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?
Sorry to say that I don’t like the new co-host…she would fit in better on The View! Cristina was so perfect for the show…such a beautiful woman inside and out…I’ve lost interest in Home and Family.
Debbie was fired from the View! She is a Hollywood reporter now. Not what I want to see on the Hallmark channel. It was such a sweet show to watch with everyone. Especially during the Christmas season. So very disappointed I thought Hallmark was the last family values champion in this age of violence and sex on tv. Very sad about it.
I won’t whatch any more. I always looked forward to the show, because I felt Christina was a very classy lady and that is what television is missing today. I haven’t been watching lately just sort of waiting for my favorite show host to come back. Now I believe another decent show will start to pander to the same type of viewers and standards that all the other networks have already lowered themselves to. I’d hate to see Mark replaced by Bruce (Caitlyn) Jenner.
I am so sad that Christina is gone. I was on vacation and thought I had missed something. Although I like Debbie as a contributor to the show and like her energy…..I can’t even begin to think about the holiday shows without Christina. Her prayers before every holiday meal are so genuine and heart thought. She will definitely be missed and is one of the.major reasons the show continued to thrive. I am sure that there could have been a way to let fans know. Since she never really said goodbye- maybe there will be a door opened for Christina… Read more »
Sorry to not see Cristina on the show, she made it worth watching. I do not like Debbie, she is silly and unprofessional. Just can’t understand why you had to change things, were your ratings too low???? Then get rid of mark, he is as silly as Debbie.
Won’t watch the show any more. Do not care for Debbie Matenopolous. She’s fake, and a show off and pretends to be down to earth, but she’s all about herself. Was already aggravated by her when she made appearances on the show before this change, Sorry to see Christina be replaced by her. It’s a move down or sideways, but not up.
Bring her back! Bring her back! Debbie was fine as a contributor, but not as a co-host…too flirty
I am so sad to hear of Christina has left the show. I had no idea. And am not certain of the why it happened. Please know, Christina, I enjoyed every show you were on, and will miss you terribly.
I think I can continue to watch Home and family. I looked forward to this show every day. Debbie is ok but she is not the poised and mature hostess that Cristina was. She does ok on the show but not as a hostess. I can’t for the life of me figure out why you let Christina go. I felt like she was a sister and now I have lost a family member or a close friend. I am so disappointed.. I am not sure I will continue to watch. There is so much sadness in the world I just… Read more »
I am saddened to find out that you were fired. You are missed…..by your fans, and your “replacement” is not doing a good job……..She is constantly touching/hanging on Mark or guests and she interrupts others~~I find her aggravating.
I’m not very happy to hear that Cristina will not be returning to Home and Family. I really loved the show. I have to say that I have been a huge fan and for the first time today during the show I just turned it off. I’m not a fan of Debbie nor is my husband. I actually hope the show ratings go down to the bottom of the barrel. I / we miss you Cristina.
OMG! I am thrilled that comments from Christina’s fans are still pouring in. Let’s hope Hallmark….but especially Christina….reads them.
I WILL NO LONGER BE WATCHING HOME & FAMILY ANYMORE. WHO ELSE ON THIS SHOW IS GETTING REPLACED?.
shame, shame on you Hallmark. You are supposed to be representing family, and isn’t that what Christna was, family. Debbie is a fine person,; but not quite co-host material. Would think long and hard about trying to bring Christina back. Please type here to add a comment. (Note: spam, name-calling, and personal attack comments will be deleted.)
Please bring Christina back. You have messed up by letting her go. Shame on you Hallmark Home & Family.
OK from what I’m reading it appears to me they wanna reach out to the younger audience. Do I agree with how they went about it? No I do not! There was a better way they could have gone about it! Now if I’m right then in about 10-15 yrs Mark will be replaced too! If I’m wrong then something else had to happen behind the scenes that we don’t know about that caused them to get rid of her. I’ve never known a show to just let someone (who is a major part of the show) go for no… Read more »
I think it is very sad that Christina is off of the show. She did a wonderful job on Home & Family. I do not understand why they would take her off. Shame on the People who did this.