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 wish Hallmark Channel would have handled it differently and would have let us all say goodbye to Christina she was like a family member to all .. she just had that way of making everyine feel like family…and we will miss her…Christina we wish you the best ., you will always be apart of Home and Family in our hearts …love you!
very sad that Christina was let go she was a great asset to Hallmark home and family she’ll be greatly missed and yes I will stop watchingI thought it was great just the way it was
I will miss Cristina. She added a special touch to the show. Debbie will do a good job, but it just won’t be the same. Cristina has a sense of family and home life that only one who has experience can contribute to the show. If Hallmark let her go due to age, they’ve made a big mistake.
watched MAINLY because of Christina……….so sorry she will no longer be on.
Watched MAINLY because of Christina ….so sorry she’s not on any longer.
So bummed.Christina was the best.missing her.not the same.
tuned in yesterday and noticed christina wasnt there. The show was ok, actually, it was a lot of clips from other shows and i thought debbie m was filing in for Chris, so i googled Chris and found that she was fired. i am not an everyday viewer, but when I watch I enjoy how warm and friendly Chris is. i will not be watching any more because, I thought Christina was a very warm and sweet cohost and made the show FAMILY!!
I am so sorry Christina is gone…I will not watch the show any longer…I watched the show for years…and she was why…she was a class-act.
I’m going to watch now that Cristina is gone. I always found her annoying and fake.
I thought perhaps Christina was on summer break, then realized she hadn’t even been mentioned by anyone. What a disappointment that the network let her go. I think Debbie is nice, but really isn’t comparable to Christina. I don’t enjoy the show as much and probably won’t watch as much either.
I feel it was a big, big mistake. I do miss her.
I am not only shocked that this show fired Christna, but the way it was done. I loved the show because of her. For me it has nothing to do with age. She just brought warmth and wit to the show. I loved watching the show because of her.
So upset with the producers for this totally classless act.
I miss Christian. The show just isn’t the same. I will not be watching any more.
I really miss Christina Ferrara. She was a perfect co-host. She exuded her love of family and her fans. I hardly tune into the show any longer. The show is not the same without her. Whoever fired her should apologize and bring her back with a big raise.
We were without TV for over a month and when it was resumed, I was shocked to not see Christina as Co-Host. I agree with your readers….it is not the same. Christina’s aura of faith enhanced the program and that is missing. Hallmark has made a huge mistake. Debbie’s energy is wonderful, but doesn’t complement the host position. I’m no longer a faithful follower and don’t bother to DVD it anymore. God’s Blessings to Christina in whatever she ends up doing.
It would be nice to have Christina back I was sick and unable to watch for months but would rather watch Christina watched her years ago in the beginning of her talk show days she is boisterous and fun loving and is a lot like me everyone has a place and love her on family and home
I think that they made a mistake I enjoyed the show and watched every day but have not been watching it much now because I think that Christine brought a lot more to the show than Debbie.Lorrie
The show just isn’t the same without Cristina most likely won’t watch that much.sad especially with the holidays coming up.nothing personal against Debbie I like her also.