On the set of the new Hallmark+ reality show that seeks to find the next Hallmark holiday movie hunk.
Its a sunny May morning at a picturesque ranch in Utah, about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City.
Before them isJonathan Bennett,Hallmarkmovie star and co-creator/host of the new Hallmark+ reality show,Finding Mr. Christmas.
Melissa Peterman, Jonathan Bennett, and B.J. Britt in ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’.Kim Nunneley/Hallmark
Christmasco-host Melissa Peterman (Haul Out the Holly) and guest judge B.J.
Britt (The Holiday Stocking).
The other learns that the judges felt his performance was missing something.
Ezra, Blake, Parker, Elijah, and Hayden on ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’.Kim Nunneley/Hallmark
Finally, its time to send oneMr.
Hallmark is all about family.
Youre all part of that family now, says Bennett.
Guest judge Tyler Hynes in ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’.Kim Nunneley/Hallmark
He pauses dramatically, then lowers the boom… gently.
Unfortunately, [name redacted], thats a wrap.
c’mon take down your stocking and head home for the holidays.
Melissa Peterman (center) and Tyler Hynes in ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’.Kim Nunneley/Hallmark
The other men embrace their exiting colleague in a group hug.
Thats true on Hallmark, and I think it’s true in this competition.
Need an ace cookie decorator?
Jonathan Bennett, Melissa Peterman, Rachel Boston and Ali Liebert in ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’.Kim Nunneley/Hallmark
Look no further than David Habashy, a 29-year-old aerospace engineer from Vancouver.
Seeking a stud who can sculpt snow?
Meet Gage Robinson, a 29-year-old marketing consultant living in LA.
I built the Stanley Cup [out of snow] with my dad one year.
It was six feet tall!
Hankering for a handsome man whos good at spreading holiday cheer?
Check out Elijah Malcomb, a 31-year-old actor from New Jersey.
My high school glee club sang to kids in the hospital during Christmastime, he says.
It was really, really fun.
Pining for a personable gent who just wants to make a positive change in the world?
Enter Daxton Bloomquist, 36, an LA-based actor.
I piled it on my plate.
I start eating it, and I thought, ‘This doesnt taste like roast beef.’
Im like, Uncle Ace, what is this?
Hes like, Thats beaver!
Bloomquist recalls, laughing.
That was the first time and last time Ive ever had beaver.
I dont recommend it.
Creating ‘Mr.
It was cool to see my life in a Hallmark movie.
From then on, he was hooked.
Thats when I was like, Holy cow, Hallmark is powerful.
And Im a huge reality show fan.
And lo, this holly jolly reality show was born.
These are something you might see on aBig Brotheror a show like that, explains Bennett.
The challenges are big and they’re messy and they’re fun.
Even if he had fallen flat on his face, producers wouldnt have played it for laughs.
That was the hugest trick for us here, he explains.
Our number one thing was being loyal to the Hallmark viewer.
I don’t think that they want to tune in to see negativity.
We don’t do things to manipulate their feelings.
I think that is a big difference.
I would love that, says Shapiro.
We can do many different seasons of it.
Lets take it abroad!
Youll be judged on script knowledge, emotional availability, and how well you take direction, says Bennett.
Watching this play out, Bennett is overcome with emotion.
I f—ing love you guys!
It takes Bennett a moment to collect himself, which isn’t a surprise.
After all, kindness on a reality TV competition show is truly aMr.
Finding Mr. Christmaspremieres Thursday, October 31 on Hallmark+.
