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?
I was watching the show the day they announced that Christina was on a “well deserved vacation’, then nothing more has been said since. I liked Christina but can’t say the same about her replacement. Silly does not replace mature. I think the show has lost interest for me and that is not just because Christina is gone. Nobody has a little party at their house everyday ! They should send most of the regulars, including Mark, on a “well deserved vacation” and have a little more mature format !
I am very sorry to just learn that Christina has been replaced. She was the heart of the show. Debbie is a very nice lady but lacks the life experience that Christina brought to Home and Family. It feels to me like a death in the family and it was a comforting show which I feel the loss. Sorry about this decision. It was the only daily t.v. Show that I chose to watch
Unbelievable! Cristina was the only reason I watched the show. She oozes charm and the importance of family. Very sad she is gone. I will no longer watch home and family. Nothing against Debbie. In small doses she’s just okay. As a cohost, she has the appeal of a wet mop!
Im very dissapointed that christina was let go i dont care for the other lady . Christina made the show enjoyable an she brought an elegance to the show . I wontcontinue to watch it!
I too am sad that they replaced Christina, I don’t care that they have a nice new host, I do not like the way they did it, so so long Home & Family…..
Really miss Christina..she brought a lot of class to the show. Better host than Debbie. Second biggest disappointment after Hallmark cancelling Cedar Cove, again without notice! What’s the big deal…no notice…afraid of blowback….?
I also had to google what happened to Christina! What a rotten thing to do to her and her audience! I will no longer watch , but watch out Mark and Debbie they will replace you before you know it!
Ok first of all I had to google what happened to Christina? What a shame the show had little respect for the person who made the show and built the show to where is it today. I an so disappointed in how they just replaced her thinking know one would notice or care! They didn’t even have enough class to honor her the way she deserved. Too bad! Just another example of a classy beautiful woman replaced by a younger model. I won’t be watching that show anymore. I’m pretty sure Christina if your reading this that you were the… Read more »
This is unfortunate. She did a wonderful job. I can’t help thinking if her “age” was why she
was fired. If so I hope Christine doesn’t let the network get away with this.
She was a classie woman, and very educated.
Christina was the “heart and spirit” of Home and Family. It is sad that Hallmark would”fire” her in such an unethical manner. Debbie is good in her former role and as a fill in host but the show is not the same now. The love of all the talented people that are the regular team members and the guests make for a fun, informative program with Christina leading with Mark. Hallmark made a huge mistake in their decision. I will not be watching anymore. I did try but it just isn’t the same show.I hope it was not an due… Read more »
It is not the same without Christine I will not watchable,they are always replacing older women with younger ones who do near as well!
I have tried to watch the new co-host, but now it is a different show. I can not watch it!
Unfortunately Debbie is NOT co-host material, good at fashion and entertainment , not at co-hosting. She is too loud, interrupts everyone’s conversations, talks over guest.
I am really disappointed that Christina is off the show. She and Mark had a chemistry that I enjoyed watching every day. Debbie is fine, but I really prefer Christina as a co-host. Christina is a beautiful older woman, someone we older beautiful women could identify with. You already surrounded her with younger people…. but to remove her was not necessary.
I tried watching the show this morning and can’t watch it again.Christina had natural classy talent. Unlike Mark who seems too jumpy and bouncy. Debbie is the female version of Mark: overly excited…loud…interrupts often…not funny….lacks sense in speaking….annoying over exaggeratedly bubbly personality. I got dizzy watching those two on the same screen. The show will have far less viewers. Christina gave prestige to the show. The show is a mess now!!! Ohhh and Debbie is what 41 or 42. Should show some maturity already!!!!!
I do not think I will be watching Home and Family without Christina. I started watching the show when I lost my job back in 2012. She was the one who really put her heart and soul into the show to make it the success it is today. I feel she helped me get through each day of dreaded interviews and helped me through depression just because of her positive and loving spirit she exhibited through the show. The show and the class she brought to it gave me a reason to get up every morning. She even brought her… Read more »
Christina is elegant, kind and gave the show credibility. Sorry, but if you were going to let someone go it should have been Mark with the silly jokes. How old is he 12? I thought Debbie had just landed another job….. fashion she may know but she doesn’t have what it takes to host this show. Christina deserves better than Home & Family.
Hallmark/Home & Family the days of me watching any of your programming is over. Losing 1 person may not matter to you but I hope thousands of us stand together and vote you off the island.
I love Christina! She made the show. I kept waiting to see her on the show; making her famous dishes; her laughter, her spirit and her love for all of us. I am disappointed that she has been fired for a younger person who has no talent at all. i will not be watching this show ever again!!
I was concerned because I had not seen Christina in a long time. The show never seemed to mention her either. I had to resort to Google in search of an answer. I am very disappointed at the answer I have found. I will no longer be watching the show. One of the things that attracted me to this show is Home and FAMILY. The interactions of all the people on the show seemed like family, including those special holidays. And I now feel as if that was just an artificial act. It is not only that Christina was fired,… Read more »