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 unable to watch H&F since this happened have tried but is just not the same.
It’s a shame that there are so little shows that help those of us over 50. I was watching but now it’s disappointing. The tips are not for me. There are so many things to be said for women/men over 50 and also younger people on the same show. I miss Christina for sure. She brightened my day.
I only watched the show because I like Christina. I liked her cooking segments and whatever else she added to the show. I will no longer watch it.
No I stopped watching.
Cristina was fired and replaced because of her age. She was the heart of Home and Family. She was “real.” She exhibited grace and quiet compassion. I don’t watch anymore. They lied to us viewers for weeks when they knew she wasn’t coming back. Now, it is forced and fake, not a good vibe like it had before when Cristina was there. Extremely poor decision by TPTB. You reap what you sow, Hallmark.
One wonders if Hallmark/Woody realize that women over the age of 50 are still the fastest growing demographic in Notth America, and that women make 90% of all buying decisions for their families? Not only have I stopped watching – I am LOVING Cristina and Maria Shriver – but I have stopped buying Hallmark products and I refuse to watch any of their programming. As for Mark Steines, Debbie Matenopoulous, et. al., you all should have quit. How is this discrimination different tgan any other? This went beyond a talent change, they fired an accomplished woman because of her age… Read more »
Great comments – totally agree!
I am still watching the show, but I’m not sure I will continue. I like Debbie M, but miss Christina very much. The show has a much “younger” feel to it, and that’s not what I want. I am 55 years old and I really appreciated Christina’s serene calmness. I get frustrated with all of the overlapping chatter now. It just seems like everyone is trying to take center stage. What a shame. It use to be one of my favorite shows. I’m also VERY disappointed that a show centered around “family”, chose to get rid of the matriarch in… Read more »
My motto has always been it if isn’t broke don’t fix it. Cristina was a great co host, seemed always eager to learn more and to share her knowledge. I was very disappointed to learn that she was “Let Go” due to her age. I heard that from another source, I never saw that in any of her facebook post. I think she has done very well with that situation, she continues to have her quiet times and is a firm believer in God. This has been a blessing to me to read her post of her downs, then ups,… Read more »
Let’s face it Debbie is over 40 and middle aged. Sure she is a little younger than Christina but she is not young. I look forward to hallmark replacing her with a non Greek who can cook and last a show with out bursting into tears or pawing her co host. Let talk about him that crying interview and engagement video are embarrassing for a fifty plus man marring his new younger wife. He also acts like he raises sons without an ex wife who does appear to have custody. Him and Debbie are very needy souls where Christina had… Read more »
Mark has custody of his kids. His ex left to pursue her career and has only recently come back in the picture.
The Worse decision hallmark could have ever made
Christina was the only reason I would tune into this otherwise overlooked channel !! I’m disappointed they way they handled this situation and having Debbie as the new host is truly insulting!! Will never watch again !! Hope Christina gets her own show so that all her followers can tune in daily to see her and all the wonderful things she brings to the veiwers each and ever day !!! Shame on you hallmark channel
Cristina is the reason I watched Home and Family, no, I don’t watch anymore.
I do not watch because I am disturbed by injustice, bring back Cristina and fire the dope that fired her
Real families don’t oust other family members.
The warmth reads as fake now.
Won’t be watching anymore.
I really miss Christina!
I miss Christina, she made the show, the warmth and welcoming persona that she exhibits can’t be replaced. She is genuinely caring and sweet and the decision to remove and replace her was a definite “eat crow” one. Hallmark needs to rectify this. I have tried to watch the show, and have literally stopped. I never missed an episode before. Very sad…..
I NO longer watch. I ONLY watched because of Christina. I like Debbie, BUT NOT as a co host AND NOT the way you treated Christina. We watched years ago when Christina was on the first run and was excited to see her back “Home”. Will NO longer watch or support by the way you treated her. Just remember…what goes around comes back around! Unacceptable the way you treated her…and her so called co workers should have walked away when all this was brewing behind her back! God doesn’t like “ugly!!”
Karma…Mary wait for the Karma always comes back and bites in the bottom…