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 only watched it for Christina, Mark was great, but Christina was real. I don’t like Debbie for the entire show, way too much fakeness.
I think they made a huge mistake. I’ve tried to be open minded, and watched since the change, but I just don’t care for it, and will not be tuning in anymore. I loved Christina’s spirit and the show seems rather empty without here there.
Not a smart move.
started watching a few years ago…very enjoyable show and cast…please feel free to bring Christina back as a guest once in a while….she’s a lot of fun and she did help make the show what it is !
Sadly, I will no longer be watching Home and Family, now that Christina is no longer on the show. I feel it was a big mistake of the producers to eliminate her from the show.
Don’t like the show anymore without Christina. Quit watching it. Hallmark made big mistake taking her off.
I can watch Kelly on live now instead of the show. I really like Christina Ferrare.
I DVR the show and lost all my taped shows so I turned the show on today and still no Christina so I found it on Christina’s Facebook page. I’m so sad she won’t be on Home & Family anymore. I thought her being a little older was great and she related to us older viewers. Why didn’t you producers just say she retired and give her a send off.
No I will no longer watch Home and Family, she made the show, Mark is great but need Cristna to balance it all. Good luck to the show but I will not be watching it.
This reminds me of how the Tonight Show was when the tried to replace Leno with O’Brien. Istopped watching that sow then and I’m done with this one, too. Was there something wrong with her hosting? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
there might have been new management or ownership, trying to put their stamp on things, or something behind the scenes that that we know nothing about and maybe never will
I LOVE the Hallmark Channel and watch it all the time! However, Home & Family is just NOT the same without Cristina! I was SO SAD to see her replaced and I find it hard to watch Home & Family, seeing someone else co-hosting with Mark
Debbie is OK But I really miss Christina and really much preferred her with Mark as Co Hosts. I think that she brought much more to the show. There were more layers and I loved the chemistry between them. Debbie is one note and frankly a little boring and predictable. Does not seem as authentic as Christina. Sorry Home and Family but this was a big mistake!! It’s NIT the same and DEFINATELY NOT better!!!
I really watched the show as I work during the day but I would love to watch the show when I was home sick and or on vacation. I noticed that women on Home and Family was not the usual person The chemistry between the new co-host and Mark just is not the same It is just the not the same welcoming I would get when I watched earlier.
The show is just not the same without Cristina. I really like Debbie but, she is no Cristina. I just wish Hallmark would reconsider and ask Cristina back. Of course keep Debbie but, in the capacity she was in prior to Cristina leaving. I just wonder if it has to do with Cristina’s age.
I agree…..it’s sad to say but she discrimination is all over the workplace….of course you won’t hear that from the employer…
Watching a Hallmark movie with my husband and speeding through commercials we saw the star in the movie on a commercial for Home and Family. Ran back to hear what they had to say and my husband says, “Where’s Cristina?” Now, when a 58 year old farmer asks where the beautiful host is, you KNOW she had something worth watching! I said, “I’m not sure…I don’t watch anymore since I saw she was gone.” (The show is now hideously loud and I am not interested in anything they have on it anymore. My mornings are nice and quiet, thankyouverymuch….miss you,… Read more »
Christina is not replaceable. She is a class act in every way and always will be. I only watched the show because of christina. I will not watch again!!
Much prefer Christine. Bored with the show now.