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 have stopped watching this show, it saddens me to know that you treat people that way I miss her bring her back
Hello, Cristina and Mark have great chemistry on the show. While Debbie seems to be doing OK as co-host the show is lacking something. It is very difficult to continue being faithful to a family show that gets rid of part of the family.
Loved Christina and the warm chemistry she had with Mark and also guests! I’wondered where she disappeared to and started checking. I’ll not be watching any more as Christina was my initial reason to watch. Very bad decision by Execs!!
I continue to watch Home & Family though I miss the chemistry that Mark and Cristina emanated to the the audience. They had “something special” like all great entertainers…a warmth and a sense of genuine caring. Greatly missed even after five months. Debbie is very good, but something
I will no longer be watching Home and Family. Mark and Cristina had great chemistry. I gave Debbie a chance but there is no chemistry and Mark is not strong enough to carry the show without Cristina. Sorry Mark. Merry Christmas Cristina and family.
I think it was a bad decision. Christina embodied the American Woman. I don’t think replacing her with a 30 something was a good idea. I tried but I really haven’t watched it since she left.
Debbie is in her 40s. ‘She talks way too much and she’s in every segment. If the show reruns with Cristina in them, I’d watch H& F again, but only the reruns and nothing with Debbie as hostess.
I did not like the change of firing Christina and hiring Debbie. I suppose Woody Fraiser wanted to try and draw a younger crowd. I decided to give the show a chance anyway, but after watching Debbie Matenopoulos on The View on Nov. 11,2016 again, crying over her husbands service in the Army, I’m done. She was saying how scared she was for her daughter because Trump is now president elect. And the rest of the cast( Star Jones, Joy Behar and Meredith Viera) were as ugly and ignorant as ever. My husband is a retired 33 year veteran of… Read more »
Thank you for speaking out. I didn’t watch The View the other day but it sounds like they haven’t grown up. Shame on them!
I appreciate your husband. Tell him thank you for his service from a grateful citizen!
I really miss Cristina. She felt like a friend, warm and real. She and Mark were a good team. Nothing against Debbie, but it feels like she is the younger new wife who replaced the faithful 1st wife. Not interested in watching any more.
I loved seeing Christine, and was watching the program because of her.
I personally thought the two hosts were wonderful together. They seemed to have such a mutual respect for each other and seemed as though they enjoyed working together. Not always does a new fresh face make a difference. Maybe the shows format should have been looked at first. I wish her all the best. I do hope the show survives
This is ageism, pure and simple, The show should be embarrassed that it caved into this practice. It is difficult watching the show without thinking about this. I am not sure I will continue watching.
I missed Cristina, she added so much to the show, when you think of the ladies that watch the show, Cristina is the right age, Im so tried of ditchy Blondes, im sorry im watching the show now and all Debbie is doing is laughting and smiling and touching Mark, come on… and the remarks about the doc eating all the mash potatoes at his house, What kind of show you putting on?? I feel your show has drop about 70% in grace and kindness.
Put Cristina back, and add the class back in this show.
I believe that Home and Family should continue, however I do miss Cristina so much. Sometimes executives don’t always make the right decisions. Cristina, for you and your family I wish the best, and may you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. Love and miss you, Rena
the chemistry between Mark and Cristina is what made the show! loved her and will no long er r be watching.
Christina please start your own show!!
We’ll follow. They made a big mistake.
I just turned on the show and turned it right back off when I realized what was happening.