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 no longer watch Home and Family. Debbie seems fake. Christina was comforting and more what you would expect as a host of a family show. Mark is ok, but Christina was the reason I watched the show. I think your target audience, stay at home moms, could relate much easier to Christina’s personality. VERY poor decision Halmark!
We tried for weeks now to watch the show with Debbie as co-host & find that she is to strong for the show & very boisterous. It’s sad that you took Cristina off, she was a great asset to the show, she & Mark complimented each other very well. Debbie seems to want the show to be her own with her overbearing attitude at times….. she seems to be more childlike than grown-up.
I am deeply sorry to hear the sad news of Cristina leaving the show. This show will never be the same successful with out Cristina she was the reason I watch this show . We will miss her and I speak for millions .
debbie pushes her self in every show to take over the number one spot
Debbie is very annoying and seems to try to over emote all emotions, thus coming across as very phony! Christina was real! Debbie seems to think that she is “all that” and she certainly is not to many of us! She seems to be brash and full of herself and staying at home with her beautiful little girl might be s good move for her. Debbie out and Christina back! Hallmark and Woody– What were you thinking????? V
I think what they did was awful it is age discrimination. When NBC took off Jay Leno that first time out of nowhere they (NBC) had the guts to admit they made a mistake and brought Jay back and Hallmark should do the same. I will not watch anymore until they bring back Christina.
Christina was the reason I watched the show. Debbie is annoying and seems phoney! No longer watching as the show has now lost its warmth and fun! Remember Debbie was fired from her job on The View!
Sorry to find out Christina has been replaced. She made the show. Do not care for Debbie as co-host. Home and Family will not be the same.
I really watched the show because of Cristina…because i was a fan of the last Home and Family show…so i am disappointed she is gone…while i will watch the movies..i do not watch Home and Family anymore. I know she will be Fabulous in anything she does!!
With a name like “Home and Family” I did not expect the network execs to throw a grandma off the bus. Looks like a clear case of age discrimination from here. Not only will I no longer watch the show, I will not be watching any Hallmark channel programming; their ethics seems to be lacking.
I cannot believe that a show called “Home and Family” just fired a co-host without any closure or explanation. Is this how a Family that profresses to love one another acts? I don’t think so. I was so disappointed with Hallmark and Home and Family for the way the situation was handled.
was shocked to see Christina not on the program anymore. I have decided not to watch Home and Family anymore. In addition I thought her leaving was handled very poorly. No announcement for weeks and no goodbye party to someone who had contributed so much to your network.
I like the new hostess she is young n modern and full of energy. Everyone need to give her a chance. Unfortunately when women get older they get replaced on TV or movies its just the way it is. I will miss Cristina but maybe its time for her to move on to new and better things ahead of her. I still will watch show and I enjoy it.
My husband and I used to enjoy the show. Without Christina the show isn’t worth watching. I like Debbie but not as co host. Don’t like content and segments any longer. The heart has gone out of the home without Christina.
I tuned in and was hopeful to see Cristina at Mark and Julie’s wedding celebration and perhaps an apology and invitation back from Woody (I recall Mark saying Cristina would be back on some segments–or did I dream that)?……after all this time and with the closeness of Cristina and Mark, you would think she would have been there. I didn’t see her–did anyone else?
Cristina has stated when asked that she was not invited.
I was looking for her, too, but didn’t see her at his wedding. I thought they were very close. I wonder if there is more to this story than we’ve heard. I like Debbie but I think Cristine made the show.
I only watched last year and today because Norbert and his wonderful mom were on. I have to admit I like her new hubby and pray he keeps all the BS away from her!! I did like Cristina the couple of times I watched the show. You fired this lovely, elegant lady to replace her with a brash ex-View personality????” Cristina appealed to those of us who do not work outside the home and/or are older. What the crap is wrong with Hallmark??????