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 really enjoyed seeing Christina on Home and Family.. I felt that Christina and Mark were a team and together they made that show interesting and fun to watch. They seemed to have a wonderful friendship both on and off the show. I am missing her and I am sorry she is no longer on the show. I am also sorry that she isn’t their to celebrate Marks happiness.
I think they out to be ashamed for replacing Christina with that uneducated and off Ballance women (Debbie) show it’s not the same without our Christina, shame on y’all, screw that show anymore.
I got used to seeing her on the show. I have no desire to watch it anymore.
Have just realized Cristina was not on summer break very very disappointed thought she was excellent co – host bad move Hallmark.
She was very professional and extremely talented but also a lovely warm personality she was always worth watching Home and Family not the same will not be racing to tune in now
I will miss her and its not home anymore. She was the show. What a sad time.
Really miss her so much, I don’t watch it much anymore. She was like the glue of the show for me
Cristina has pizazz! I really took to her. I’m not really inspired to watch anymore.
Haven’t been watching it without her. She added that since of “real to the show- note it is like all the other Hollywood ‘we know what is best for you’ shows. Missed the boat making this choice.
The show will never be the same and has been a disappointment since Cristina left. I very seldom watch it now – liked Debbie in her previous position but do not like her as a co-host. She seems to be putting on and I don’t feel she’s very sincere. It seems to be an act. I was so disappointed in Mark. I too looked for Cristina at his wedding or some mention of her. Perhaps he was putting on too when expressing his feelings about Cristina. I thought Woody was a smart man but apparently he’s an idiot, a smart… Read more »
not watching, cristina made the show
Disappointed, Christina will be missed.
No Cristina Ferrare? No The Waltons? Goodbye HallMark channel. Goodbye forever. I have 100 channels to watch. Why do I have to watch a young woman, whose eyebrows scare me, replacing an experienced cook and talented woman such as Cristina? People of my age (50-60) watch TV shows like H&F more frequently than younger women. Why do you replace with a person that only talks about her baby and how to be skinny. We do not want to be skinny like her, we do not want to see skinny people on TV shows that talk about real life.
I have watched the Home & Family Show for many years, and have attended one of the shows years ago. I am very disappointed to learn that Christina will no longer be a co-host on the show. She was the main reason I watched. I probably will not go out of my way to watch anymore. Please bring Christina back!!
I am utterly disappointed with Hallmark channel. That was the last show I watched on this channel. Now goodbye forever, unless they bring back the Waltons and Cristina Ferrare.
Christine Ferrare was always a breath of fresh air everytime she appeared on the Home and Family show. I was so very disappointed and shocked to hear that Christine was no longer on the show. The powers to be surely made a wrong decision, in my estimation. Christine was one of the key members of the show, who truly exemplified our feeling of ‘coming home’ as she and Mark opened and closed each Home and Family episode.