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?
Well, Let me express how sad I am that Cristina was replaced. I personally don’t think age should matter as long as someone is able to convey and connect with their audiences. And Cristina Fernandez was definitely one who was phenomenal at such a task. Thank you Cristina for always making my days brighter! I wish you all the bestPSsvy in 2017. Sincerely, Marcia A. Heeren, RN p.s. I no longer will watch H and F without Cristina .
This is terrible and I won’t be watchingHong the show anymore. Its not Debbie’s fault, I don’t believe but it won’t be the same. Too bad was a great shoe
I always enjoyed watching Cristina……she was genuine. And that is the difference. Cristina wasn’t trying to prove anything, she was natural and it always came through to the TV audience as such. She made everyone else on the show better……so why change it. Sorry, Hallmark……I’ve always thought your “brand” meant something…..a little bit better, a little more interested in what the average person would expect and want……this was not a good move on your part.
I miss Christina Ferrare on the Show. I have watched Debbie on a few other shows, including the View etc. She does not have the class or sincerity that Cristina conveys. I feel you have made a bad mistake and will regret this change.
Even my husband misses seeing her and he has not been watching the show as much as I have.
I just now went to Cristina’s Facebook page and found out the details. I don’t know why did not check here earlier, everyone has a Facebook page, right? Best of luck Cristina!! I loved watching you, and will miss you on the show. God Bless you and your family!
I wish to say thank you to the thousands who wrote in about how you feel about the H&F situation. I am moved by your kind words of support and has helped me come to terms with everything. Im in a good place because of you and I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to write in. May I take this opportunity to say thank you again and wish you a Happy New Year!
Cristina
Cristina I am so disappointed that you are not on Home and Family anymore. I really enjoyed your part of the show and miss seeing you. It’s just not the same. Please post if you star on another show. Maybe You Could Help Kelly Ripa and Co host her show. She could use a classie dame on the show. Just wishing.
How sweet Cristina. I think I can speak for a lot of us here, we truly miss you! Happy New Year!
My husband and I really enjoyed watching Home and Family you really made the show and it’s not the same with out you, please keep everyone posted if you will be envoled in any upcoming shows.Wishing you a beautiful New Year
When you were on the show, Cristina, I would tape it every day and watched it faithfully because it was such a wonderfully fun, happy, and entertaining show. Even though I work full time and have a commute, I didn’t want to miss it and told many of my friends how great the show was! You have been missed from the show and I have not watched it again since it was finally revealed on the show that you were not returning. I am still sad about the loss of this show and the horrible way you were treated by… Read more »
As a mother (now grandmother) of a very large farm family, I wasn’t in to morning TV, other than the weather and politics! I’ve been told I am quite talented as a wedding planner, decorator, designer, singer. When I first saw the HFShow, I was sooo drawn to the maturity of the topics, the fun of the musical guests, simply everything. I recorded simply EVERY EPISODE, having a designated recording box just for H&F. I shared top DIYs with my friends, used ideas for parties, etc. And then, to my shock, I realized Cristina wasn’t appearing. My youngest daughter, 17,… Read more »
I started watching Home and Family when Cristina replaced Paige. Her beauty has followed her thru the years, she was so delightful and so full of life and fun on the show. I enjoyed seeing her warmth and love for the rest of those on the show. She was truly the matriarch. The show is dead without her. I haven’t watched since she left and never will.
Very sad!!!
I feel Ms. FERRARE was more genuine.
So I do miss her.
I believe the producers handled the transition poorly.
I have not been able to watch the show with Debbie. She is so very irritating! We do not need another blonde fake airhead on TV. The show now seems forced and phoned. I hope the ratings go down to force them to get rid of her.
Loved Cristina & followed her over the years! She is warm, genuine, talented, beautiful, so down to earth! Have seen Debbie on several things. Not too impressed. She’s an inadequate replacement! It looks like they did the typical “Hollywood” thing-replaced the older woman with a younger toothpick trying to get younger viewers. Yet the “male host” keeps his job! Stupid, out-dated marketing ploy since people are living longer & longer! Bring Cristina back!
I love to watch Hallmark Channel I love the movies and I loved home and family but no more I miss Christina I Will not be watching anymore I really do not like her replacement she just doesn’t have it
The show isn’t the same without Christina. Very disappointed in Hallmark for this move. You don’t fix what isn’t broken.
I WILL NOT WATCH THE SHOW WITHOUT CRISTINA FERRARE ON IT
I am so upset that they let Christina go, I have stoping watching the show because of how out raged I am that she is not in the show any longer. Debbie is ok but she is no Christina, not even close… Debbie can’t cook or do Craft project any of the things that make the show, Debbie is a cute face that I felt they just dropped in…. Christina has so many talents and we as fan could not just see It but feel it in everything she did on the show. That means a lot to family’s when… Read more »
She gives the show a “fake happy” feeling. It is awful.
I much prefer Christina and I’m sorry she left!