Whether you’ve watched every episode of “Finding Mr. Christmas” since its 2024 premiere or you’re brand new to the most adorable unscripted competition on television, you need to watch the latest episode, which Hallmark Channel premiered on December 8, 2025.
Before season two’s seventh episode aired, Jonathan Bennett — the show’s host and co-creator — wrote in his Instagram Stories that it was “the best episode of TV I’ve ever been involved with in my 25 year career.”
That’s saying something, given Bennett’s lengthy TV resume, including hosting over 40 episodes of Food Network’s “Halloween Wars,” competing on “Celebrity Big Brother,” and acting on iconic TV shows from “Awkward” to “Fantasy Island.” But we can totally see why this episode of “Finding Mr. Christmas” takes the cake.
Jonathan Bennett Brings Contestants’ Moms & His 2nd Mom Sharon Lawrence to ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
The latest episode is highly consequential, with Bennett announcing the three big-hearted hunks who are advancing to the December 15 finale, all vying to be Hallmark’s next leading man with a major role in an upcoming Christmas movie.
But it’s also deeply moving, as the four remaining contestants write heartfelt Christmas cards (Hallmark, of course) to their moms back home. As soon as they do, they’re surprised by their moms in-person, including model Marcus Brodie’s mother, who was diagnosed with cancer just before filming began.
Seeing the guys’ tearful reunions with their mothers, and then reading their loving notes aloud to them, had “Finding Mr. Christmas” judge Melissa Peterman in tears, missing her own college-aged son. As if that wasn’t emotional enough, Bennett brings in TV legend Sharon Lawrence, who played his mom in Hallmark’s “The Christmas House” movies and has become a second mom to him in real life, too.
She already had tears in her eyes when she walked around the corner to see the four contestants and, thrilled to be part of Bennett’s TV creation, she held on to him while beaming, “I’m so proud of my boy!”
Bennett then got teary-eyed as he told the group that, after bonding with Lawrence during their movies, “When it came time for my wedding, because my mom happens to be in Heaven, Sharon stepped in to be my mom during that moment in time, and was a flower girl for me and Jaymes.”
This episode is like a long-overdue ode to boy moms. All of the women featured have raised or lifted up young men who are empathetic, creative, focused, and LOVE their mamas, and it was so beautiful to see.
‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Contestants Sweetly Rehearsed Lines With Their Moms
For the Star Quality Challenge, the four contestants — Marcus Brodie, Angel Garet, Rustin Sailors, and Craig Geoghan — were told they’d all need to film the same emotional scene with Lawrence, playing her son during their first Christmas after losing his dad and her husband.
The guys got to rehearse with their real moms, who were all so encouraging and delighted to get to spend time with their grown sons. The moms then got to sit with Bennett and Peterman, watching their sons’ emotional scenes play out on the monitor. Angel’s mom was so proud and thrilled to witness him acting that she was overcome with emotion, which then got Peterman crying, too.
“I get it,” she told his mom. “I know exactly what you’re feeling.”
In case you haven’t watched, we’re not going to tell you which three men advanced to the finale, but each scene was beautifully different. One of the gems of “Finding Mr. Christmas” is getting to see how subtle shifts in delivery and emotion can totally change a scene’s tone. Lawrence proved she’s a pro, so in tune with each actor during his scene, and bringing forward her own raw emotion each time.
Treat yourself to this episode of feel-good, mom-centric, powerful TV this holiday season. And while you’re at it, watch the whole sweet and often hilarious season. It’s reality TV with a huge heart.
To catch up on “Finding Mr. Christmas” before the December 15 finale, every episode is available to stream now via Hallmark+. Pssst! You can get 50% off the monthly or annual subscription using these coupon codes when you sign up here.
