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’ve stopped watching the show.
I am so sorry that this happened. I don’t agree with their decision at all and find that Debbie, though she may be a wonderful person is just NOT the co-host they need. I have NOT watched the show since Cristina’s departure. I flipped the station one time and just didn’t see the spark with Debbie that Cristina has. Just mu opinion
Very poor decision and very poor way to exit a host! That’s the end for me. I stopped watching. Christina was a sharp, classy professional , obviously we can’t say the same for the Hallmark decision maker!
not interested in the replacement, will not watch the show.
Haven’t watched since I saw Christina was replaced. I love Debbie, but this switch was just not done right. They did Christina wrong, she deserved so much better.
I no longer watch the show since Cristina Ferrare was fired. I am very disappointed with you Hallmark!
I am very sorry that Christina has left the show. It isn’t as good without her. She brought a certain Class & a more mature presence to the show. Not everyone that watches the show are young women.
Christina has been a joy and uplifting in her enthusiasm for all aspects of the show. She is missed.
I have watched Home and Family since it first started airing on Hallmark. But after waiting for Christina to come back and then finding out she was replaced, I immediately stopped watching. Your decision wasn’t a very smart one to replace her. Christina hope to see you soon on another show, and maybe another network.
I will not be watching the show anymore.
I have stopped watching home and family a show I truly enjoyed each day. It was a change the network made and its common in this industry to just make changes without regard to the viewers. Best of Luck to Christina I will miss seeing you.
Will no longer watch Home and Family, as the heart of the show is gone.
Christina was the real reason I enjoyed it so much, and tuned in when I could.
I kept waiting for Christina to return not realizing that she was no longer on the show. I am deeply disappointed as I enjoyed her so much. As an older person, I could relate to her. I no longer enjoy the show and will not watch any more. If you replaced her for the sake of a younger host, shame on you!
Won’t be watching anymore…Christina WAS home and family. You had something very good and you ruined it…dumb, very dumb.
I am very disappointed that Christina was fired. Why fired? Couldn’t she participate doing something else? I think she wAs the anchor of the whole program. I will not be watching it anymore