Hallmark

Taking Home a Fake Boyfriend Makes for an Interesting Holiday Date in the New Hallmark Channel Movie

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The new Countdown to Christmas movie Holiday Date debuts on the Hallmark Channel tonight, December 14.

When aspiring fashion designer Brooke (Brittany Bristow, who has appeared in the Hallmark Channel movies Love, Romance & Chocolate and Love on Safari) is dumped right before Christmas, she dreads going home both single and professionally down on her luck.

She enlists the help of actor Joel (Matt Cohen from Supernatural, General Hospital and South of Nowhere) to play the role of her boyfriend over the holidays, joining her to stay with her parents Donna (Teryl Rothery from Hallmark Channel’s Cedar Cove and Chesapeake Shores as well as from Stargate: SG-1 fame) and Walter (veteran actor Bruce Boxleitner from Scarecrow & Mrs. King and Hallmark Channel’s Wedding Bells).

Brooke, who had described her ex-boyfriend as “Mr. Christmas,” worries about keeping up the charade when she discovers Joel is Jewish. Fully committing to playing the part of Ethan, he enthusiastically participates in all the yuletide festivities.

When her family eventually finds out his background, they happily incorporate his Hanukkah traditions into their plans. Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated side by side as they
all learn more about the other’s holiday.

When a rumor about the couple’s engagement brings her ex-boyfriend face-to-face with her fake boyfriend, Brooke’s family begins to wonder about the true nature of their relationship. Faced with the embarrassing prospect of revealing their lie to those around them, Brooke and Joel must decide whether to keep up the relationship charade or come clean about their lie as well as their true feelings.

The cast includes young actress Ava Grace Cooper (Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart), Anna Van Hooft (Hallmark Channel’s Cedar Cove and The Perfect Bride movie) and Peter Benson (Hallmark Channel’s Love and Sunshine).

Holiday Date debuts on the Hallmark Channel at 8/7c.

You can visit the Hallmark Channel to see a trailer for the movie.

[Photo Credit: Crown Media/Allister Foster]

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Using her favorite online handle, Rueben is an East Coast-bred gal who is now a permanent Californian and a lifelong tv-oholic. She watches at least 25 TV shows a week, goes to the movies as often as possible, listens to music every waking moment, reads every day and “plays” on the internet every chance she can. Some of her current favorite TV shows are Outlander, Sweet Magnolias, Wednesday, The Mandalorian, The Equalizer, Fire Country, Miss Scarlet, Hudson & Rex, SkyMed, The Rookie, Bridgerton, Cobra Kai, Virgin River, The Witcher, Leverage: Redemption and School Spirits. She is looking forward to the fall TV season, including the return of Outlander, Tracker and The Equalizer and the debuts of the new dramas Matlock, Murder In a Small Town, NCIS: Origins and Cross. Follow her on Bluesky @ruebensramblings.bsky.social or contact her at rueben@nicegirlstv.com. Please also check out Rueben's Ramblings website for even more entertainment news.