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 was extremely disappointed to hear that she was let go and how it was done. I no longer watch the show. It is not the same. This was a massive mistake.
I really loved this show…I found it accidently a couple years ago and loved it…I think it was exceptionally bad taste to let her go that way….I understand changes get made young people move up…however…Debbie is no replacement for Christina …and she was hard to take while I thought Christina was on vacation…but after finding All this out…I too stopped watching show.
Totally agree!
Not the same without her. I am in my 60’s. She brought balance. So classy and heart warming. Miss her. Hallmark made a big mistake
I completely agree, very stunned to learn the status.
So sad about this. The Home &Family show used to be and feel like family. Now it’s just a show. Honestly I have tried to watch it since Christina was let go because I miss it so much. It just proved more disappointing than not watching it at all. I wish we could watch the old shows somewhere. It is sad to be homesick for the time when H&F had THE family. What a huge mistake…. Hallmark can you not see what you have done? Look at social media. …. the proof is in front of you. Your fans are… Read more »
I am no longer watching home and family. It is not nice what happened to Christina!! Age and experience matters!!!
I am really sorry Christina is no longer on the show it seems to be missing what she bought to the show. I still watch it, it’s just not not quite right and I really can’t see it like I did before it seems , my trust initial being a family can’t see it. I pray the best for Christina because she will be great at anulything else that comes along. With love.
I used to record the show but since it was announced Christina left I have cancelled recording. It doesn’t feel like home or family anymore. This new season may be their last. The tone and feeling of the show prior to Debbie (I like her as a segment host) just feels stilted and forced to me.
I am so disappointed with the Hallmark Channel. I thought they were different than the rest of the age-discriminating media. This is a huge mistake and they will lose a large segment of their audience. Debbie is not co-host material and there is no chemistry between Debbie and Mark. This show is not the same now. Christina was genuine and she made the show feel like a family. Debbie is a show-off and wants all of the attention for herself. I will no longer be watching the show. I also have been a long-time customer of Hallmark cards, etc —… Read more »
So very sorry to see Cristina gone from show! Can’t watch as often as before, but I really miss her. She and Mark made a good team. Debbie is Ok, but it’s not as natural as the way it was with Cristina. Loved her cooking times on show. So disappointing.
No, I’m not sorry. I’M MAD AS HELL! And I haven’t watched the show since.
I totally get it, Cathy! I go between feeling mad, sad, and disappointed because we all lost a very special show. Out of respect for Cristina and the disgusting ageism Hallmark displayed, I haven’t watched Home and Family since Mark so weirdly announced Debbie as the new cohost but I still miss it!
I believe this was in bad taste. The show is called home and family, and to have Cristina leave the show without an explanation was bad form. She was family and everytime I watched the show she made me feel like part of their family. You should’ve given her a celebration, and a good fairwell instead of her suddenly disappearing and leaving the audience in suspense. I don’t want to put Debbie down, however Cristina’s sudden exit leaves a bad taste in viewers mouths. Debbie will never get the acceptance until Cristina gets a decent farewell. It might help Debbie… Read more »
EXACTLY! The viewers should have an explanation and Cristina should have had a proper farewell! Bet the show won’t get a Season 6! Only thing good now is Kym Douglas and Hollywoid Steals!!!!
I am sorry to see Christina has been replaced. Christina is real, natural and honest. I won’t be watching the show. I wish all the best for Christina!
I thought Christina and Mark were great. I loved the show with Christina. I find it a bit boring without her.
I’m sure Debbie is very nice and she did great before taking hostess job, but I liked Cristina she fit into the show and her age has nothing to do with it in my opinion. Debbie is too forward, laughs way too much , she seems almost working too hard to make it work. I don’t watch the show as much as I used to for that reason, sorry Debbie but you were great at Lifestyles but not sure about the hostess, needs Cristina back or someone with a smoother disposition. I don’t think she works well with Mark either,… Read more »
I use to enjoy Home and Family, the new co-host is not a good choice, she comes across to fake, always looking at the camera when she laughs like she’s looking for approval for what she’s doing. Christina came across down to earth and very charismatic, a rare quality, not everyone has it.