Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark Unscripted - Home is Where the Heart Is, Small Town SetUp, and Finding Mr. Christmas

• Garry & Amy

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In this episode of Pour the Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry and Amy explore Hallmark’s unscripted gems: Home is Where the Heart Is, Small Town Setup, and Finding Mr. Christmas. These feel good reality shows prove you don’t need manufactured drama to stay entertained. Each brings its own unique charm while staying true to the heartwarming Hallmark spirit we all know and love.


Link to the article mentioned in the episode:

https://voyageatl.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-olivia-westbrooks-of-olivia-westbrooks-interiors/

Send us an email to pourthewineitsromcomtime@gmail.com! We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/mood-of-summer

Amy:

Welcome to Pour the Wine. It's RomCom time where we'll sip some wine and review all things. Romcom on the Homework channel. I'm Amy.

Garry:

And I'm Gary.

Amy:

And I think you should pour the wine.

Garry:

And I'm on it.

Amy:

It's a hot summer day here again, so we're having some white wine tonight.

Garry:

Normally we're red, but chardonnay sounded good yes, it's cold, it's crisp, it's delish, it's delish.

Amy:

There you go today we thought we would add a bonus episode of our podcast and talk about reality tv, or, as the kids say these days unscripted tv unscripted specifically hallmarks unscripted, tv Unscripted. Specifically Hallmark's unscripted TV lately, and they've got some pretty good stuff out there yeah they do, don't you think?

Garry:

I think so.

Amy:

And we're big, we're really big reality TV buffs as well.

Garry:

Well, you got me hooked on a lot of the reality TV shows. This is true, yes, we love the cooking ones.

Amy:

Top Chef.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

We love the cooking ones. Top Chef, yes, hell's Kitchen.

Garry:

Yes, master Chef.

Amy:

Master Chef is really good. You know I'm a sucker for good Housewives.

Garry:

Every last one of them, the real Housewives. Yep, yep.

Amy:

Fill in the Blank City.

Garry:

Oh, I know, Watch that. Some of them we like got canceled yeah.

Amy:

I never really watched the Bachelor.

Garry:

I think maybe I watched the first season, but that was it.

Amy:

I know you wouldn't watch that, but no, um, I think, what like survivor, we like the adventure ones too, traitors, traitors oh such delicious reality tv. So so we're really digging the reality tv, and lately we've been catching up on what homework had to offer yes, this year on homework plus right, I think all these aired on homework plus um last year and this year. Yeah, so what we're going to do is we're going to talk about three different reality shows in one episode.

Garry:

Yeah, we are yep, if you'd like to hear here it goes well, we'd love it if you would click that follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode, don't miss it. And if you listen on Apple Spotify or now YouTube, you can also leave us a review, and hopefully it's a positive one.

Amy:

And it's podcast only, not video.

Garry:

Yeah, it's podcast on YouTube.

Amy:

Yeah, it's audio only on YouTube, but it's there. We're getting there.

Garry:

We're getting there Be patient, we will have video right.

Amy:

you can also find us on social media facebook, instagram, blue sky x and threads yeah, make sure you go over to the socials, follow us like, do all the things and let us know your thoughts about hallmark, about their reality shows, about any reality shows you watch and like. Maybe we've missed some. You can also shoot us an email at pourthewine. It's romcomtime at gmailcom. We'd love to hear from you. Yes, we would, and we may even read it on the pod.

Garry:

Yeah, we would read it. Yeah, we've read two so far, so yeah, all right.

Amy:

So what are the three that we're going to be discussing today? I think these are their only. I believe so.

Garry:

Maybe, but today we'll be discussing Home is when the Heart Is, Small Town Setup and Finding Mr Christmas.

Amy:

Yay, because it's Christmas in July, that's right.

Garry:

We're going to end with Finding Mr Christmas, so are you ready to dive in?

Amy:

I am ready to dive in. Let's do it First.

Garry:

Give me my wine, let's do it First. Give me my wine, let's do it. Oh, you didn't pass me my wine. I'm sorry, give me my wine. Please Wait a minute. I didn't pass the wine. Thank you, all right.

