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?
This is the same thing as on the original HF on years ago. It went belly up and this is the same as well. They have “Jumped the Shark.” Christina made the show. I will no longer watch. So sick of this age discrimination in television. News flash Hallmark…… it is the over 30 group that got you where you are. You leave the dance with the one that brought you.
Unfortunately, I will no longer be watching this show. It’s not the same anymore, Christina has that essence that makes you feel right at home as though you are right there with her. I do foresae that after a while, this show will be cancelled. I hate to say that because I know that the reason for a younger cohost is to draw a younger group of viewers. First, the time the show is viewed, your young viewers are at work here on the east coast. Second, why so many hours? Audience would appreciate a good quality show that at… Read more »
I will no longer watch. The fact they made her stay quiet and left us wondering for as long as they did is unacceptable. This just made it all too weird. I don’t like being played.
I loved Cristina, but wish the new person well, but will not watch with Cristina gone. She was a light and made it worth watching!
What a disappointment. My friend’s and I will no longer watch this show.
HUGH, HUGH MISTAKE HALLMARK. I went looking as to why Cristina has been away so long, only to find you have let the best of your cast go. Poor judgement. I find Debbie unrelateable Just admit a mistake has been made and bring Cristina BACK. Otherwise I’m truly unable to watch H&F with as much disconnect as I see. Too bad, definitely a Great show & my loss. So sorry Cristina. That’s not how you treat family!!!
Sorry to see you’ve fired Christina. Will not be watching this program anymore…I
I think the television world is always trying to out with the old and in with the new.
But this was not a good decision on Hallmarks part. I loved watching the show and you didin’t give Christina a farewell show of passing the torch to someone. You kept the viewers at home wondering: if an illness had kept Christina away from the show. The Home training of people these days is so horrible!!!!! And proper editicate is out the window with no pot or door to throw out the trash of the executives on the show instead!!!!!!
Not a fan anymore the show is not fun anymore . I have not seen Tanya Memme on the show in a long time and I loved her crafts.Paige Hemmis would have been a better hostess .I’m sorry to say I do not watch the show anymore
Debbie, please stop using the name “Paigie”. It sounds so juvenile. Her name is Paige!
I always felt that Mark Steines gave off bad vibes to Cristina and he don’t like to be not the center of his universe,
I loved Home & Family & thought Cristina was on vacation. Went looking today to see where she is. HUGH. HUGH. MISTAKE. HALLMARK letting her go. She was so easy to connect with. Debbie is IRRITATING!!!! Much better suited for the personalities on the VIEW. Shame on the other cast members for letting this happen. AS GREAT as the show is, I can’t watch it any longer. Too bad, you had a good thing going. Can’t imagine you’ll get a 6th season. BYE, BYE. H&F.
I am saddened about Christina being replaced. Love her. I do not like her replacement. She doesn’t seem real. What a shame. Makes it hard to watch the show now
The show will simply not be the same without Christina. I am afraid the show will just not have the same appeal to me. I agree with Mary K, her class and warmth added so much to the show. I do not dislike Debbie and have always enjoyed her segments but absolutely loved Christina. Not every show needs a young cohost.
So sorry Critina is gone. She was the show. So much class.and it seems so silly at times. I don’t tune as much now.