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 watched the show because of Christina. She was someone we are home during the day could relate. There are so many daytime shows that wind up with goofy, opinionated, political garbage and thus was such a refreshing show. Check the schedule and you will find there is not much out there for those of us who want good entertainment. Even the cooking channels have gone wierd. No Christina…….not watching ………..Debbie is just another one of the same old thing on daytime tv.
I am dismayed to say the least..I so enjoyed her personality. I realize being incredibly beautifull can be a deterant for the insecure . i will be missing her lots and wish her all of Gods ‘blessings
I loved Cristina, and I won’t be watching the show, now. She was always so warm and sincere on the show, and had a special way of connecting with the viewers. I really appreciated having a beautiful, talented, and experienced woman on the show with whom I could relate.
Christine WAS the show. Mark seems self absorbed and Christine has always balanced that out with her realness. Nothing against Debbie but there is no comparison. The show will not last. I will no longer be watching and I looked forward to the show each day. She deserved better.
I’ve been wondering where Christine was. The show will never be the same without her. You need to bring her back! She is the foundation of this show. So much love from her on the show. You blew it with this one! Your loss and my loss.
Still no reason why she left, don’t always watch this show but when she has not been on I have turned it off.
The show is NOT the same without Cristina .. Debbie does not come across on the screen as well, and I saw a bond between Cristina and Mark that is not there with Debbie and Mark ..
Debbie is fidgety and too hyper .. Quite frankly, she gets on my nerves .. Cristina projected a part of herself that gave the feeling of “Home and Family”..
There is a family member MISSING ..
I will no longer watch this show ..
Bad business, Hallmark!
I agree Debbie has always got on my nerves when her segment came up i would simply turn her off. I miss Christina.
I will no longer watch Home and Family without Christina. The show went from a well known host to a person nobody knows. Christina is warm and inviting. This knew girl is cold and kinda ditzzee. Bring her back.
I used to tape all shows so I wouldn’t miss a single show. Now that CF is no longer hosting the show, I am no longer interested in taping or watching the show. They made a big mistake and I believe the ratings will fall!!!
I am so sorry the Christine was replaced. She made the show with her wit, her sincere Christian sharing and I feel that this is one of the reasons she was replaced also her age. The show isn’t the same and I won’t watch it as much or at all. Shame on whoever made this decision.
I have to say Debbie is a horrible replacement for Christina, she has Such a fake personality, seems all perky but just for show you can tell she is not sincere.
I have loved the show for years, because of Christina she was the show! I will no longer tune in. I hope the hallmark channel realizes what a huge mistake they have made and begs Christina to come back and she turns them down and the show fails completely.
Love you Christina!
I thought home and family especially with mark was dorky until I watched it and fell in love with Christine Ferrere and watched it the last 3 years. Then I turn it on with that annoying new chick and thought she was filling in for Christine and realized it’s been over a month somethings going on and now I see the channel has fired her to be replaced with this annoying women ??? I’m done not watching the Hallmark dorky channel anymore .
So not happy!Could this be age discrimination,or just Cristina not go along with some party(network) foolishness?She is a class act!No longer watching.
Missing Cristina and the balance of young and not as young and the feeling of a real family, all being there for one another…..H & F had it right and had the love and respect of the viewers. Now that feeling is gone….along with many of our favorites…missing the family!!!!
Cristina was sunshine in the morning. She was the show! I miss her so much. I always looked forward to watching her on my days off and recorded H&F when I was working. Debbie was awful before and worse now.. She was supposed to be Cristina’s friend. Debbie is a 2 faced snake along with the executives at Hallmark. No longer watch any Hallmark programs.