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?
Cristina added warmth and class to the show and I will not watch the show or the channel without her and knowing how they treated her and her fans.
I don’t like the idea that they are trying to cater to a younger audience, if that’s the case. I really appreciated Christina’s maturity and warmth. I have deleted today’s show, out of respect, and additionally I have taken it out of my DVRing line up. I like the whole cast, including Debbie, but don’t like that Christina wasn’t able to say goodbye.
I cannot believe Cristina was let go. She was the heart and soul of H&F. I think Debbie is loud, obnoxious and all about herself. I’m sure you don’t care, but I will no longer watch the show. Cristina was the reason I started watching it to begin with. Boooooo Woody!! Shame on you. Debbie will never be able to compete with or fill the shoes if classy Cristina.
So as someone else had said, I too fell for the “family” bit, and indeed when I started watching little over a year ago there was a family vibe to the show. So, family members don’t usually disappear like Tanya and Cristina! Cristina was a VERY IMPORTANT part of H&F for me. For a few months things have felt different. I will not watch anymore and I am very disappointed in Hallmark.
A big big mistake Hallmark!!!
I am in mourning after Mark’s announcement this morning about Cristina.
I am still missing Tanya, and now this! Who’s next? This is NOT how we treat family!
Very sad to see Christina go. I agree with other comments about Christina setting the tone for the show with her caring and sincere personality. Her maturity and humbleness is what really drew me to the show and is what is missing from morning programs. I think this is a big mistake by the Home and Family producers but time will tell when the ratings reflect their decision. To bad the producers didn’t get rid of Mark as he is not very relatable hence he and Debbie will make a good pair because neither is she. Best of luck to… Read more »
Her name is Cristina! C-R-I-S-T-I-N-A! CRISTINA! No ‘h’. Suuuure you’re fans when you don’t even know her name. Anyway, the show has turned into a shitpile. They fired Tanya and Laura back in early April (not to mention little Ava and Delilah Jane)…with no warning or explanation to us viewers, then brought in these young ‘fluffers’ (porn reference, Google it). Don’t even get me started on this Next DIY Star contest ********. Woody wouldn’t know what home and family meant (not to mention loyalty) if it punched him in the gut. The last straw is this recent upgrade for Debbie… Read more »
I am shocked that she was replaced!! There has to be a reason but they haven’t said! Cristina is wonderful and much better co host than Debbie in my opinion!!!
I’m wondering if she was fired because they wanted a younger, thinner co-host. I’d hate to think that is the case, but what else am I to think when they don’t give a valid reason? This is very sad!
I am no longer watching Home & Family after today. The send off that Mark Steines gave to Cristina today was pitiful and condescending. Cristina Ferrare did a wonderful job for years on the show and I feel she has been let go in a very demeaning manner. I do not wish to put down Debbie or anyone else on the show but Home & Family has indeed changed in the past months. To my mind, not for the better. While I don’t want any of the remaining cast to suffer, I choose not to watch or record the show… Read more »
I started watching this program because I admired Cristina so much. What a mistake. Cristina, you are loved and will be missed. The show won’t be the same, and I don’t think I’ll take the time to watch it now.
the show is definitely NOT the same…doesnt have the “cozy” home relaxing feeling..its hectic and the cooking segments with Debbie are a joke…is Greek food the only thing she knows how to cook…seems like everybody is in the cooking business now that Christina has left..and why…because Cristina could cook..she had class and she brought warmth to the show…she and Mark were perfect co-hosts…and played well off one another…its a shame what was once a great show is going down the tubes fast…wake up Hallmark…u made a BAD decision..time to fix it before the ship totally sinks…
What a huge mistake the show has made. The exit of Christina means just one thing, the exit of me as a viewer.
I am very disappointed that Cristina will no longer be on the show. It truly seems like age discrimination. I hope that is actually not the case.
I am extremely disappointed that Christina Ferrare is no longer a co-host on Home & Family! In my opinion, she was the real “heart” of the show. She was so compassionate and loving, a truly kind person. Her easy banter with Mark Steines was part of what made them work as co-hosts. I like Debbie Matenopoulos as part of the family and as a temporary replacement. However, she can never come close to filling Christina’s shoes. I loved Christina’s cooking segments, also, and so much more. This decision has greatly affected my love for the show. I hope that whoever… Read more »
I’m heartbroken about the news of Christina being fired. I also am disappointed in the lies that have been told about her being on vacation and today Mark saying that she can come back to co-host anytime. I always felt like these people were part of my family but family doesn’t lie.I remember so many times Christina would say how much she loved being a part of home and family. How could you shatter a person’s livelihood? By the way it didn’t go unnoticed that Tanya and Laura have also come up missing. Did they both get the same treatment?… Read more »