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?
Without Christina my family has no reason to watch “Home and Family”! We have watched Christina since working with Steve Edwards, she is not a fake co-host or host. Too bad that the network has taken this step!
Please bring her back feel like I lost a friend.
DO not like Home and Family any more,I will not watch anymore.Please bring Cristina back.loved her smile,she had so many talents.Feel like I losted a friend
So sorry I miss Cristina .I do not watch anymore.Cristina had so much talent,cooking crafts,decorating A smile that was sincere,I felt like I knew her.Not FAKE.please bring her back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No longer will I watch or record Home and Family.
No longer watch or record Home and Family show since Christina was replaced.Can’t believe she was replaced by Debbie. Bring Christina back.
No longer watch or record Home and Family since Christina was removed from show . Loved Christina on the show can’t believe she was replaced with Debbie.
Show is now very bland!
I’m sad that Cristina is off the show. She is so warm and come across as a sweet person. I will miss her.
Basically, the only reason I watched the show in the first place was because I really like Christina. I can honestly say that I probably will NOT continue to watch the show. Seems like just another case of kick the old lady out and replace her with someone young. Shame on your Woody and Hallmark Channel, I thought you were better than that! Viewers apparently have no say.
I must agree with the majority of other viewers on this. The show is not the same without Christina. She was like everyone’s Mom….perhaps being a bit critical of Mark at times, just like a real Mom but always exuding lots of love and family pride. It’s disgraceful that Hallmark gave her the boot without a proper farewell.
I miss Cristina…this I believe was a big mistake to let her go. Nothing against Debbie I wish her the best, But, they could have kept Cristina on the show, loved her…and will miss her.
Not nice. She was part of the success of the first 4 years, why would you think a new staranger could do a better job. I loved the twinlle in her eyes, the way she was always so happy. I think you made a mistake. I have stopped watching the show.
I have stopped also. I don’t agree with what they have done.
How sad I like Debbie however Christina was such a gem. She always brought such charm. I will no longer be watching Home and Family which I had daily. Not only did Hallmark treat Christina wrong, they really dropped your faithful followers.
It’s not the same without Christine. I just can’t watch. I’ve tried but the chemistry is not there with Mark and Debbie.
I am SO disappointed that Christina was replaced with Debbie M. Loved at Christina was a more mature woman on the show.
So disappointed that you fired Christina . She gave the show appeal to almost 60 year olds like me ! She was such a natural hostess on the show – something like I think she would be at her own home. She brought maturity and class that the younger girls do not have .