Amy:

I may need some. So the first reality show is we're going to talk about these from the most recent.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

The most recent one that aired and then back Sounds good to me, sounds good to me.

Garry:

I'm sorry, I took a sip while you were.

Amy:

While I was talking.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

That's all right. So Home is when the Heart Is. Two episodes dropped on Thursday March 20th 2025 on Hallmark Plus. Then they dropped weekly through the sixth episode, the sixth and final episode for season one, which aired on Wednesday April 16th.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And Home is when the Heart Is is hosted by Luke McFarlane, and he's a Hallmark fave. Yes, he is His very first Hallmark production was the Memory Book in 2014. Oh my goodness. Some of his other Hallmark work includes 2023's. Catch Me a Few Claws and Notes of Autumn. Those are on frequently on the Hallmark channel. Yes, they are A Magical Christmas Village in 2022, christmas in my Heart in 2021, and Sense Sensibility and a Snowman in 2019. Some of his other work includes Hacks, one episode 2024, a great show.

Garry:

Yes, which we're currently watching.

Amy:

He was in the Netflix movie Single All the Way in 2021. He was in two episodes of Supergirl in 2015. And he was also in the very popular series Brothers and Sisters, where he played Scotty Wendell in 89 episodes from 2006 to 2011. It's such a great series.

Garry:

Did you ever watch it? No, I did not.

Amy:

Sally Field, calista Flockhart, rachel Griffiths, dave, annabelle and Matthew. I think you pronounced the same Reese.

Garry:

Rice. Yes, I think so yeah.

Amy:

Really really great show, so go check that out. Maybe we'll have to. I'll do a rewatch. You can do a first time watch.

Garry:

Yeah, we've done a couple of those.

Amy:

Also hosting. Home is when the Heart Is is Olivia Westbrooks. Now she is an interior designer with two decades of experience. She started Olivia Westbrooks's Interiors in 2020, and it's based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and I believe that's where the show was based out of correct.

Garry:

Yes, it was Atlanta Georgia.

Amy:

You can check out her company at oliviewestbrookscom. When I was looking online, I found there's not a whole lot of personal information about her out there. I found a great interview that Voyage Atlanta, Voyage ATL did with her in May of 2024. And I'll post the link in the description of the podcast. So definitely go check it out because it's a really good interview.

Amy:

She talks about how she started in interior design, what her first job was, what she moved on to. She had another business, I believe before Olivia Westbrook's interiors, but when the market crashed in like 2008, 2009, so did her business. You know she tried to start it then and it you know. So she's hanging in there and she's really, and I love her, she's, she's really.

Garry:

Yeah, them two together yes.

Amy:

They're a great, great team, so you want to tell us what it's all about. They're a great, great team, so you want to tell us what it's all about.

Garry:

What's the synopsis. Okay, the synopsis on this one is a team helps families renovate inherited or meaningful old homes, preserving their charm while modernizing them into welcoming dream houses.

Amy:

That's a pretty good description.

Garry:

Yeah, it is.

Amy:

Don't you say so. We watched this just what a few months ago. Yeah, I think we binged it. Each episode is like 40 minutes or so, so it's a really easy, smooth binge if you want, or you could break it up, yeah it's lighthearted. What did you think?

Garry:

I really enjoyed it. You know them going into these homes and picking two things to renovate, whether it be inside or outside or one inside and one outside or both inside and just making the home for the family and their vision, and they really listen to what these homeowners want.

Amy:

They really, really do and, like you said, it's not, they don't do the whole house. No, right it's just, it's just they pick and I don't know how they choose. Maybe it's based on how they can shoot it.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And come combined with the families. So these are homes that families have, either what inherited or, you know, maybe grew up in or they bought from their family. They're like family homes, so they mean a lot to these families that they go to. And then they, like you said, they pick a couple of places to renovate and, um, luke is actually a carpenter like a real life carpenter, and I don't know, back in the day if you ever watched trading spaces, you know you had ty. Yeah, he was on there, I think he was carpenter, but I'm not sure he did all the work.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Like this one. Luke really does all the work and they really you know trading spaces would listen to the homeowners a little bit but they often did what they wanted, right. But Luke and Olivia really listen. They listen to the history they take in the heart. Hence the home is where the heart is. Hence, the home is where the heart is, and it's just so wonderful what they do and they try to add something in that's memorable to the family that's meaningful, whether it's somebody that passed away or tradition.

