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 was really shocked to find out that Cristina Ferrare was let go from Home and Family, when Mark Steines said that she was on vacation, I just assumed she would be back, now I love the show, I loved chemistry between Mark and Cristina, I love all the regular members on the show, I always liked Debbie and she is great and doing a fantastic job on the show, but I still miss Cristina Ferrare, but I will still keep watching Home and family and I wish Cristina Ferrare the best, and I hope she is able to to… Read more »
Really sorry to hear Christina Ferrari will not be coming back. I enjoyed the show with her on it. She had a warm and family love personna about her that i will miss.Gonna have to decide if I like it or not with her gone. Looks like Tv, all around, is trying to replace good quality seasoned people with younger more modern, hip and frivolous ones. That is not always a Better thing
Very disappointed.
So miss the “Stability and cohesiveness” Christiana added to the show, now it’s like watching ENews, which has no depth to it, and you have lost the one person that added style to H&F!!!…Sad now you are too much like any other “live” show. I could be watching the Rachel Ray show or any of the cooking/ DIY shows with guest stars. I used to look forward to a day off and could watch H&F, now I just don;t turn TV on until Hallmark movies come on and then it depends on programming.
Very glad she is gone, I really like her as a person, thought she over powered her guests and co-host. I stopped watching , back watching, enjoying the new co-host interaction. Christina needs her own cooking show on the food channel, I would definitely watch.
I am extremely disappointed that Christina is no longer on Home and Family. She added such insight, grace and maturity to the show. The program needs her! Bring her back!!
So sorry to see Christina leave. Graceful, gracious, funny, smart lasy with an elegant style! So different from the over perky daytime hosts who often cause difficulty to hear the importance of an interesting segment. Do not like the show as well as before!
the “big boys” screwed up again by getting rid of Christina….SHE WAS THE SHOW….she added flare, finesse, was fun and funny and always looked beautiful….she was kind, experienced and a true Christian woman….with all the junk that is on TV, I finally had a program I loved and told all my friends to watch….Hallmark did a disservice to ALL of us by getting rid of Christina….I am through with Hallmark and EVERYTHING it represents….Mark needed her as his co-host even though he never knew it and I don’t think Debbie will be as good as Christina was…Christina was very down-to-earth… Read more »
I am so sad to see Christina go. She was the main reason that I watched. And have not been able to watch a full episode with replacement Debbie.Christina has so much more to offer than Debbie. Debbie is hard to watch. She does not come off pleasant on screen AT ALL. Just as I was happy to see her go on THE VIEW all of those years ago. I’ll be happy when she is no longer on Home and Family. Please bring Christina back! She was the matriarch and the reason so many people watched the show in the… Read more »
Show is not the same without Cristina. Please bring her back!
I am sad that Christine is being replaced. No one will do the job she has done. I simply don’t like the replacement.
Cristina was the main reason I tuned in. She is entertaining and and gracious at the same time and a refreshing personality. Hallmark, you made a big mistake.
I thought this was a family show? Who fires family??
In general people don’t like change. I too, must admit,don’t like it either. Cristina was part of the duo that started my addiction. The ” Mothering” that she gave to all was evident in comments made on the show. She’s a bright light and I will miss her sparkle at 7am. She is a difficult act to follow and I think Debbie is doing a good job. Will continue to watch..with a different vision. The show/network should have her on as an occasional guest( if she wants to).
Not the same show without Christina. What a shame!
I agree!
It was a bad call to get rid of Christina, she had so many different talents Marks just there although I like him, you will deffienly hurt your ratings. She was talented in so many way ways. Sorry you made such a poor mistake that will hurt your show that I will no longer watch