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 just seen this, I’m so hurt that Cristina is not in the show anymore!! Debbie is great, but Cristina made the show with Mark, I’ll still watch but I MISS Cristina!! This is so sad!
I am so disappointed that Home & Family have let a very vibrant and valuable person like Cristina Ferrari. She added style and class to the show. It is not the same.without her. I have not watched but a few times year. The show is not the same. I do believe that it was age discrimination, we can learn a lot from the past but unfortunately Home &Family does not. My prayers and thoughts are with Cristina and her family. She is missed.
I loved watching the show with Christina and Mark. Couldn’t really get into it with Debbie. Although Debbie does seems like a very nice person. I just miss the energy Christina brought to Home & Family. I miss her.
no longer watch the show…
Well it’s too late to believe that decisions for the show will change. We will never know what really happened. I hadn’t watched the show since the abrupt departure of Cristina, until this week when I witnessed some strange behavior. First of all if this is a “Christian” network, why can’t Debby, a married woman, keep her hands off Mark, a married man? It’s such a turn off. Debby also makes rude comments to Mark, not that they aren’t true i.e. the ego comment for one. Mark looks like he’s smiling through his teeth, like he’s just there for the… Read more »
Mark’s smile seemed strained with cristina. She looks like she made it all about her things and what she knows. She did not include Mark. I thought her to be quite rude and inconsiderate. I am glad she is gone. She tried to make the show about herself and was too bossy. I really did not care for her. I am happy for Mark and his new colleague. It seems more balanced with her. She doesn’t try to take the spotlight. So happy for you, Mark. I know what it feels like when you go to work and have to… Read more »
Wow, This has got to be Debbie because no one else would write something like that. Nice try Debbie but your going to have to give yourself “thumbs up” because no one else will.
Jeanne Q, that just cracked me up! So true!
Yes I liked Christine on the show very much.
I have not watched since Christina left. She was the main reason I watched. I’m very disappointed in the Hallmark Channel. I’ll just spend my viewing time elsewhere.
I have been such a big fan of Christina’s for years. I hate to see this happen….letting an older woman go and replacing her with a younger one! I have not watched it since Debbie took over. Hallmark….you made a big mistake!
Yes it is very sad that Home & Family let Christine Ferrari go. She brought so much more to the show than the agenda now.
Is this ageism???
She is beautiful, talented, spontaneous, great sense of humor, great chef, good teacher.
After all this time. Why? Had I known you were fired, I wouldn’t have been watching. Younger is not better. Seems like politics to me. Even dared Christina to say anything. Wow.
I miss Christina and no longer watch.
Yes she will be missed. She made the show watchable. I feel it’s probably because she is older and that is the way society is always looking for the younger audience.
I miss Christina. I really haven’t watched much since she is not the host with Mark. I think Christina gave the show a good Name Recognition that it doesn’t have now. I am sure the producers know what they are doing. I am also sure it hurt Christina and I think it hurt the show. I think Christina had a stablizing affect on the show that it doesn’t have now. I like Debbie and new people might get it but I don’t.
Just not the same ! Stopped watching it!