Yesterday, Hallmark Channel announced that host Cristina Ferrare would be replaced as co-host by regular contributor Debbie Matenopoulos. The cable channel didn’t specify when the change would take place.
Today, co-host Mark Steines made a quick announcement that Ferrare had left the show and that Matenopoulos would be replacing her, effective immediately. Ferrare hadn’t been on the show for two weeks and didn’t return for a send-off.
Fans of the show have been concerned if Ferrare was sick and have been wondering if the decision to leave was her decision. On her Facebook page, Ferrare confirmed that she is not sick and essentially says that she was fired. She wrote:
Okay here goes, I feel it’s important to finally step up to the plate and let you know what is happening.
First may I say that my family and I have been so thankful and appreciative for all the love, support, prayers, and good wishes you have been sending me on a daily basis for the past three weeks. It pained me so that I was unable to let you know what was going on out of respect for everyone on Home and Family and the Network. I was asked to wait and I have but now I feel I should out of respect for YOU let you know.
It’s really very simple, Home and Family will have a season 5 which I am so happy for and the Network decided that they want a new co-host and that will be Debbie. She will do a great job!
You can still reach me here on facebook and we shall continue honoring love of family and friends. I truly LOVE you all. You have been my rainbow!
What do you think? Are you sorry that Ferrare is no longer a co-host on Home & Family? Will you continue to watch? Should the show be cancelled or, is Ferrare’s replacement a good idea?
Christine was the best don’t like Debbie at all wil no longer watch and lots of friends too they don’t like Debbie either she too into herself
It has saddened me so much to hear that Cristina will no longer be co-hosting Home and Family. I have been a huge fan of the show since the “very beginning” when Michael Burger was Cristina’s co=host. Anyone else remember those “early days?” Cristina is a gem who can never be replaced. I do like Debbie, but not as Michael’s co-host. She is so much better as a “family member.” For now I will continue to watch Home and Family, but with so much less enthusiasm. I admire every one of the Home and Family team and all they do… Read more »
I agree. Am sad she is not there anymore. Not the same
Christina made the show. I highly doubt anyone who watches the show was concerned about Christina’s age whatsoever, she brought so much life to the show, alot more than Mark. One of the biggest issues here is respect and loyalaty which the network exhibited none with regards to Christina’s reputation and commitment to the show. Debbie is a back stabber and for that I have no respect for her and the Network has gone from a 10 to a 3 in my book. I knew something was wrong after two weeks of no Christina. I will no longer watch Home… Read more »
Let’s be fair to everyone concerned since we do not know exactly what happened. Without a doubt I miss Cristina enormously, Cristina was the face of Home & Family. The show will never be the same. I will continue to watch the show since it is one of the few respectable shows on TV.
Cristina will be sorely missed. I pray for everyone’s success, peace & joy.
you don’t know what happened? they tossed the old broad and did r let her tell her audience until they said it was okay. typical network behavior.
I just started watching the show a few months before Christina was fired. She was such fun and she gave off a feeling of warmth and loving everyone around her. I used to fight my brother to watch her show. It’s rather boring now that she’s gone. Certainly not worth fighting to watch any longer.
I saw Christina in the “Dollywood” series of Home and Family, went on vacation for a week, came back and she was gone without an explanation. I don’t think whatever is going on was handled very “Hallmark” like. I miss her very much as I also watched her in the original show several years ago. I think some of the people who make decisions do not treat the viewers as adults. The way this was handled also reflects badly on the remaining members of the show. Where is the loyalty for someone who was touted to be their “best friend”?… Read more »
I agree. From what I have read Christina was fired because of her age. The women on the show should be insulted as well and I’d be looking for another job I wouldn’t want to work for a company that treats women or anyone in this fashion especially someone as special as Christina. I was a faithful watcher because of her and the disrespect she received is deplorable.
I can’t imagine ratings are that good as thousands have expressed there disappointment with hallmark on various facebook pages as well as on this site. Christina will prevail.
I will no longer be watching the show. What an awful way to treat a woman who was a gracious hostess for Home and Family.
I will no longer watch Home and Family. I kept waiting for Christina to come back. I thought she was on vacation or sick but to find out that she was fired and replaced by that Debbie who knows nothing, she acts like a gritty young person.She is so phony and I was wrong about her replacing Christina she may have gotten Christina job but she could never replace Christina.
Even though I enjoy most of the people who are left on H&F, no one will be as good as Christina. I miss her everyday. What I wonder is, over the years, I’ve listened to Mark and Chistina talk about how he is so close to her family. Are they still friends? Does he still go over for dinner? Just weeks after she is fired, he gets engaged. Things aren’t always what they seem.
I have quit watching the show. I think it shows how big a back stabber Debbie Mayanopolis is. I can’t stand her! She has a baby and all of a sudden she knows everything about raising kids. What a joke! I hope the show sinks.
I really miss Christina….so sincere and elegant. Bring her back, please.
I find it hard to process the fact that we have an entire network which claims to uphold good values…but then sends Mark out to look at all the viewers and lie to us…., “Christina is somewhere on a nice warm beach enjoying a much needed and deserved vacation…….” I kept waiting for her to come back and when she didn’t I worried it was her health…and now I learn the network and/or the show fired her! She was a huge contributor to the great success of this show and building a large and loyal following and you don’t even… Read more »
Please don’t ask anyone to feel sorry for Debbie! She chose to take the job of cohost knowing the circumstances of Cristina’s departure which shows her lack of character and zero support for a coworker and supposed friend. She has another well paying job so this is not a case of someone who needs more work in order to support their family. In her chosen career of television personality, her likeability is a huge factor in whether or not viewers want to watch her. To the vast majority of the regular Home and Family audience, she is not the right… Read more »
dont blame Mark..Im sure he was between a rock and a hard place..and im sure he was told..NOT to say ANYTHING…it really put the whole cast in a bad situation..her departure shouldnt of happened at all…and was handled in a horrible way…they need to find a way to bring her back IF she would come back..i saw her on u-tube with Maria Shriver…and u could tell she was upset by being put off of H&F..but she also said..things happen in life u can dwell on it or move on and she chose to move on with life and not let… Read more »
Agree with Kris, that is how I feel. I have also experienced treatment like this. You put your heart and soul and time into people you trust and they use you and then stab you in the back. Feel so sad for Christina but God loves her and He will work it out for the good. She knows this and do I.
Seems situations were not entirely upfront, and handled in a caring manner as other cast members have revealed.
I watched the show because of Christina Ferrare. If they wanted to replace someone, it should have been Mark who contributes zilch and is constantly butting in with stupid remarks. I hope someone is smart enough to give Christina her own show with NO CO-HOST. We love you Christina and will be searching for you on TV.
I would love to see Christina back, she and Marc made the show.