There is some drama brewing over at Home & Family. After being fired from the Hallmark Channel daytime show, Cristina Ferrare is now defending her replacement host Debbie Matenopoulos.
The news of Ferrare’s exit came seemingly out of nowhere earlier this month. Alongside Mark Steines, she had been co-host of the current program since 2012.
Since the news broke, many have criticized Hallmark Channel for hiring Matenopoulos only because she’s younger than Ferrare. Earlier this week, Maria Shriver said she was “ticked off” that the network fired Ferrare because she was “too old.” While this hasn’t been confirmed, Ferrare did recently post a picture of herself and Matenopoulos, saying she cares about the new co-host and the decision was only business.
Take a look at Maria Shriver’s video and Ferrare’s post below:
What do you think? Do you think Hallmark fired Ferrare for being “too old”? Do you like Debbie Matenopoulos as the new co-host?
Well , still not caring for Debbie, needs to go back to fashion and entertainment! Can not get into show anymore! Sad!
I no longer watch Home and Family after Hallmark fired Cristina Ferrare. The show seems plastic, artificial and forced. Debbie seems fake. No warmth on show anymore. Cristina was so lovely. Hallmark you made a mistake.
Home and family has lost it’s spark. I watched because Cristina seemed so real. With Debbie there is a plastic feel to the show. No warmth. I don’t watch anymore.
Loved watching because of Cristina, Hallmark needs to remember the baby boomers are strong in numbers. The Home and Family Show needs to change the name, not much family unity there!
I watched the show because of Cristina.She is a lovely person and a class act…I no longer watch the show.The Debbie person has a plastered smile on her face and everything has a slapstick heehaw to it now.Very obnoxious set up.It’s like watching a bad comedy instead of a relaxing interesting program.
Why is everyone constantly laughing and gyrating with phony glee on that show?
I’m so disappointed that Christina Ferrare is no longer on H&F. They definitely lost me as a viewer. Christina had everything, she was so enjoyable to watch. She’s the only reason I started watching H&F. Why is so hard to contact channels, like Hallmark, to give your comments? I guess they assume they’d only get bad comments, so no one can get in touch with them. I’ll be watching reruns of Dr. Phil on OWN from now on.
It’s mind-boggling ! She was why I watched the show….I hope she starts a new fun show on network TV…she is fabulous! I don’t trust Hallmark any more…the trust is gone. Huge mistake on their part and they will soon realize it.
Very very disappointed in the firing of Cristina and replacing her with Debbie! I am not watching anymore because it is just NOT the same! Bad decision!
I will no longer watch the show. Before networks decide to go with the latest ” trend” and kick wiser experience and charm to the curb, they need to consider who their audience is. I suppose if they can toss away beautiful Cristina like an old shoe, they can toss away those of us who are “too old” too- even though we faithfully tuned in every day to their now-defunct show with just another young blonde who IS as irritating and annoying as nails on a chalkboard. This old, grey mare won’t be tuning in any more. Goodbye Home &… Read more »
Did anyone notice that Debbie doesn’t do as much forced crying as she did before she slipped into Christina’s chair? I watched the show for about three weeks before I realized that something was wrong. Christina hadn’t come back yet so I researched and found out why. Hallmark and Home and family have made a bad faux Pau. There is still time to fix the mistake before you lose a vast number of viewers. I hope someone will snatch her up before you get a chance to ask her to come back. Maria Shiver is a true friend to defend… Read more »
How can viewers trust Hallmark after they promote a show as ‘family’ and then kick the mother to the curb? The show lost all sincerity and I no longer trust anything they say or do. Christina was the show. I hope she starts her own program. I was hoping they would correct their mistake but that obviously isn’t going to happen. I will no longer watch.
Hallmark blew it! They talk about how important FAMILY is on the show all the time, but in a true FAMILY, one member doesn’t leave and you never talk about them again. Cristina was the matriarch of the family and was just tossed aside. They should have checked their demographic audience. Those of us that watched are closer to Cristina’s age than Mark and Debbie’s age. I think it will be the downfall of the show.
I used to love the show. I don’t understand why they fired Cristina. She was so sweet and funny. I used to watch Home & Family in the it’s when her co-host was Michael Burger. I still have her cookbook called Family Entertaining from the 90’s. I don’t like Debbie as the new cohost. She is very annoying. Why would they ruin a good thing? I for one have stopped watching the show. I hope someone hires Cristina to do her own show!
Cancel the show. You broke it by firing Christina.
So the beautiful, charming Cristina was fired because H&F is going for a younger demographic? Well, that means, I, as part of the older generation, will no longer be tuning in. Debbie is just another annoying, bubbly blond. The network should have remembered that the older generation are the ones with the money and also the main viewers because the younger generation is too busy to care about home and family!!!! You’ve lost millions of viewers because of this stupid decision.
My wife and I never miss an episode. We don’t have a problem with Debbie or any others on the show. We have a big problem over Cristina’s firing. The show’s daily guest lists took on a pronounced ethnicity change as of Cristina’s firing. That change is obvious on a daily basis. I believe that change was forced and that Cristina could not accept that the show’s right to develop its own guest lists without intrusion was being taken away. The show has maintained a great and special and diverse cast of regular show members. We felt part of that… Read more »