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?
Younger does not mean new and improved. There is no replacement for the sincerity that Christina brought to the show. I can’t watch anymore
Shame on you Hallmark! No way to treat a classy lady. Today’s show with Mark crying over his “cancer scare”…how contrived. Just overdoing to wipe out the Cristina debacle. I actually had cancer and never acted like that, nor would I on tv! Everybody wiping tears away-ridiculous!!! Debbie is overbearing and wants to run the show. She thinks she’s hilarious. I will stop watching-very disgusted…
I notice during all of marks listing out his hard year n
One has to wonder if Mark’s emotional reaction to a personal situation was, also, an unspoken reaction to the massive mess that has been created with the handling of Christina’s leaving the show. He can’t be completely stupid. He MUST know that she is/was the glue that held the show together. I would love to know what the entire cast REALLY thinks of this debacle. Hopefully, all of the people “involved” with this show are reading all of these comments written here @ this site. Read it & weep, as the saying goes. Maybe the person who has taken Christina’s… Read more »
I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Mark and Christina on Home and Family. While Debbie is a wonderful person, her vivacious personality is fine for a short segment, but I can only watch her for a short time. Sadly, I No longer care to watch home and family any longer. Christina was such a class act!
The fact that Home and Family gave up Cristina because she was too “old” tells me that Hallmark didn’t know it’s viewers. i watched it to see Cristina’s classy style presented in the friendly banter between coworkers, her forever classy way of dressing, and the Christian values that came out so subtly in how to live our lives. Even the floral arrangements! Yes, She will be missed! I know that wherever she goes next and whatever she does, it will be magnificent! Because , as we all learn, when God closes one door, He opens another. Can’t wait to see… Read more »
A little bit of Debbie goes a long way. I can’t watch her. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. So much for her friendship to Cristina. That’s what we get for falling for the family gig. Not much maturity left on show.
Christina is such grace. I noticed she had very little to say when they were at Dollywood. I knew then something was wrong. Home and Family has lost another viewer because of the way they treated
christina. After all, the show didn’t take off until she joined the cast.
I don’t get it, rating’s….well it will go down now with me….Christina was so humble and REAL! I don’t think I can watch a show hogger being a co-host…..
By letting Christina go it is like you eliminated a generation in a family. And isn’t the name of your show Home & FAMILY? Poor decision by the powers that be on a network that should posses more class.
Christina IS the whole show! Disgraceful how they made her exit with no respect to her or her fans! She is such a lady and should have been treated with more dignity. Shame on the network executives and all of those involved for handling her departure this way. Thank you Christina for continuing to prove what a wonderful lady you are. We are ALL going to follow you to your next success and exciting adventure. We LOVE YOU!
I miss Christine Ferrare on home and family. She made the tv audience lfeel liike family. she was very witty friendly and had a super personality. I cannot believe she was replaced, Christine was so entertaining on the show. I switched to Home and Family b re cause of Christine. will deeply miss her
Don’t care for the new host, won’t be watching any longer. WOW Hallmark you really messed up.
The the times I’ve been able to watch the show (was home sick of day off), I thoroughly enjoy watching Crisfina and the way she lit up fhe room with her beautiful smile. It won’t be the same without her and I hope that the public and viewers will continue to tune in each day. Please…if there is every a sixth season of HandF, please invite her back as I know she wil be missed and you will most likely lose some of your faithful viewers. I hope another show will ask her to join them as she is a… Read more »
I will no longer watch. I really enjoyed christina and mark.
A mistake was made by Hallmark by not keeping Cristina as co host. I won’t be watching anymore.
I am sad to hear of Christina’s leaving the program. Being middle aged it was uplifting to have someone mature, beautiful, elegant and intelligent co-hosting this program. It gave the program a well rounded appeal. I feel she was the heart and soul of a delightful family show. Now I feel this program has lost it’s heart and anchor. Hopefully it won’t go adrift.