Christmas enthusiast Oliver Hudson hosts ‘Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition.’
Oliver Hudson reveals how Kurt Russell keeps Christmas alive
Oliver Hudson chats with USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa about the Magnolia Network competition “Gingerbread Land” and his family’s holiday traditions.
NEW YORK – Oliver Hudson loves the holidays. But the actor did not think he’d be overcome with emotion while filming his latest gig as host of “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition” (premieres Nov. 17 at 9 ET/PT on Magnolia Network and Food Network; streams the next day on HBO Max/Discovery+).
“There were moments where I’m like, ‘Oh, my God,’ ” Hudson, 49, recalls to USA TODAY. “I don’t want to go full sob on a (Chip and Joanna) Gaines Christmas gingerbread bake-off, where the host is completely losing it.”
But Hudson was moved by the contestants, who work in teams to create intricate gingerbread structures from scratch and compete for a grand prize of $100,000.
“Hearing their backstories and learning about the gingerbread community, which sounds completely nuts, but there is a national champion who was one of our contestants,” Hudson says. “There’s competitions all over the country. I mean, this is a real thing.”
Hudson’s mind may have opened to the world of gingerbread houses, though his living room in Los Angeles did not. The actor, who married actress Erinn Bartlett in 2006 and shares three children with her, says she probably would’ve objected to bringing one of the structures home.
“I have a problem that I get into things hardcore and I’ll buy everything,” he acknowledges, citing sneakers and golf gear as two examples. “And then in a month, I’ve lost interest.”
Oliver Hudson is also getting his holiday on for Netflix’s ‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’
“Gingerbread Land” isn’t the only holiday-themed project this year for Hudson; the actor stars in the Netflix film “A Merry Little Ex-Mas.” Hudson plays a soon-to-be-divorced husband who plans to have one final, peaceful Christmas with his ex (Alicia Silverstone). Their plans change when his new girlfriend (Jameela Jamil) arrives.
Hudson also worked alongside his stepdad, Kurt Russell, in 2018’s “The Christmas Chronicles.” Hudson credits Russell, who plays Santa Claus in the movie, with his love of the holiday season. The actor says his extended family, including mom Goldie Hawn and siblings Kate and Wyatt, have held the same traditions since Russell came into their lives. The family celebrates Christmas at Russell’s cabin in Colorado.
Russell “created this scenario with Santa and reindeer and bells and everything on the roof,” Hudson says of his first Christmas morning in Colorado at age 7. “That was so magical. And it set our belief in stone, right in that moment.”
Hudson remembers Russell also installed a little bit of fear into the tradition, noting that if the children didn’t go to bed, Santa might skip over their house.
“That’s always been in play for all of my kids and the cousins and everything else,” he says. “(The kids are) running upstairs, freaked out because they need to get to sleep. Otherwise they might not get their gifts.”
Russell goes as far as to write in “Santa’s handwriting” a naughty-or-nice list on paper, complete with burned edges, that is left by Santa’s milk on Christmas morning.
“I’m 49 and I still get all jacked up for it,” Hudson says. “It’s so fun.”
