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 am sadden that Cristina has been fired!!! She was great at her job and she is a lady of character. I do not see that in Debbie. I thought Hallmark was a conserative channel that had programs, especislly the wonderful movies that comes on the regular Hallmark channel for the fsmily. Lately there have been two different commercials on that are dark and totally for adults ONLY. This was very disappointing becsuse now I csn’t turn Hallmark on for my family without screening commercial time.
WHAT A SHAME!!!!!!!
Who ever made the decision to fire Christina will be fired down the road. Big mistake. I will not watch anymore. Younger does not mean better a**hole*s.
I had a certain feeling several months ago that she would be the new co-host. If I’d given it further thought, I would have reached out to Cristina at the very time that my gutt told me it would happen. Society has no use for seasoned citizens, especially women, no surprise to me!! I pray that Cristina will be rewarded with a new career move that will be a blessing to her, and she a blessing to that new position.
I feel like mom has been replaced with a younger stepmom. That, too, took a lot of years to accept.
I use to always watch Home & Family…now, maybe tune in once a week. I liked Mark & Christina, Debbie M. gets on my nerves…& now their trying to push Marks new wife in there…should of left the show alone. (Nothing oersonel about Marks new wife, but enough)
AMEN!!!!!
How can they even call theirselves Home and Family anymore. Families don’t bump out the Mom figure to cater to sensationalism. Younger don’t mean better. Grrrr. Cristina, Sorry that I spelled your name wrong in my previous comment. We miss you. Best wishes to you.
I am very saddened to see Christine go. I was scared that she was ill or worse. I also don’t watch the show anymore.I am tired of everyone being the typical Barbie doll. We the viewers want and need a connection, I connected with Christine, classy, wholesome and down to earth. Glad that she is ok, but angry that she was let go.
I like Christina I miss her on the show Home and family.. She fit the show . Now that you fired her. I won’t be watching it anymore
Have not watched the show since Christina left. Do not feel the show is the same or as good!
Im saddened by this. I really enjoyed her on the show and I feel she brought something different to the game. She is a very classy, strong lady who owns herself. Her replacement is just like all the others on various shows across the networks and brings nothing original of her own to the show.
Big mistake Home and Family. I rarely watch now.
This is terrible. I am sick and tired the television stations bringing in younger, dumber girls to work aside adult men! I am not sure who Hallmark thinks they are appealing to but I won’t watch it anymore, that’s for sure!
I hate that she is gone and I have watched home and family but it’s not the same since she has been gone. I watched it everyday now I watch occasionally
My mom and I will not be watching home and family anymore. We loved Christina!
Warmth and grace, as michele vicary exec vice president, decribed christene, is why i watched the show. I enjoyed it when i had time off from work. Christene and mark balanced each other out. What a shame.
This is Cristina Ferrare and I need to point out to Denise that I have NEVER had breast cancer so I don’t know where that is coming from. I certainly would not write that in my auto biography since it is not fact or the truth. Thank you.
CRISTINA I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE READING ALL THIS SUPPORT! YOU ARE THE BEST! I know you don’t wish the show ill-well but we (viewers) can’t help the way we feel! You could always see the love in your eyes for the show and that brought the audience in hook line and sinker. Made us feel a part of H&F. There is a distance now in the show. Now I’m a follower on Maria Shriver’s blog! So thank you for being an elegant TV personality which obviously so many women can connect
PS I’m defiantly a different Debbie