Melissa Peterman has made her way in Hollywood by gracefully and hilariously stepping into whatever role she needs to fill — sitcom star, Hallmark actress, game show host, red carpet reporter, and even lead judge.
In many cases, Peterman is in a supporting role to the primary star of the show, including her funny banter with country superstar Reba McEntire on NBC’s “Happy’s Place” (and, years before, on “Reba”) or interjecting amusing comments and insightful observations as Jonathan Bennett’s fellow judge on “Finding Mr. Christmas,” helping Hallmark find its next leading man.
But for those who think Peterman might be pining for the lead role, think again. Not being the main star of the show is fine by Peterman, she told Newsweek on November 5, 2025, explaining, “I think there is value in the second banana. There’s value in the sidekick.”
Melissa Peterman Says She Loves Supporting Other Talent in a Scene
GettyPeterman told Newsweek that “it feels great” to be valued as a supporting actress and personality.
“Sometimes in your career, you think you’re not number one on the call sheet or you’re not this, and that never bugged me,” Peterman said. “There was never an issue with that. To me, it was all about what do you get to do in that show? What do you get to bring to the table? It didn’t matter if you were, you know, number three, number seven, number 13 — are you going to bring something to whatever lines you have, whatever character you’re given?”
“So it’s great to be known as that,” Peterman said of her second billing status. “I like being known as that. I’m proud of that, I’m really proud of that. You know, I’ve had two shows where I was supposed to be just guest cast or not to be in every episode, and I ended up being in every episode. And I hope there’s a value I bring to shows in that regard.”
Being a Good Sidekick Takes Talent, Humility & Clarity, According to Melissa Peterman
HallmarkOn “Finding Mr. Christmas,” Bennett is not only the host, but also the co-creator and judge of the men who face new physical challenges and acting tests each week. Peterman is perfect by his side, bringing the funny with ad-libbed comments and pragmatic advice to help the contestants evolve.
Being a good “sidekick,” Peterman told Newsweek, is important because “it’s a foundation to build a lot of things on.”
“I’ve said this to my showrunners before that I don’t count lines, I don’t count words,” she continued. “I really don’t. I just want what I have (to do) to be really clear to me for a point of view. Like, comedy to me is … funnier when it’s specific, so I ask those kind of questions.”
Peterman, who’s also an integral part of the supporting cast in Hallmark’s “Haul Out the Holly” franchise, continued, “I would rather have two lines that you can walk in and absolutely have a point of view and just smash it and then leave and hang out in your dressing room, than to have a lot of scenes where you’re not quite sure what you’re doing or you just, you feel like filler sometimes. So I don’t know, that maybe was convoluted, but I really, I do think there’s value. I love it.”
Bennett, who’s had a great rapport with Peterman during both seasons of “Finding Mr. Christmas,” told Popternative that one of the things he loves about her is that both onscreen and off, “she’s herself and that’s why she’s the best. Melissa’s just always Melissa, take it or leave it.”
“Finding Mr. Christmas” airs Monday nights on Hallmark Channel at 8 p.m. Eastern time and each episode is available to stream via Hallmark+ the following day.
Melissa is fantastic as a “sidekick”. He character portrayals always come across as funny and her physical comedy is second to none. Keep up the great work, Melissa!
She sure can make people laugh and she seem natural. As everybody said she is herself. I like her as don’t want to be top but second banana. Sound like she doesn’t to be serious competition but to go flow what she does. She may be perfect or not perfect. Either way she is good what she does.
I love Melissa Peterman. I watched every episode of Reba more than once. She brought a lot to that show. She always makes me laugh. Saw Haul out the Holly 3 times because of her and the Halloween one.