Jonathan Bent on Hallmark's gay Christmas movie The Holiday Ster |

Contents:

• JONATHAN BENT WANTED TO CREATE A GAY UNCLE BUCK FOR THE HOLIDAY STER
• HALLMARK JOS 21ST CENTURY WH FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS FILM – AND, Y, STARS JONATHAN BENT
• MAKE THE YULETI GAY WH THE NEW LGBTQ CHRISTMAS MOVI
• HALLMARK PREMIER S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE WH A GAY LEAD UPLE
• SHOP 'GMA3' POWER HOUR ALS FOR LABOR DAY!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREHALLMARK CHANNEL ANNOUNC CHRISTMAS MOVIE FEATURG GAY UPLE LOOKG TO ADOPT3:40HALLMARK APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG AD PICTG GAY UPLE BYTONY MORRISON AND LLEY MSERSEPTEMBER 23, 2020, 9:59 AM•4 M READHALLMARK CHANNEL AND S PARENT PANY, CROWN MEDIA FAY NETWORK, ARE LIVERG ON A PROMISE TO DIVERSIFY THEIR HOLIDAY MOVI."MEAN GIRLS" ACTOR JONATHAN BENT WILL STAR "THE CHRISTMAS HOE," WHICH FEATUR A STORYLE ABOUT A GAY UPLE LOOKG TO ADOPT THEIR FIRST CHILD, ACRDG TO MICHELLE VIRY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRINT OF PROGRAMMG FOR CROWN MEDIA FAY NETWORK.MORE: HALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'BENT'S -STARS CLU "ONE TREE HILL" ACTOR ROBERT BUCKLEY, ANA AYORA OF "IN THE DARK," VETERAN ACTOR TREAT WILLIAMS, "NYPD BLUE" STAR SHARON LAWRENCE AND ACTOR BRAD HARR. "THE CHRISTMAS HOE" PREMIER ON SUNDAY, NOV. 22 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT.A SYNOPSIS FOR "THE CHRISTMAS HOE" READS: "WORKG THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT CISNS, MCHELL FAY MATRIARCH PHYLIS (LAWRENCE) AND PATRIARCH BILL (WILLIAMS), HAVE SUMMONED THEIR TWO GROWN SONS -- MIKE (BUCKLEY) AND BRANDON (BENT) -- HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT IS THEIR HOPE THAT BRGG THE FAY TOGETHER TO RECREATE THE CHRISTMAS HOE WILL HELP THEM FD ROLUTN AND MAKE A MEMORABLE HOLIDAY FOR THE ENTIRE FAY AND MUNY. AS BRANDON AND HIS HBAND, JAKE (HARR), MAKE THE TRIP HOME, THEY ARE ANXLY AWAG A LL ABOUT THE ADOPTN OF THEIR FIRST CHILD. MEANWHILE, MIKE RENNECTS WH ANDI (AYORA), HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART.""OUR HOLIDAY TABLE IS BIGGER AND MORE WELG THAN EVER. THIS YEAR'S MOVI REFLECT OUR MOST DIVERSE REPRENTATN OF TALENT, NARRATIV AND FAI," VIRY SAID WEDNDAY. "OUR MOVI ARE ROOTED WARMTH AND POSIVY, MEANGFUL NNECTNS, FAY GATHERGS AND SEASONAL TRADNS -- A WNG FORMULA WE HOPE WILL BRG OUR LNS OF VIEWERS MUCH-NEED LEVY AND HOLIDAY CHEER AT THE END OF A TOUGH YEAR."EDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'JUL 16, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019AMID CRICISM THAT NONE OF THE PREVLY-ANNOUNCED HOLIDAY FILMS FEATURED AN LGBTQ LEAD, A HALLMARK CHANNEL SPOKPERSON TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" JULY THE PANY WAS "MTED TO CREATG A HALLMARK EXPERIENCE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELE" AND WOULD BE ANNOUNCG "LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS" THE FUTURE.MORE: IN REVERSAL, HALLMARK WILL RESTATE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ADSIN ADDN TO "THE CHRISTMAS HOE," CROWN MEDIA ANNOUNCED WEDNDAY THAT CANDACE CAMERON BURE WILL STAR HER NTH HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGAL CHRISTMAS MOVIE, "IF ONLY I HAD CHRISTMAS," AND LACEY CHABERT WILL APPEAR TWO FILMS, "TIME FOR US TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" AND "CHRISTMAS WALTZ," WHICH ALSO FEATUR HER "LOVE, ROMANCE AND CHOLATE" -STAR WILL KEMP. HOLLY ROBSON PEETE WILL ALSO STAR TWO MOVI: "CHRISTMAS DOCTOR" AND THE FOURTH STALLMENT OF "CHRISTMAS EVERGREEN: BELLS ARE RGG." VETERANS ALISON SWEENEY, DANI MCKELLAR AND TAMERA MOWRY-HOELEY WILL ALSO RETURN FOR NEW PROJECTS.NEWERS TO THE WORK CLU "RIVERDALE" ACTRS MARISOL NICHOLS, "PRETTY LTLE LIARS" STAR JANEL PARRISH AND JEREMY JORDAN OF "SUPERGIRL," AMONG OTHERS.HALLMARK CHANNEL'S "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS" KICKS OFF SATURDAY, OCT. 24 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT WH "JGLE BELL BRI," WHILE HALLMARK MOVI & MYSTERI' "MIRACL OF CHRISTMAS" BEGS AN HOUR LATER, WH "CHRISTMAS TREE LANE."EDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'JUL 16, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

