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 wondering where have you been it’s been a long time and I miss you because you have a mother figure the way you talk the way you begave oh my God I’m going to miss you I can’t believe the show replace such a person like you
So sorry to hear you will no longer be the co-host of Home and Family. It will not be the same without you, I’ve watched it a couple of times and was wondering where you were. You were such a joy to watch and added so much to the show. I’ll no longer be watching not the same with you gone. Blessings to you and your family and glad you were not ill.
I am so thankful you are not ill, shame on the show for replacing you, you have done an excellent job. “Love the clothes you wore”, always checked to see everyday. Miss you and hope you will be in something else for us to watch, keep in touch with your fans.
I loved Cristina on Hallmark. She was the main reason I watched Home and Family. I don’t care for it now. I watch it for a few minutes and turn the channel. So dissapointed this Christmas season.
I only watched because of Christina.I used to watch all the time but fell off a bit.Imagine my awful awareness that something is not right here,another network doing the wrong thing.I keep looking for Christina .The show needs something ,oh yeah ,that would be Christina.I won’t be watching .Christina do your own show call it”Christina cooks and everything home show”.
I loved Cristina! I tried to watch the new show with out her. I can’t stand it now. I used to love it. It was like family, now it’s terrible. So sorry Cristina!!! You are missed!!!!
I will no longer watch the show. How dreadful!! Just fire Christina so they could put in a younger woman? Not only that, just not let her back on the show and then withhold that they had “Fired” her, while people were frantic that she was ill. Pathetic example about the importance of “Home and Family”
Christina made the show. I tried to watch it but it isn’t the same without her. I won’t be watching anymore.
It’s truly not the same without without her. I have been watching her on Home And Family since she was on with Chuck Wooley.
I won’t be watching the show anymore.
I will only say that I will no longer be watching the show! She was a big part of why I continued watching, as I was not thrilled with other things on the show! Best of luck to her and hope she will land another spot somewhere as many I’m sure will follow her! So very disheartened that this has happened!
I am shocked and disheartened that Cristina was fired by Hallmark. Her sunny personality lent a warmth to the show which truly made it a hallmark viewing experience. The “suits” at Hallmark bungled this move and the show has a plasticity now that was not present when Cristina was there giving it a genuine patina. I wish her well and hope to see her return to television on a program and format that will truly appreciate her talents.
Tari
I loved watching Home and Family. Christina was the heart of the show. Her warmth and caring and love of family stood out. Isn’t that what the show is all about after all?
Debbie is a cutie and I’m sure she will do a good job, but she can’t take Christina’s place. I’m sorry to say I haven’t watched the show as often as I did. It just isn’t the same.
It’s not right I just don’t like it like it is not like it like it was so I just won’t watch it touches like this and we play SoundCloud
I would like to see Cristina on another show. I like her ways & her personality. Have tried to keep up with a lot of my favorite stars. I don’t know what age bas to do with co-hosting a program. Cristina is a very talented all the way across the board. I wish Cristina & family all the best always. Maybe she will be on another show I like .
Sad that they fired her. Debbie is ok but Christine made the show .
I will miss Cristina Very Much. I know Debbie will do a good job. But Cristina should never have been let go. Because of her mainly is why I started tuning in. And with her, came to enjoy Mark & all the talent, with a special shoutout to Tania Meme, whom I haven’t seen on lately either. Cristina led the whole way on this show, & that is why those still there can carry on suitably well. I’ve loved Cristina ever since she starred with David Niven when she was a teenager. She’s beyond gracious, and well loved.
Don’t care for show with Debbie. Have only watched it once since the change. Miss Cristina so much!!! Won’t watch any more.
I no longer watch the show I did not like Mark and now I do not like Debbie. I hate too that the show is so long now. The maturity of Cristina was a great plus, because she still had vitality and fresh ideas. Shame on the network for not allowing a goodbye episode.