Is it just us, or has The Hallmark Channel gotten even gayer since The Grinch Candace Cameron Bure fled the network for the more “traditional” values at Great American Family?
Known for churning out sweet and saccharine holiday movies every season, Hallmark has a whopping 40 original festive stories on its slate this year—and more than a few of them sound pretty gay!
While Miss Cameron Bure may not want to touch them with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole, we figure you’d like to know what films are coming down the chimney in the weeks ahead, including some of our favorite LGBTQ+ talent like Luke Macfarlane, Jonathan Bennett, Vincent Rodriguez III, and Humberly González.
So, grab a blanket, get that cocoa piping hot, and get ready to cozy up to three of the most exciting LGBTQ+ inclusive movies headed to The Hallmark Channel in 2023.
Catch Me If You Claus
Okay, so… bad news first. No, there doesn’t appear to be anything gay about the story of Catch Me If You Claus. However, it does happen to feature out Bros star Luke Macfarlane as a man who just might be the son of Santa Claus, and there’s something very hot about that, no? At least, the sight of Macfarlane in a tight-fitting henley and red suspenders sure gets our chestnuts roasting! Plus, the movie’s premise—a woman (Supergirl‘s Italia Ricci) catches a home intruder who claims to be Santa, Jr.—is slightly more high-concept than your average Hallmark rom-com, and that’s enough to get us invested.
The sexy Santa Claus is a Christmas tradition as old as the holiday itself!
Christmas On Cherry Lane
Giving Macfarlane a run for his money in the made-for-TV Christmas department is former Mean Girls nice guy Jonathan Bennett, who starred in the network’s first gay-focused movie last season. Here, he stars alongside Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and With Love hunk Vincent Rodriguez III as a couple who finds out they’re going to be dads—right before they’re meant to have friends and family over for an ambitious holiday dinner party. However, they’re just one of three romantic pairings whose stories all intertwine on a quaint little snow-covered street called Cherry Lane.
Now, we don’t imagine Rodriguez will be shedding those finely pressed shirts and wrinkle-free sweaters in Christmas On Cherry lane, but we just thought you might like to know what he’s working with underneath:
Christmas On Cherry Lane premieres Saturday, December 9 on Hallmark.
Friends & Family Christmas
Image Credit: ‘Friends & Family Christmas,’ Hallmark
And lastly, for a much more sapphic seasonal offering, there’s Friends & Family Christmas. When an overworked photographer (queer Ginny & Georgia star Humberly González) gets a surprise visit from her parents right before the holiday, she turns to her lawyer pal (Ali Liebert, who previously directed Jonathan Bennett in last year’s super-gay The Holiday Sitter) for help. For some convoluted reason, they have to pretend to date to keep up appearances for their friends and family… though we’ve all seen enough of these rom-coms to know that, sooner or later, these two won’t have to pretend they’re in love.
Friends & Family Christmas premieres Sunday, December 17 on Hallmark.
Looking for a queer movie to put you in the mood for the holidays? Snuggle up with someone you love and enjoy these 8 iconic gay Christmas movies.
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Luke McFarlane and Matt Bomer have the acting chops to portray both straight and gay characters. But I think more gay actors could succeed in straight roles if given the chance – especially in comedies (see: Rock Hudson).
I once saw Glee‘s Chris Colfer portray Wendie Malick’s straight son in an episode of Hot in Cleveland. Believe it or not, he pulls it off.
I agree, but that opens a whole can of worms: With people complaining about straight people “taking” gay roles away from gay actors, it’s a double-standard to say it’s okay the other way around, BUT I’m in the camp of Let the Best Actor for the Role Win!
xanadude and Fenwick22, the reason why it’s a problem when straight actors take gay roles is that openly gay people are already locked out of the industry. Name 3 openly gay movie stars playing lead actors in high grossing movies? Exactly. The playing field is not even. Also, there’s no “best” actor because how can you quantifiably assess who is best for the role? You’re taking something that is subjective and qualitative and trying to quantify something that isn’t quantifiable. We can assess the best accountant, best mathematician, best chemist, but acting is so subjective where there is no best.
That’s the final word: the best dude for the job gets the role.
Can we just forget who’s GAY or Str8. Enough with this
asinine argument. The best man for the job whatever the role
regardless how he identifies!
I agree, Pietro. I’d rather finally live in a fair world than worry about the past sins of others. As long as this industry continues to move towards fairness we should be happy. The best should always win.
