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 rarely watch since Christina left. The new host, Debbie M seems very pushy and arrogant, the know-it-all type, and it’s not as much fun to watch. I think in their effort to energize the show they’ve taken out the charm.
What a shame. They replace an older co-host with a younger sexier model. This is the type of America we live in. I could stomach home and family with Cristina on, but since they put the blonde dope from the view in her place I can’t stomach watching it. Their rating can’t be that great. All I hope for is a cancellation of season 6 and more Golden girls episodes. Why do networks always assume young blondes are better hosts? As a 37 year old viewer, I can honestly say I will be tuning out due to your discriminatory actions.… Read more »
Don’t wach anymore, what a shame, miss Cristina.
since she left I HAVE NOT WATCHED THE SHOW I miss her The show is just not the same without her I AM GLAD SHE IS OK and wish her the best
Well I for one sure miss her and love her dearly and glad to hear she is doing well and not ill! <3 Love to Christina!
No longer watch since Christina left, bring her back and I will watch again
Well one day I look up and Cristina is gone for what ever reason. I thought of her as family on the show and I will miss her dearly. I wish her well and the show
I was a diligent watcher of Home & Family; but, I have not watched since Cristina was let go. I have also learned through Facebook that no one on the show has mentioned her illness or requested prayers for her, and that those H&F ‘friends’ who spoke often of their ‘family’ gatherings have not kept in contact with her. That is despicable. Apparently, the H&F cast, who appear to genuinely care for one another, is merely made up of fair weather friends…Just another Hollywood tragedy. I wish Cristina well and know her popularity and talent will endure long after H&F… Read more »
I quit watching the show when you replaced Christina.
Sad, she was so personable and humble…she made the show work…soooo sad to see her go…she is such a great lady and was ideally suited to this show…
It is now July & there was NOTINNG else on t.v. so I thought I will try this show again. It would takew yrs for me to beable to hack the new cohost. She just is too fake to me & thinks she is quite the wonder. …. NOT
My friends and I can not stand Debbie and watching for a long time. But now we DVR if we want to watch our favorite H & F like Kym, Page, Ken, Shirley, the Matt’s, Orly, Dr. JJ and Maria. Debbie thinks she is so funny but she is so fake sweet it’s like finger nails on a chalk board. Cristina was real and genuine and brought dignity and class to everything she did. Even Mark has turned into this whipped pup around Debbie and gotten so full of himself. For a show who is constantly saying what a big… Read more »
This is the way a lot of people feel but obviously the network does not care what their viewers feel or they would have brought Christina back. I am so sick of watching Debbie, so full of herself and Mark making rude, downgrading comments about Kim. Dylan Neal was a great co-host. Debbie is rude to all of the guests and never lets them talk and her competitive attitude is getting very annoying, why even play the games if she HAS to win them all? The format of the show, without these two hosts, would be perfect. Think about it… Read more »
Debbie will be fine, but I don’t see a GOOD reason to replace Cristina.
Debbie is not a good host! Fake, over exaggerated acting! She has ruined the program.
Loved Christine , not a fan of Debbie, quit watching
Still can’t watch!!! Still missing Cristina!
Home and Family – worst show on tv. Bring back Christina. God this show is totally unwatchable.
I was sorry to see Cristina leave the show. Her Facebook statement shows what a gracious lady she is. Too bad Home and Family “powers that be” didn’t have the same level of decency and grace that Cristina had. Bad move — people notice. Best of luck to Cristina. God bless you and your family.