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 have been watching and waiting for Cristina to return to the show. After so much time away I had to look on line to find out what happened to her. This move to fire her is so beneath the whole Home and Family concept. It goes totally against Home and Family. To rub salt in the wounds of the viewers they did this without letting the viewers know what they had done. The show is just not the same and I can not even stand trying to watch it. Another lost viewer.
We will miss you very much. You did a great job & I liked the fact that an over 30 woman was a co-star of a popular show. Hallmark made a mistake & should have made the announcement that you were leaving. Saying you were on vacation didn’t do it for me. Best of Luck!
It’s really sad they replaced her. I have a feeling this is about ageism. Which really blows because I felt a connection to Cristina. I can’t watch anymore.
I loved Christina on Home and Family! I think the show will definitely loose many viewers because of her absence. My opinion…she made H & F what it was and she will be truly missed. I don’t enjoy watching it now!
Christine was wonderful on H&F!! she and Mark had wonderful chemistry….why fix it if it ain’t broke? I will no longer watch H&F. 🙁
CristIna brought a sense of sophistication and grace to a show filled with hotsy totsies fighting for camera time. They all are so hungry for attention, they continually talk over each other, making it impossible to hear any of them. The closed caption can’t even keep up. They just say “overlapping conversation”. Debbie is loud and abrasive. Without Cristina, even Mark seems goofy and lost. I won’t be watching any more, either. It’s not home OR family without Cristina!
I will no longer watch the show anymore!! Christina was the “heart” of that show!! She made it the success it is and I can tell you, there won’t be a 6th season!! Christian was fired because of her faith, no doubt!! She shared her love for Jesus Christ freely and that’s what I loved about her!! Also, her warmth, love, compassion, intelligence, sense of humor, and outgoing personality was what made the show unique and different from all the rest!! I will miss hearing her warm, friendly voice that just made you feel at home. Shame on Hallmark Channel!!!… Read more »
I love Cristina an now she gone I won’t be watching h&f anymore.
I WILL MISS CRISTINA GREATLY. SHE HAS SO MUCH CLASS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY FIRED HER. SHE ADDED SO MUCH TO THE SUCCESS OF HOME AND FAMILY.
Now that I know what happened to Christina, I’m not going to watch it anymore. I like Debbie. But I started watching because I liked the team of Christina and Mark. Hallmark you screwed up big time. You play alot of family shows and then you do.something like firing Christina!
I loved Cistina. I no .ongwr watch the show.
I’m out!
I DVR Home & Family.& had been on vacation. Then, not seeing Cristina on the show, I just thought she was on vacation or something. Just googled & see she’s gone. Bad move Hallmark. Just bad. Don’t have the desire to watch anymore. You lost me on this one.
I can’t believe Christina is gone!! I thought she may have been ill or taking care of family. Totally missed the announcement. It’s NOT the same without her. She brought balance to the show. I loved her!!! Man I hate to hear this. Don’t know how much I’ll be watching now that I know. Grrrrr.
I will no longer dvr or watch. It is just sad to discriminate age. Call it what you want. I watched the show to take the stress out of my life. The continually calling of Markey and pet names is not my idea of a good infomative show. It claims its all one happy family…always hard to follow with all the over talking each other or adding sounds after each guest is talking or demonstrating. The stupid antics of Kym and Mark banter is really dumb. Not sure what happened or how we are suppose to buy into it was… Read more »
I said as a ‘foil’ to Mark. Darn AutoCorrect.