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 will not watch home and family due to the change. Chritina is beautiful with more class than you evidently realize. Big mistake. She made the show. What can I say shocked by your move. Bring back Chirstina and I will watch.
I have turned the show on a few times since Debbie took over as Mark’s counterpart on the show but it just doesnt engage me like it did brfore so I no longer watch home & family. Debbie is nice but the show is lacking without Cristina.
As an fan of the original show a several years ago I can say one of my saddest TV days was when the Family Channel cancelled the show with Cristina and Mike Berger. Then years later it came back on Hallmark and they hired Cristina for it. I was so thrilled and faithfully watched every day until the day I found out why Cristina was no longer there. Being a huge Cristina fan that was the end of the Hallmark program’s relationship for me and I have never watched it again or any other Hallmark programs since, but have continued… Read more »
Well said and you echoed my exact same sentiment.
Yes! I used to watch the original show with Christina and Chuck Woolery back in 1996 when my son was a baby and I was home with him. Loved it back then. I was thrilled to find out that it was resurrected on Hallmark and now I am home with my 2 yr old daughter! Felt very de ja vu! Sad to see her off the show. I try to watch it now but I never was a fan of Debbie’s.
I don’t watch it anymore since Christina got fired!
I am still mystified Why home and family would fire Christina. I’ve tried several times to watch it since she has left the show and I have to say it’s not the same . I used to tape it every day so I wouldn’t miss anything ,not anymore. I maybe watch 20 minutes of it a week now if even that. Hallmark you made a mistake.
I don’t watch Hallmark’s Home and Family since Christina left. She added so much to the show dynamics and that is gone now. What a poor thought out decision by those in charge of this decision.
Once I learned that Christina was fired I stopped watching the show. It was my morning entertainment, but no longer. Management didn’t think about her followers when they gave her the ax.
I originally thought she was on vacation. Now I find out she has been replaced. I think mark should have been replaced instead. I think,sometime mark is,condescending.
I will never watch home and family again.
I used to LOVE Home & Family. I would watch every day on my lunch hour. Now that Cristina is gone, I don’t watch any more. I don’t think that Debbie does the show justice. They made a big mistake.
I always appreciated Hallmark and Home and Family as clean family programing. It has been my favorite show and network. Home and Family has lost so much since the Hallmark network fired Christina. She brought everything to the show. She was the backbone of the show. I miss her cooking segments, the flower arrangements, her gardens, using the produce and herbs in her cooking, her exuberance in helping with the DYI’s, demonstrating the love for the “Family” and everyone who came on the show, her faith and prayers (which were amazing), her excitement in the Christmas and other specials. She… Read more »
I was such a fan of Home and Family that if I couldn’t be home I was sure to record it. I absolutely loved Christina. I don’t mind Debbie but I am sorry, she will never have the grace elegance or dignity that Christina had. I know change is sometime difficult and the network has made their decision. So. I am thinking it is up to me to make a decision and it will be to no longer watch the show. Besides, if Christina was too old then I definitely am to old to watch. Shame on Hallmark for being… Read more »
Very well said! I don’t even watch anymore because Debbie grates on my nerves. There was absolutely no good reason to fire Christina.
I agree…it used to be a calming time for me to watch H&F..but now it leaves me somewhat agitated…to hectic and not as many guests..and continous different chefs..and silliness….I still tune in for a few minutes to see who is on…and if Debbie is on vacation i will watch..its usualluy a calmer,,,not as hectic show…Now I know Debbie has her own personality and it is great for her interviews with starts on her other show,,,but H&F was and still should be …but isnt a great day to start the day….
I enjoyed the show with Cristina. I quit watching hallmark all togetheri do not like debbue as a host. Markvwas supposedly Christina’s friend. Back stabbers
I do not understand why this change was needed. Christina and Mark made a great team and together they made the show seem like home and your Family. NOW it just feels like some one is missing.
Not watching anymore. I think it was an age thing. New girl is good, have nothing against her,however dont think she is any better than Cristina. We need more ladies like Cristina, KathyLee, Sharon Osbourn of that age bracket on TV. More baby boomers are around and have the time to watch your program.
I used to watch the old Home show when I was off work. I enjoyed the new Home and Family when I found it I loved Cristina on it! I could only watch when I was off work. Last year I was laid off, and am of the early retirement age, so decided to retire. Yay! I could watch H&F each day! I was waiting for Cristina to come back from vacation! I was beginning to worry if she or a family member were ill. Then I found out that Hallmark fired her ! Supposedly for being the wrong age!… Read more »