Amy:

they want to continue, so it's just lovely in that way. It's just so so good.

Garry:

Yeah, I like how Luke takes the one personal thing and he's the one that builds it. Yes, and it's so cool because he has this machine that does engraving on wood.

Amy:

Oh, yeah, yeah, and it is so cool.

Garry:

It's very cool and Olivia, she's very good at doing like paintings and stuff.

Amy:

Oh, yeah, she loved a painting, didn't she?

Garry:

So she personalized a painting for them, for one of the families, yeah, so I thought it was really cool and her designs are really cool too.

Amy:

And they come together and they kind of agree on what they want to do and color schemes, and she's oftentimes wanting to paint wood.

Garry:

And he's like no, no, he's a purist with the wood.

Amy:

If it's something that's like and you know, like back in the day it was solid wood pieces. So families have these pieces that are beautiful, but they've been. You know, they're kind of worn down and they're you know, I don't know what the right word is. They're loved.

Garry:

Yes, they are. They're very loved, they're weathered.

Amy:

And he tries to bring them back to life without compromising the integrity of the wood yeah. And it's just kind of cute. Their banter a little bit. It's like can't paint it and he's like, no, we're not going to paint it. So it's kind of cute and I think maybe one time he finally came in.

Garry:

Yeah, she talked him into it. And you know what's crazy is some of her color schemes. At first I'm like, hmm, is that really going to work? But then it comes together and I really enjoy it.

Amy:

This is why we're not interior designers. Oh, I know, because we have to. You need somebody who can visualize it, and I'm terrible until I actually see it together it's like when you build a house and all you have are the walls.

Garry:

You can't visualize Like you, and I can't visualize the furniture and the paint. But I'm telling you what. That's why they have interior designers because they can visualize it.

Amy:

Yeah, and the stories have such heart and when you hear you know, and I mean even Olivia and Luke get choked up a few times and they just you know, and I know they're doing a job and whatnot, but they come across as so genuine. And I found that in all of the reality shows on Hallmark which.

Amy:

I love. Now, like we said, we love a good reality show where they you know there's some drama in there, but on Hallmark it's just so nice to see the genuineness of even the hosts. And you know, there's a part where Luke, you know, I think, one of the families, it's something about their father. And he kind of tears up talking about it. It's just it's so good Like I want to meet Luke and Olivia and hang out with them. You know they're just so genuine and nice and kind and what they're doing for people.

Garry:

So, yeah, I think it's, you're right, I think they just they really take it to heart, and when the product's done, it's done, it's done and it looks really, really good.

Amy:

I'd love to go back and see the families.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

You know how. Yeah, like if they've, you know, done more, because sometimes they're just kind of stuck. They can't figure out how to modernize, but keep the Right.

Garry:

Keep the old, you know, and that's a hard thing, yeah, sometimes to let it go and yeah we'd have to hire somebody. Oh gosh, yeah, we'd hire luke.

Amy:

We'd hire luke and olivia. Can he come over? Yeah, yeah, so that's, that's a good one. That would out of how many quarks would you give home is?

Garry:

where the heart is To me. Five, I would five all day. Yeah, five all day, for sure. I mean, I really, really, really, really enjoyed it.

Amy:

It's worth the watch, and I haven't heard anything about a season two, but I really think I'd really like to see more and maybe they can venture outside of Atlanta. Maybe they stayed closed because of production costs or just you know logistics. Yeah, well, you know logistics and doing it, so it's worth watching and hopefully we'll get a season two.

Garry:

Yes, I hope so, I'm hoping, I'm hoping, I'm hoping, I hope so. So you want to move on to Small Town Setup.

Amy:

Small Town Setup. Let's go, all right.

Garry:

Well, all six episodes dropped on Thursday, January 2nd 2025, on Hallmark.

Amy:

Plus In the new year, right after the new year. Yes, it did. You're ready to rock and roll and?

Garry:

it was hosted by none other than Ashley Williams.

