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 be watching Home and Family any more. Christina brought such warmth to the show.
I will miss Christina. We are the same age so unfortunately that happens too often. I’m sure there are a lot of viewers in our age bracket that watch the show. I hope Christina will be on another show soon.
I took this show off my dedicated DVR list. I will miss Cristina and hope she comes back in another show!
I love Chrisina! I will no longer watch H&F.
Cristina carried the show. We have always felt Mark Steines to have a large ego and perhaps he should have departed the show.
Agree. Agree. Agree. Agree.
Cancel…Cancel…Cancel. Will not be watching anymore. Cristina made that show!
Cristina was the reason I watched the show. I won’t be watching in future
This is the third co-host this guy Mark has had. Maybe, just maybe HE is the problem. Doesn’t seem like a coincidence from where I’m sitting.
Cristina was the reason I watched the show. She is wonderful! Hallmark has made a huge mistake, I will no longer watch the show. The underhanded way they handled this just made it worse.
I will no longer watch. Christina made the show. Can’t wait for her next show!
I no longer watch the show. I think it was awful to fire her. She was the heart of the show.
With Cristina gone I will no longer watch this show…..she was the glue, when she vacationed I couldn’t wait for her return! .sorry but Debbie is irritating, I could take her for small segments but as a host….not for me. Hallmark has always been my favorite channel but after the cancellation of cedar cove (why…. At least keep it one more season to give it an ending) and now Christina I’m just not so sure what they are thinking and where they are heading. I loved Cristina! Why watch this new Chesapeake Shores….not me! As soon as you get into… Read more »
I so agree with you Robin. One day while Christina was on vacation, I didn’t even watch. There was just no spark to the show when she wasn’t there. It was like losing a friend.
Why was my last post deleted?
I see many people share my feelings on the firing of Cristina; Hallmark should beg her to come back! However, they do not deserve her!
I am thoroughly DISGUSTED With Hallmark/Crown! Shameful! I hope you NEVER recover from the hatred you have created for your network! First Cedar Cove and the sneaky, underhanded way you ended that and now sweet and charming Kristina! I HOPE EVERYONE WILL JOIN ME IN TOTALLY BOYCOTTING THE NEW ‘CHESAPEAKE SHORES’ THE HALLMARK FAT RATS ARE TRYING TO SHOVE DOWN OUR THROATS! They will NOT pull another Cedar Cove on ME!
I could not have said it better!