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 have not watched Home and Family since Cristina Ferrare left the show. Mark would not say why she was no longer on the show and I thought that was disrespectful to her, just to replace her and now tell anyone why. She was a super cohost and she was down to earth person. She never acted like she was better than anyone else the way her replacement seems act. I did really enjoy watching it, but no more. I will say my goodbyes and thank you for the earlier Home and Family with Mark and Crirtina.
Should have kept Christina!
I miss Cristina. She was so warm and genuine. I’ve tried watching the show without her, not knowing she was gone forever, and it’s not ‘homey’ anymore. I’m sorry Hallmark is so superficial.
I miss Cristina and hope she will return to Home & Family…I believe the Network made a mistake….
I gave the show a chance with the new host but it’s not the same, bring Christina back- she made the show
I don’t like the new co host. Please bring back Cristina.
The Home & Family show is not relatable without Christina. It doesn’t have that warm Hallmark feeling anymore. It appears cosmetic like all the other shows on tv. It’s as if they’re forgetting what the symbol of Hallmark represents. Christina brought that presence and I will miss the show. I hope they will bring her back!
Well said!
I turned on the Hallmark channel after enjoying all my favorite Christmas movies, and was so disappointed to find Home & Family had changed. The show doesn’t seem relatable without Christina. She brought warmth to a hectic world. The show doesn’t have that Hallmark feeling anymore. It appears more cosmetic like all the other shows on tv. That’s not what I look for in Hallmark. It’s as if they’re forgetting what the symbol Hallmark represents. Christina brought that presence and I will miss the show. Hope they bring her back!
I turned on the Hallmark channel after enjoying all my favorite Christmas movies, and was so disappointed to find Home & Family had changed. The show just doesn’t seem relatable without Christina. No offense to Debbie, but the show doesn’t have that Hallmark feeling anymore. It appears more cosmetic like all the other shows on tv. That’s not what I look for in Hallmark. It’s as if they’re forgetting what the symbol of the Hallmark channel and its movies represent. Christina brought that presence and I will miss the show. I do hope they will bring her back!
I record the series so I can fast forward through most of the show. Especially, when Mark or Debbie are talking!
Very sad that Cristina is gone ….will not watch the show anymore!
Debbie has another job on a another network, why she’s on this show? She doesn’t qualify to be on another show like this one. She doesn’t make the show interesting, in fact, she drag this show down to a yawn and is utterly boring. Haven’t you seen her work ethics? She gets fired more times than she’s able to hold down a job. Have you forgotten she was fired by Barbara Walters on the View. Cristina Ferrare MAKES THIS SHOW KICK!!! She also has more experience in this industry. She and Mark Steines have great chemistry. To choose Debbie because… Read more »
Christina was the main reason I watched that show! She truly is a wonderful person you can tell and she added so much love and humor to the show…I definitely will not be watching anymore…period. Sounds like age discrimination for sure! Shame on the Hallmark channel!
I keep turning on the show them realize Cristine is gone and then I get upset and then it. I will look online for the crafting stuff but I don’t watch anymore. I miss Cristine.
I can no longer watch Home & Family since Christina is gone. The show is just so BLAH. Before I could learn all kinds of interesting things mainly because of Christina & her years of experience in so many topics. What a bad decision. Nothing but age discrimination. I no longer waste my time watching the show.