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?
To me, Cristina was the show! She was such a nice woman with so much class. I no longer watch the show. It just isn’t the same without her.
Not watched or plan to watch since Christina left the show.l
I really miss Cristina Ferrare, and the show isn’t what it used to be. I no longer watch it.
I see I’m not the only one who is upset with the changes. I think you should change the name of the show to just Mark and Friends
HaHaHa so true!!!!
Please keep Debbie out of the kitchen. She is the only cookbook author I have ever watched who can’t cook! It’s ridiculous, she looks foolish and Home and Family looks like an I Love Lucy episode. Christina was a chef, she could cook, explain a recipe to her audience. She made us hungry. To put Debbie in the role of Cristina is an insult to your audience.
I just DON’T GET IT! Isn’t anyone (Debbie, Woody, etc.) reading these? As I am replying, I see there have been 4,242 comments–with the exception of about 4, all are giving you (Woody, whoever is in control) excellent advice. Mark: I used to really like you. Your snarky (as Jean Q put it) comments to Kym are really sad and rude. PLEASE STOP!! I have concluded there is much more to what is being let out. Cristina was the best one you had going and you have absolutely ruined your show. Debbie just needs to go away. She acts so… Read more »
Patty Cavanaugh, you just told it like it is. Do they not realize by now that Debbie is not a host. What is the matter with these people? This was such a good show and now it is embarrassing. What a silly co-host. You would think she was 14 instead of a middle age woman in her 40’s. Make it stop. It did stop for me, I can’t tolerate it.
I totally agree with you Patty. How many comments does Woody have to read to see that Cristina should come back. I will not watch H&F anymore.
I am not happy that Christina has been replaced she was always so graceful and it is nice for us who are older to have someone who shares our views we do not need a young blond (this is the way all of the shows are and I don’t watch them)I will not be watching the show any longer as well as a lot of my friends. Hallmark made a big mistake because your viewing audience is mostly retired women or people who record the show, Nothing against Debbie but we want Christina back.
I no longer watch the show. Cristina was like a breath of fresh air and this was a bad replacement.
Too Bad for Hallmark! Cristina was the show! .Maybe, they should change the name of the show. ” Family” does not treat one another like that….
Certainly was not handled very well ..
Cristina has more class than Debbie. She was clearly a better co host to Mark than Debbie. Mark is goofy and needed Cristina to balance him. Bad choice. Debbie needs to be replaced with some else if there must be a change!
I miss Cristina on the show so I no longer watch it.
Cristina was the only reason I watched the show so I no longer watch. I never did care that much for Debbie anyway. I tried to watch a couple episodes, but did not find the show pleasurable any more. Things are too rowdy. It seems that Mark and Debbie are constantly trying to upstage each other. I think the changes are a big mistake.
Why does everyone keep saying Debbie is nice but I can only take her in small doses?? She obviously is NOT nice or her behavior would show her differently!! I cannot stomach her period. I only tolerated her even in small doses and never could figure out why they allowed her on the Show period!! Makes me wonder why n how she is on any show. Egotistical, loud, n Rude, are not allowed in my Home n Family atmosphere! So how many of you allow her types of behavior in your homes?? So who has she been with, or is… Read more »
Dido to what Carol said. I miss the other family members, but I can’t get past Debbie being in every segment and just taking it over. Can’t watch it and I can’t get over what they did to Cristina and Tanya.
I have watched Christine since she was cohost with Chuck And taped shows so I didn’t miss. I agree that Debbie try’s to upstage guests and interrupts too much. No longer dvd the show
Cristina was such a natural, warm, inviting, down to earth, not attention grabbing nor fake presence. She was a connection for us ‘every day’ non-Hollywood people. To replace her was insane – and cost Home & Family/Hallmark channel many viewers and most importantly, credibility. Debbie is nice and I can take her in SMALL doses but as co- host, NO! She overwhelms the segment and is constantly looking for the camera. I’ve tried to watch but just can’t enjoy it anymore. I record it, blow thru everything just to watch Ken, Paige, Orly, Sophie when their segment interests me. I… Read more »
I could over look Marks short comings and snarky comments to some of the other Female family members as long as Cristina was there. Now H&F has two sore thumbs as the hosts. I too don’t recommend H&F to anyone anymore. I wouldn’t watch it, so why would I ask any of my friends to?
I’m very disappointed in the Hallmark channel- I will not be watching in the future