blast while going head-to-head.

Elijah, a contestant on the “Finding Mr. Christmas” show, admitted to TopMob that he enjoys competing. He also expressed that he found this unique approach to finding a leading actor, instead of the usual audition process, quite fascinating and refreshing.

Additionally, the competitors developed a bond of camaraderie – an aspect rarely seen in typical competitive programs.

Initially, there were 10 contestants, but by the end, they had formed a close-knit group, as Jonathan recounted. “Many reality shows are filled with table overturning, shouting matches, and manufactured conflicts, all for the sake of entertainment. In contrast, our show avoids such dramatics. Instead, we’ve managed to make our program amusing, engaging, suspenseful, and high-stakes without resorting to unnecessary conflict. What sets us apart is that we maintain this level of quality while focusing on kindness and warmth, as one would expect from the Hallmark channel.

Here’s What It Really Takes to Be Hallmark’s Leading Holiday Man

Because Jonathan has appeared in an impressive nine Hallmark films, he’s well-versed in identifying the qualities that make a great leading man. True charm, however, comes from a person’s character when they’re not on camera.

Jonathan, aged 43, pointed out, “They possess an outstanding smile and charisma that radiates from their very core. They have a knack for humor, turning anything into a joke and brightening any situation instantly. They are compassionate individuals with a heart as vast as the ocean. These qualities aren’t limited to their characters on Hallmark; they define who these actors truly are off-screen. When casting our next leading man for Hallmark productions, we prioritize these characteristics above all else.

Finding Mr. Christmas premieres Oct. 31 on Hallmark+.

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2024-10-28 16:17