Hallmark’s First Reality Competition Finding Mr. Christmas Offers a Major Yuletide Prize
Sashay, you sleigh.
Hallmark is getting into the reality game, giving an order to its first unscripted competition series Finding Mr. Christmas, TVLine has learned.
Jonathan Bennett (Awkward.) will host the show, and Melissa Peterman (Reba, Young Sheldon) will serve as a main judge. Per the official logline, 10 aspiring actors will compete “in a variety of entertaining and festive challenges a— with a Hallmark twist — as each hopes to be crowned Hallmark’s next leading man and take home the title of ‘Mr. Christmas.'”
The series top tinsel-getter will be awarded with a leading role in an upcoming “Countdown to Christmas” movie that, per EW.com, will go into production this summer and premiere sometime in 2024.
The series will premiere on Hallmark’s revamped streaming service, Hallmark+, and later air on the linear channel.
Watch a preview below, then keep reading:
Whoever out-elfs, out-jollies and out-wraps the competition won’t have to worry about filming anything too daring, given that Hallmark has gone on the record stating that it won’t include more grown-up romance stories (read: love scenes) like competitor Lifetime did with A Christmas Cowboy Romance during the 2023 holiday season.
“In a Christmas movie? No,” Hallmark Media’s executive vice president of programming Lisa Hamilton Daly said in February. “I consider us to be pretty living-room friendly. You know your kids are never going to walk in and you’d have to turn it off.”
Also per EW, Ben Roy (Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas) will serve as executive producer.
In addition, Hallmark will add a “holiday lights showcase spectacular” called Ready, Set, Glow! to its lineup this year. Wes Brown (A Biltmore Christmas, Haul Out the Holly) will travel the United States to introduce viewers to the people who create spectacular, festive light displays.
The new series join the previously announced Celebrations With Lacey Chabert, in which the Party of Five alum/holiday movie darling and a team of helpers “plan an epic surprise party to give back to deserving kids, families and adults who are making an extraordinary impact.” God bless us, every one!
Are you in the holiday mood yet? Hit the comments, and let us know!
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Hear me out, this exact premise, reality comp for hallmark for “Mr Christmas” but… one of the contestants is THE REAL SANTA in disguise. Boom. I just wrote your next movie.
Is at least one of the competitions going to be about acting?
Hallmark has done a few movies near me at a beloved 5 and 10 store. Challenge idea: The contestant who treats the staff with the most kindness and respect wins! It sounds boring but I’d find it entertaining and in the spirit of Christmas.