There is no “best” actor. If it is, why is it that there has been no openly gay actor nominated for an Oscar in a leading role in the past 10 years? Is it only straight actors that are the best? Acting is subjective and turns into a popularity contest. The most popular isn’t always the best. There is no way to OBJECTIVELY assess who’s best in acting especially when 2 people both connect to the part and role, it’s the casting directors subjective opinion. If characters are diverse, so should the actors portraying them.
Amen. Actors, like most people, have to earn a living, preferably doing something they’re good at: acting. Luke can do it all, which, I think, is why Hallmark keeps offering him roles. And as someone posted, what difference does it make if the actor is gay or str8, as long as he/she can pull off the character.
You have listed THREE movies here… and only TWO of those have gay content. Does this warrant your breathless declaration that Hallmark has gotten gayer? No. They released more of them in 2022.
Whoever wrote this article is an idiot. They are not part of the entertainment industry and they don’t understand exactly what the equal opportunity, employment act means, You’re an ass of a Gen Z’er for saying straight for pay, you are what is wrong with this “woke” movement. just stupid.
Hilarious premise and Luke pulls it off well. Who could get angry when he means so well and he acts just like a kid on his first paper route who gets the addresses wrong. I liked it when he had played a dad role, and since he is one now, I wish Hallmark would capitalize on that. Lucky kid!!
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bachy
Luke McFarlane and Matt Bomer have the acting chops to portray both straight and gay characters. But I think more gay actors could succeed in straight roles if given the chance – especially in comedies (see: Rock Hudson).
I once saw Glee‘s Chris Colfer portray Wendie Malick’s straight son in an episode of Hot in Cleveland. Believe it or not, he pulls it off.
xanadude
I agree, but that opens a whole can of worms: With people complaining about straight people “taking” gay roles away from gay actors, it’s a double-standard to say it’s okay the other way around, BUT I’m in the camp of Let the Best Actor for the Role Win!
Fenwick22
Couldn’t agree more – that’s why it’s called acting. Let the best actor get the role, regardless of sexuality.
Love321
xanadude and Fenwick22, the reason why it’s a problem when straight actors take gay roles is that openly gay people are already locked out of the industry. Name 3 openly gay movie stars playing lead actors in high grossing movies? Exactly. The playing field is not even. Also, there’s no “best” actor because how can you quantifiably assess who is best for the role? You’re taking something that is subjective and qualitative and trying to quantify something that isn’t quantifiable. We can assess the best accountant, best mathematician, best chemist, but acting is so subjective where there is no best.
Pietro D
That’s the final word: the best dude for the job gets the role.
Can we just forget who’s GAY or Str8. Enough with this
asinine argument. The best man for the job whatever the role
regardless how he identifies!
dbmcvey
I guess, if we ignore the history of film and television.
Openminded
I agree, Pietro. I’d rather finally live in a fair world than worry about the past sins of others. As long as this industry continues to move towards fairness we should be happy. The best should always win.
Love321
There is no “best” actor. If it is, why is it that there has been no openly gay actor nominated for an Oscar in a leading role in the past 10 years? Is it only straight actors that are the best? Acting is subjective and turns into a popularity contest. The most popular isn’t always the best. There is no way to OBJECTIVELY assess who’s best in acting especially when 2 people both connect to the part and role, it’s the casting directors subjective opinion. If characters are diverse, so should the actors portraying them.
WolfLover
Amen. Actors, like most people, have to earn a living, preferably doing something they’re good at: acting. Luke can do it all, which, I think, is why Hallmark keeps offering him roles. And as someone posted, what difference does it make if the actor is gay or str8, as long as he/she can pull off the character.
dario717
If only gay men play gay roles, Michael Sheen will never work again.
Openminded
I like Luke’s work and he’s a hottie too, but I wish he would get Lasik for his eyes. He always looks like he’s squinting.
NYeastvillage1
You have listed THREE movies here… and only TWO of those have gay content. Does this warrant your breathless declaration that Hallmark has gotten gayer? No. They released more of them in 2022.
Charlie in Charge
To be fair about the quantity, I think these are often filmed in the summer and we had an actors and writers strike.
BLAKENOW
Whoever wrote this article is an idiot. They are not part of the entertainment industry and they don’t understand exactly what the equal opportunity, employment act means, You’re an ass of a Gen Z’er for saying straight for pay, you are what is wrong with this “woke” movement. just stupid.
Teddster
Hilarious premise and Luke pulls it off well. Who could get angry when he means so well and he acts just like a kid on his first paper route who gets the addresses wrong. I liked it when he had played a dad role, and since he is one now, I wish Hallmark would capitalize on that. Lucky kid!!