Jonathan Bennett Says Hallmark 'Created a Safe Place for Queer Artists' to Tell Their Stories

ET ^ | Philiana Nq

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Jonathan Bennett leads The Holiday Sitter, Hallmark Channel's first Christmas romantic comedy that focuses on a queer love story.

The actor previously co-starred in two Christmas House movies in 2020 and 2021 for the network, where he played one-half of a gay couple in love who were seeking to adopt a baby.

But The Holiday Sitter, which Bennett executive produces, puts him firmly in the spotlight.

"It means so many things, not just to me but to so many people to be in The Holiday Sitter, which is the first LGBTQ+-led rom-com for Hallmark Channel at Christmas," Bennett told ET's Kevin Frazier during Tuesday's exclusive sit-down interview.

“Representation matters and I know so many people are going to see this and feel so included at the holiday table this year. So it just feels great."

The Holiday Sitter follows Bennett's Sam, a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband have to go out of town.

Completely out of his element, he recruits help from their handsome neighbor, Jason (George Krissa), and finds himself in an unexpected romance.

But not every network is seemingly adopting that approach in being open to stories about all walks of life.

Candace Cameron Bure made headlines when she said in a recent interview that Great American Family, the network she left Hallmark for, focuses on stories about "traditional marriage."

Her comments sparked backlash, prompting her to later defend her controversial remarks.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Coming soon.

[NorthMountain]

Nobody Home
-Pink Floyd

I’ve got a little black book with my poems in
Got a bag with a toothbrush and a comb in
When I’m a good dog
They sometimes throw me the bone in

I got elastic bands keepin’ my shoes on
Got those swollen hand blues
I got thirteen channels of shit on the TV to choose from
I’ve got electric light

And I’ve got second sight
I got amazing powers of observation
And that is how I know, when I try to get through
On the telephone to you, there’ll be nobody home

I’ve got the obligatory Hendrix perm and the inevitable pinhole burns
Now all down the front of my favorite satin shirt
I’ve got nicotine stains on my fingers, I’ve got a silver spoon on a chain
Got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains

I’ve got wild staring eyes
And I’ve got a strong urge to fly, but I got nowhere to fly to
Ooh, babe when I pick up the phone there is still nobody home
I’ve got a pair of Gohills boots and I got fading roots

Hmmmm ....

More channels, same content.

[No name given]

I agree.

[GaryCrow]

I've never really watched the Hallmark Channel, that type of stuff wasn't really in my orbit. After the homos got their panties in a wad over Candace Cameron Bure's remarks (which were not at all controversial BTW) I decided to turn on GAF and watch a movie or two. I found out they have some charming Christmas movies. They're kind of hokey, but if you know that going in they're pretty fun to watch. They're not Top Gun but I didn't expect that. I saw her new movie too, I thought it was pretty good. It gets you in the holiday spirit and all were family oriented, you'd have no trouble letting your children watch them.

Not a homo or tranny in sight either.

[Delta 21]

Its called The Closet.

Maybe they will all start hanging out with one another in The Closet?

[pepsi_junkie]

Finally … a place in Hollywood where gays can work.

[Delta 21]

They do it on purpose!

[Vermont Lt]

And it’s ratings will tell them that woke production is a loser.

Then they will go back to the same stupid fairy tales they produce every year.

[Chickensoup]

Only want streamers without commercials

[IrishBrigade]

‘...If we all stopped watching, purchasing and enabling...’

as long as my wife still exists this side of the River Styx, Hallmark will have at least one customer...

[Vermont Lt]

Once I went to the Nursing home on a Saturday afternoon. My mom was watching the Hallmark channel when I walked in. Of course the volume was blasting.

I sat on her bed, took the remote and hit mute so we could talk. A minute later I realized I was still hearing it. I hit unmute, and it blasted again. Then I turned off the TV entirely. I could STILL hear.

Turns out that every TV on the floor was tuned to the Hallmark channel and they were watching it at full volume. Excep the guy watching a football game at full volume.

[dljordan]

Why is it so important to these people to “tell their story”?

[IrishBrigade]

‘They’re kind of hokey...’

hokey...? how about abyssmally loathsome...?

[Jane Long]

I put the GAF channel on and leave it on for the dogs most of the day and night, just to show support for Candace and her mission....

---

We do the same.....well, not during the night...but, that’s not a bad idea. I want Candace to get as much viewership, as possible.

We actually like several of this year’s Christmas shows.

We watch/stream on DirecTV stream.

[IrishBrigade]

‘The original title was going to be The North Pole Sitter, but that was deemed too controversial.’

I thouht I heard the North Hole Splitter, but I could be mistaken...

[Political Junkie Too]

I thought that's what Bravo was for.

-PJ

[Jane Long]

I thought Candace’s movie, A Christmas Present, had a great message for younger (well, any age, actually) couples/families...with teens, still working, etc.

The Scripture quoted, throughout, was also blessed witnessing.

[georgiarat]

FrndlyTV TV is a great option if one has access to local TV signals and can do without ESPN. Even if one has to have CBS, NBC and ABC evening shows, the cost for the streaming versions and FrndlyTV does not exceed $45.

[Organic Panic]

“Queer” = Chubby ugly straight person desperately looking for power over others using the victimhood hierarchy.

[georgiarat]

FRndlyTV also allows one to go back several days and watch or record a show. Very nice when one remembers they forgot to watch or record a show or one hears about a show from a friend.