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?
Cristina was the show and the heart of Hallmark! I haven’t watched once since she was “on vacation” and I won’t be tuning in again.
I’m so disappointed with Home and Family and Hallmark. If it had to be done the least they could have done was to give her a proper send off. So when I think of Hallmark, I’ll think how they fired Cristina who was the heart of Hallmark
Cristina MADE H&F.
With our senior classy and elegant matriarch being fired it is no longer a home of “welcome and love.”
I won’t miss her because I will no longer be watching the show. DM is too frenetic and I was exhausted just trying to watch her segments. I always fast forwarded her. Who will be left to laugh at Mark’s sad attempt at humor?
You’re next Woody.
I have stopped watching on a regular basis. Now I can delete it altogether from being recorded to watch in the evening when I’m home from work. Not a fan of Debbie, she way over acts and the crying about everything seems so fake. Can’t picture her in a kitchen.mtodays show that announced her as a replacement seemed forced. Christina seemed so real and sincere, Debbie is acting. Bad move on the behalf of H&F kinda like the frigerator guy on Cedar Cove.
Cristina was the heart of HM. Now that’s she’s been fired, it’s just a house with a bunch of tenants. No home. No family.
Different show entirely.
Not for me. Won’t be watching.
I have lost a friend and you have lost a viewer.
Cristina WAS the show!
Well said!!!
The WRONG HOST was replaced!!! Christina brought CLASS to the show and was the ! Clearly it should have been MARK who was replaced by Debbie instead of Cristina!!! His comments and questions when someone is presenting are annoying, add nothing of value, waste time and are not cute nor clever as he thinks. Debbie is great and Cristina would have been wonderful with her. Hopefully with the new DIY person, the projects will be less hokey and more of what someone will actually want. Orly definitely needs help in that area.
No hope as the new DIY person will only be on for a week.
Agree about Orly!!! Where did we get her? She just needs more experience and mentoring.
Orly was a contestant on “The Fashion Star” on NBC I think.
Oh wow, I never thought of that! Mark is very annoying and not as funny as he thinks he it. Cristina and Debbie together would have been great! I think the execs really lost out getting rid of the wrong host. So glad that my daughter and I are not the only ones who think most of Orly’s projects are hokey and not something anyone would actually want.
I used to watch Home and Family on a daily basis. Due to a career change, I have been unable to do so, and now record the episodes and watch them in my free time. Today I watched several episodes and was confused as to why Cristina was absent on one episode after the other, until I came to the episode where Debbie wished her well. I was surprised that more to recognize her and the phenomenal job that she did was not expressed. I am so disappointed to learn that she will not be returning. She was so natural… Read more »
I was wondering what was up. Even though Mark would announce that Christina was on vacation. I looked forward to see her again and was a bit shocked and very saddened she was replaced, even though Debbie is cute, she can’t hold a candle to Christina.
I miss her very much.
We are devastated at Cristina’s leaving, and atrocious treatment. Debbie is unqualified and we will no longer watch, sadly. Woody should be fired!! The Hallmark Channel should reinstate Cristina so the show will not tank. What reprehensible cut-throat tactics. She will rise above the fray and will always be the winner. Hallmark and Home and Family will fail quickly.!!
I hate to see Cristina go. I will not watch the show. She brought a touch of realism to the show. She’s not fake. The new host is great but fake and she’s young and beautiful, but doesn’t deal with weight issues or have a rich family history as a mother to talk about.
Sorry for home and family and the viewers.,
NO — DOUBTFUL I WILL WATCH HOME AND FAMILY FROM NOW ON!!! BIG MISTAKE replacing Cristina!!! Altho the rest of the cast is fabulous, Cristina made the show and the reason I ever tuned in to begin with. (remembering the show from years ago and ELATED that it and she had returned) The family atmosphere is now difficult to believe and no longer there with this news. She was FANTASTIC and like a member of my own family! I am truly devastated with this news —- Cristina and the show reminded me of the fun and closeness I had growing… Read more »
I am so disappointed with this decision. Cristina was the reason I watched the show. I won’t be watching anymore. I don’t understand why this decision was made.
No,I won’t be watching any more. Sorry to say Debbie is too full of herself. I did enjoy watching ( key word did)
I’m very dissapointed. Christina was the Heart part of the show. She was one reason I watched and taped it every day. Debbie is ok ,but I will not be watching the Home and Family Show. How can you even call is that anymore. Christina is not replaceable . She is the main reason the show was doing so well. Open your eyes! With her the show increased in ratings, why change a good thing. Woody, I think you are going to regret this. I’m surprised that this has been done and am totally shocked and disillusion with Hallmark .… Read more »
I have been a fan of Home and Family for a few years. I loved tuning in to the show and to see Mark and Cristina. I admired her as a co host and will miss seeing her on H & F. Cristina Ferrare is a beautiful woman inside and out. I will still watch the show and I have it recorded daily. Debbie M. Will make a good co- host along with Mark as host.
I cannot stand Debbie M, or Kym Douglas. I liked the relationship between Mark and Cristina. CF is the age that most of your viewers appreciate. Seriously, what moron made this decision. Debbie hangs all over the men guests, (actually embarrassing) I was waiting for a sexual harrasment lawsuir filed, not classy, obnoxiously the world is supposedly revolving around her! Queen of red carpet, not at all. Kym is snarky and abusive to Mark, her little product infomercials are completely idiotic and annoying. I will happily cancel my everyday viewing of H&F. Bye Bye! All your producers must have lost… Read more »
Meant to add, Kim actually doing infomercials on regular TV time really bugs me. She has joined the ranks of Ron Popiel, Over saturation in the media is a killer for appeal levels. I also think the DYI search was ridiculous, Booooring, lasted about 8 weeks too long. The dog and cat segments are retarded. Everyone knows local animal shelters always have potential pets available for adoption. Come to think of it since going to Dollywood, the show has totally tanked. Good job, producers. I think it might have been Italian chef Viviani was on, Debbie just threw herself at… Read more »
Kim is probably thinking “i better get a 2nd job,,,just in case”