The Critics Choice Real TV Awards nominations have just been announced, and Hallmark received several nominations.
This is the eighth annual year of the Critics Choice Real TV Awards, which recognize “excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.”
On April 30, Deadline revealed the full slate of new nominations. Hallmark’s “Finding Mr. Christmas” has plenty to celebrate with the latest announcement.
Hallmark’s Jonathan Bennett & ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Received Nominations in 3 Categories
“Finding Mr. Christmas” received nominations in both the Competition Series category and the category of Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series. In addition, “Finding Mr. Christmas” host Jonathan Bennett received a nomination in the Show Host category.
The Hallmark competition show received several nominations in 2025, as well. The series was again in the Best Competition Series category in 2025, and Bennett was a nominee for Best Show Host. Bennett received a second Critics Choice Real TV Awards nomination in the category of Male Star of the Year.
Unfortunately for the Hallmark reality TV show, it is often up against “The Traitors” for these awards, and “The Traitors” tends to win often.
In 2025, “The Traitors” won two of the three categories that included “Finding Mr. Christmas.” “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Stephen Nedoroscik won the category of Male Star of the Year.
The Competition for the 8th Annual Critics Choice Awards Is Fierce
This year, the nominees in the Competition Series category also include “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Squid Game: The Challenge,” “Survivor 50,” “Top Chef,” and “The Traitors.”
The category of Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series also includes a list of heavy hitters. In addition to “Finding Mr. Christmas” and “The Traitors,” the list of nominees includes “Summer House,” “House of Villains,” “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” and “Dancing with the Stars.”
In the Show Host category, Bennett finds himself up against Cumming as well as “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish, “America’s Culinary Cup” host Padma Lakshmi, “House of Villains” host Joel McHale, and RuPaul.
News of the nominations thrilled Hallmark fans. The Hallmark Channel PR Instagram page shared the announcement, as did “Finding Mr. Christmas” contestant Robbie Simpon.
One comment read, “How AMAZING is this!!! Congrats everyone!!”
On Simpson’s post, “Finding Mr. Christmas” co-creator and executive producer Ben Roy raved, “Best cast EVER. So deserved boys!!!”
Another fan wrote, “I LOVE finding Mr. Christmas!!!”
In total, “The Traitors” received a total of six nominations, and “Dancing with the Stars” received four. Netflix dominated the Critics Choice Real TV Awards nominations, receiving a total of 18. Bravo received 12, and ABC got 10.
After the debut season of “Finding Mr. Christmas,” Hallmark was quick to renew the show for a second season. However, the network has yet to announce a renewal for a third season.
When Hallmark initially renewed the series after the debut season, Variety noted that Bennett gushed over the experience he’s had with the show. “Bringing this show to life was such a dream come true. There’re definitely more stories to be told in season two and so much more fun to be had. We’re really just scratching the surface here.”
The winners of the eighth Annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards will be announced online on the Critics Choice website on June 3. The announcement will begin at 9 a.m. Pacific/12 p.m. Eastern.
