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 myself did not really care for Home and Family with the First Lady that was on there, because I felt you was to touchy freely with Mark. I quit watching after about the second show. When I seen they had new co-host I started watching it again and truly enjoyed it. Now I have watched very little of it since which does not even add up to one show. It’s just not the same. Found something different to watch. Christina you will be greatly missed. The show just is not something I find interesting enough to watch anymore.
I watch about 20 minutes of the show, when I watch it. I Love a few who are left, like the rest but 2…. not so much.
Christina was class, and ‘family’ representative. She and Mark did well together.
She was loved and will be dearly missed.
Really hate to see H&F let Cristina go!! I have wondered what happened to her. I don’t think her replacement is a good fit on the show. Just isn’t the same. It is not an improvement.
I HATE that you fired Christina!!! She is one of the main reasons I watched your show. I still love Mark, but it is hard for me to watch Debbie. She was great for what she did before and she has great ideas, but she has way too much energy as a host.
I finally decided to Google the reason for Christina no longer being on the Home & Family program, and I must say I am truly amazed to hear she was fired. I really miss her. She was so genuine and charming. I can’t bring myself to watch the show anymore. I turn it on,but soon change the channel because I just don’t enjoy it anymore. Also, sounds like her departure was not handled very well, since she left so abruptly without notifying the audience and no special send off. Shame on whoever made such a bad decision.
Because I work full time, I viewed Home & Family sporadically, mostly deco operating from bilateral mastectomy. What I fail to see is the “fantastic” ravings of stay at home audience of Christina When I watched her 2014 I found her. Rather obnoxious, always wanting to be in the spotlight , often out talking others or taking over the other staffs lines or presentations. It’s always sad to see someone go but …. seriously people she had definite ego problems!!!!
Never cared for Christina’s personality for this show, no offensive intended, just an opinion. And as far as Debbie goes, don’t quite think she is the right match, but can be indifferent. Question, are viewers watching because they like the hosts or content?
Have not watched Home and Family since Cristina left. Over the holidays I enjoyed watching the Hallmark holiday movies. When Home and Family came on I watched for maybe five minutes and had to change channels. The whole show is so artificial now it is hard to watch. All the spontaneity is gone. There is no natural flow between Mark and his cohost, and even Mark has lost his personality. It has turned into an “all about me” special. I won’t be back to watching. Changed the channel to HM Mysteries and Movies. Much better than Home and Family.
I can’t believe Hallmark’s Home & Family would make such a callous judgement error as to fire the ever-positive, classy, sweet, family-oriented Cristina Ferrare. Seems she embodies everything that Hallmark represents. The new hostess is overbearing & brash by comparison. We love the Christmas season, so it’s difficult to find a Christmas program that we don’t love. But you have succeeded. We tried & tried to love the show again sans Cristina, but we couldn’t bear watching. It’s a totally different vibe now. Lost it’s family-friendly luster. SORRY, BUT WE WON’T BE WATCHING ANYMORE, EVEN DURING CHRISTMAS.
Am still watching, but can’t you have Christina as a guest now and then…we really miss her and need to see her once n a while as a contributing guest
Why would she ever want to appear on a show that fired her because they wanted a younger co host?! Their loss!
It’s a shame that HM thinks you have to have young women in order to get people to watch thats just not true. I will not watch this show anymore had to cancel my dvr to not record. The new hostess is annoying she tries to hard and is loud not perffossianl at all, she’s very silly acting. So shame shame on you hallmark chanel.
I’m sorry Home & Family chose to do this. I have not watched the show since and will not watch again. And that’s too bad because it was a good show to watch. Shame on you H&F
I’m so sorry to hear Christina has been let go…I’m not sure why but I don’t care to watch the show anymore… the other host is ok….
Debbie is loud and very obnoxious. She doesn’t have any class like Christiana she reminds me of a chihuahua hyper and annoying. I for one will not be watching anymore.
Mrs. Ferrare, It says a lot about you, that you’re handeling this with such grace and style! You are missed and it seems as though the network’s only concern was with it’s self. Why not allow you to say goodbye to your fans? Why ask you not to talk to your fans? I’ve watched one episode since you left, to make comparisons. The chemistry was MUCH better with you there. I pray all the best for you!