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 am saddened by the decision about Cristina Ferrari being fired. She is warm, loving and real.. I am not watching the show as much and am not carrying about it as much.. but not blaming the replacement, Debbie, she has a large role to fill. The warmth and family atmosphere that Cristina brought was the glue of the show. She was gracious with Mark’s ego centric style.and tempered his abrasive attitude, she supported everyone in their endeavors, and she was quirky enough to know she was real!! But not only that.. The crafts have become blah.. hate to tell… Read more »
Who keeps trying to push Matenopoulos on us? She has been tried on several different shows and has ended up failing. Just another cookie cutter blond that you can’ t tell one from the other. Big mistake replacing classy Christina with unwatchable Debbie. So annoying! Bye Home and Family!
Big mistake to let Christina go! I will not watch Home and Family any longer. Always thought I could depend on Hallmark as one of few to do the right thing for viewers as well as their employees. She was solid with tons of class and likability.
I agree 100% and feel the SAME way! So disappointed.
I really miss Christina, the show isn’t the same. I used to be a loyal viewer, but not so much any more. Now I turn off the tv and listen to music. I find it sad that those on the show would always talk about the feeling of family, and yet they dismissed a prominent family member. Christina was probably the oldst member of the cast, and it makes me wonder if her age was part of the reason she was dismissed, if it was shame on hallmark for not realizing the value of experience and wisdom.
I am disappointed in the change in co-hosts. Christina was a perfect fit and complimented Mark’s personality. The new woman is unpolished and doesn’t have the class that Christina has. Not sure what to motive is for the network. I how is not age related.
If anything, why not fire Mark with his huge ego and keep Christina for all her charm and class? Mark does more than irritate me, he is just plain obnoxious and having him take over each and every segment, which he obviously knows so little about, is a big, turnoff for me. Christina, I loved having you back on this type of show again, you will be so missed, as well as your daughters. You are so, loved!
Daytime programming is sad to say the least so Home and Family was a bright light in my and my husband’s morning. Sadly no more. Christina added class to the program. There is no chemistry between Debbie and Mark and Debbie’s voice and “look at me” attitude is very grating. If she could not make it on the View why would one think she would be a good hostess? So sad for Christina, the viewers and Hallmark.
I was wondering where Cristina was, thought maybe she was on a long vacation. I looked on your website, no mention of her. Looked on google to find out that Cristina was let go. Can’t believe it, I don’t care for Debbie, makes faces when people on the show say something about being a Christian. What is up with that, too hyper for me. I loved the show, now I am not sure I will tune in. Sad, Sad, Sad.
Christina was out of touch. Too high brow for today’s audience. In a recent show she chided Mark for thinking that a featured tropical vacation at an highly exclusive destination was expensive. She replied in a disgusted tone, indicating that he was being cheap, that she would buy him the vacation. It was ioffensive. Not everyone can have the name Ferarre and Delorean as part of their name.
No !!! That was a nasty thing to fire the person more responsible than Mark for the show being such a huge success. I won’t watch the show anymore AT ALL !!! Funny I always looked forward to watching every day.
Debbie just doesn’t have the home like feel that Cristina always brought to your show.
BIG MISTAKE.
I am extremely disappointed with the Home and Family Show and the network’s decision to replace Christina. She was truly an asset to the show. Her history on television and her excellent skills as a host were the reason many of us in the 40-50 age range consistently watched the show. The show has definitely lost it’s appeal in my opinion and I’m done with it. I will no longer watch the show.Best wishes to Christina. I hope to see her on another network very soon.
Just realized Christina is gone. Very sad. I do not enjoy watching Debbie, so guess I will change viewing choice. This is unfair to the viewing audience. Christina was such a class act!
I miss Christina, she made the show. I will not be watching as I did before she left. Good Luck Christena!
1st of all, H & F shouldn’t have been underhanded in getting rid of Christina! If it was due to age, then they should have gotten rid of Mark, too, because he is so boring & not warm at all! What’s done is done, but I will no longer be watching. None of those people on the show care about anyone else but themselves. Debbie didn’t need to take the job if she was a true friend, but she’s in it for herself! The show will slowly go downhill because of their dishonesty & because Christina is gone!
I just found out that Christina will no longer be on Home and Family. Very sad that she’s been fired. For what reason? I have been following her since we lived in Michigan … During the Delorean days.
I believe Hallmark is ruthless in their dealings with much loved and admired “Stars” ….. For instance …. Dropping the Marie Osmond show.
How sad that Debbie just does not have talent to be a talk show cohost…I try to look at just Mark because Debbie has that strange look/smile?? She continues to dominate every scene…give it up. Get someone else if not Christina.
I too was wondering this morning what happened to Cristina so I googled and found this. I am so disappointed she will not return to the show. Honestly, Debbie doesn’t even come close to Cristina as a co-host. I frankly am tired of her already and was hoping Cristina was coming back. I do believe Home & Family lost another viewer!