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 will not be watching Home & Family without Cristina as its host. The producers of the show and Hallmark Channel behaved in an unprofessional callous way in regards to Cristina’s firing, and the way they lied to the loyal viewers about her 3 week absence from the show. Cristina is the heart of this show. She was the original co-host in the 90’s when the show was broadcast on the Family Channel, and was brought back to host this one after Paige from Trading Spaces (sorry, forgot her full name) did not work out. This show’s format is true… Read more »
What a shame! I love Christina, can’t believe Mark is standing for this decision. I guess the the Job is more important. Loyal fans don’t really count. The show will not recover from this decision. Woody the oldest guy there , why did you let this happen? Another typical Holliwood move. Really Stupid!
This was a terrible thing to do to the person who was the “heart” of that show. It’s been happening a lot lately and as a loyal viewer for MANY years, I am very upset about how she was treated. I especially dislike the secrecy and subterfuge. When Jessie Jane and Tanya Memme stopped appearing on the show, they received not one mention at all and it left us wondering what happened to them. We deserve an explanation of some sort when this happens because these people become like family to us. It also appears the Laura Nativo is gone,… Read more »
Stopped watching,taking of dvr shameful!Cristina was Home and Family!
I will not be be watching the show anymore, Cristina really brought class to the show. Debbie is loud ,has no class, always wears sleeveless dresses which show her ugly manly arms, not going to waste time watching that. Blessings to Cristina.
I’m so sorry to hear the bad news about Cristina. I just want to thank her for all the wonderful ideals and great recipes she shared with us. She is a adorable lady that I really loved and respected. Hope she will come visit the show.
Christina was the one person that brought maturity to the show. First you get rid of Tanya and now Christina. I am through with Home and Family. Woody you keep replacing everyone with younger people better watch out. I think if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Good bye Home and no longer family.
HALLMARK CHANDEL must be planning to drop this show soon. The entire show was carried by Christina as Host. Mark Steines looks uncomfortable on this show. It was a staircase full of steps down for him when he lost his job with Entertainment tonight to come to Home and Family. He was in tge midst if a divorce and does not come off as the “family type”. Christina added the warmth for the show and always came across as geniune when she was on. Believable on all fronts. You lost me as a viewer and many more. Bad decision.
I’m no longer a viewer of Home and Family! CRISTINA got a raw deal! Hallmark, shame on You!!!
I like MANY other have also deleted the show from recording! Debbie is very fake. Now the show has 2 idiots for hosts. Dumb move! Good luck keeping it on the air after we’ve ALL have stopped watching it.. My husband says that we are loosing brain cells while watching it.
I am aghast! Cristina was the anchor of the show. She brought class to the show. She was the better interviewer. I agree with what some of the other viewers are saying: It’s like kicking the mom out of the family.
Don’t the other cast members care about what was done to Cristina? You certainly don’t get that feeling from watching the shows this week.
I am no longer going to watch Home and Family.
Shame on you all!
Cristina gave the show a heart & soul. All these new people are a dime a dozen. They will not even be around in a year. Nor will they be missed. Nobody will remember their names. She is genuine, kind, caring & loving. She is what we should aspire to be. The genius that made this decision probably can’t comprehend the qualities she possesses. They should change the name of the show. It doesn’t apply any more.
I was shocked and saddened that Christina is leaving the show and the way Mark made the announcement was clumsy and awkward at best. I watched the show mainly for her although I enjoy most all of the family members. I probably
won’t continue to watch as the last two weeks (without Christina) have not been up to par. I just finished watching the Dollywood DVR’s and in retrospect, I thought Christina looked a little sad in the last episodes. Now I see why. So sorry for her, me and other viewers..
I was channel surfing back in 2012 when I saw Cristina in this show called Home and Family and I was hook! I had seen Cristina in a different talk show back in the late 80’s when I first came to this country, when my English wasn’t that good, she “helped” me practice and at the same time I enjoyed watching her. She is charming, classy, talented and a very authentic person. The fact that she was let go of Home and Family, with no warning, it was a stab in the back not only for me but for the… Read more »
I am so hurt for Cristina and all her fans! She had everything a hostess should have. Cristina had the stability that the show needed. She and Mark were so good together. Debbie is so out of place trying to fill Cristina’s shoes! Who in the world made this decision? Whoever it was has just killed the show.
I am VERY, VERY disappointed!! Is Home and Family going for a younger co-host? They are certainly not going for a better co-host. Don’t get me wrong – I like Debbie – on a segment or two each day. That is where she does a good job. Cristina is the heart and soul of the show! She is intelligent, warm, funny, and classy! The show is just not the same without her. I have been watching and waiting for her to return, but today they announced that she will not return. I used to watch every day, or tape it… Read more »