Melissa Peterman was determined to work with Hallmark queen Lacey Chabert on a Christmas film, jokingly admitting to The List that she had "bugged" Chabert on several occasions about collaborating on a Hallmark holiday movie. After Peterman read the initial script for "Haul Out the Holly" and saw the part Chabert was playing, she knew this was the film that could make the collab happen.

Peterman recalled that she and the rest of the cast felt "starstruck" when Chabert first walked on the set. The "Not Another Teen Movie" actor had an energy about her that Peterman likened to a previous co-star: legendary entertainer Reba McEntire. "[Reba] led the set with such grace, and she was such a great leader, and made sure everyone felt respected and had a great time," Peterman reminisced. Peterman felt Chabert evoked that same sense of grace and leadership during filming. "On that set, she makes sure everyone feels welcomed, and that it's going to be a great environment to work and brings out everybody's best," she explained.

It's not the first time Peterman and Chabert have worked together, though. The actors first worked together on the TV series "Baby Daddy," which featured Peterman as Bonnie Wheeler and Chabert in a guest arc as Dr. Amy Shaw.  

"Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up" premieres on the Hallmark Channel on November 25 at 8/7c.