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?
Not the same and she was the reason I watched. Sad mistake:(
I too am unhappy with Hallmark and their move in firing Christina. I liked her input and realness . I don’t dislike Debbie but she doesn’t have the personal commitment to the audience as Christina had as well as her genuine personality. Will I keep watching and be a regular viewer as I was is yet to be determined.
I can’t believe they let Christina go!! She is such a beautiful person inside and out. She made the show fun! When Home and Family first came on, I didn’t really like the show, but the more I watched it, the better I liked it and I now love the show. That is because of Christina! It really infuriates me when older women are replaced on shows with Younger women! Christina was so warm, caring and BEAUTIFUL!! Debbie will never be able to fill her shoes. You made another big mistake Hallmark!! The other BIG mistake was taking off The… Read more »
I have watched Home and Family for a long time. I even told many of my friends about it. I really liked Christina being on it because she related to my age group. Why can’t an older person be on your show? We are a large group of people who watch your show and feel we can relate to Christina. We are the group that is retired and can watch your show. Firing Christina was a huge mistake!
These new changes with replacing Christina with Debbie is a mistake. Home and family was a show that essentially expressed the love and compassion of a loving home . Personally I will no longer watch this show and help the ratings. Christina grace, experience, and charisma was what made the saw enjoyable and relatable. Shame to hallmark for replacing experience with a younger women, Christina was the reason for this shows success .
I miss Christina on the show. It is not the same chemistry. Her warmth, wit, and grace are missing from the show. Mark seems less relaxed. This has nothing to do with Debbie. She is doable in small segments, but not to carry the show. Hallmark, to quote a famous movie “big mistake.”
Agree with this statement!
I think replacing Cristine was a very bad decision. Finally, an intelligent, mature, beautiful host…..and then replaced with a conceited know-it-all. Will not watch it anymore!
Why do they always get rid of what works! I was watching the Debbie Mccomber series, then poof gone, I will not be watching the new Saturday night series, afraid that ill like it and they’ll take it off, or home and family. It is so frustrating!
Bad move Hallmark! I will no longer watch as I feel only anger now that Christina has been replaced. Whoever is responsible for firing her should be replaced. Idiocy in the hierarchy. It will be end of this show eventually.
I am not sorry to see her leave ..they really needed a new younger face..Christina was okay but she is aging
Be careful …. youth leaves you quickly and one day you will be older, just hope you are as beautiful and have more depth of wisdom to you llife.
Aren’t we all aging? Christina Ferrare made aging look good! Aging gracefully and beautifully.
I am so sorry that they let Ms. FERRARE GO. She had a great true experience and flare. I hate to say this but the celebrity business is harsh and older stars struggle to compete with these new younger faces. It is insulting and unfair. She was a wonderful co host and Miss Debbie does fine but it is just not the same. As Mark gets older I would bet they do not replace him because of course men grow older gracefully. This is not fair and hopefully it will change. God bless Ms. Ferrare and her family. Thank you… Read more »
I have been a long time fan of Christina and Home & Family but I have noticed this past year that something didn’t seem quite right with Christina. Since she says that she is not sick, I believe her but there seemed to be a little tremor when she would sit still & look into the camera kind of blankly. Although Christina is always gracious and kind, she basically said the same phrases each show. I don’t think it has to do with her age as Maria Shriver stated in her video blog with Christina. I think the show was… Read more »
I have been waiting for Christina to come back; thought she was on vacation. I was/am really missing her; to me SHE made the show.
To not allow her to have a last day to say goodbye to her fans/loyal viewers is a mistake.
To me it appears that Mark is trying out to be a game show host, boring….:(
I started watching because of Christina, and now that she is gone..so am I. 07-05-2016
No Christina? Then you don’t have a show!. Christina made the show fun and interesting. Christina is the perfect match fot Mark. Debbie is not a good show host for this genre. I now have stopped watching . You really did a mess up by letting Christina go. This show will flop without Chrisrina. I really USE to enjoy. Debbie just doesn’t seem to do well in this position. Too bad because Home and Family was a great program. When you hired Christina I was so excited cuz I remember her from years ago. Started making time for show. Guess… Read more »
We need Cristina not hyper fake Debbie. Please. Will not watch again. or only the diy portion.
I’ve tried to watch, but Debbie has NOT got what it takes. The show has lost all of it’s appeal to me. What a tremendous letdown. Hallmark messedup, and I won’t be back either.
Bad decision on H&F’s part to fire Christina she was the show and to make matters worse to replace her with the no talent, egotistical, love myself Debbie is ludicrous. I think it’s time to cancel the show it’s only downhill from here. Mark should have been replaced instead.
I barely tolerated Debbie before this, now it is amplified.