Amy:

Who we love and adore. Yay, Ashley.

Garry:

She's a Hallmark favorite. Ashley has been in more than a dozen Hallmark productions, including To Barcelona, which is the most recent one with Love, and To Barcelona Forever, which just aired as part of the Passport to Love in June of this year, 2025.

Amy:

Just last month.

Garry:

Yeah, and we just finished it up not too long ago In 2024's Jingle Bell Run.

Amy:

That was really cute. We love that one, and it takes place in Chicago.

Garry:

With Andrew Walker.

Amy:

Yep.

Garry:

She got to the bell first Spoiler alert.

Amy:

Spoiler alert yes.

Garry:

The Hannah Swenson Mystery. A sprinkle of deceit and falling together with Paul Campbell, the Sister Swap Movies, a hometown holiday and Christmas in the city with her-life sister, kimberly Williams, paisley, paisley yeah, yes, those were in. Can you imagine working with your sibling?

Amy:

That'd be pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, that'd be pretty cool, that'd be pretty cool.

Garry:

I wonder if she's like her. Two of them, Two of them, oh my goodness. Two of them, oh my goodness. Watch out Hallmark. So anyways, in 2021, Never Kiss a man in the-.

Amy:

No, no, no. In 2021 was the hometown holiday. Yes, right, right, right, I'm sorry, and Christmas in the City, right With Kimberly Williams-Baisley yes.

Garry:

Correct and Never Kiss a man in a Christmas Sweater 2020.

Amy:

We just watched that why not Kiss the man. That was just on for Christmas in July. Go ahead Sorry.

Garry:

He got taken out with a Christmas tree. That was funny and for Christmas in evergreen movies.

Amy:

Yep, she's been in a lot. She has she has done a lot. We really like that falling together too. Yes, where she goes to that apartment. That's the right where she goes to that apartment. That's really cute.

Garry:

That's a really cute one, and some of our other work includes Lifetime's Sister Wife Murder 2024. Murder the Good Doctor one episode in 2021, which was another good show.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

And Jim Gaffigan's show 23 episodes 2015 to 2016. Yes, and we enjoyed that show also. It was just good sarcastic humor and she was really good in it as his wife yes, and we enjoyed that show also.

Amy:

It was just good sarcastic humor. Yes and she was really good in it as his wife. Yes, she was so good.

Garry:

So you want to drop the synopsis on this one?

Amy:

I will drop the synopsis.

Garry:

All right.

Amy:

Each episode features parents seeking matches for their successful but single city dwelling child. The community aids in finding three potential dates, hoping the child will fall in love, move back home and live happily ever after. Sounds just like Hallmark doesn't it. And this did get renewed for a season two, and the season two premiere is Tuesday, february 10th of 2026.

Garry:

And you know that'll be here before we know it, I know, but I'm excited about the holidays first, and then we'll be ready for Small Town Setup, season 2. Yes, so what do you think about that one?

Amy:

What do I think about this one? Oh gosh, I could not love Ashley Williams more. I know Her enthusiastic, bubbly personality shines in this one as well. She too, like we just talked about with Luke and Olivia so freaking genuine. Yeah, she seems like that. If she is not like that in real life, you can take my whole salary because she seems that genuine, like she is, just she would be so fun to be around and just lovely and bright and empathetic. And she teared up during some of these episodes, some of the interviews, yeah. So in this one she goes to a small town, empathetic, and you know, and and she teared up, you know, during some of these episodes.

Amy:

So so in this one she goes to a small town yeah and she meets the parents and maybe like a sibling sometimes right and some friends, so she talks with them first and they tell her about the child that they're trying to set up right, right like who they're trying to set up and why, and you know, and all that jazz, and so she.

Garry:

So then, then she meets the Well then, the family gets to choose, or the actual small town gets to choose.

Amy:

Well, she meets. She meets the child first. She meets she meets the parent, the the well. It's a grown I'm saying child, but it's the adult that she is going to set up and she talks to that person. And they always seem so genuine and they seem yeah, and they just have a good conversation and then she goes to the town, right, and they invite the town or friends and family to like a community center or somewhere.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And they have people volunteer their friends or family as tribute right.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

As someone that as a potential date Right For A love. Right, right For the love interest. So they nominate all these people.

