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?
Don’t like the show without you You are my favorite
Season 5 will probably be the last season
The people on the home and family show talk about each member truly being a family – then why fire a family member? I used to watch Christina way back when she was on tv with Steve Edwards. I enjoyed her warmth, and creativity, then and now. I have removed Home and Family from automatically recording each day. Just not the same. Sorry.
Bye Bye! Hallmark has really disappointed us.
The show is not the same and I’ll prob stop watching. Big mistake by hallmark. Cristina was the show!
Very disappointed on the decision that Hallmark and Home and Family made to fire Ctistina…Cristina is Home and Family this show is missing the warmth that she brought….The chemistry on the show with Mark and Debbie feels very fake and forced…..I have chosen to stop watching a show that I have loved and enjoyed for the past 4 years…It has totally lost its appeal for me…Can not relate to Debbie at all…The way the situation was awful as viewers we were lied to day after day for weeks…Can’t get behind a company that lies and doesn’t care what the viewers… Read more »
Christina will be missed! I like Debbie but not for the host. I am trying to watch Home and family right now but I just turned it off. It is not the same. This show was my all time favorite show. Im just so up set right now. Can’t believe they did this!!!!!
I tried watching Home and Family today but found I just cannot enjoy it anymore. Knowing the way that Christina’s leaving was handled and the fact that loyal viewers were basically misled and lied to is probably too hard to get past. Debbie is just NOT just material as she talks over everyone so it’s hard to hear what people are saying, she always steers the conversation back to her somehow, she does not present herself as professional as Cristina did, and she constantly is clapping. I guess I have better things to do with my time.
Unbelievable! Not the same show at all! I’m sick over this. Cristina was the hub of the show and without her, I’ve completely lost interest, not watching any longer.
I kept watching thinking she was coming back. Cristina’s personality on the show was very relaxing to me. I guess what I am saying is she evened out the hype that all the others put out. Some things should be left alone. I’m sure the show will go on. I just won’t be part of the audience. When Carson left I stopped watching Leno. When Kathy left I stopped watching Regis Live. What I’m saying is what got me interested in the show in the first place doesn’t exist anymore. It’s one woman’s opinion. Best of everything to everyone on… Read more »
I didn’t say what I mean earlier I don’t relate to Debra the new co-host.
I was stunned and devastated when I heard Christina was no longer hosting Home and Family. I left that day and will not be watching in the future. I loved H&F and recorded it every day, but when Christina was fired, I suddenly realized Hallmark is more interested in ratings and pulling in a younger audience, than about providing entertainment for young and old alike. I am deeply disappointed with executives at Hallmark who, in my opinion, made a very bad decision concerning Home and Family.
I am so sorry Christina will no longer be a part of Home and Family. She is why I started watching, I retired 3 years ago and started watching. I seem to relate to Debra, maybe she is too young doesn’t have enough life experiences. Probably going back to HGTV if they had done things a little different and Christina had wanted to quit. Just don’t like the way things were done…Sorry I loved the show.
Cristina was the main reason I watched. The show now is loud & lacks heart. I’m watching less & less
How unfortunate that happened. I love Christina, I will not watch again.
Should have said i don’t like the changing of the co-host and not the new person but she still don’t bring the ratings Christina did Christina made the show worth watching….sorry
She is missed …I have quit watching it just not the same …I’ll find something else to watch they should have left perfect alone. sorry i dont like the knew co-host.