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?
Cristina was the star and carried Mark. Choice of replacement smells of age discrimination which is too prevalent in show business. Your show should be about content and not age. Cristina had everything needed for this show. Your loss. . . along with many viewers.
It was because of her age. I saw on Maria Shriver’s facebook page. She had a video of her and Cristina. Maria was not happy about it at all.
Won’t be watching anymore. Tired of hosts (woman out of their 30’s) being replaced with younger woman, yet the men keep tottering along into old age! Disgusted.
Cristina was the reason I watched. She is like one of us. We can’t relate to Debbie. Still like Kim, but will look for her on Ellen.
WHERES MARK??? I tuned in this morning just to see if the faces are still the same!!! Dr. Matt was cohosting with “her” (sorry to say “she’s” still there).
Does anyone know what happened to Mark?I can only hope he’s gone!! That would serve him right,!
I have not given the program a second of viewing time. The new host fits the Barbie image and if you listen – she is the only one to ever have had a baby. What a terrible disappointment
Hallmark what are you thinking???? We love and trust Christina completely. This is not fair to your viewers. You get her in to straighten out your mess with Paige so she makes it a #1 show then this is what you do to such a classy lady. We love Christina. It makes us feel like you could care less for your viewers.
I looked forward every day to see Christina. Debbie is over bearing. Stopped taping the show and won’t watch it anymore. When Matt moved to Tennessee they had a nice farewell show. Nothing for Christina. So sad. She made the show homey.
What a shame Hallmark, submitting to the pressure of society to be young, thin, and trendy. Very surprised, thought you were different.
I’ve searched and searched on the web to find a contact number or email address for hallmark to tell them what a mistake they made by taking Christina off the show. I can’t find anything to communicate my thoughts to them directly. no one wants to watch a dumb blonde for 2 hours every morning!
why mess with a perfect “10”? hallmark you guys need your heads examined!! I’ve been watching home and family since Christina has been the host – now you have a dumb blonde to take her place that doesn’t know a thing about people, crafts, cooking…all she does is look in the monitor at herself!!! she is so full of herself it isn’t funny! how could you make such a mistake. for years I watched Christina and mark every day and I would even watch the previous days episode again the next day – I so looked forward to 10am to… Read more »
I am so disappointed that Cristina is off the show. She was a calm to the storm, and to have replaced her with Debbie…yikes. Perhaps a whole new fresh face would have been more appealing. I have not watched the show since Cristina left, it has lost much of it’s appeal. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Debbie’s segments because you take her with a grain of salt. But now that’s all you get is an unfortunate overload. You will be missed Cristina!!
Love the new feel to the show with Debbie as co host. Christina was not relatable. She was just too much into herself.
Always believed that the Hallmark channel was all about Family. Well I guess that is what you wanted us to believe… and I fell for it. I loved Home and Family show… such a joy to get up in the morning and watch… Christina was so genuine. Just loved the show because of her warm loving way with her guests…. Now cannot stand your show. The way Hallmark was so dirty about Cristina being fired… all for younger drive you crazy Debbie…Not even enough respect for your viewers to let us see her exit…. Now that’s what I call a… Read more »
How stupid! Cristina was on H & F when I was watching it years ago. Why would your replace her? Done with the show. Age discrimination! I’m 68 and not watching 40 year old sex symbols. Cristina is the class act.
I was so disappointed when they canceled the Marie Osmond show and now another disappointment I will no longer be watching home and family Christina hope to see you soon on another show
Missing Christina haven’t watched the show since