Production Notes

Molly Gallant lives in Beverly Hills, spends Christmases in Hawaii, and wears designer clothes. But her carefully planned life takes an unexpected turn when she takes a business trip to the picturesque town of Peppermint Hollow.

A marketing executive for her father’s resort company, Molly was counting on seed money from her dad, Fred, to help launch an exciting new venture with her best friend, Gracie. However, just as she and her dad are supposed to be jetting off to Hawaii for their annual Christmas trip, Molly learns she is the last to know that Gallant Resorts is facing bankruptcy. The only way to recoup the funds she needs is to sell her late mother’s childhood home in the community of Peppermint Hollow, Washington: the “Peppermint Capital of the World.”

Arriving in the quaint town, Molly is immediately struck by the cold, the elaborate Christmas decorations everywhere, the taste of mint in every possible confection…and a handsome stranger named Noah Winters, who saves her from an errant snowball, almost knocking her over in the process. As it turns out, Noah is also the one renting her mother’s house, together with his mom Kim, and niece, Dakota, but his own business as an innovative mint farmer, has fallen on hard times.

Molly fully intends to get the house on the market and get out of the cold to sunny Hawaii by Christmas, but when Noah’s family warmly welcomes her into their home, sharing their holiday traditions with her, she realizes that evicting them will be harder than she imagined. It begins to seem as if fate, and the weather, are conspiring to keep Molly in Peppermint Hollow, even as she begins to appreciate the value of family. And she and Noah may discover a new way to make a mint…together.

“Candy Coated Christmas” marks the first scripted feature by Food Network, to be served up on Discovery+. Slated to premiere November 19, 2021, the original movie stars Molly McCook (“Last Man Standing,” “Good Trouble”) as Molly Gallant; Aaron O’Connell (“The Haves and the Have Nots”) as Noah Winters; John McCook (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Molly McCook’s real-life father, as Fred Gallant; Lee Garlington (“Broken”) as Kim Winters; newcomer Landry Townsend as Dakota Winters; Jae Suh Park (“The Big Short”) as Gracie; Lonzo Liggins as Patrick; Dia Frampton as Chloe; and Ree Drummond, the host of Food Network’s “The Pioneer Woman,” in her acting debut as the local bakery owner, Bee.

The movie was directed by Ellie Kanner (“Love and Sunshine”) from a script by Alex Yonks and Kanner & Joey Plager, and is produced by MarVista Entertainment in association with Go Films.

About the Production

The holidays are a festive time for family, friends, fun and, of course, food, so blending Food Network with a Christmas movie seems the perfect recipe for the season. “Candy Coated Christmas” also brings something new to the table—becoming Food Network’s inaugural foray into scripted projects which will be presented on Discovery+.

“It is a very exciting time for Food Network to be dipping their toe into holiday movies, and I’m thrilled to have been involved in the first one,” states Ellie Kanner, who co-wrote and directed the movie, also serving as an executive producer.

The idea for “Candy Coated Christmas” originated with Kanner’s partner, Joey Plager, an executive producer and co-writer of the film. While the two had previously worked together on several projects, Plager relates, “This was the first project that we sat down and wrote from scratch. I’m a big fan of Food Network; I watch it because I love to eat,” he smiles. “Food is a big part of how people come together, especially at the holidays, so to be able to celebrate that … is a special feeling.”

Working from separate locations during the lockdown, Kanner and Plager developed the script, teaming with co-screenwriter Alex Yonks. “It was a wonderful collaboration,” Kanner recalls. “We all brought different things to the script and built on each other’s ideas and jokes, and it made for a really fun experience for all of us.”

Yonks adds, “Working with Ellie and Joey was an incredible experience, we had so much fun writing the script. We actually wrote it all via Zoom and on the phone. It was a pinch-me moment when we finally met on the set,” says the writer. “It’s heartfelt, sweet and a little romantic, and anyone can watch it—families, kids, adults…I think we need more of that.”

The story opens in a posh Beverly Hills mansion, where Molly Gallant is finishing packing for her annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii, unaware that her life is about to be upended by the recent downturn of her father’s resort chain. The loss for Molly is twofold: threatening her job as the company’s Head of Marketing and jeopardizing plans for the startup of her new line of organic baby products, in partnership with her best friend.

