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 will not continue to watch Home and Family, Debby may be talented but not for this show she wants the cameras on her all the time and doesn’t connect with the quests. Will miss Christina big loss for home and family.
I love Hallmark, home and family and I like Debbie but I will not longer be watching the show and neither will some of my friends and family
My wife and I are very upset about Christina not being the co-host Debbie and Mark were good as 2nd bananas on the show . We have taped every show to date so that I can watch it with my wife in the evenngs or weekends,my wife watches it live almost every day. Well,if Christina is not brought back soon ,we will not watch or tape any more shows and we will not purchase any hallmark cards or gifts,you people are wrong to let her go.Oh,fyi we boycott target and bed bath and beyond because of their politics,now you are… Read more »
Hallmark made a big mistake. Christina made the show and already it has lost it’s magic. Debbie is a good contributor to the show but she lacks the special warmth Christina has. She was hired because she was younger period. Typical Hollywood. Very sad. The ratings will soon suffer and they will have no one to blame but themselves. Home and Family….You do not treat family like that.
Pure and simple, they decided Christina is too old. And while it’s okay for men to age, it’s not okay for women. Debbie is just too perky for my taste. See ya, I won’t be watching.
My mother and I have been watching Home and Family for four years, and really loved everyone on the show. Christina was the rock of the show!!! I don’t usually comment on things like this, but we are very disappointed that you could fire her. We were thinking that maybe she retired, or her or a family member was sick. So glad nobody was sick! It sure sounds like you fired her because of her age, although you would not say the words. I hope she sues you, if that is the reason! Shame on you!!! We will not be… Read more »
Cristina always showed grace and dignity.I will no longer watch the show. The replacement for Cristina is very loud and thinks to much of herself.
I also heard that Cristina was on “vacation for a couple of weeks”, and I looked forward to her return. I enjoy everyone on H&F as they each have their own roles, just as Debbie had her own role and Cristina hers. Cristina did an exceptional job in her role at making guests and viewers feel welcome and cared for. That was (or is) Cristina! I also agree with other viewers comments that she brought much needed “class and elegance”. I would not say that Debbie is terrible, but, she is definately not Cristina. Only Cristina can be Cristina! And… Read more »
Will no longer watch either dirty dealing in my book
I won’t be buying cards or anything Hallmark ever again. This debacle has soured me on any further Hallmark purchases.
I’ll take my money elsewhere as I can no longer respect Hallmark.
Christina was the glue that held the show together. She gave the show the “Family feel”. I think the way they handled her departure was distasteful and I’m surprised quite frankly that the producers chose that route.
Will I continue to watch the show? I won’t! Cristina brought a special something to the show. Viewers in their 50’s and 60’s could identify with her. The way she dresses, cooks, feels about her family and children. We had an extremely kind and sensible and funny lady we could relate with. We don’t see that on TV these days. I feel sorry for the viewers who were loyal to the show…but the Hallmark Channel people think they know better.
I have stopped watching the show. Debbie should have stayed with fashion. Huge mistake on corporates part.
Very disappointed about the way hallmark fired Christina. The show just isn’t as good as it used to be. I’m not interested in watching now. I hope she does another show maybe the own network?
BRING CHRISTINA BACK!!! Debbie is great in her past capacity on the show but is no Christina. I’ve watched her for a week now and I feel that if this isn’t remedied, I will stop watching and I have watched Home and Family every day since Christina started. Bring her back!!!!
Bad decision very poorly handled. I watched the show up to the announcement but it already lost its spark. The good side is that Cristina is well and moving forward
Cristina was like everyone’s mother on the show. She is a woman of great faith, & I always felt uplifted when she brought everyone together in prayer. She is beautiful, inside & out. I will no longer be watching the show. I’ve seen that so many others agree with me on that. I cannot imagine how they thought making a change like this would be good for it.