Garry:

Yeah, there's like three or four they nominate. Well, I think there's more than that, because they go on the date Four or five, yeah, so then the parents get to meet all of the nominees.

Amy:

Yes, and the parents decide who are the lucky ones that get to go on the date with their child and who doesn't and who doesn't, so it's up to the parents and it's really cool and you feel kind of bad for the ones that aren't picked. I know. I just feel sorry, but so the parents pick three. I think they pick three prospects.

Garry:

Yeah, they get to pick three.

Amy:

And then they go on dates.

Garry:

And they're videoed.

Amy:

And they're videoed and the town is watching live while he or she goes on three different dates. Yeah, Right, so that's the premise.

Garry:

And they don't.

Amy:

It sounds like a lot, but it's really well done and edited and they don't know that they're being filmed live.

Garry:

They're being watched, right, they know that they're being filmed, but just not that the town is watching while they're on their dates.

Amy:

So it's pretty cool and go ahead.

Garry:

And then in the end they all tell who they think she should be with.

Amy:

The community? Does they vote or something right?

Garry:

Yes, Everybody drops a little card into the box and then Ashley says, oh, here's who the town picks. And then they ask the family who did you pick? But it's ultimately up to the person that's being set up.

Amy:

Right.

Garry:

Correct and they tell. And the majority of the time it's who set up Right. Correct and they tell. And the majority of the time it's who they like Right.

Amy:

Right, it's who? The family, I think almost.

Garry:

Yeah, it's been a minute.

Amy:

I think, yeah, we watched this one. I think we watched this one first and then we watched Home is where the heart is.

Garry:

Home is where the heart is.

Amy:

So I'm trying to remember, but I think the families were pretty spot on which you know. I would guess the parents would know.

Garry:

I don't know that I could set up our kids accurately the kids, wouldn't let us set them up.

Amy:

Well, no they wouldn't.

Garry:

It wouldn't matter if they were on TV or not. They'd be like no, no, you're not.

Amy:

If we surprised them and said, hey, we have this. I mean, they're all you know. Well, half of them are in relationships. Well, half of them are in relationships. But you know, if they weren't and we tried to set them up, yeah, I'm not sure they'd go for it, tv or not. They'd probably be like, no, thank you. I agree with you 100%, but it's just so good because you have, you know, some of the ones that are being set up, like one of the parent has passed away.

Amy:

Right, or you know or they have like a step parent involved and there's just a lot of heart and, like I said, ashley Williams. Then she gets to, she talks to, the person or the one being set up, before they make the decision, like right before, like how the dates went and everything, and there's just a lot of heart to heart talks and Ashley Williams just brings such joy to it. I can imagine the filming was great.

Garry:

Oh, I bet you it was fun. Also, I bet you it was fun. I bet you the town had fun.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah. And the thing is, what they don't do which I wish they would do is do follow-ups.

Garry:

Yes, like one year later or maybe six months later.

Amy:

Or just in general, you know you don't even have to give a time frame, like in general, you know you don't even have to give a time frame like, oh, they're still dating and it's going well, or whatever. But and I haven't, you know, done any research on the web to find out but I would love just like a, just like a follow-up. Yeah, you know it doesn't have to be after every episode, but maybe the last episode is just following up with everybody how did it go?

Amy:

are you still dating? What's going on? It's been a year or you know. Maybe they don't want to get involved further than that, but you never know. Yeah.

Garry:

Yeah, maybe they will.

Amy:

But it's really worth the watch also, I think.

Garry:

So what would you give this one?

Amy:

Five corks. I'm going to be real generous. Well, it's not even being generous with the fives, it's just I enjoyed it. I know, me too, you know.

Garry:

And she makes it so like she can just bring out your personality so easily. She makes it so easy for people to talk. I just love it.

Amy:

She makes it very comfortable. Yes, people feel comfortable with her.

Garry:

And she cried a couple of times.

Amy:

Yeah, she teared up a couple of times and the families I just love it.

Garry:

It's very, very good, so I give it five too. Yep, check that one out.