Starring in the central role, Molly McCook offers, “Molly’s adventure basically begins with her father telling her the awful news that she’s essentially broke, which is devastating to her. Molly is a little bit spoiled,” McCook acknowledges. “Her family has always had wealth, then all of a sudden that gets taken away from her. Now she’s put into a situation where she has to try and figure out how to make money.”

Her father, however, might have a solution to Molly’s immediate financial problems: reminding his daughter about the house where her mother grew up, in the town of Peppermint Hollow. Since her mother’s passing, Molly’s name has been on the deed, so all she has to do is go and sell the house. “Instead of being on her way to Hawaii,” McCook notes, “she ends up in this small town, which is a different scenario from what she’s used to and very out of her comfort zone.”

Molly’s plan of action is to get in, sell the property and be in the Aloha State in time for Christmas. But what starts out as just a business transaction becomes all too personal when she meets and gets to know the family renting the house. “I always think that makes the best movie—where there’s a plan and it goes south,” says McCook. “I love that Molly has a true arc in this movie; it’s an important journey that she needs to take, to remember where her mom was from and what family means to her. She discovers what matters to her…what really, really matters.”

Arriving in Peppermint Hollow, Molly has what McCook teasingly calls “a kind of rom-com meet-cute with this very cute guy. But she is there on a mission.”

As it turns out, that cute guy is Noah Winters and he and his family are living in the house she’s planning to sell. Cast in the role, Aaron O’Connell remarks, “Noah has cultivated this beautiful mint farm that he’s invested everything in, but lately it’s just not going well. He’s supporting his niece, Dakota, trying to be a good role model for her, and he’s also taking care of his mother. He is always wanting to do what’s best for his family, so he’s been trying to make ends meet and keep everything together.”

When Molly shows up, Noah assumes it’s because they’ve fallen behind on the rent. “Right off the bat,” O’Connell continues, “she doesn’t tell them the real reason she’s there, but over time, Noah figures out she’s about to take not only their home but also their whole livelihood right out from underneath them. He’s not too happy about it, so that’s a time when Noah and Molly butt heads.”

Molly and Noah had been on diverging paths, but when those paths finally intersect, it changes both their lives. “Molly comes in and turns Noah’s world upside down,” O’Connell attests. And as friction turns to friendship…and possibly something more, they realize “if they can work together, the sky’s the limit.”

Not unlike their characters, McCook and O’Connell found working together a pleasure. “We had the best time,” McCook affirms. “It’s always interesting having to play off of someone and do emotional relationship scenes—it challenges you as an actor because, normally, they are a complete stranger. But being on location helps you bond and Aaron and I had a really good rhythm going. It was a blast.”

O’Connell adds, “To be able to share those scenes with Molly was an absolute joy for me. She is one of the sweetest, smartest and most generous people I know, and funny, too. We were always making each other laugh.”

Kanner had high praise for both of her romantic leads. “Molly and Aaron are incredible actors who had great chemistry and were a dream to work with. They are so talented and always went above and beyond to deliver what we needed.”

The admiration is mutual. “Ellie was absolutely phenomenal,” O’Connell states. “She was never without a smile and made everybody feel comfortable on set. As an actor, I wasn’t sure how rigid we’d have to be with the dialogue—if there was room to play—but she was so open to the actors’ creative input, which was great.”

“Working with Ellie was wonderful,” McCook concurs, adding another facet to her appreciation for the director. “I think it’s really important for women to be working with women and empowering each other. Honestly, it was super inspiring to watch such an intelligent and artistic woman take control. It just felt that much more exciting to take direction from her.”

Kanner takes a similar view, noting, “I’m so grateful for the opportunities that a lot of women are having, and I truly feel that new doors are opening for women, myself included. It’s fun working with women. I love working with guys, too, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a different perspective. I think that’s one of the reasons why it also worked so well between me and Alex Yonks. Joey had his perspective, but Alex and I definitely had ours.”

The two most influential women in Noah Winters life have been his mother, Kim, played by Lee Garlington, and his niece, Dakota, played by Landry Townsend. “The biggest role Dakota plays in the film is that she is the first one who bonds with Molly and that helps bring them all together,” says Townsend. “I relate to that because I am totally like that third wheel, standing off to the side when people are making a connection. I do that with my friends all the time, so I very much related to the fact that Dakota is trying to get Molly and Noah together.”

Garlington describes Kim as “the matriarch of the family. She had a son who died when her granddaughter was a baby, so she and her other son are raising Dakota. That’s her purpose. She loves her family and is very content with her life and her home, which was the home of her very best childhood friend, Sarah, who was Molly’s mother. Kim has a strong nature, with a lot of resilience and humor, and they allowed me to add some of my own humor, which helped me identify even more with her.

