It didn’t take long for the 10 new contestants on “Finding Mr. Christmas” to bond and let the tears flow. Hallmark Channel’s season two premiere on October 27, 2025, ended very emotionally as the first contestant was sent home. Here are the results from the first night — and why things got so emotional, even for the show’s host and co-creator Jonathan Bennett.
SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t want to know what happened on the first episode of “Finding Mr. Christmas,” stop reading here.
10 Hunks Vying for the ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Title Dove Into Competitions Right Away
As the new season kicked off, 10 handsome contestants showed up at the decked-out “Finding Mr. Christmas” house, all vying for a chance to become Hallmark’s next leading man. At the end of the eight-week competition — judged by Bennett, Hallmark fan favorite Melissa Peterman, and a different guest judge each week — the winner will land a leading role in a Hallmark Christmas movie this year.
After the guys spent a little time getting to know each other, they were given their first “Festive Face-Off” in the whimsical Santa’s Workshop, located upstairs at the house. They were given 30 minutes to personalize Santa costumes with embellishments that reflected their personalities, and then had to wear and present them.
Bennett promised this season would be even hunkier than last, and he was not lying; these guys are ripped, with six-packs and bulging biceps everywhere you look.
During the Festive Face-Off, some were confident and charismatic, like Rustin serenading them as “Rock Star Santa,” while others stumbled over their words, like a very nervous Gabriel (Gabe). Bennett and Peterman named Craig of Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, the winner of that Festive Face-Off for his clever “Santarini” costume and over-the-top New York accent.
Janel Parrish Joined ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ for the First ‘Star Quality’ Challenge
HallmarkThe guys then moved outdoors, heading to a ski slope where they met up with Hallmark star Janel Parrish for a “Star Quality” challenge. In these competitions, the contestants are given scene scripts (mostly written by Hallmark’s Eliza Hayes Maher), which they must memorize and deliver in a mock scene with a guest star like Parrish (who stars in “Christmas on Duty” on November 1, by the way).
On the slopes, each contestant had to act out the same scene, offering to help Parrish, who had pretended to wipe out while skiing. For some, reciting the lines came naturally, but others ran into trouble. Jake and Gabe struggled to remember their lines, while Drake slid right past Parrish on his skis and hilariously had to scoot and roll all the way back to her. Nevertheless, his hair was still perfectly coiffed when he took off his ski helmet (cue the swooning!) and Parrish played it off adorably, comparing his moves to “parkour.”
Bennett and Peterman — amusingly dressed in fluorescent pink and yellow snowsuits — watched it all play out on a screen inside the production team’s nearby tent. They then had to huddle with Parrish to decide who to send home in the show’s first elimination ceremony.
Former NFL Player Cries Over Elimination, Grateful for What the Experience Gave Him
HallmarkJust like in the first season, all 10 contestants changed into their finest suits for the elimination ceremony. They heard loving feedback from Bennett, Peterman, and Parrish, who then announced that the bottom three were Jake, Gabe, and Drake — a self-described “delusional optimist” with to-die-for hair.
“Jake, the camera loves you,” Bennett told Jake Schum, who played in the NFL for six seasons and has never acted before. “But you fumbled the lines and you couldn’t seem to recover.”
Drake was told by Bennett he needed to show more of his “leading man qualities,” and Gabe was told he “seemed nervous” and struggled to shake it, causing Parrish to feel “like she had a little bit of a hard time connecting with you.”
With dramatic music playing, Bennett paused before announcing their decision: “Jake, it’s time to take your stocking down. You’re going home for the holidays.”
As Jake began to tear up over the news, Bennett got choked up, too, while saying, “You came into this competition doing something you have never done before in your life, and you should be so proud of yourself.”
“I haven’t had a time with a bunch of guys, building that bond and relationship, since football,” Jake told producers, choking back tears. “What an emotional roller coaster. It’s a good feeling to have that spark back. Going home, it’s gonna be really hard, but hopefully you’ll see this face again.”
The next episode of “Finding Mr. Christmas” airs on Monday, November 3.
There is not a Brennan, Luke, Christoffer, Wes, Paul, Tyler, Andrew, Cameron, Kevin, Will, Johnathon or Paul among ’em.
I enjoyed watching the Show. I Love Jonathon, Melissa & Janel. I felt bad for Jake, but I can see him eventually being in a Hallmark Movie. They All seem like Great Guys. You have a Hard Job ahead of you & I’ll be watching all the way.