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?
Not happy!! Big mistake to mess with what was working. I’m also sad that Cristina didn’t get her due justice in at least saying goodbye to us. We were and are a part of her family too! We had a right to know.
I miss the warmth that Christina gave to the show. She has always been loyal to Hallmark but Hallmark was not loyal to her. Not everyone who watches is 20 years old. Sometimes a wiser head is good for the show! Letting her go was a big mistake. The show will never be the same without her.
Cristina was the heart of the show. You could feel her caring and love. You really felt like family. Mark is great, he felt like family too. Debbie is OK for certain segments but not as cohost. I thought Cristina was ill or on vacation. Now that I know she is not coming back, I won’t be watching. Brooke Burke cohosted with Debbie today, she was okay but she couldn’t replace Cristina either but may be okay for a segment or two. I’m surprised Hallmark let her go. I am very,very disappointed in them.
Come on Hallmark!! You’re proving yourself to be incompetent of living up to the past reputation of consistent reliable programming. You took Cedar Cove off the air in the middle of a cliff-hanger! Now you change your mind on a whim to fire Christina! I actually found myself not watching home and family after Christina left. It just didn’t feel like “home” anymore. She gave the show the feel of home. That’s what it’s supposed to be about. People with no experience in public relations are running TV networks these days. When the ratings start dropping (and I’m sure they… Read more »
I liked Cristina but I did feel she was sometimes more interested in herself always looking at herself in the monitors. The constant friction between her and Mark was annoying, and that Mark always wants the attention on himself.
I love all the others. They are terrific!
Miss Christine. Debbie to me is so phony, acts immature and silly and tries to be the center of attention. Bring Christine back.
I no longer watch the show Christina was the show, just not the same.
I am very disappointed in the Home & Family Networks choice with the replacement. I never cared for Debbie. She was always my least favorite. I find her very annoying and somewhat always sensed she was trying too hard and kept trying to capture the camera. I feel very badly for Christina and her family as well as the viewers that loved her. I will no longer watch the show. They will see their ratings drop in sure.
I had missed a few shows..when I came back Christina was missing and I thought maybe her or possibly a family member was ill…but to find out she was replaced was shocking..why on earth would the network do something so stupid…nothing against Debbie personally but she is no Christina…the show is not the same..I really miss the warmth that Christina gave to the show…to me her and Mark worked best than anyone..I still watch from time to time but the show is just not as good as it use to be…BRING BACK CHRISTINA…BE SMART or maybe there want be a… Read more »
In my opinion,CRISTINA WAS REPLACED BY A PRETTIER HOST. Cristina was always energetic and fibrant, and I didn’t see that in her replacement. Very sad.
I don’t think Debbie is prettier than Cristina. Cristina is a timeless beauty and Debbie is not. Debbie looks best in still photos, not on film.
I will no longer be watching the show. I tried to give newness a chance but it doesn’t work for me. So sad this show is another silly daytime show.
Cristina WAS the show!! It will never be half as good. No reason to keep watching.
Big Mistake!! Cristina was wonderful and her replacement cannot hold a candle to her. Boy is she missed!. I no longer will watch this show.
Miss Christina ! You should have remembered the saying, “If it aint broke, don’t fix it. The show was great with Christina. She was warm and felt like family. I no longer watch the show. I certainly hope another network hires here.
Best to her and her family.
I think it is horrible that they let her go she was the show and I will not watch it without christin a shame on then.