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?
Really, really stupid idea to fire Christina. She is miles ahead of Debbie in every way. That homey feeling that has been a part of the show for all theses years just lost half of it’s umph!!! Dumb, really dumb!!
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I use to love this show, but not anymore. I think that replacing Cristina by Debbie is a big mistake.
So, good bye Home and Family. I have better things to do with my time.
I wish all the best for Cristina.
Cristina was a terrific host. Sincere, wholesome, real…thoroughly entertaining. Her being fired is a tremmedous loss. I will not be such. An avid watcher now. Cristina was fun. And lively….but at the same time gave maturity to the program that is now missing.
Guess bproducers wanted to appeal to a less mature. Audie nice .
Hugh loss for H F
1. Cristina is on vacation. REALLY??? This was possibly the worst way to handle a change that I have ever seen. Home and Family basically LIED to the viewers. Where are the values that the network promotes? It seems that it is only for show. They are as sexist and age discriminatory as everyone else, as well as deceitful. 2. “The door is open.” What kind of a comment was that, made by Mark??? Why would Cristina want to ever come back for a cooking segment or ANYTHING when she was treated so badly, and fired for absolutely NO reason?… Read more »
My sentiments EXACTLY! You truly expressed my feelings perfectly! It is a shame Cristina was let go in such an unprofessional manner! She was the best most relatable person on the show! I am truly appalled at the manner in which her dismissal was handled!!I am also a” baby boomer” and enjoyed this show ( in large part to Cristina’s wit and warmth) very much. I now feel I cannot in good conscience support your program!
I am very disappointed in the decision to replace Cristina. I am a new viewer and fell in love with the show because of Cristina and mark they are perfect together. She is so knowledgeable about crafts and cooking. I just loved watching her. I haven’t enjoy watching Debbie she doesn’t even know how to do crafts. Cristina will be greatly missed. I will never watch the show again. The network was wrong in replacing her shame on you.
I will not continue to watch. Cristina was rhe shoe, her style, pizazz, her sense of humor will be missed.
Why in the world replace such a classy woman…so genuine and warm. I loved her cooking segments…Maybe a cooking show is next for Cristina. I am just not into hyper Barbie Doll hosts and am very disappointed with their decision.
I don’t know what Hallmark was thinking letting Christina go the way they did. I have watched the show ever since it came back on and really enjoyed it. Mark & Christina were great together I really enjoyed the different people who have been on over the last four years. Like some other viewers I’ve noticed changes in the last few months like too many commercials, segments that seemed rushed through but still Mark & Christina held it together. For the announcement to be made as casually as it was and then just move on was rediculous. If they don’t… Read more »
I hate to hear that Christina is no longer on Home and Family. She was the reason I watched. She and Mark had great chemistry. I will no longer watch the show.
No, I will no longer be watching the show in fact I have taken it off record. She’s the only reason I watched the show. She’s very magnetic even if she doesn’t talk. Too bad love her. Maybe Oprah will hook her up with her own show. What a waste if she isn’t in front of a camera. There arnd’t too many people on this planet that have that intangible special something. The new host just doesn’t have it.
I watched Christina in the original Home and Family; loved her then, love her more today. Of course I will still watch the show because it is an excellent show that still motivates this mother of 5 and grandmother of 14 to try new things, be it crafting, new recipe, etc. BUT Christina was the heart and soul of this program. As a secretary at a few companies, I observed that “the powers that be” can make very dumb decisions. This one is a doozy. How foolish. I know it was the network bosses. I hope, and don’t think Woody… Read more »
Be the last time I watch the show!
I am very disappointed in the Hallmark Channel for letting Christina go. She made the show. She and Mark had great chemistry. I will never watch this show again.
I really needed to express my feelings about Cristina! She was the original hostess on Home and Family in the late 90’s and then in 2012 Woody Frazer , the creator of H&F,decided to bring it back on Hallmark. He brought back Mark Steine and a young lady to co-host. I guess the chemistry didn’t work I do not know! I know Woody went to Crustina and asked her to come back and that he needed her. She came back and when she came back the ratings Soared and they were nominated for a Daytine Emmy! It was a hit… Read more »
Done!!! My daily recorder is shut off. I have always fast forwarded Debbie. She’s loud and annoying and if I want to see that, I can switch to any other channel. Shame on you HaF!! Christina made the show.