Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper (2025 Hallmark)
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Cast: Robert Buckley, Kimberley Sustad
Director: Jason Bourque
Writer(s): Russell Hainline
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark Channel)
Weatherman Ted Cooper (Buckley) loves Christmas, but the past three have been terrible. This year, Ted has made up his mind that things will be different – this will be the Christmas things turn around for him. But Ted’s relentless optimism is about to be put to the test as he is faced with a litany of injuries and obstacles when he travels back to his hometown of Lackawanna, NY for the holidays. Within hours of arriving at his sister Kate’s house, he finds himself making a trip to Urgent Care after falling off a ladder while hanging decorations. While there, he runs into Ruth Mittens, his former high school science teacher who was always his cheerleader. He also reconnects with the charming Hope Miller (Sustad), except now she’s Dr. Hope Miller, with whom he went to high school and quietly crushed on from afar. Ted is optimistic that this budding romance is the beginning of his Christmas comeback, but his looming holiday bad luck still has a few curveballs in store for him. Luckily for Ted, he won’t have to face them alone – he’ll have the support of Kate, Ruth, and Hope to help him overcome the challenges thrown his way and finally enjoy a well-earned merry Christmas. Starring Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustad.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Ted Cooper is a weatherman with a testy relationship with Ken, his hot, mustachioed co-anchor. Ted Cooper has a well-known history of horrible Christmases. WKJU Channel 7 News is struggling because everyone looks at the weather on their phones. Ted Cooper’s seasonal mishaps are great for ratings.
His coworkers take bets on what will happen to Ted Cooper this year. He is offended that his coworkers are using him as fodder for gambling. Ted Cooper is determined to have the best Christmas ever. Then his car breaks down, and he has to take the bus, AND he gets his luggage mixed up with a small female. He also falls off a ladder and ends up in the ER with a concussion.
Hope is a doctor with a practice with her best friend, Sydney. Ted Cooper and Hope went to high school, and he had a crush on her back then. Hope always thought Ted Cooper was a bit of a dork. He is examined with some awkward banter, but is released with a bump on the head.
Ted Cooper helps his former teacher bring home a Christmas tree, gets poked in the eye, and ends up back in the ER. The mishaps don’t stop Ted Cooper from loving Christmas, but they do earn his coworkers some dough.
MAKEOVER MONTAGE
Hope and Ted Cooper end up at a bar together for lunch, and Hope starts to consider that Ted Cooper has changed. He is a local celebrity and not a fan of mayonnaise. They play darts and get to know one another better. Hope is not as emo as she was in High School. Ted Cooper tells her that he is up for a promotion, but will have to move to another network. As they leave the bar, Ted Cooper realizes he somehow locked his phone and keys in the car and gets arrested.
Ted Cooper’s sister bails him out of jail. They have a fun sibling relationship. Their whisper fight later was hilarious.
Hope opens up about her father’s death, and he accidentally eats a cookie with peanut butter. Hope Epipens him, but has to keep an eye on him, so they decorate Hope’s house! Naturally.
They look through the high school yearbook, and embarrassingly enough, Ted Cooper has a big heart around Hope’s picture. She tells him she wishes he had asked her out back then. He tries to ask her out as a grown-up, but chickens out, then he tries again, and Hope says yes!
They go on a date to an Escape Room. I would hate this date. They seem to like it tho. Well, until they get trapped in and escape the room. Ted Cooper doesn’t let things like that get to him, and he doesn’t stress. He shows Hope how to have fun, and they hit it off.
Hope calls Ted Cooper, and a woman picks up the phone; she thinks he is a womanizer. It is a silly misunderstanding. It gets cleared up fairly quickly. The conversation takes a turn, and Hope is worried that Ted Cooper is too surface-level and artificial. They don’t see it working out, and the whole thing leaves Ted Cooper confused.
They quickly come around and have learned from one another. Ted Cooper takes the job in Buffalo, which is closer to Hope. They make out live on air. The end. Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
This was so fun and well-written
Overall rating
Pour it up
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷🍷 (4 glasses of wine.)
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*Photo Credit: © 2025 Hallmark
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