JONATHAN BENT WANTED TO CREATE A GAY UNCLE BUCK FOR THE HOLIDAY STER

In the movie, which buts Sunday, Bent plays Sam, a gay guy whose personal life suffers at the st of his profsnal life — work over marriage. '" Add to the formula the actor's love of the '80s classic Uncle Buck starrg John Candy, pl his sire to see a movie that was "really thentic to what 's like beg a gay man 2022. " And that turned to me and my love for Uncle Buck, the movie wh John Candy that I grew up on, and I kd of put those ias together and I said, "What if Uncle Buck was gay?

Sam is beg really thentic to what 's like beg a gay man 2022 and what that experience is.

As gay men, we're navigatg what our liv look like wh kids, or gettg married, or whout kids, and 's not black or whe — there's so many different avenu to startg a fay and havg a chosen fay. Somethg I found so funny is how Sam realiz that Jason is gay — when Jason ments on Sam's sho.

HALLMARK JOS 21ST CENTURY WH FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS FILM – AND, Y, STARS JONATHAN BENT

Like, "Oh wow, he is gay. The Hallmark Channel is gettg to the gay Christmas a part of s Countdown to Christmas event, Hallmark Channel has announced s first Christmas movie that foc on a gay Holiday Ster will be released on December 11 on The Hallmark Channel and will star Mean Girls alum Jonathan Bent, Gee Krissa, and Chelsea — Becky VanValkenburg (@Becky VanValkenburg).

MAKE THE YULETI GAY WH THE NEW LGBTQ CHRISTMAS MOVI

He mak the trip wh his hband Jake, played by Brad Harr, and the pair wa to hear about the possible adoptn of their first 's only September, but wh Hallmark announcg s slate of holiday movi, and other platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Lifetime havg also announced holiday movi and specials, so far, The Holiday Ster is the only one to foc on gay characters. Startg 2020, Christmas was for the gays.

RELATED | 23 Christmas Songs by LGBTQ+ Artists to Make the Yuleti Gay. Bent posted on Instagram to share his excement for the film, sayg “will make history as the first leadg gay uple a Hallmark Christmas move ever”.

HALLMARK PREMIER S FIRST LGBTQ HOLIDAY MOVIE WH A GAY LEAD UPLE

The announcement of this trailblazg productn follows gay Twter llg out for Hallmark Channel to clu LGBTQ+ characters s films 2019.

In that same year, The Wrap reported that, of the channel’s 40 new ftive films, not one featured a gay lead. For the first time, a Hallmark Christmas movie will feature a gay uple at the heart of one of their upg films, The Holiday Ster. Merry & Gay.

