Exclusive Interview: Janel Parrish and Parker Young on the Magic of ‘Christmas on Duty’, the Mentorship That Shaped Them, and Their Creative Collaboration

The holiday season is upon us, and if you’re looking for a film that embodies the warmth, laughter, and magic of the moment, Hallmark’s Christmas on Duty delivers in spades. With heartfelt performances by Janel Parrish and Parker Young, this charming holiday tale reminds us that even the fiercest rivalries can melt in the glow of Christmas lights. Their chemistry radiates off the screen, grounding the story in authenticity and emotional depth while still capturing the playful spirit of the season.

In Christmas on Duty, Blair (Parrish) and Josh (Young) have been competitors since their early days training at The Basic School in Quantico—each driven, determined, and unwilling to back down. When Blair secures the job Josh always wanted, their friendship fractures. Three years later, an unexpected reunion at a base holiday party reignites their rivalry, and after a heated exchange, they’re assigned to the same “Christmas Duty.” What starts as a punishment quickly becomes a test of teamwork—and perhaps fate—when a snowstorm strands them together on a mission to deliver gifts, save the base’s holiday celebration, and rediscover the connection they once shared.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Janel Parrish and Parker Young about bringing Christmas on Duty to life, the mentorships that continue to shape their journeys, and the creative collaboration that made this feel-good story one of the season’s brightest highlights.

PC: Janel, Blair has such a strong desire to pay it forward like her father. Who are the mentors in your own life who have shaped the storyteller and artist that you are today? And as someone who’s been such a trailblazer for our community, what advice would you give to young Asian creatives you’ve helped open so many doors for throughout your career—especially through your ongoing partnership with Hallmark?
Janel: Oh my gosh. First of all, thank you—that’s really sweet. That means a lot to me. My family. I’m really, really close with them. They’ve been with me every single step of the way. I was six years old when I decided I wanted to do this. I lived in Hawaii, and nobody in my family was even close to being in the entertainment industry. They were like, “What do we do with this little girl?” But they never stopped believing in me. They never stopped pushing me—taking me to auditions, driving me wherever I needed to go, flying me to New York, flying me to L.A., moving me to L.A. I don’t know if I’d be here doing what I love without their support. So truly, my family.

PC: Parker, similar to your character, you know how difficult it can be when your job takes you away from your loved ones—especially the little ones. Was that initially what connected you to this character? What other parts of his journey resonated with you? There’s such an emotional truth that you can feel in your performance.
Parker: Thank you. I have such a huge respect for the men and women who make up our military. It’s so challenging. People don’t realize that you have to dip out for at least six months every once in a while. I’ve got buddies right now who are deployed, who just got back from Afghanistan, and they’ve got little kids at home—they’re missing birthdays and holidays. I can’t imagine having to do that. I have to do it in small spurts, and sometimes I get to bring my family with me. But to be gone and not be around for my little girls absolutely breaks my heart. I’m so honored to shine a spotlight on that experience whenever I get the opportunity, and this movie is no different. That’s definitely what drew me to it.

This was also such a fun script and movie. When I found out it was with Janel, I almost backed out—I’m joking. We had the best time ever.

PC: You both had such great chemistry on screen. There’s a beautiful moment when Janel’s character tells your character, Parker, that a true partner is someone who challenges her—and it feels like such an interesting parallel to what you both do as artists. In what ways has your co-star made you a stronger storyteller?
Parker: Oh, wow.

Janel: Wow, that’s a good question. I feel like on every set and in everything that I do, there’s always something to be learned—whatever that may be. When you have a wonderful co-star like Parker Young, there are so many things you can take away. One thing I really noticed was how he always came to set and made a point to say hi to every single person there. It didn’t matter if it was someone he wouldn’t normally interact with day to day—like a crew member working on lighting who’s far away from where he’s filming—he would still go out of his way to greet them and make sure they felt appreciated, seen, and heard.

Seeing that every day was really inspiring because maybe I wouldn’t always take those extra ten minutes to walk over and do the same. But those people are part of this beautiful thing we’re creating, and they deserve to feel valued. There are always things to learn, but that’s something I learned from Parker. It makes you a better person, but it also makes you a better artist because you can draw from that when you’re accessing your art.

Parker: Thank you, Janel, that’s very sweet. I loved working with Janel—I really did. We were lucky to have such natural chemistry. It was nice to be able to trust in that, especially because we were moving so quickly. There were moments when we had to just show up and trust that our connection would carry the scene. I learned to trust the person opposite me—and to trust Janel.

She was such a joy on set. She definitely didn’t learn that from me. [laughs] She’s been such a staple at Hallmark and knows how fast-paced these productions can be. I was able to trust that even if I felt like I hadn’t prepared enough, we would still find it. You have to trust the process and know that as the scene unfolds, you’ll discover that bit of magic you need. She helped me learn to surrender to that process—whether or not you feel ready. Trust your dance partner across from you, and enjoy the process.

Make sure to follow Janel (X/Instagram) and Parker (X/Instagram). Christmas on Duty premieres Saturday November 1st at 8/7c on Hallmark. Streaming next day on Hallmark+.

Photo Credit: Michael Larsen // 2025 Hallmark Media