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 miss Christina. Why was she replaced?
When something is not broke it doesn’t need to be fixed. The show is just not the same, it use to be a very family fun show, sorry I will have to watch the food channel or HGTV.
I really loved the fact that there was someone in my age bracket hosting this show. Christina was always relatable and sincere. Once again the older generation is deemed unnecessary. Sad.
I tried watching show today and only watch like
5 minutes and had to switch channels.
The show is not the same. It doesn’t feel comfortable ,..like a home feeling. We need Christina to bring back that feeling.
Debbie doesn’t have a clue about cooking
she always looks confused.
Christina is gone from home and family and so on my. I do not like the show any longer.
I can no longer watch the show it is just not the same
I am not a person who normally watches variety shows such as Home & Family. However when I first watched the show with Christina I loved the show. Her warmth and sincerity made me feel like I was watching a close friend. Hall mark has made a serious mistake by replacing Cristina with Debbie. Debbie does not have the class, maturity, or warmth of Christina. My ultimate dedication to the hallmark channel has ended.
Christina Ferrare was the main reason I watched Home and Family. Hallmark has not only lost me as a viewer but as a lifelong consumer as well. The show now lacks the warmth and sincerity that it had with Christina. My tv is set to the Hallmark channel every year during the holidays, with Christmas movies playing round the clock. It has been something my family looks forward to. But this year we will start a new tradition without the Hallmark Channel. So very disappointed and completely done with Hallmark!!!
I myself and my family can’t bring ourselves to watch home and family after reading Cristina was dismissed due to age. Cristina was the heart and soul of home and family. She brought a joy of watching the show Debbie could never bring. We haven’t watched a single episode since Cristina got fired. Home and family should be canned for the way they treated Cristina not to mention the show is now boring. I fell asleep on the last one I tried to watch. What I can’t understand how does Debbie go on paternity leave and come back to a… Read more »
I’m very upset and so is my family that Cristina Ferrare got fired from home and family. We haven’t watched a single episode since her dismissal. I for one do not believe Debbie matenopoulos was better or more intuitive than Cristina. Cristina made the show funny and she had great idea’s and connected with her fan’s. I read Cristina was fired because she wasn’t young enough to connect with the audience. Well I guess everyone in the world should be fired because they can’t stay young. Honestly debbie’s segments are boring and myself and my family can’t bring ourselves to… Read more »
Christina was perfect on the show. Hallmark should pay attention to the saying “if it ain’t broke-don’t fix it”. There was no need to change hosts!
I think we all enjoyed Christina on the show. Sorry to see her go, especially without a sendoff. The network really should have had one.
Please give Cristina her own show, she is great and does not need a co host, you can leave home and family as is with your bad choices and deal with that later.
Bring back Cristina. The new woman does not cut it for a host.
I’m sorry the network felt the need to replace Christina. The show has now become the standard plastic duo relationship similar to the concept of the ” Stepford WIves”.