I remember the first time I saw Kristoffer Polaha on screen. He was starring in the series Life Unexpected on The CW. His signature charm and sweet, seductive voice took my breath away, and I remember thinking, "What a handsome man!" Over the years, I've appreciated how he's aged like fine wine, and I've loved his roles in Hallmark movies. I also really enjoyed that Jonathan Bennett brought him to the set of Finding Mr. Christmas to talk to the finalists.
I think Polaha's advice to the finalists was something we can all appreciate. He let them know that, as Hallmark leading men, their job was to make their co-star feel supported.
Stars: Jonathan Bennett, Melissa Peterman, Rustin Cole Sailors
He talked about his first Hallmark Channel movie, which he starred in with Meghan Markle about six months before she met Prince Harry. Between him and Jonathan Bennett, tearing up and offering encouragement, I was getting teary-eyed within the first 10 minutes. The way Bennett looks at all these men with such pride is overwhelmingly emotional for me.
The men head to a train station, where they will film their final scene. It will be filmed in three parts and then edited together. Acting with Bennett and Melissa Peterman would be enough for me, but they also had Kristoffer Polaha, and their co-star would be Erin Krakow.
I don't like being wrong, but when I am, I own up to it. As we get into this next part of the episode, I will say I was wrong about one of these men. The final challenge involves filming with a director. They get one take, and after the director's notes, they get another.
The first scene, filmed with Peterman, involved trying to get a ticket to Boston. I love period pieces, but I love Peterman even more. All three had to hold their own against her, and that's not easy. She was also allowed to improvise to see who adapted best. Craig and Rustyn rose to the challenge, but Angel seemed unsure of who his character truly was. Angel needed to find a way to command the stage, as he had done so many times before. But the only person who seemed to be doing that for me was Craig. I've talked a lot about Craig and how he should have gone further. But for the first time this season, I'm understanding why this man needed his moment.
And by "moment," I mean a moment to not be the typical "pretty boy" and the leading man that we would all swoon over. He needed a moment where the viewer could truly immerse themselves in him as an actor.
This year's top 10 finalists reunited in this special episode, where they shared some behind-the-scenes anecdotes and positive experiences.
The contestants from season two were: Rustin Sailors, Jake Schum, Davey Fisher, Robbie Simpson, Marcus Brodie, Craig Geoghan, Logan Shephard, Drake Kuyper, Gabriel Thaxton, and Angel Garet.
Each had the opportunity to shine and be highlighted.
Jake Schum, who was the first to be eliminated, was able to share what his next project was, which is related to Hallmark (one that was very close to his heart, as he is a former NFL player).
Drake Kuyper, who was eliminated after Jake, was praised for his height and his beautiful hair, and stated that he will continue to pursue acting opportunities.
This segment featured a surprise appearance by judge Melissa Peterman, who brought gifts to celebrate some of her favorite moments from the season.
Davey Fisher and Gabriel Thaxton showed off some of their impressive moves from the season, while Marcus Brodie was praised for his bright smile.
Robbie Simpson, the only LGBTQ+ contestant from season two, shared some of his favorite "Festive Face-Off" challenges from this season (and his wins), and expressed how proud he was of the experience and everyone else who competed alongside him.
Peterman joked that Rustin Sailors and Logan Shepard had swapped facial hair. Logan, who was clean-shaven this season, sported a beard in this special. Ironically, Rustin revealed that he was playing Elvis Presley in a project (which is why he had to shave). All the contestants emphasized the strong bond they formed, with friendships that will last a lifetime.
They also commented on how helpful, kind, and understanding the Hallmark lead actresses (Sharon Lawrence, Erin Krakow, Alison Sweeney, Hunter King, Ashley Williams, and Heather Hemmens) were. Everyone agreed that they are incredibly generous actresses.
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