Jonathan Bennett Teases The Vacation Sitter, Taking “Comedy to the Subsequent Degree” at Hallmark

This Sunday, you may watch The Vacation Sitter, starring Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa, based mostly on an authentic story by Bennett.

It is a genuinely humorous film about Sam (Bennett), a confirmed bachelor with little interest in youngsters, who winds up watching his niece and nephew over the Christmas vacation. Every thing adjustments when he meets their neighbor, Jason (Krissa).

We jumped on the telephone with Bennett to speak about it.

Hello, Jonathan. How are you?

I am fantastic. How are you?

I am good, thanks. You understand, you are considerably of a legend at Hallmark.

Oh my God. Cease it. Inform me extra.

Each time I ask someone who they’d prefer to work with, you are nearly all the time on the high of their listing.

You are mendacity to me. Now you are simply flattering me. And let me inform you, flattery will get you in all places with me, okay?

Yeah, individuals simply actually admire your work. I believe that is unbelievable.

Oh, that is very candy. Thanks very a lot.

So, how would you describe your Hallmark journey thus far?

Wow. My Hallmark journey has been such a rollercoaster as a result of I believe I’ve performed so many various kinds of characters on the community, and I have been with the community for a very long time.

And to look at the community fully simply develop to the following stage in so some ways has been such a enjoyable trip to go on collectively.

And naturally, now you are a creator for the community, which opens up quite a lot of storytelling concepts for you, provides you quite a lot of freedom. What was the genesis of The Vacation Sitter?

Okay, so I grew up watching all of the eighties comedies, and I cherished motion pictures like Uncle Buck, and I assumed it was so humorous that an uncle would come house and should maintain his niece and nephew and never know something about youngsters.

And as a homosexual man myself, I am an uncle to so lots of my buddies’ youngsters in actual life. So I assumed, what a enjoyable thought for a narrative.

So I stated, what if the homosexual uncle comes house for the vacations and has to placed on Christmas for his niece and nephew that he is by no means actually met?

And that is the place the thought was born, and I introduced it as much as the Hallmark Channel, they usually have been over the moon excited and supportive from the very get-go of making this world for this character to play in.

So, that is how The Vacation Sitter was born.

I actually loved the quantity of comedy that you simply used. You had a extremely good mixture of comedy, romance, and even some drama in there. How did you handle to get the entire gamut?

Properly, I believe what’s vital in storytelling is simply to do what’s actual. As a result of while you do what’s actual, individuals determine with it, whether or not it is emotional or humorous.

And what we got down to do with The Vacation Sitter is simply inform an actual story of what a homosexual man in 2022, a member of the queer group goes by means of. And every part from courting to questioning if he can have a household of his personal, to taking good care of youngsters that he is by no means been round.

So, I believe while you simply lean into the reality of each second, that is the place you get the center and the comedy.

And you’ve got the consideration of bringing a full story centered on same-sex romance to Hallmark. What does it really feel prefer to plow that path and be the primary one to do it, and I’ve to say, the primary one to get it actually proper?

Wow, meaning lots. Thanks a lot.

I am simply so proud to be a part of the Hallmark Channel and telling this story as a result of I do know so many individuals are going to see it and really feel represented, and so many individuals are going to see it and are going to be reminded that, hey, you will have a spot on the vacation desk for Hallmark as effectively.

I believe that is so vital. However on high of that, as a filmmaker really feel, I simply really feel so blessed to have Hallmark Channel as a result of what Hallmark Channel has performed is that they have given queer filmmakers a secure place to inform tales. And as an artist, there isn’t any higher present on earth.

That is an exquisite strategy to put it.

They’ve been so supportive from day one among like, “We will do that, and we’ll do it proper.”

I believe it turned out nice. I believe it is a actually fantastic film. And I’ve to inform you, there is a scene the place I laughed out loud, and it nonetheless makes me snigger simply to consider it. [Scene talk edacted to save the fun for viewers]

It is hilarious!

It truly is. It actually made me snigger out loud. And the way in which it was stated and the look in your face, it was simply good.

Thanks. I believe the comedy actually performs on this film, and it is just about… I do not know. What do you assume? It is one of many extra broad comedy motion pictures you’ve got seen at Hallmark?

Yeah, it truly is.

I believe The Vacation Sitter actually takes comedy to the following stage on the community. I believe the way in which we have been in a position to try this is by discovering the proper Jason as a result of George is so good and so gradual, and I am such a loopy individual on digicam half the time.

So, it was a great combine to have somebody like George Krissa enjoying Jason enjoying reverse all of the wacky stuff I’ll do.

And I believe we discovered this nice stability of when Jonathan’s doing one thing that is completely insane, simply do nothing, and we’ll have the ability to speak again to you doing nothing, and we’ll get fun.