Watch “Merry & Gay” on the brand new lbian & queer streamg service, DIVA Box Office TV. In 2020, Hallmark e QUITE the drama when they promised they would fally create a gay Christmas film for their work – and then “fot” to clu when they announced their listg. But was hard to overlook the fact that while both films featured a gay uple, they were mor characters – or at bt, part of an ensemble st!

SHOP 'GMA3' POWER HOUR ALS FOR LABOR DAY!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHCULTUREHALLMARK CHANNEL ANNOUNC CHRISTMAS MOVIE FEATURG GAY UPLE LOOKG TO ADOPT3:40HALLMARK APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG AD PICTG GAY UPLE BYTONY MORRISON AND LLEY MSERSEPTEMBER 23, 2020, 9:59 AM•4 M READHALLMARK CHANNEL AND S PARENT PANY, CROWN MEDIA FAY NETWORK, ARE LIVERG ON A PROMISE TO DIVERSIFY THEIR HOLIDAY MOVI."MEAN GIRLS" ACTOR JONATHAN BENT WILL STAR "THE CHRISTMAS HOE," WHICH FEATUR A STORYLE ABOUT A GAY UPLE LOOKG TO ADOPT THEIR FIRST CHILD, ACRDG TO MICHELLE VIRY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRINT OF PROGRAMMG FOR CROWN MEDIA FAY NETWORK.MORE: HALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'BENT'S -STARS CLU "ONE TREE HILL" ACTOR ROBERT BUCKLEY, ANA AYORA OF "IN THE DARK," VETERAN ACTOR TREAT WILLIAMS, "NYPD BLUE" STAR SHARON LAWRENCE AND ACTOR BRAD HARR. "THE CHRISTMAS HOE" PREMIER ON SUNDAY, NOV. 22 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT.A SYNOPSIS FOR "THE CHRISTMAS HOE" READS: "WORKG THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT CISNS, MCHELL FAY MATRIARCH PHYLIS (LAWRENCE) AND PATRIARCH BILL (WILLIAMS), HAVE SUMMONED THEIR TWO GROWN SONS -- MIKE (BUCKLEY) AND BRANDON (BENT) -- HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT IS THEIR HOPE THAT BRGG THE FAY TOGETHER TO RECREATE THE CHRISTMAS HOE WILL HELP THEM FD ROLUTN AND MAKE A MEMORABLE HOLIDAY FOR THE ENTIRE FAY AND MUNY. AS BRANDON AND HIS HBAND, JAKE (HARR), MAKE THE TRIP HOME, THEY ARE ANXLY AWAG A LL ABOUT THE ADOPTN OF THEIR FIRST CHILD. MEANWHILE, MIKE RENNECTS WH ANDI (AYORA), HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART.""OUR HOLIDAY TABLE IS BIGGER AND MORE WELG THAN EVER. THIS YEAR'S MOVI REFLECT OUR MOST DIVERSE REPRENTATN OF TALENT, NARRATIV AND FAI," VIRY SAID WEDNDAY. "OUR MOVI ARE ROOTED WARMTH AND POSIVY, MEANGFUL NNECTNS, FAY GATHERGS AND SEASONAL TRADNS -- A WNG FORMULA WE HOPE WILL BRG OUR LNS OF VIEWERS MUCH-NEED LEVY AND HOLIDAY CHEER AT THE END OF A TOUGH YEAR."EDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'JUL 16, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019AMID CRICISM THAT NONE OF THE PREVLY-ANNOUNCED HOLIDAY FILMS FEATURED AN LGBTQ LEAD, A HALLMARK CHANNEL SPOKPERSON TOLD "GOOD MORNG AMERI" JULY THE PANY WAS "MTED TO CREATG A HALLMARK EXPERIENCE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELE" AND WOULD BE ANNOUNCG "LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS" THE FUTURE.MORE: IN REVERSAL, HALLMARK WILL RESTATE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ADSIN ADDN TO "THE CHRISTMAS HOE," CROWN MEDIA ANNOUNCED WEDNDAY THAT CANDACE CAMERON BURE WILL STAR HER NTH HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGAL CHRISTMAS MOVIE, "IF ONLY I HAD CHRISTMAS," AND LACEY CHABERT WILL APPEAR TWO FILMS, "TIME FOR US TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" AND "CHRISTMAS WALTZ," WHICH ALSO FEATUR HER "LOVE, ROMANCE AND CHOLATE" -STAR WILL KEMP. HOLLY ROBSON PEETE WILL ALSO STAR TWO MOVI: "CHRISTMAS DOCTOR" AND THE FOURTH STALLMENT OF "CHRISTMAS EVERGREEN: BELLS ARE RGG." VETERANS ALISON SWEENEY, DANI MCKELLAR AND TAMERA MOWRY-HOELEY WILL ALSO RETURN FOR NEW PROJECTS.NEWERS TO THE WORK CLU "RIVERDALE" ACTRS MARISOL NICHOLS, "PRETTY LTLE LIARS" STAR JANEL PARRISH AND JEREMY JORDAN OF "SUPERGIRL," AMONG OTHERS.HALLMARK CHANNEL'S "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS" KICKS OFF SATURDAY, OCT. 24 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT WH "JGLE BELL BRI," WHILE HALLMARK MOVI & MYSTERI' "MIRACL OF CHRISTMAS" BEGS AN HOUR LATER, WH "CHRISTMAS TREE LANE."EDOR’S PICKSHALLMARK ANNOUNC PLANS TO BUT 'LGBTQ STORYL, CHARACTERS AND ACTORS'JUL 16, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL SCHL MARATHON OF FEEL-GOOD HOLIDAY MOVI AMID MASS SELF-QUARANTEMAR 19, 2020HALLMARK CHANNEL APOLOGIZ FOR PULLG GAY-THEMED WEDDG ADDEC 15, 2019UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—BURNA BOY'S NEW ALBUM 'I TOLD THEM…' REMDS WHY HE'S 'ST' ON TOP OF THE WORLD'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023TOM HOLLAND SHAR SWEET PHOTOS OF GIRLIEND ZENDAYA ON HER BIRTHDAY: SEE THE PICTUR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023MEG RYAN ON HER SON'S REACTN TO 'WHEN HARRY MET SALLY' KATZ'S DELI SCENE, NEW ROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2023JT TIMBERLAKE, TIMBALAND AND NELLY FURTADO RNE FOR NEW SGLE, 'KEEP GOG UP'SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