“I was delighted to be in this film,” the actress continues. “I am a Christmas geek—I have 16 Christmas sweaters of my own and brought five of them with me—so I am one of those people,” she laughs. “I think this is exactly what a Christmas movie is supposed to be; I love the values and the message conveyed in the story.”

Her sentiment is shared by a cast member who will be a familiar face to fans of Food Network. Ree Drummond, the popular host of “The Pioneer Woman,” joins the cast as Bee, the local coffee shop and bakery owner in Peppermint Hollow. She wonders, “Who doesn’t love a Christmas movie? They are woven into the fabric of television these days. I am so happy that my home network is stepping into the holiday movie realm and incredibly honored that they asked me to play Bee.”

Making her acting debut, Drummond admits, “I’m not sure why, but I was a little intimidated before I met the actors, but they were so generous, so welcoming and encouraging, and that immediately set the stage for the vibe of the set. And Ellie has a presence that immediately puts people at ease. She is a powerhouse—small but mighty—and I felt very safe in her hands.”

Per O’Connell, Drummond needn’t have had any concerns about being an acting novice. He remarks, “Ree was an absolute pro right from the start; she totally blew us away. I can’t wait for people to see her in this.”

Drummond also felt right at home playing someone who owns a small-town bakery and coffee shop. “I own a bakery and restaurant in my small town,” she explains, “so I was able to use my personality and mannerisms to inform my character, and I think that’s what the director had in mind.”

In another case of art imitating life, Molly McCook’s real-life father, John McCook, was cast as her character’s onscreen father, Fred Gallant. “This is the first time we’ve ever had the opportunity to act together, and it was a lot of fun,” John McCook states. “It’s a wonderful movie with a lovely story that’s funny and very romantic, but the joy of it for me was working with Molly.”

Molly McCook agrees. “Working with my dad was truly a dream come true. Playing father and daughter was obviously very easy for us, but it was also very special. My dad and I have always had a very special bond, and now we’ve had the experience of acting together. I think it will be fun watching the movie together around the holidays.”

The potential collapse of Fred Gallant’s resort empire is having a domino effect that not only impacts his daughter but also her best friend, Gracie, because it jeopardizes Molly’s investment in their organic baby products startup. “Gracie is a truly supportive friend,” says Jae Suh Park, who plays Gracie. “Molly and I hit it off right away. I felt like I’d known her for a really long time, which was special because our characters are supposed to be best friends. It’s great to work with someone who’s not only a good actor but a really nice person.”

Rounding out the main cast, Dia Frampton plays Chloe, Noah’s high school sweetheart, who still carries something of a torch for him and is immediately jealous of Molly; and Lorenzo Liggins was cast as Patrick, the local realtor whom Molly consults about selling the house.

“Candy Coated Christmas” was filmed entirely on location in Utah, which is typically pretty cold in December. In keeping with the season, the costume department, led by costume designer Camile Morris, dressed the cast in warm winter clothing. However, they were actually filming in the middle of a sweltering summer heatwave, which was a bit of a challenge for the actors.

“When it’s 95 degrees out and you’re wearing four layers, then you think, ‘Okay, it’s going to be a little toasty,’” O’Connell quips.

As noted in the movie, Peppermint Hollow takes Christmas very seriously, so production designer Starla Christian and her team went all out, turning the location set into a winter wonderland, complete with snow, and bedecking both the interiors and exteriors with elaborate Christmas decorations.

Kanner remarks, “It was easy to get into the holiday spirit because we had Christmas decorations, and Christmas trees and beautiful lights all around us. I forgot I was in Utah in the middle of summer.”

Of course, an abundance of food is essential to any traditional Christmas, never more so than for the Food Network’s first movie. Ree Drummond says the set did not disappoint. “Bee’s bakery was all decked out for Christmas. The shelves were full of holiday treats, and I just thought it looked absolutely magical.”

“All of the Christmas cookies and the candy canes and all the decorations… It just felt cozy,” adds O’Connell. “I think when people sit down and watch this, they’ll feel right at home.”

McCook reflects, “I believe that the audience will really relate to the message of the importance of family and of just being home and celebrating together.”

“I hope that the audience finds it heartwarming and funny and romantic. And they will definitely learn a lot about mint,” Kanner concludes with a smile.

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