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?
After 2 months of not hearing anything said on the show about where’s Cristina, I sought out info on HomeAndFamilyTV.com — and still no information. Then I found this site. I’m devastated about Cristina having been fired. Where’s this whole “family” atmosphere the cast keep talking about? Now we know; it’s all an act! Debbie seems like an okay person but she’s no “Mom” of the show’s cast like Cristina! She’s another skinny, long-haired blonde. Southern California is apparently full of them. …boring!
You said it better than I could! 5y6
I looked forward to Home and Family every morning. Christina was a class act. She made the show. So warm and genuine and a natural beauty. The way she was treated was despicable. Hallmark should be ashamed of themselves for how they treated her. Tried to watch with Debbie…terrible!!! She doesn’t have half the class Christina has. Never watching again.
Yes, she is missed, now we have another FAKE HAIR HOST. By the way THE WORD IS——- FOR(4) not furr. ferr, fur, ie. a fur fur me.
I was a fairly new viewer to your show and one of the reasons I watched is because Christine is someone in my age group. Everything on television keeps going after the 30 yr olds who do not even watch television most of their day
I am disappointed she will no longer be on the show as I feel she added elegance to the show. Debbie is okay but she is in a different place, I feel the show is going after a younger audience and therefore may not continue to watch
Good luck
Have watched Home and Family for several shows and Debbie just cannot replace Christina as host therefore my days have changed because they no longer begin with Home and Family. No longer a fan of the once excellent staffed program. What are you thinking? Hallmark, should not have ruined something that was working for them. Good-bye
I was so sad to see Christina leave. I too was concerned she was ill. I will miss her. I enjoy Home Family so much… I think she deserves her own show….YES!
I can’t believe the way the show handled the switch of co-host. Christina deserved better than that…Christina made the show! I always felt like she carried Mark. At times he is awkward and doesn’t seem to know what to say and Christina always jumped in and saved him. The show and other cast members should be ashamed of themselves for the way they treated her and acted as if it didn’t matter at all that she was gone. She should have been allowed to say goodbye on the show, and as much as everyone loved her she should have been… Read more »
I have watched Cristina since the original Home Show with Michael, Home & Family is not the same without her,I continue to record the show and fastforward the parts I am not interested in. Best to you Cristina
I really miss Cristina Ferrara on the show!!!! She brought the family closeness that I so enjoyed watching & ‘feeling’ on the Hallmark Channel. It isn’t the same. I miss her very much. Seldom watch anymore just bc she’s not there. :'(
Christina is the show! I was so excited that the show was coming back and with Christina! It’s just too sad without her. I am so happy for Mark! It’s beautiful to see the joy and happiness return to his life that shows in his smiles. Mark, you are an awesome Dad!
Finally found out what happened to Cristina! So disappointed in Hallmark and how they just disposed of her without any word. Disrespectful to her and her time on show and fan following that she has. I will not watch the show any longer…so sad but hope Cristina comes back with her own talk show or co-host on another show again. Loved her, she made the show.
I just found out about Christina being fired today. What a disappointing surprise! What is more disappointing is her replacementt!! Debbie’s personality is a world apart from Chrsitina’s personality. I really cannot watch the show any longer. It is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Love and Bessings to Christina and her “real family”.
I have really been having trouble adjusting to the change. I do not have any problems with the remaining cast, but I miss Christina very much. She made the set seem like home–warm and gracious. I looked forward to my time with the “family.” Now I still watch but channel surf because I just don’t feel that connected anymore.
So sorry Cristina is not on the show. I missed her for weeks but thought she was on vacation. Then as time went on I knew something was wrong. They change the picture logo of Cristina and Mark to Debbie and Mark so I knew then she wasn’t coming back. I’m so glad to find out Cristina wasn’t sick and ok. I haven’t watched a full show since Cristina has been gone, just a little on and off. I just can’t get into the show now without Cristina on home and family. I never cared for Debbie on the show… Read more »
I am sorry but never liked Debbie if it is not broke do not fix it. I will not watch Home and Family now as i Loved Christina.