When longtime Hallmark Channel star Brendan Penny attended the recent Chicago premiere of his pal Robert Buckley‘s NFL-themed Christmas movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, he may have been the only attendee to leave the theater feeling “so angry” about the feel-good movie.
“I’m a friend of Rob’s so I’m always biased, but it is so good,” Penny told Parade, and then quipped, “I was so angry at how good it was and that I wasn’t in it! Classic Buckley — has to charm the pants off of everyone again!”
Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, which had its Hallmark Channel premiere on Saturday, October 17, was filmed in Chicago with an all-star cast that included Buckley, Lyndsy Fonseca, One Tree Hill alum Barbara Alyn Woods, four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, and numerous Bears players and coaches, past and present.
“Honestly, I think it is possibly one of the best Hallmark movies I’ve ever seen,” Penny said, all jokes aside. “I thought it was absolutely incredible and hilarious. The supporting cast, everyone did a fantastic job, and I really think that Hallmark fans will be shocked at how amazing it is.”
When we told Buckley about the rave review from Penny, whom he first bonded with a decade ago when they were both on the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores, Buckley gushed right back, “Brendan Penny’s the best, isn’t he? I often refer to him as ‘Canadian National Treasure Brendan Penny.’ He is infinitely selfless and generous.”
“And you know what?” he continued, looking over at Holiday Touchdown director Dustin Rikert. “When we run this back for a sequel, we will find a way to get sweet, sweet Brendan Penny in the picture.”
Brendan Penny Has His Own Hallmark Movie to Promote
What’s especially adorable about Penny cheering for his buddy’s film is that he could have just stuck to promoting his own Hallmark holiday movie, airing the very next night. Mr. & Mrs. Christmas, co-starring When Calls The Heart star Pascale Hutton, premieres on October 18.
In Mr. & Mrs. Christmas, Penny plays a single dad of two kids, including a tween daughter, played by talented young actress Alex MacIsaac, who’s less than thrilled when they move to a new town weeks before Christmas. Her dad tries endlessly to keep impressing her, despite Hutton’s character gently nudging him to let go a little.
As part of Hallmark Channel’s first weekend of new Countdown to Christmas movies, Mr. & Mrs. Christmas premieres on October 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern time (and will be available to stream via Hallmark+ the next day). Right before, you can catch a re-airing of Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story at 6 p.m. Eastern time (also available on Hallmark+).
But if you’re also pining to see Penny and Buckley’s comedy magic together (and who wouldn’t), check them out in the 2025 flick Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! That movie, also starring Hallmark fan-favorite Kimberley Sustad, will air three times on Hallmark Channel this holiday season, and is available to stream anytime via Hallmark+.