Amy:

I'm going to give it five too, put it on your list and it will be back. You know, binge it before February 2026, and you'll be all set for season two Yep, yep. Maybe they'll change it up, Maybe they'll you know, I don't know.

Garry:

Well, you never know yeah.

Amy:

There could. First episode will be her talking about what happened. What happened was first season. So there you go. Yes, I think it's much better, much better than the bachelor, yes, or bachelorette not that there's anything wrong with those shows, but you know, I don't know how many of those have actually lasted right anyway anyway so you want to move on to the third and final third and final, we are in christmas in july, so it is appropriate for us to talk about Finding.

Garry:

Mr.

Amy:

Christmas, oh my gosh. We just watched this.

Garry:

Yes, we just finished.

Amy:

We just finished it over what the last week or two? Yes, we watched it. We were like, well, and honestly I was kind of like I don't know, right, am I going to like this? Right Is Right. Am I going to like this? Right? Is it going to be a little too corny? I mean, honestly, that's what I was like I don't know. And so we were reluctant to watch it. And then I'm like you know what I really like, jonathan Bennett? Yes, we're just going to watch it, we're going to dive in.

Garry:

He's another one I feel like is a cool dude. He, yes, like he, but just to hang out and talk and chill.

Amy:

Yeah, yes, so the first two episodes of finding Mr Christmas dropped on Hallmark plus on October 31st 2024. So remember, at that time Hallmark plus was relatively new and it just yes. Oh, it had just premiered in September of last year, and then they aired one episode every week through the eighth episode finale, which aired on December 12th 2024.

Garry:

So right, in time for.

Amy:

Christmas. This show is hosted by now. This is kind of now. So Jonathan Bennett is listed as the host and Melissa Peterman is listed as a judge on IMDb. She's kind of a host as well. Like's the main host, yes, but she might be like the assistant host yes, would you call it.

Garry:

They are really funny together.

Amy:

Yes, so jonathan bennett. He's been in several homework productions, including happy howl-a-days, which is what the winner of finding mr christmas got to star in. Yes, season's Greetings from Cherry Lane and all three Groomsmen movies in 2024. He was in Christmas on Cherry Lane in 2023, the Holiday Sitter in 2022, the Christmas House in 2020, and Christmas Made to Order in 2018.

Amy:

Okay, Some of his other work includes Dr Odyssey two episodes in 2025, fire Island the movie in 2023, station 19 for two episodes in 2020 and 2021. He was in the fan favorite cult favorite Mean Girls in 2004. That's so fetch and I learned he was in my favorite soap opera of all time all my children. He was in two episodes in 2001 and 2002 and he played adam chandler jr and that name probably means nothing to you does.

Amy:

It means nothing to me if you know amc, all my children, you know Adam Chandler. Okay, all right. Okay, melissa Peterman is also judge slash, I'm going to say host, co-host, not co-host, but assistant host. She's been in a few Hallmark productions, including Hall Out the Holly in 2022 and Hall Out the Holly Lit Up in 2023 and A Gingerbreadbread romance in 2018. She will be in the upcoming haul out the Halloween that's hard to say all in a row which is set to air this fall in 2025.

Garry:

That's cool.

Amy:

Some of her other work includes happy's place 18 episodes between 2024 and 2025. Last man standing for two episodes in 2019 and 2020 baby daddy. I'd never heard of that one 100 episodes between 2012 and 2017. And she's widely known for playing Barbara in 123 episodes of the series Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007.

Garry:

Yay, this is awesome. I love these two yes they're so good.

Amy:

They're so good and also well, I'll let you drop the synopsis first. Drop the synopsis. Do you want to drop the synopsis? Let you drop the synopsis first. Drop the synopsis. Do you want to?

Garry:

drop the synopsis. Let's drop the synopsis. So 10 men compete in a series of festive challenges that will showcase their acting chops and their holiday spirit. Jonathan.

Amy:

Bennett.

Garry:

Spirit Spirit.

Amy:

Did I say spirit, did you get too much wine? I don't know, maybe, maybe I've had too much wine.

