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 a follower of Christina since her days with Steve Edwards and was so excited when I rediscovered her on Home and Family 3 years ago. I thought she was a good balance with Mark and the rest of the cast and has a lot to offer. Very sad to see her go and will try to continue watching because I know Christina would not want the show to loose their followers because of her. I do think, however that YOU have made an error in judgement. I am 78 and still love learning now that I have… Read more »
I think it is terrible that Cristina is gone. She will be greatly missed by the over 60 viewers. A lot of my friends will no longer be watching this program. Love Debbie, no reflection on her.
By the way where is Tanya Memme?
Cristina we love you and will miss you.
Cristina is THE reason I loved the show. She was like an old friend to the older viewers and like a Mom to the younger viewers. I feel she was given a raw deal and that the producers of Home and Family and the Hallmark Channel made a terrible decision. So, for me as well…goodbye Home and Family
I will no longer be watching the show without Christina as co host. I think the show was perfect the way it was and looked forward to watching everyday because of Christina. Big mistake!! Mark and Christina had a great dynamic between them. I liked Debbie where she was. Good by H and F.
I sorry you have made such a bad decision. I cannot stand Debbie as she is such a phony and overbearing person. It’s your choice and now you live with it as you have lost this viewer. I could have dealt with any other member except Debbie. We will miss Cristina and the great co-host she was for H & F.
Christina, was the only reason I watched Home and Family. She is a gracious. elegant lady. As a lady over ’50’, Christina was someone we could relate to.
I’ll stop my recordings of the show and watching it.
You didn’t even give her a ‘good-by show’. Shame on Hallmark
Cristina was the HEART of the show, she and Mark had such great chemistry, I liked Debbie in the role she had on the show much better…….PLEASE bring back Christina as co-host!!!! The sooner the better.
I am very saddened by the change that Christina will be leaving home and family. I think she was underestimated as the heart and soul of this show. You have just lost a viewer.
The beautiful and graceful Christina has been replaced? You people are not reading your audience! I am not in my 20s or 30s, I’m retired. I cannot relate to some of your size 2 silly girls at times. Christins was the glue, the icing on the cake, the mature beatiful woman who Balanced the whole show. Debbie is seems vapid and phony, not mature, full of herself. There is nothing I can relate to in her. I am terribly disappointed in H and F and I think you have made a mistake…this will be your last season.
Not true about Debbie.
I think it’s a good thing for the show and for Cristina. I have been watching Home and Family for years. Cristina has been having problems keeping up or understanding what was going on. Just look back on the Dollywood trip. I’m hoping Cristina is ok health wise.
I watched all the Dollywood episodes, I kept thinking she looked sad. Maybe she knew then, but knew the show must go on! After their return she was only on the show a few days. Also while they were in Dollywood, Debbie did the first few days and disappeared. Maybe to position herself for a takeover? Christina never had trouble keeping up!
Really!!!!!??? You haven’t been watching the same show I have. Cristina was just Real and natural. The Heart of the show! I’ll have no interest any watching anymore. Bad decision.
Sorry won’t be watching any longer. I tolerated Mark rude comments because I enjoyed Cristina. Now Debbie is just too phony.
Christina was a sweet gal yes, BUT she was JUST too inappropriate with Mark, for a married woman I always felt she was too affectionate and playful with Mark, I was beginning to wonder if Mark and her were having affair off air. I also felt she dominated the show too much, she sort of took over. It’s everybody’s show not just hers. Again she is a lovely lady, I just thought her relationship with Mark was more than it should have been. Flirting way too much. One can work together and be close, without all the flirtation, she actually… Read more »
I didn’t see Cristina as flirting, more of love for a friend.
I never noticed any inappropriate flirting going on with Mark. Don’t mix friendship with something more.
I never noticed any flirting at all going on with Mark! They seemed to be close. When she came on the show, the previous co-host, Paige Davis, had just left unexpectedly and Mark and his wife had just broken up too. I think Cristina bonded with Mark and tried to help him with his role as a single father. I always felt like she was a great support to him during that time.
You are mis-interpreting “flirting” for her sensitive spirit and close friendship to Mark. I have made the same mistake in the past of others and the same has been made of me at times. You can have a strong connection with people without it being sexual. She was the Heart of the show and that was part of it.
Soooo sorry to see Cristina fired. She was the best part of that show. Certainly not Debbie or Mark. Watch out to the other ladies on there over 50! Your time may be just around the corner. Bad move Hallmark. I certainly won’t watch it again until Cristina comes back.
I agree – I think it was an AGE thing.
I think Debbie moved in on Christina’a co-host spot. She hasn’t been able to keep her positions on any other show. She is annoying and fake.
I too am upset with Cristina being fired. She truly carried the show. I like Debbie as a small addition to the show not as a co-host.
Thank you
This is not good. I finally found a show that is not all about the young crowd and in one move you have ruined why we watch Home and Family. We will no longer be watching.
I can not say enough about how Cristina brightened our day. If we tuned in and she was not there we watched something else, now we will find something else to do for 2 hours every morning. I should probably thank you for that. I will miss this show.