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 don’t watch “Home & Family” very often but I’ve always admired Cristina and was happy to see her on the show. Don’t care for Debbie in this role. She doesn’t have any personable qualities as Cristina does. I can’t believe that Hallmark would make such a HUGE mistake like this. There must be more to this that no one is talking about. Replacing Cristina is just plain stupid and putting Debbie in her place is even more stupid.
Will miss her. Home and is a wonderful show. Will continue to watch
Christina should of never been fired – she made the show along with Mark. Shame on you.
I miss Cristina. She has such a nice way about her!
I love Home & Family, but what they have done is wrong! Christina IS Home & Family! She is warm and loving and natural.
The message Home & Family is conveying is only the younger people are Home & Family. How wrong you are! I am a fan of Christina first, then Home & Family. Bad, sad thing to do to someone as warm and real as Christina!
Also, why in the world is her name never mentioned on the show? She should be referred to all the time! But no, you guys act like she has the plague!!!
The chemistry that Christina had with Mark is not there
Thank you for the years Christina, you made it interesting and fun. I will be watching something else from now on.
Well I must sayi personally will no longer watch the show. Period!!
I used to watch Home & Family every day & if I missed a show, would watch on demand. I rarely watch it now.. Do not enjoy Debbie as co-host & miss Christina.- BIG MISTAKE. Handled poorly.
Please bring Christina back this other lady just doesn’t have the same repoire with Mark You’ve ruined the show
The show is not the same since Christine is not there. I did love watching the show but not anymore. Debbie is doing a ok job but will never be like Christine. Will not be watching the show much now.
So disappointed that Christine is gone from the show. I love her beauty and have come to admire her greatly. The new personage is irritating to me.
Here we go again! What a poor lesson to teach the younger generation…once you get a little older you no longer have value! Christina contributed not only a wonderful perspective, but added warmth and a family feeling to the show. I am so sick of the excuse ” we are going in a different direction…”. No offense Debbie, hope your are not dumped as you age.
I liked Christine very much, and is why I looked up why she was all of a sudden gone from the show. Now that I have found out, and have read other’s comments, I see why! How disappointing! Young kicks out More Mature (much wiser) AGAIN! Young isn’t always so great! Young lacks a certain warmth, comfort, wisdom, and grace of More Mature! Sorry you got rid of More Mature Christine-because you lost a lot of viewers, including me.
Its a sad state of events if You ask Me. Thank God Real Homes and Families don’t All kick the Mother out when she gets older and replace her with a spastic younger woman. I know she’s moved on and looks at this as a blessing in her own life however the rest if us are left bitter and NOT wanting to support a company that doesn’t value aging women. I don’t personally watch the show anymore as I can’t stand those 2 as hosts, Mark was already the most Annoyingly irritating person to watch but Christine made him bareable.… Read more »