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 like so many others share such sadness to see that Christina has been taken from us loyal viewers. If only producers were as loyal as viewers. Well, I guess producers forget we are their customers and not just viewers, or less viewers at least, does not make their jobs secure either. Without Christina I can no longer enjoy Home and Family. I totally feel everything that is shared as a “family” event now is such a fake atmosphere. Shame on Home and Family. The name should now be changed to “House and Family” because the Home was totally ripped… Read more »
I will not be watching the show. She made the show what it was!
Dumb move H&M. Cristina was what made the show special. The way H&F handled her departure goes against the shows philosophy. H&M you have shown your true colors. This is how you treat family ? I will no longer be watching H&F. The producers appear to be a bunch of back stabbing old farts. Watch your back, Mark.
I new something was not right, when no farewell on show was given. I too was worried she was sick. Honestly , I don’t feel Debbie is a good fit as co host. Cristine had the knowledge and warmth the show is about.Sadly, Debbie just doesn’t really have that yet in her personality. Debbie, was a better fit in her old position of fashion. Obviously if you really think about how she dresses daily on the show. I also wonder if this had to do with a survey sent out a few weeks back.
What a shocker to hear what happened @ H&F. Christina is the reason I began watching when I retired 6 months ago. I’ve either watched or DVR’d daily & became such an advocate for the show. Having Mark announce that Christina was vacationing for 2 wks & then nothing for the third week made me worry that Christina was ill or something but when he announced that Debbie was the new co-host made me so sad. His comment “that the door is always open for Christina to return” was a blatant lie and so hypocritical now, hearing that she was… Read more »
I will never watch Home and Family again. CRISTINA made the show!
I am extremely sorry and disappointed with the show dropping you! ! You have been my biggest reason for watching home and family. Will I continue watching every day? Although I have enjoyed the role everyone plays, it’s not the same without you ! I’m very sad.
Wishing you blessings Christina!
Jean
I am so pleased to see that over 600 people have written their displeasure of the loss of Cristina from the Home & Family show. I guess the people who run the show are trying to attract younger viewers. I have nothing against Debbie, but she isn’t Cristina. I watched the show religiously, now I check to see who the guests are, & only watch if the guest or subject interests me. It’s just not the same! I am anxiously looking for some other network to scoop her up for a better job! Shame on you Hallmark for letting such… Read more »
That’s exactly what I do, I check to see the subject and guests and fast forward through. I definitely think they must be trying to attract a younger audience! Most of the programs since Cristina left have been geared toward the Millennials. I’m not interested in, for instance, “girls night in”. Well, it is what it is and I’ll just find something else to replace the show. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of channels!
I am disappointed in the Hallmark Channel. I watched the show ,in large part, because Cristina Ferrare was there and I have cancelled my DVRing of this series. Cristina added a touch of class and graciousness that can not be replaced.
This is not a Hallmark send off…..Christina will be missed.
I like the show with Christina I’ve been a fan of the show for many years I will not be watching
I will not watch the show without Cristina !
Wow! My wife and I are so disappointed in the decision to boot Christina Ferrara off the show. The way the network handled her departure was totally classless. We have stopped watching the show and predict it won’t even complete it’s fifth season. Christina, you were the glue that made the show work and you will go on to do something great and hopefully some executives at HGTV will suffer for the way they didn’t even you a great send off. Shame on them. Goodbye Home and Family.
I will miss Christina Ferrara…she and Mark went together like peanut butter & jelly. She was the heart & soul of this show. Bad decision by the producers, however, let’s give Debbie a chance now, it can’t be easy for her knowing how much we miss Christina. I know that Christina would only want the viewers to be kind to Debbie. Debbie is doing a great great job, but Christina will be missed terribly and it’s not the same without Christina’s calming flare. But I am a huge H & F fan and will continue watching everyday….I love this show!!!
I’m sorry but Debbie was given a chance – two weeks in fact while we were waiting for Cristina to return from “vacation”. In my opinion as a regular, long-time viewer, the show has suffered from her being the cohost for the entire two hour show (she was ok in her short segments). What was expected has been confirmed and she comes across as fake, shallow, and just interested in copying whatever celebrities wear and do. Also, I don’t like how the show lied to their viewers, how Cristina was treated, and I am personally not a big fan of… Read more »
I am so disappointed with home and family . I loved watching it every evening after supper . Christiana has been treated so wrong . She made the show .They should have replaced mark . I will no longer watch the show .
Sorry to hear that Christina has been replaced. I hope Hallmark is not discriminating because of age. This is a family show. Families come in all ages.
I will no longer be watching Home and Family Show because they fired Christina Ferrara, They didn’t even give her a send off. What kind of company does that? I related so much to Christina. She made the show real and “home-like”. The loss of her presence is a devastation to this show. I kept wondering what happened to her. Now I know. It has greatly changed how I feel about watching any show on Hallmark. There are so many channels out there. Maybe I will find one smart enough to employ Ferrara as a co-host.