20 Years After “Mean Girls,” Jonathan Bennett Is Still Making Fans Swoon

Given the scarcity of openly LGBTQ+ athletes in professional sports, Bennett felt he would “offer aspiration and hope” to fans by making Danny a Major League Baseball player. 

“We want to make sure when we’re telling stories ― whether it’s a holiday story or a wedding story ― that there’s always a seat at the table for everyone,” he said. 

With four years of Hallmark experience under his belt, Bennett is also thrilled to be mentoring would-be heartthrobs as the host of Finding Mr. Christmas. Airing Thursdays, the competition series finds 10 actors vying to be the leading man in an upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie, Happy Howlidays, starring Jessica Lowndes and due out Dec. 21. 

“My dream for the show is for it to be like the early days of American Idol, where everyone gathers around the TV together at the holidays, and everybody has their favorites that they’re rooting for,” Bennett said. As to what makes the ideal Hallmark holiday heartthrob, he noted: “They have a wit and a kindness to them. They have a whole lot of heart and charisma coming out of their ears. And, of course, they look good in a Christmas sweater.”