Precisely. And it additionally works effectively from the romantic side too, as a result of Sam is simply floundering, and Jason has all these feelings, and it actually performs effectively to guide into the tip of the film.

Oh, I do know. What was so nice is that we actually advised this story authentically as a result of it was vital for us to have a queer staff main this creatively.

So we had queer writers, administrators, producers, and actors telling this story. So, we had all of those completely different private tales to drag from, and that is what Hallmark does such an excellent job of, ensuring we advised this story accurately. And we have been in a position to try this reason for the artistic staff that was concerned.

Properly, you picked an excellent staff.

Yeah, I am so pleased with it. There’s a bit of Imply Women nod to it within the comedy, I believe — quite a lot of the telephone calls. Ali Liebert, our director, did an excellent job of getting these telephone calls that slide round and transfer in out of body.

I believe it was a bit of nod to the three method calling assaults within the film Imply Women, which we wished to pay a bit of homage to. It is obtained a brand new vitality to it that’s completely different from quite a lot of the opposite Hallmark motion pictures.

I might agree. I believe it turned out very well.

And the chemistry between me and George might be one of the best chemistry I’ve ever had with somebody on digicam.

That claims lots.

Yeah, and particularly as a result of once we lastly get to the tip, that large second on the finish, I believe the viewers is ready for it to occur, and it lastly occurs, and that was our purpose.

Completely. How a lot of your actual life do you draw on to play a personality like this, which is de facto your first time of breaking out of the, what we’ll name conventional Hallmark roles that you’ve got had? How releasing is it to have the ability to make this film and play the function?

To get to set daily with a script that’s completely written by Tracy and Greg, with a director that’s high notch, and a producer that has your again, places you as an actor in an extremely secure area to strive issues and to be free.

And while you’re free and you’ve got the liberty to simply go for the joke each time, you are capable of check these golden nuggets as a result of I can inform you, 9 instances out of ten, the jokes did not work. However you do not really feel silly when it occurs. You’re feeling supported.

Once you really feel supported, you are capable of go for the jokes as a result of 9 instances out of 10, usually are not going to work, and you need to be okay with them not working. However while you hit that tenth one, and it’s a slam dunk, you get the gold, and that is what makes it into the lower.

And the way quickly earlier than we get one other Jonathan Bennett authentic?

We’re in the midst of writing issues proper now, and I positively wish to proceed to deliver the Jonathan Bennett vitality and the Jonathan Bennett life to digicam in your motion pictures. So, whether or not I play a straight character or a queer character, what’s not going to alter is the Jonathan Bennett vitality on the display screen.

I am glad you stated that as a result of I admire that you’re prepared to play either side, straight characters and homosexual characters. As a result of that is what an actor does.

Yeah. And I simply, I do all of it. I similar to enjoying characters that I like, whether or not it is straight or homosexual.

Completely.

If I just like the character, and I believe that the script is humorous, I wish to do it. Like, Wedding ceremony of a Lifetime, I performed with Brooke D’Orsay, she and I had a number of the different finest chemistry I’ve ever had on digicam with anybody. I do not know in case you noticed it.

I did, sure.

Yeah, and there was quite a lot of comedy in that once I’m working across the streets and once we’re sneaking out of the lodge disguised. There’s quite a lot of comedy in that film, and there are lot of humorous moments.

And I believe what issues on the finish of the day is that you simply simply play characters that you simply actually be ok with, and that basically ring true to you, after which all of the comedy and all of the chemistry comes.

Yeah, I might agree. And also you talked about Imply Women, and Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried have been chatting about Imply Women 2. Would you be up for that if it occurred?

I really feel like a Imply Women sequel must occur, and I am right here for it each step of the way in which. I’ll do something that Tina Fay and Lorne Michaels ask me to do as a result of I owe my complete profession to them, and there isn’t any higher forged than the Imply Women forged.

Good reply. That is the reply we wish to hear. And in case you do not thoughts my asking, how are you and Jaymes going to be spending your first married Christmas collectively?

Our first married Christmas, I will be in New York Metropolis spending Christmas on the Lodge Edison, my favourite lodge in New York, and we’ll be spending Christmas there as a result of the day after Christmas, I begin rehearsals to host the Time Sq. New Yr’s Eve ball drop I do yearly.

So we’ll have Christmas in New York.

Sensible. What an exquisite place to spend Christmas.

Yep.

And my last query, watching Hallmark motion pictures can grow to be ritualistic, how would you recommend followers put together to look at The Vacation Sitter?

Wow. Get cozy, get comfy, and be sure to’re near the lavatory as a result of you are going to snigger lots.

The Vacation Sitter premieres on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, December 11 at 8/7c

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