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 think shows should ask the people watching
Who should come and who should go.very disappointed when learned of her absence.i
Just thought had to be off for some reason
As usual they replace a woman a little older with a younger woman but to COMPLETE FAIL and why??????? She was completely loved,professional, and passionate about the Show which is hers. If the ratings needed a boost I am so sorry but I would have replaced the crafty girl and changed up the format. Update it. But amazing show before with a few changes. Honestly I watched the interviews and if I didn’t know or had to watch the crafty girl I would change it before the next interview. FYI. Bring her back and save your show.
I have tried to watch at times since Christina was fired but it is not the same. There is no chemistry and Debbie seems nice but not genuine and it’s too much on a daily basis. Youth is not always better. Mark also makes very rude and appears to be hurtful comments to some the other cast members and needs to stop. He’s not all that. Hallmark made a big mistake!
Just retired and tuned in to see Christina who I Loved from the original Home and Family years ago! . I was so disappointed to find her gone. I will never watch the show without her. Christina, your fans want you on another show now!
I will not watch this show any more Christina was the reason I watched and Debbie has no personality she a fake sorry very disappointed at the way things were handled the station gave up a class act with Christina we miss u christina
No moré show for me. She was really good
Christina will be missed and yes I actually stop recording and watching the show it’s not same without Christina, I hope she is doing well. I was wondering what happen to her and happy that she is it I’m. Good luck to show and hope you all do well.
I will no longer warch. She was the best thing about the show.
Not watching anymore!!!
I wondered what happened to Ms.Sunshine, Cristina. Watched the show whenever I could and loved the chemistry betweet her and Mark. I like Debbie, but loved Cristina and the warmth, maturity and charm she brought to the show. I really don’t watch it anymore. I think producers made a big mistake letting her go. PS. Love Mark but miss Cristina, her personality and what she brought to the show.
Cristina was a big reason I watched the show. I recorded and watched everyday. My daughter came to love it also. We haven’t been watching since it happen. That was stupid to replace her. Younger is not always better. I’ve watched a few times, I miss Cristina it’s not the same. One day she’s on next day she’s gone. Everyone just acted like she never existed probably the networks doing but that was hurtful to me and I quit watching.
Really sorry to see this happen. I guess it was a decision in the upper moron mgmt here. As my dad would say, you know, old school, no common sense!
Why do they think people watched? Well I for one will not watch anymore have tried to watch with new person but, she is not real feels phone! She is a great loss.
Home & Family has lost it’s warmth and charm without Cristina’s “sparkle”!
She was the “heart of the home”, without her the show’s very title seems
moot! You’ve lost a viewer and my respect Hallmark!!
Don’t watch anymore
What a shame. Christina is just charming.
All this power playing behind the scenes is so upsetting.
Goodbye to Friends and Family.