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 so shocked and saddened with the news that Christina has been replaced as co-host of H&F. Christina and Mark have the best chemistry and in my opinion were the best team for Home and Family. Christina has such class and sincerity and I think replacing her is a giant mistake. I hope she will return. The show will not be the same without her!
I will no longer watch Home & Family. Nvcnf
ALSO!!! I would ask others to join me in ‘boycotting’ the new CHESAPEAKE SHORES series starting in August! I can almost bet they will play their ‘games’ with that show also. Just discontinue it with no warning and no explanation! Just as they did Cedar Cove and now with Christina on Home and Family! HOW DARE HALLMARK to think they can advertise OVER AND OVER AND OVER like they do and then when you watch, they can just up and cancel and never warn you or tell you why! They WILL NOT do that to me again! I HATE Hallmark!
OMG! I just thought she was on vacation! What a BEAUTIFUL woman she is! I am done with Hallmark! First, what they did with Cedar Cove was TOTALLY unforgivable and NEVER so much as a warning or an explanation afterwards! I know SO many people upset about that underhanded dealing. Then now this…I think the Hallmark powers-that-be need to be re-vamped…NOT the shows! Next, they will take the Golden Girls off and then I will have NO reason to watch them EVER again! I can just skip on by. I just adored watching Christina everyday and we could not believe… Read more »
havent you heard the old saying DONT FIX IT IF ITS NOT BROKEN ! YOU GUYS MESSED UP
I will NOT be watching home and family anymore ,you were the one that brought stablity, wisdom ,and control to the show now its ahot mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BRING HER BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, but if they ever DID ask her back, I hope she tells them to put the show where the sun never shines! And THAT is putting it nicely!
Very upset Debbie was forced to leave won’t be watching home and family again. BIG MISTAKE!,
Cristine is the one that was forced to leave, replaced by Debbie, a *younger* co-host.
I am very disappointed! I hope another network hires her so I have a talk show to watch!
I watched every day and told many others as well but now, nope! No disrespect to Debbie, she’s great but, Christina was the biggest draw for me. She brought something that others can’t. I see no reason for this switch.
There is absolutely no “light” in the new co-host. Christina and the connection she had with Mark was the success of the show. I can barely turn it on it is so boring now. I will not be watching. Someone made a really bad decision and sank what was a pleasant show, a rarity in tv today.
I am shocked about the departure of Cristina. I dont watch much on tv but this was one that I enjoyed. It is just not the same without her…she made the show. I wont be tuning in anymore!
I am very disappointed in the shows way of handeling the announcement, very disrespectful to Cristina. To keep many viewers my suggestion is curtail Mark Steines on his all too many slapstick remarks which are becoming quite annoying and not as comical as he may think especially when all that are on the set have to force laughter in response to his remarks, its almost more comical to watch them kiss as. the diva on the show. Remember the shows name..Home and Family if he continues to overact with his facial expressions and bad jokes and puns maybe the next… Read more »
I think they replaced the wrong co-host. They should have booted Mark Steines in my opinion. Very annoying.
Christina was the heart of the show. The glue holding the family together. She is interesting and a leader. Not to hurt the new girl, but she is average and boring. And I’m young.
The show doesn’t feel like a “Home and Family” without the heart of the show, Christina. Home and Family worked so well because of the cast. To change that has damaged the feel and integrity of the show. Everyone had a special dynamic together. I have watched the show since 2012 and it just is not the same now. It is trying too hard to be more like the other talk shows. The change has hurt the show. I watched it because it was NOT like the other talk shows. I have nothing against Debbie, but they should not have… Read more »