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?
Home and Family will definitely not be the same without Christina! SHE WAS REAL,FUNNY,COMPASSIONATE, AND MOST OF ALL A CHRISTIAN WHO SHARED HER FAITH ON TELEVISION. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED IN TODAY’S WORLD.!!! She was the show.!!!
I retired finally and got into watching this show because of Cristina. She is so beautiful. Debbie is not any comparison to Cristina. Debbie has a weird shaped nose and she thinks she is all it when she tries to CRINKLE her nose but all it does is misshape her whole face. She acts way too buddy to Mark and it’s sickening, always leaning on him …OMG. PLEAZZZE. No longer my favorite show. I will be out in the garden from now on!
I am sad that Christina is gone. She is the one who made the show….
I think they made a big mistake. I will no longer be watching the show.
H&F is missing Christina. Bad decision. I watch more often than not, however, the last few weeks I started thinking perhaps Christina was ill, I was concerned. I had to Google “what happened”, which of course led me to finding out. I knew something was off with the show–Christina was missing! At first I thought she was on vacation, but that’s a long vacation. I am sorry to hear the network decided to ashew Christina in favor of Debbie. To be honest, I wasn’t overly fond of Debbie on The View. She was acceptable in her role on H&F but… Read more »
I will not be watching home and family. Cristina made home and family, not Mark. You kept him because he is Male!!
Cristina was the best, I don’t think Debbie is a good host. I don’t watch anymore
So miss Cristine on the show. I like Debbie but she doesn’t have the maturity for the show that Cristine had. Will probably miss watching Home and Family but do like Hallmark movies.
I am not happy that Christina is gone from Home and Family and will not watch it any more.o would be fine if it was Mark or any of the others leaving
I am so disappointed that Cristine will no longer be on the show. She and Mark had a rapport that Mark and Debbie will never have. I like Debbie in the place where she was…she was great there. Cristine added a warmth to the show! She complemented Mark well and he . . . her! He and Debbie are to much alike. . . No contrast! I watched the show everyday and I only watched a couple of times since Cristine left to see if she was back! What in the world were you thinking? Christine could relate to guests… Read more »
Will no longer watch!!!
Cristina was the most interesting and likable person on Home & Family and one of the only reasons I watched the show. I loved that she represented a demographic that is sorely overlooked. Shame on Hallmark for firing her! I will no longer be watching this show and I hope Cristina is offered new opportunities in television, she is extremely endearing.
I started watching “Home and Family” because I like Cristina a lot. I did not know what had happened to her. I had been on vacation and thought perhaps she was also. I had feared that she was ill. I have tried watching the show a couple of times, but Cristina was what made it a great show for me. I will no longer be watching it on a regular basis anymore. I love the Hallmark Channel, but letting her go has killed the show for me. God Bless Cristina!
Will no longer watch. Miss Christina
Is this freedom of speech or am I under dictatorship