Weary after January 2025’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, actor Kristoffer Polaha needed a pick-me-up. Though he’d helped friends impacted by the fire and recovery organizations, the longtime Hallmark star decided to spread a little love beyond his city, too.
Polaha used to host weekly virtual gatherings with fans called the Polaha Chautauqua, which started as a way to share stories and songs during the pandemic. Recalling how healing and uplifting it was to engage with fans during that difficult time, he thought a new version might work again.
“I was sitting there in January watching my city burn,” he told EntertainmentNOW on February 14, “and thought, ‘I really do miss that engagement.’ So, I had this very quick epiphany. I said, ‘You know, this is what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna call it Fan the Fandom and go live every day in February.'”
And that is just what he’s done, showing up live on Instagram at unscheduled times every day in February, spontaneously inviting fans around the world to join him onscreen to chat. It’s become such a fun daily dose of goodness that other Hallmark stars have asked to join Polaha by making guest appearances — including Paul Greene, who joined him on February 5, and Andrew Walker, who will join the fun on Valentine’s Day at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Polaha told EntertainmentNOW that additional guest stars are likely to appear in the coming days.
Kristoffer Polaha Says He Wants to Meet ‘As Many People As I Can’ Through His Month-Long Experiment
Since February 1, Polaha has been going live on Instagram, connecting with fans at random times each day — and sometimes even at night, which has allowed him to bring international followers into the mix.
“I’m just gonna meet as many people as I can,” he told Entertainment NOW. “I’ve gone to Barcelona, Paris, South America. It’s really kind of fun. I’ve gone live with a few people in Australia, too.”
“It’s been a very interesting social experiment,” he continued, “but one that’s been deeply enjoyable,
and the conversations have ranged from very cheerful and light-hearted to really deep,
beautiful (discussions). You know, people dropping in and being able to say something that means a lot to them, and you see it resonate (with others) through their messages.”
People who’ve joined one of Polaha’s live chats can request to appear with him onscreen, but Polaha’s been known to bring fans on to chat without warning, too.
He explained with a laugh, “Occasionally, I’ll just see somebody, push the button and invite this person to go live with me. I’m basically surprising people in their living rooms or wherever they’re watching!”
Polaha told EntertainmentNOW that while many of the people joining him are Hallmark fans, some began following him due to past projects he’s appeared in, like the CW’s teen drama “Life, Unexpected,” which first aired in 2010. But no matter how they first got to know Polaha’s work, he’s grateful that his fanbase is made up of kind, caring people he can trust to bring on live with him.
“You know, it’s a testimony to the kind of people who are in my ‘fandom,’ let’s call it,” he said. “I can go live and sure, I could quickly pull someone off, but I’ve never had to. There’s genuine human decency and compassion and love. It really is a beautiful thing.”
Kristoffer Polaha Has a Special Weekend Ahead With His Family But Will Still Check In With Fans
GettyPolaha will continue to connect with fans while he’s on the road, currently in Nashville with his family for a special Valentine’s weekend.
The “Christmas Quest” star and his wife Julianne flew in with their youngest son Jude to cheer on their oldest son Caleb, a singer-songwriter who was chosen by his college, Belmont University, to perform in their latest Songwriter’s Showcase on February 15.
The Polahas’ middle son, Micah, who’s studying film at NYU, is also flying in for the free concert, which is open to the public at the school’s Johnson Large Theater. The first round of acts start at 6 p.m. while Caleb’s round begins at 7 p.m.
Though Polaha typically shows up spontaneously for his Instagram Lives with fans, he has planned ahead for his Valentine’s Day chat, since Walker will be joining him virtually. They plan to go live at 6 p.m. Eastern time. For those who miss the live chat, recordings of each “Fan the Fandom” conversation appear in Polaha’s Instagram Reels afterward.
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EXCLUSIVE: Kristoffer Polaha Keeps Surprising Fans Around the World With Impromptu Visits