I do have to ll out somethg I’ve noticed this year, everyone seems to be promotg Hallmark’s 2022 film The Holiday Ster the channel’s “first gay Christmas rom-” – umm, exce me? Have we fotten all the drama of 2020 and “The Christmas Hoe”, what they promised at the time to be the first gay Christmas Hallmark film? However, I mt give Hallmark some props – at least they’ve acknowledged that ’s their first “Leadg Gay Couple a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The tradn ntu 2021, wh films starrg RuPl, Michael Urie, Jonathan Ben and more — pl appearanc by gay favor like Jennifer your holiday season bge-watchg ssns acrdgly wh the upg movi and specials. 2, NetflixTony-wng director Michael Mayer (“Sprg Awakeng”) helms Netflix’s first gay holiday film, which se perpetually sgle Peter (Michael Urie) beggg his bt iend, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to e home wh him and pretend to be his boyiend to put an end to his fay’s nstant meddlg.

But the se is put to the tt when his mother (another gay fave, Kathy Najimy) sets him up wh her hunky traer (“Brothers and Sisters” actor Le Macfarlane) to “Sgle All the Way” for stg three out actors as gay characters — and for stg Jennifer Coolidge, perd. 3, NetflixFormer nttants return to the tents for a pair of holiday-themed episos: In “The Great Christmas Bakg Show, ” out ic Tom Allen subs for Noel Fieldg to -host wh gay prenter Matt Lus as season ne’s Jon Jenks and Kim-Joy Hewlett and season 11’s Herme and Rowan Williams whip up wondro Yuleti treats. “The showstopper challenge, they’ve got to make a ftive feast illn ke, ” judge Pl Hollywood teased, acrdg to “The Great New Year’s Bakg Show, ” 's season five wner Nancy Birtwhistle up agast season ne champn Rahul Mandal and two nttants om season 19: Gay nerd Henry Bird and wchy Helena Garcia.