Home & Family has a new co-host. Today, the Hallmark Channel announced Debbie Matenopoulos will replace Cristina Ferrare as co-host of the daytime talk show.
Ferrare has hosted the series alongside Mark Steines since 2012.
Read the full details below:
STUDIO CITY, CA, June 21, 2016 – Cristina Ferrare, longtime co-host of Hallmark Channel’s Daytime Emmy®-nominated daily series “Home & Family,” will depart the network’s popular original lifestyle program, it was announced today by Hallmark Channel. The network also announced that current “Home & Family” member Debbie Matenopoulos will immediately join Emmy® Award-winning journalist and series co-host Mark Steines as the series’ new co-host.
“Cristina Ferrare has been instrumental in making ‘Home & Family’ one of daytime’s most popular lifestyle series,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming & Publicity, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
“Cristina’s natural flair and expertise, along with her warmth and grace, set a standard for all of us at ‘Home & Family,’ and we are forever indebted to her.
“It is a great pleasure to promote ‘Home & Family’ regular contributor Debbie Matenopoulos to become Mark’s co-host. Debbie has quickly become an audience favorite among our family of multi-talented lifestyle experts and we look forward to Debbie’s continued unique and exciting contributions going forward.”
What do you think? Do you watch Home & Family? Are you sad to see Cristina leave?
I thought Cristina was on vacation, kept watching the show. Where is she?, why is no one mentioning her?, how is her vaca, where did she go?, when will she return??? Then after searching on line, the devastating news…Christina is not coming back. She and Mark made the show worth watching. Lost a long time fan. Bye bye.
I feel exactly the same way. My husband and I watched the show together daily and we both had wondered why she was taking such a long vacation. We won’t be watching anymore either.
Just finished reviewing above comments. I so totally agree about Cristina. This has become the new corporate culture release. ‘Get your stuff and get out’, makes no difference what value you bring to the business. I have recently retired and have seen this many, many times. If nothing else, Hallmark execs, pay attention to the common threads. 1)The viewers LOVE Cristina. 2) Viewers are not impressed with Debbie. She has a good look but not the expertise to support the role. I am an intermttent viewer, I watch whenever I can. However, I too will reset my dvr.
Debbie is loud, obnoxious and tirering. Mark is just a bore. Will NOT be watching the show.
As I was watching the rerun of Thursday’s opening show, I finally learned what happened to Cristina and am Definitely Sad. Thought she was on a lengthy vacation somewhere as we were never told. Cristina is a beautiful, warm, intelligent, kind individual filled with so much class. In other words, she is a REAL person in a world where many people seem to lack these values. I will truly miss her and will not mind as much if I miss the show some. Not saying anything negative but she was most definitely my Favorite on the show and the Heart… Read more »
I hope she was not pushed out because of age. I admire her, she was the life of the show.
We will all miss Cristina
Absolutely! Cristina MADE THE SHOW!!!! So gracious! Never bringing attention to herself but to others…..
I AM DEEPLY SADDENED BY CRISTINAS DEPARTURE, I THOUGHT SHE WAS A GREAT HOST ON HOME AND FAMILY, A FAVE SHOW OF MINE. WHILE I LIKE DEBBY VERY MUCH SHE CANNOT COMPARE TO CRISTINA FERRARI. SHE WILL BE SURELY MISSED. I HOPE THEY RECONSIDER.
I am distraught over Christina’s departure from Home & Family. It has been home for me everyday since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. It will no longer be home without Christina. I am glad you will have a season 5 but you will probably not see a 6th and frankly will be very surprised if season 5 is completed. Debbie no disrespect to you but Christina grounded the show and made it home. Hallmark you are disappointing your loyal watchers, you may want to rethink your programming strategy.
I’ve been waiting for Christina to come back, and was shocked to hear that she won’t be back!? Is It just me or does everyone on the show, seem to be trying to hard to be super excited? I don’t think Debbie has stopped smiling…where did the family go in Home and Family? I wonder if it was age or Christian’s close relationship with God that got her off the show. Just wondering what your thinking Hallmark?
I am not going to watch this show anymore. She was the reason I enjoyed it so much. You people at Hallmark will loose a lot of viewers for the disrespectful move.
I will no longer be watching the show.
What a very bad move and to think you replaced her with Debbie who doesn’t fit the show. What idiot decided on this change. What a slap in the face.
Again, I will not be watching as Debbie adds a shrill to the show. She needs to work somewhere else.
I am stunned beyond words that H & F let Cristina go. She was half of the heart and soul of the show, and whatever their reasons are, I want to thank Cristina for her true, deep love of the show and all connected with it. I also wish Debbie congratulations and continued success. I know she has Cristina’s blessing, love and support.
May I also say, that H & F had better not even think of replacing Mark. Most of the faithful just wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I am very disappointed about Cristina no longer being on home and family. I do not like Debbie. She is too fake. Cristina was so genuine and sincere and did such a good job in the kitchen. Debbie doesn’t know anything. I can’t believe there was no farewell
I will miss Christina. She started the show. I remember years ago when she started the show but it didn’t take off. I’m happy the show is doing well. It’s a family show which I am so thankful for. I like Debbie but I feel bad for Christina. I will dvr the show. I watch it when I can. I would rather see Christina as co-host.
That’s it for me. No more Hone & Family. I’ve been waiting for Christina to come back. Now that I know she’s not, I will no longer be tuning in to Hallmark in the mornings. Sad.
The show will not be the same without Cristina….I probably won’t continue to watch.