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 don’t watch it no more. Because Christina isn’t there. I think that younger isn’t always better.
I have stopped watching the show since Cristina was replaced. Cristina was genuine and kind. Just not the same show without her. Bad decision Hallmark!
I did not continue watching the show. When Christina wasn’t on one day i just assumed she was sick, I waited for the next week, and still no Christina. She was just a breath of fresh air, and her aura was so genuine, the other co-host I have nothing against her, she just don’t mesh well with the host. We love Christina.
I have discontinued watching the Home and Family show since the departure of Cristina. She always brought elegance and class to the show. It use to be my favorite daytime show but unfortunate not anymore. I feel her replacement is abit overbearing for my taste. I still wish you luck with the show and hope it continues to have success as it did before but I will not be watching anymore. God Bless
I think that it is sad that the Hallmark channel has done that to Christina Ferrare. She made that show and she is the very reason that I watched the show. Debbie is not as entertaining as Christina was. Bring Christina back. No I will not watch anymore.
I have enjoyed the light-hearted down to earth tone of the show and that they made the audience feel like friends keeping in touch; but that is not the way it is now – it is a fake substitute and I don’t care for it – so it is my choice not to watch the show in the future. I don’t know if Christina left by choice or not, but Hallmark didn’t make a good choice in Debbie at all – I don’t expect to see the show last much longer which is sad.
Kym hosted today! NO DEBBIE! I recorded it and will watch it later. The same show will be shown on Tuesday in the later of the two broadcast of the show. I don’t know if this will be a week long thing or if it’s just one day. I set up to record for the first several days, just in case.
I think it is a disgrace how Cristina Ferrare was let go from Home and Family!!!! She did a fabulous job co-hosting with Mark Stein. They had a good rapport. I do not like the choice for replacement and have stopped watching Home & Family!!!! I am sure you have lost many faithful viewers after Cristina was so wrongfully let go!!!! Shame on Hallmark!!!!!!
I will not turn Home and Family on again. I am sick of the inhumane way TV networks handle their employees! Watch out Marc Steiness. You’ll be next. Hope I don’t find out you were involved in this. Christina was the class and heart of this show. Too bad.
I’m very sad to see that Christina has been taken away from Home and Family. I didn’t have cable for about a year and when I finally got it back this past June and was able to watch the Hallmark Channel again I was so excited to see Christina and Mark. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was that she wasn’t there. Debbie is not natural acting, She forces everything and is not the type of person that I like to watch. If I remember rightly, Christina had her own show before it was incorporated into Home and Family.… Read more »
Your decision to replace Christina with a “Barbie” look-a-like was not a good move!
Christina was unique and brought a “touch of class” to the show.
I will no longer watch your pablum generated broadcast.
Christina was the main reason I watched the show to begin with. She came across as her true self. The way this was handled was very “un-family like”. It was all about the almighty dollar and getting younger viewers to watch the show. Well Hallmark, most younger viewers don’t have the cash we older viewers do. Unfortunately, Debbie, does not come across as her true self. She over acts and appears very “entitled”. Not really how most people live. You lost another faithful viewer.
I wish it hadn’t been handled like this. I love Christina. So sorry she is gone…….feel the same as I did when Today Show treated Ann Curry so crappy.
I loved Cristina has a host she was very professional and dressed well, I don’t watch it anymore because she was the best. The other one they replaced her with, PLEASE wear some clothes. I know society wants to show everything and yet the young take over, but, there is a time and please for that and it is not a family show
Well, Cristina will be truly missed. The sad part is that Hallmark cut her out completely. Why couldn’t they have had her as an occasional adjunct contributor instead of cutting her completely out. Doesn’t com across as very family loving.
One other thought is that while Debbie is obviously a veteran in front of the camera, she comes across very edgy. It would be good for her to soften up since the show addresses mostly women/homemakers not jet-setters party folks.