Garry:

Anywho spirit, maybe, maybe I've had too much wine. Anywho spirit. Jonathan Bennett hosts, while these lovable guys, via Vi, vi I mean sorry, maybe I did take too many sips of this one, vi to become the next Hallmark leading man. Yay, this has been renewed for a second season and will premiere on Hallmark Plus this year. Yay, Yay no date yet Coming back as of the recordings of this year. Yay, yay, no date yet.

Amy:

Coming back as of the recordings of this episode. Yeah, we don't have the date yet. We know it's coming back, so I'm guessing during Countdown to Christmas at some point, and I'm presuming it will be on Homework Plus. I know we said that, but I'm presuming that's where it will be.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Yeah, pretty cool, pretty, pretty, pretty cool.

Garry:

I can't wait, I can't wait because we just saw the commercial for it.

Amy:

Yeah, the new trailer for the new one. And I don't know if it's going to air as part of Christmas in July. That I am not sure of yet. I'll have to find out.

Garry:

Yeah, we'll find out.

Amy:

So what did you think of this one?

Garry:

I really, really, really loved it. I know I was like you said, I went into watching this like, hmm, is this going to be, you know, something corny or you know. But no, it was pretty, it was entertaining.

Amy:

It was.

Garry:

I mean hats off to these 10 guys, because there's no way I could do something like this.

Amy:

You know. So each episode they have them.

Garry:

They have them do a challenge. They have them do like a challenge at first. And if you win the challenge you get an advantage going into the elimination round.

Amy:

Right, like most reality shows, right, so the challenges were like wrapping gifts.

Garry:

Wrapping gifts. What were some of the other ones?

Amy:

Like building a snowman blindfolded. I mean, there's just a lot of different.

Garry:

They were paired on that one. So, one had to give directions on finding all the pieces to the snowman and let me tell you they did a good job.

Amy:

It sounds easy, but I'm sure it's not Hiding these pieces. Oh, they did. So it wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Garry:

Yes, Another one was where they had to take like sponges that look like marshmallows and fill up a cup.

Amy:

Oh, yes, yes, like hot, chocolate yeah.

Garry:

Which was pretty interesting. Yep, yep, that was pretty cool and then what was a couple of the other ones? I don't want to give too much away, right, right, right, but it was just fun.

Amy:

And then what's cool is they do bring in other Hallmark stars.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And they're part of the judging of the um.

Garry:

You said the second right competent, whether it's the elimination part of it which sometimes was acting, sometimes was like the photo shoot, right.

Amy:

So, um, so, it's really good. So you'll see, and they're big name hallmark stars that that show up, so it's it's really like you said it, just the guys that were on it, the camaraderie that they built with each other.

Amy:

That's what was cool about the you know, and I mean it didn't seem like they were acting that part of it again. I know we keep talking about genuine and that is what is so wonderful about these reality shows. I think that even the contestants seem genuine. I mean there were times when contestants got eliminated, and you know Jonathan Bennett and Melissa. Peterman. They're tearing up because they love the person's personality was so good and they all liked each other. There was no backstabbing. There was none of that.

Garry:

It was just genuine. Hey, let the best man win, kind of thing that Jonathan and Melissa, when somebody would get eliminated. And they told their little story before they left. You could see they were genuine because they both had tears in their eyes.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

I mean when I'm tearing up, you know they're doing a good job.

Amy:

I know I didn't expect to get emotional during.

Garry:

Finding. Mr Christmas, and there were a couple times where we're like okay, I know, and there were a couple times where we're like, okay, I know, and I just and some of the elimination, whatever games that they did, like acting, like improv dancing, Not games, but yeah, the things they had to do. I mean my God to do that on the spot. Really, really good, really good.

Amy:

I think it was filmed in. What did we read? Utah, yeah, and the house is gorgeous.

Garry:

Oh, I love that house.

Amy:

It's like your dream Christmas house that you want to go spend a week at, maybe with your family or you know, before Christmas, just go and like the mountains around.

Garry:

Yes, oh so beautiful. It was, it was, it was like, take me there right now. It was like, take me there right now.

Amy:

Right, I want to go there, but yeah, it was really really good. And, of course, the winner. We won't say his name, but I mean it shouldn't be a spoiler alert because it's been a year, but he was in, so he did get to star in the.

