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 miss Christina! Please bring her back! Her and Mark were like a brother and sister. Real family!
I think it was ageism. Christiania is older and was a breath of fresh air for the demographic that watch the show. Wimen who are more mature are always ousted for younger women.
Their age, not there!!!
I really liked Christina and am very sorry that she was fired. I do like Debbie, but would like to see Christina come back. ALL of them made a family!! You don’t just fire someone because of there age! That’s like putting your still functioning Grandma in a nursing home when you have 2 spare bedrooms!!!
Actually sad to see Christina go. And I thought I would get used to the whole idea of a fresh face on the show but today it was a complete wreck I never will watch again. Mark Steines was constantly trying to get in the same space as his co-host while holding his wife’s hand. He kept leaning over to Debbie as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Disgusting. Showed the least bit of concern for his beautiful wife!!!!!!!!
its to bad they fired christina, she was down to earth and pleasant. i’m sure it was an age thing, which is still so discriminating in the industry. hey we all age whether we like it or not. so get real.
I have been waiting to see the reason for Christina’s abrupt departure from Home and Family, and am so disappointed to learn of the duplicity of Hallmark Channel. The only reason I watched the program was due to Christina’s personality combined with Mark’s. Now that I know the reason, I too will be among the “used to watch” crowd.
I agree with a lot of the feedback. I miss Cristina on the show. Sorry, but Debbie doesn’t cut the mustard. She has to be the center of the show and needs to step back and listen. I will try to watch at times, but when Debbie does the “look at me”, I switch the channel.
I am very disappointed in the choice you have made for Home & Family. The show will never be the same without Cristina Ferrare. Bring her back.
Home and Family has made a huge mistake! Christina was the show. The show has a different feeling now and will not be watching it anymore.
Everyone had their place on the show. While Christina wasn t loud or overly dominating she shares had Chemistry with Mark. Not sure Debbie has that. The show lost something when Christina left. Not impressed at all at this point. Missing a vital part of the FAMILY…
I only watched it for Christina and Sophie.
Sophie is old OLD. Yes she dresses very young. But she doesn’t really add anything to the show. She’ll be on the ax list along with Kim. Mark will get it too.
I finally got a dvr and was happy to be able to record Home and Family, only to find out that Christina has been replaced with Debbie! Seriously, are you joking? Well, I won’t even be recording one show! Bad decision on your part Hallmark and it seems I’m not the only one!
Don’t care for the new anchor. Doesn’t hold my attention. Bring Christina back. I’ve already switched channels. This is a classic case of the decision maker being all book knowledge and no common sense. Smh
I was deeply saddened to see that Christina is off Home and Family. It was refreshing to have a co host who I could relate to since she is around my age. She modeled, acted and was very successful in her own right when she was younger and did a wonderful job on Home and Family giving it a true natural identity. What a loss! Networks need to realize there are more to audiences than people under the age of 50. We still have a lot to give this world.She made the show and built it’s ratings. I will no… Read more »