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’m so disappointed to hear Christina is not returning. She is so professional, classy and an amazing admirable woman. I’m actually outraged especially the viewers were informed. NOT! The show is truly not as enjoyable, I feel like something is missing. I don’t care anymore if I miss it. I used to catch it on demand. So sad.
OOPS! I meant “Comment Awaiting Moderation”.
Sorry guys. I’m not sure what “Comment Awaiting Modification” means, but you seem to be delaying my earlier comment from being posted. By all means delete the word “hell” if that’s the problem. If not, is there something I should be doing to move this along?
Comments are reviewed by a human to weed out spam and abusive comments. This can sometimes take a little time.
Will miss Christina, will not watch . The show will not be the same.They made a big mistake.
I am not happy that Christina is gone. She was a major part of this show. Debbie can not taker place……not even close. I can’t watch it with her at Mark’s side……bring Christina back. She is so funny and smart.
Woody, the way you handled the departure of a much-loved show regular was decidedly un-home and family like. How cold. How disrespectful. If you keep the show as it is, you might as well rename it The Debbie Matenopoulos Show because she’s clearly “the star” in her own eyes. If you’re targeting a younger demographic, Debbie should appeal to many milllennials’ all-me-all-the-time-mentality. Wherever you go with this in the future, count me as one more former viewer. But hell, I’m 76, so who cares!
I am so disgusted that Christina is no longer on show..she and Mark were so good together..they are about same age also..they played off each others comments show will not be what it had been! Don’t enjoy watching the show now!
The show was soooo enjoyable w Christina’s charm
Somebody made a big mistake!
The show is not the same without Christine I watched it faithfully every morning,I stopped watching the show since Christine left..
Debbie, although sweet, did not need this job, or “Extra”. She married rich. I thought Marie Osmond was forced to rush an hours’ info. into less, and then these two got several hours. Marie should have been Christina’s replacement, when Christina “wanted to go!” Shady, what they did to Both ladies, trying their best. God Bless 🙂
I feel sorry for her, but I thought she was Mark’s wife, and in menopause. She gave him such a hard time, sometimes, and being midlife, myself, that is Not her fault. It takes over your emotions, weight, moods, etc. Wish her well. What a classy way to inform us. God Bless! 🙂
I’m very disappointed that Cristina is no longer the co-host of Home and Family! I thought she did an excellent job and loved what she brought to the show. The way it happened was very unfair both to Cristina and to the viewers!!!
So sorry to see Christina replaced. Will not watch the show unless she returns. Big-Big mistake by the network. No one. Can replace her, such a remarkable women.
The past 4 weeks have really been an eye opener. I always liked Cristina but I had not realized how much until I found myself no longer wanting to watch the show without her. I finally canceled my one pass for “Home & Family”. I truly feel like I lost a good friend. Cristina continues to show class despite being fired for not being young enough for someone who cannot see the value of age and beauty.
This is exactly how I felt. And …I had always liked Debbie, but I didn’t realize how much I could “take” of her in one day, until I had to watch her every day, the full show. I missed the day Mark announced Christina was leaving permanently, and went searching today to see when Christina was coming back. I was thinking “I can’t take much more of Debbie, when is my girl coming back?” That is how I found out…terrible feeling for fans, I can only imagine how it feels for Christina and her family…her real family and her Home… Read more »
BIG MISTAKE TO LET CHRISTINA GO. WILL NOT WATCH ANYMORE!