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 personally feel like you have taken the Mother of the show off.. I have nothing bad to say about Debbie, she is just not the right co-host for a family show. . What happen to being a family show. I have no ideal what happen but I just don’t like the show anymore
I am so sad to learn Cristina is no longer with the show. I haven’t watched all summer do to the kids being in summer break. So I just recently started watching again. I thought maybe she was on Vacation but when she didn’t come back I googled to find out what was going on. To bad really. She made the show so warm. I like Debbie but I like the role she had. I don’t think she fits being host as well as Cristina. I now find myself flipping around instead of leaving it on that station.
Will no longer watch home and family as I watched the original show years ago and thought she did a great job!
I will not continue to watch. Christine is the reason I did watch.
This to me is just another example of age discrimination. Look at every show on HGTV, DIY, FOOD NETWORK, etc. Every program director believes you have to go for the young and “sexy” demographic. Anyone over thirty is a throw-away. Talent and class mean nothing. Such a truly sad statement to the youth of America. “IF YOU AREN’T YOUNG, SLIM (ANEREXIC) AND TATTOOED” YOU AREN’T WORTH HIRING!”
I am not sure why the network changed the host. My husband who doesn’t really comment on these types of programing, but watch them with me, asked where Christina Ferrare was and did they replace her. He also feels she made the show. So in a nut shell, we miss Christina. We are now watching other programming shows… flipping back and forth to see if there is something we want to see. This is the first time I have ever looked up to see if a host was out do to illness or vacation to decide if I wanted to… Read more »
I do not watch daily because it is such a long show. I was surprised when I saw a new host and finally searched for the reason. Although I think Debbie is very nice and a lot of energy, I am very disappointed Hallmark would pull the rug out from under a host from a successful show – especially calling it a “Family” show. I hope the show does well because so many lives are tied into the show but I still feel disappointed, and a little angry, Christina was let go.
If you want to see Cristina she is doing a Facebook spot with Maria Shriver these days. I admire Cristina very much and am glad she is helping Maria shine light on Alzheimers. Good Luck to her in this new passion. I was rewatching the June 23rd show this morning where they announced Debbie as the new host. Mark said Cristina was welcome back anytime to come and cook. It seems so horribly fake now. But in defense of Debbie, she would have been foolish not to accept the host position and perhaps her frenetic energy will dissipate given enough… Read more »
I just found out that Christina wasn’t coming back to the show. Her and Mark made a great pair. I no longer want to watch the show without my beautiful Christina. She made the show so warm and welcoming I will not be watching this show any more. Bad decision on the networks part. Shame on you!
i loved Christina won’t be watching anymore. Do not like Debbie, stuck on herself. She stares at the camera to make sure it is on her, too fake. Sorry you just lost an audience everyday.
Never commented before. Knew this would happen. Always does. The best hostess was too old. New one doesn’t appeal to over 50’s. Done with H and F.
I am trying really hard to like Debbie…It is not happening. She tends to be over the top with her animation and a sore loser with the games. I adored the connection that Mark had with Christina, it was natural. I had no idea that she was fired due to her age? Debbie WE know that you are Greek..If you mention one more time about the juice of 2 lemons I am going to scream. Kymmie should also not make it public that she is friends with the Kardashions Really? Sex tape that was the family claim to fame plus… Read more »
Sad that they sent her away….and NO I will no longer watch..
Don’t care for soooooo much Debbie–even before the switch. Don’t watch regularly like I used to when Christina was on the show. Apparently, the “family” atmosphere they promote so much is an act. Waited a while to make a judgment, but very disturbed by the evidence that their most popular host has been scrubbed out of highlights/clips of past shows, etc. Even no sign of Christina at Mark’s wedding. Don’t know what went on either between the “actors” or the show execs, but very badly done, guys.
I was an everyday Home and Family viewer. Now, for the most part, I seem to have lost interest. It surprises me. I still record it everyday, but my decision to watch the show is determined now by the information blip–what is happening and who is on that day. I never thought I was attached to Christina. But, I do know that when she was absent I was always glad when she was back. I felt the same way about Mark. Both of them together made it all work. Together they were the stabilizing constant for the show. For the… Read more »
As soon as Christina did not return from “vacation” after 3 weeks I was suspicious. When Mark made the “off hand” announcement she was not returning I removed Home and Family from my list of series I record. Debbie is a flit and I, for one, appreciated the maturity, beauty and personality of Christina. I have not watched since.
Don’t like Debbie. She interrupts Mark. Too full of herself. Loud. Christina was far better. Hallmark treated Christina badly. I expected more from Hallmark.
Get new actors for Hallmark movies. I feel like I am watching incest.