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?
The show is not the same. Don’t watch it any more, boring. Miss Cristina.
Is not the sane.I don’t watch the show anymore.is boring.miss Cristina.
Miss watching Christina and do not understand the change. Definitely NOT for the better.
I tried watching Home & Family since Christina left but it definitely is no longer interesting to me. The Host and hostess makes the show and half of that combination is no longer there and I feel this uninformative decision should definitely causes the public to stop buying Hallmark products, so, maybe they will see the fault of their ways.
I really like Christina Ferrare on Home & Family. I just liked her personality, her charisma, her down to earn charm. The show is not the same without her, whenever I watch it now, it’s as something is missing. I just don’t look as forward to watch it like I used to. Please, bring Christina back!
I like Christina Ferrare better. She’s was cheery, energetic, classy and more down to earth. I just liked her style, she really seemed to fit the position. Don’t mean to talk bad about Debbie but she just isn’t the right fit and seems she’s too much into herself. I don’t watch Home & Family as much anymore. Bring Christina back!
Woody is being sued for age discrimination, but not by Cristina. http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20151224/ex-hallmark-channel-director-charges-producer-and-studio-citys-crown-media-with-age-discrimination
To be honest I only watched “Home & Family” because Cristina was hosting. She is a classy, elegant, sincerely warm hearted lady. She is sorely missed. Cristina, I wish you blessings in your next endeavor, and hope to see you soon.
I too only watched it because of Christina. Years ago she was on another show and she was wonderful then too. I was so thrilled to find her on another show. Terrible mistake to let her go.
Cristina is real! Debbie is too dramatic, loud & fake. It’s not the same, Woody Fraser, you made a bad decision. Love all the other family members but it’s just not the same. It’s so nice when someone else is hosting and Debbie isn’t there. Debbie is always looking at herself in the monitor and just not co-hosting material. It’s a shame the “suppose to be family show” felt they needed a younger sexier co-host, a bit hypocritical of the “Home and Family ” show….eh?
I agree Bobbie..drives me nuts when Debbie is always looking at herself on the monitor and comes across as a fake to me..miss Christina..Don’t watch the program very much at all now !
I have stopped watching it altogether…it’s just not te same…..Christina has such class….Debbie does also but sorry..there’s just something about Christina
I agree the show in not like it use to be. I always looked forward to turning on, Home and Family. I’ve Lost the eagerness to hurry up and grab the remote, to turn it on. 🙁
Do not like the show now and am stopping watching it. Christina was great for the show
it is time to stop buying the products advertised
That is so true. I use to buy a lot of things they advertised on the show. The items they demonstrated and books by the authors they had on. I’d watch the programs of the guests they would have on.
this sucks this is age discrimination i guess it’s time to stop buying hallmark products and anything that is advertised on the program.
A lot of us have already stopped buying anything Hallmark since they fired Cristina.
Should have never let Cristina go!!! Do NOT like Debbie as a host…. Much less a guest…… Now that i know she Cristina Ferrare will no longer be a part of the show , and Debbie is, I will no longer watch!!! Shocked!!! Biggest mistake letting her go!!! The show wont last much longer without her!!! Best wishes to you Cristina Ferrare… Dont look back!!! may better things come your way!!! Their loss not yours!!! “Debbie” has nothing on you!!!