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 enjoyed watching Christina more than anyone on the show. She had poise and class that surpassed all others. I will no longer wTch Home and Fanily.
I think mark had a lot to do with it. I think he’s fake and boring…
I miss my weekday mornings when Cristina invited me to spend time with her and her TV Home and Family. She was always welcoming, charming, friendly, well-spoken, confident, engaging and genuine… all the qualities of the perfect hostess, Then Hallmark underhandedly “eliminated” her and “promoted” Debbie to take over. Well, Debbie is definitely promoting HERSELF! She is over-assertive, overbearing, overweening, loud-mouthed and brash. She is not connecting with viewers and is being disrespectful of guests by constantly interrupting with inane comments and shouting over everyone. She is not a team player like Cristina was. Debbie, It’s NOT about you! I… Read more »
I’m very upset that Christina is no longer on the show. Her and Mark together made the show. I didn’t care for Debbie when she just had a part in the show and I definitely don’t think see is co-host material she try’s to be funny but she’s not. I will not be watching the show anymore that’s for sure. I use to tape the show so I could watch it but not anymore cause without Christina the show stinks. I use to tell other people to watch it because it was so good but without Christina I won’t be… Read more »
Agree Nanette, Debbie tries too hard, Cristina was her sweet self on the show, nothing fake, just genuinely herself….
Forever the consummate lady, Christina CANNOT be replaced ESPECIALLY by Debbie. It was apparent to me long ago that Debbie’s supreme self awareness would demand she be “The Star” rather than playing “second fiddle” to ANYONE. A woman can spot a back-stabber from afar and Debbie has refined this “attribute”????? to a fine science. What a loser she is but nothing will ever convince her of this. You will NEVER reach the refined, lovely, kind, beautiful woman known as Christina Farare. There are millions of women of your ilk, Debbie, BUT ONLY ONE CHRISTINA FARARE. BAAAD move, Hallmark Channel –… Read more »
WOW!!!!! I To thought that Christina was on vacation. Although I enjoy watching most of the segments, I usually watched most all of the segments because of Christina. I have been a faithful viewer up until now. I am sure Debbie is a nice person, but she’s not the right person to Co-host this particular show. She is to loud, and really to bubbly. I thought she might some day get her own show, but I thought she was a friend of Christina’s . How could she do something like this to a friend? “I loved that Christina was not… Read more »
Terribly disappointed as it WAS my favorite show with Christina Ferrar was as co-host. I don’t like how this was handled, at all. This was suppose to be a FAMILY show and she was the mother of that show. To just dump here was so wrong on so many planes. Hallmark, you lost a loyal viewer.
I’m very disappointed that producers felt Christa needed to be replaced. She contributed so much to the show with all the cast. Since I haven’t been able to watch the show for awhile and discovered she was gone. Probably won’t ever watch show when I home to do so.
I thought that Cristina was just on vacation, but when I saw the picture of Mark and Debbie on my DVR saved shows I realized that Christina was off. Then I was so worried that she was ill. I loved the relationship and spark that Cristina and Mark had. I loved Cristina’s take on things. I like Mark too, but it was her genuine personality that had me watching as much as I could. I don’t see that with Debbie. I guess what really got me was a few months ago both Mark and Cristina said how much they and… Read more »
Cecilia’s comment about a horny old woman making passes at Mark is so inappropriate and definitely ‘NAME CALLING’ ! Christina is such a classy woman that has never shown anything but wholesome welcoming credibility. The comment should be removed !
No I will not be promoting a show who tells a beautiful and talented 60 ish woman she is to old.
Very sad and unprofessional decision for Hallmark. No longer will be using their brand as well.
I am very disappointed the way Cristina was let go. Like so many other viewers I feel that she was the glue that held the format together. There is no other talk show on today that is fun & informative without the politic & opinions. I absolutely LOVE the original movies & series and will most likely tune in for those but Home & Family is no longer on my radar. Too bad TPTB did not have the good sense to phase her out for the sake of the viewers…judging by the vast majority of comments the person that made… Read more »
I am sorry to see Christina gone from the show ! i enjoyed her very much. Christina and Mark made my morning !i do not watch the show much anymore and will not since she’s gone. i always thought that Debbie would have liked the limelight of being the top dog. she can’t out do you Christina? U and Mark made the show. you will be missed by a lot of us.
I am really disgusted with home and family for removing Christina Ferrari. BIG MISTAKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am no longer watching home and family because of this choice that they made. Bring Christina back or I hope you guys go broke. There was something about Christina. She has what it takes to be a host on a show like that . And as you can see from everybody else’s responses we all feel the same Christina is the right choice not Debbie. So come on home and family do the right thing and bring Christina back so come on home and… Read more »
I don’t think she will come back now, anyway. I certainly wouldn’t after being treated that way. It must have big some young executive who made such a stupid decision to let her go. I hate the show as much now as I loved it before whenCristina was on it. I now read or find something else to watch. I love Cristina even more for taking the high road. She will move on & be even greater than before. Society doesn’t appear to value age nor do some shows on tv. That’s ok. Us seniors are smart and we can… Read more »
I turned the show on today and had an idle curiosity why Christina has been gone so long. I realize in show business things don’t always stay the same but they better reformat the show fast. Without Christina the host chemistry is missing. Although Debbie has played a great role on the show perhaps a fresh face is what is needed.
Christina’s presence will be missed. I would love to see a renegotiation to bring her back. This appears to have truly affected viewers. Good luck to the show as I don’t find it as interesting anymore.