With season two of Hallmark Channel’s reality competition “Finding Mr. Christmas” set to premiere on October 27, 2025, it seemed natural to ask the show’s co-creator and host, Jonathan Bennett, what he wanted to improve between the first and second seasons. But Bennett seemed stumped by the question, finally saying sheepishly, “Is it weird to say nothing?”
“Because, I mean, season one was so good,” Bennett laughed. “People loved it. So, we didn’t really improve anything — we just dialed it up.”
Okay, fair enough — so what got dialed up? That was much easier for Bennett to answer, with his signature unbridled enthusiasm. In fact, he made three big promises to EntertainmentNow about what viewers can expect this season as he, co-host Melissa Peterman, and a circle of Hallmark guest stars narrow down the competition to find the newest Hallmark hunk.
‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Promise #1: ‘A Lot More Hunkiness’
“Finding Mr. Christmas” puts 10 impossibly handsome contestants through weekly, judged challenges as they compete for the grand prize — acting in an upcoming 2025 Hallmark Christmas movie. The first season’s circle of guys was just the right mix of chiseled and charming, but Bennett told EntertainmentNow they managed to dial up the hotness factor, promising that “there’s a lot more hunkiness.”
“Like, we found hunks,” Bennett emphasized. “I mean, let’s be honest. We’re judging these guys not just on their acting ability, but we’re judging them on who they are and how they carry themselves on and off camera. Like, we’re taking the whole picture. We’re asking ourselves, ‘Could I picture that guy on a Hallmark set next to Ashley Williams?’ If I don’t know if I can picture someone doing that, then I don’t know if that’ll work, you know?”
“We’re looking for the next Hallmark star,” Bennett continued. “Hallmark stars aren’t just good actors. There’s something else you need to be a Hallmark leading man. There’s really five essential things: you have to be charming, you have to be funny or have a sense of humor, you have to be kind and have a huge heart, of course you have to be able to act, and let’s face it — you have to be hot.”
Among the hunky contestants are former NFL player Jake Schum, model and fitness fiend Marcus Brodie, and personal trainer (and darling dad) Davey Fisher.
“One guy seriously looks like a Disney prince,” Bennett told EntertainmentNow, “I promise you will not be disappointed!”
‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Promise #2: Plenty of ‘Melt Your Heart’ Moments
One of the things that sets “Finding Mr. Christmas” apart from other competition series is that, because it’s a Hallmark show, kindness and vulnerability are requirements. There was some touching moments in season one, but Bennett promised, “They will absolutely melt your heart.”
Bennett told EntertainmentNow it was clear from day one that they’d successfully recruited big-hearted hunks for season two, noting that there was no need to guide the storyline or have them follow a script in the house.
“We let the guys just talk on camera and let them open up and be vulnerable and like, share themselves with each other, which then, in turn, shares that they share themselves with the audience,” he said. “Just like first season, the second season guys walked in competitors, but they left as brothers.”
“I get pictures from them, they’re all still hanging out,” Bennett marveled. “They all went to a birthday party together. So they all, in true Hallmark fashion, leave as a family, even though they were competing against each other.”
‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Promise #3: ‘Things Are Gonna Get Wild’
The biggest difference in season two, Bennett told EntertainmentNow, is that they’ve amped up the challenges to be more intense and physical. His third promise? “Things are gonna get wild.”
“We’re testing these guys in ways that we would never actually do (in an audition),” he explained. “We just dialed it all up — the challenges, the festive face-offs. They’re crazier, they’re more wild, they involve way more physical activity than we did first season.”
“And we turned up the acting challenges, too,” Bennett said. “You know, when they’re doing their acting challenges, we put them in circumstances that are very true to life to a Hallmark movie, but with things we have to deal with on a Hallmark set. Maybe you have to work with animals, maybe you have to learn lines fast.”
Want to see if Bennett delivers on his promises of serious hunkiness, heartfelt moments, and wild challenges? “Finding Mr. Christmas” premieres on Hallmark Channel on October 27 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and each episode will be available on Hallmark+ the following day.