Garry:

Holidays, uh-huh.

Amy:

And the winner is actually going to be in another movie this year. I should have written that down. I think it's. I don't even want to guess at the name. I have an idea of what it is, but I don't think he's the star, but he's in it Right, right you know. So it's pretty cool. So he's continuing on, which is cool, and the winner I mean, we liked him. He's a nice guy, yeah, yeah.

Garry:

Yeah so.

Amy:

They were all nice guys. They were all I know.

Garry:

I wish they could all get like. Ugh, the fill in spots too. You know like you need a couple of yes, other fill in spots, yes, and what was it?

Amy:

Hayden who lost his. Well, he didn't lose his dog, but he Is it, hayden, yeah, and he split from his wife that a couple of times and there's there's points where he's upset. And even you know the Hallmark stars that are there. They're like oh you know, I know there's a story here. Tell me about it. And they genuinely care about these guys, because I think they all remember what it's like when you first start. Now, I mean, you know, and now it's not easier today, but you can do things like this to help boost your career, whereas when a lot of these people started, you didn't have this, you didn't have social media, you didn't have, you know, all this access to possibly get your name and your face out there.

Amy:

So I just I really loved it. It got us in the holiday spirit. The things they did were really cute. The stars they brought on were great. Yes, just really really cute. And then the final competition that they had to do I won't say it, but it's just really good. And then you get to see sort of the final cut and it's really, really moving.

Garry:

So if you haven't seen it yet, go watch it. Give it a chance, it's.

Amy:

Christmas in July.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Go watch Finding Mr Christmas, and that too, like we said, is coming back. It yet go watch it, give it a chance. It's christmas in july. Yes, go go watch finding mr christmas, and that too, like we said, is coming back.

Garry:

Yes, for a second season and I'm sure and it will drop sometime during countdown to christmas you know what they should do next, what they should do a miss christmas yes, finding miss christmas, miss miss could be, miss, this could be. Yeah, I think, yes, they should do. I totally agree. That would be really that Could be Ms.

Amy:

I think that's what they should do. I totally agree.

Garry:

That would be really cool, that would be fun.

Amy:

Well, yeah, that would be really cool, yeah, you said yeah. Yeah, sure yeah. Why are they holding out on the women, huh.

Garry:

That's what I said. I'm just kidding. So what would you give this one?

Amy:

A five I would give it a five.

Garry:

Me, I would give it a five Me too, so if you just, want some good-hearted.

Amy:

it's good to have on when you're around the house. It's not too serious. Well, I mean it's serious in that it's genuine, but it's just light and really good to watch. They picked the best hosts for all three of them. They sure did. I really couldn't find a fault.

Garry:

Melissa Peterman is hysterical to me on this. She's really funny.

Amy:

And her and Jonathan Bennett together are just a really good duo. Luke McFarlane and Olivia Westbrook. They're so great together. They complement each other in different ways for their design. And Ashley Williams, I mean you can't, I mean hello.

Garry:

There are no words.

Amy:

Gold star right there.

Garry:

No words.

Amy:

Of a host. So yeah, check the reality series out. We star right there. No words Of a host. So yeah, check the reality series out.

Garry:

We highly recommend them, so fives across the board.

Amy:

Fives, all fives, all right.

Garry:

Is that a wrap?

Amy:

That is a wrap All right.

Garry:

Well, thanks for tuning in. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen, so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media if you really really like the show and are listening on Apple Podcasts, spotify or YouTube. No videos, just podcasts.

Amy:

Just podcasts.

Garry:

We would really appreciate your positive review.

Amy:

We would really appreciate it.

Garry:

And if you didn't really really like the show, we'd still appreciate your positive review.

Amy:

We would appreciate your positive review. Yeah, you can also email us at.

Garry:

PourTheWine. It's romcomtime at gmailcom.

Amy:

Let us know what you think. Yeah, if you watch any of the reality shows, let us know. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Join us for new episodes. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays you can catch the entire seasons of Home is when the Heart Is, small Town Setup and Finding Mr Christmas on Hallmark Plus right now. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks on Hallmark Plus right now. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening, cheers.