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 am no longer watching H&F. Debbie is far to fake with her over excitment, phony tears and constence reference to her Greek heritage, we got it already your Greek, Debbie. Mark without Cristina is boring. He thinks he’s funny and no one seems to have the backbone to tell him he isn’t, he comes across as a self centered, I’m good looking host with no talent. What does he do except insult others. You had a winning show with Cristina now all you have is a show that can’t keep viewers interest and two hosts that spend most of… Read more »
I was actually going to leave a comment on he hallmark website on how poor the show has been in the last 2 weeks when Debbie has been the host
if your intention was to attract a younger crowd with Debbie that was a poor choice for a new host so if the show is going to be anything like the past 2 weeks I probably watch something else
I have sort of felt for a long time that Debbie was making a move toward co-hosting. They said that Hallmark made the decision to make Debbie the co-host. Was that based on. People in Debbie’s age group? I don’t even believe they watch Hallmark. Trash is what young people like today. I watched it yesterday for a little while and watched today for a few minutes, and Debbie tears up at the least little thing. All the other people on there were standing there, looking so ridiculous with fake smiles on their faces. Wasn’t Debbie’s other job enough for… Read more »
Sorry to see Christina go! Very classy lady
I have been watching for a few years and enjoyed the fun ideas knowing that I could watch without something inappropriate being shown. Christina was the matriarch of the show and will be missed yes. She worked well with Mark. I have read good and not so nice things about her from other fans and have decided that I will probably continue to watch and make my own judgement. Yes Debbie can be over zealous at times and somewhat annoying, but she is young and will hopefully find her “spot”. I think she is trying too hard because she has… Read more »
Debbie is 41 and Mark is 52.
Middle aged
So very sad to see that Christina is gone from my favorite show. She was a breath of fresh air and always made me feel so happy when watching the show. She and mark had such a chemistry together. I will really miss her and time will tell how much the show will remain the same and keep me watching. So sad that Hallmark made this decision and didn’t consider the feelings of all the viewers.
So terribly upset with the Hallmark channel, home & family, and Woody Fraiser for letting Cristina go and the way they handle the announcement on air. No one will replace Cristina, her charm, grace, kindness, her faith in God and you go and give the cohost position to Debbie really are you kidding there is no comparison, Cristina is such a lady something Debbie knows nothing about. Cristina put the viewers first!!!! The hallmark channel, home and family and Woody should be ashamed, I’m sure your ratings will suffer for this cause Cristina is the reason we all tune in… Read more »
Absolutely right, Marie. I will also be looking for her on other shows, because she is someone so gracious and lovely, that she is worth watching wherever she goes
I have been a loyal viewer for years, but I now will no longer watch the show. What a HUGE mistake to remove Christina as cohost. She was definitely the glue that held the “family” together. Maybe you think that Debbie will bring in a younger set of viewers but I do not think so. She changes the show’s dynamics, which in turns, upsets the entire reason the show previously had worked so well . You need to get Cristina back or I don’t see another season for this show at all.
Why Cristina?? I find Mark a bully and so stuck on himself. Cristina brought us older women feeling good about ourselves… get rid of the annoying egostistic Mark.
I watched the first 10 minutes (or until they went to break) and the last 10 just hoping that the producer had changed his mind and was going to bring Cristine back. He didn’t. She wasn’t mentioned at all. HOWEVER, at the end of the program when they roll the closing credits Debbie looked in the direction of the new crafter and asked “You WILL be back tomorrow won’t you? We don’t have anybody left!” And the couch was cleared. NO one was left for certain. If this is true and the remainder of the cast (Kym, Orly, Dan, and… Read more »
I am shocked that you would feel Debbie could replace Cristina. In the past two weeks I have become more annoyed watching as Debbie rubs her arm insinuating a chill while talking to guests. Annoying!! The audience for Home and Family is not a young demographic but people like myself over 50. Cristina communicated with people like me and it is a real shame that you Hallmark would feel it necessary to replace her with a younger person who has no connection to things from Hallmark but with dingy clothing and award shows. I’m not watching this show any longer.
I totally agree that this show was appreciated by a more mature audience and Cristina was someone that we could relate to .
I am disappointed in the way it was done. I could see a take over pushy times on the show. Shame on everyone.
I will no longer watch this show. I am so sorry that this station has turned out to be just as underhanded as other bad stations. Your fans love you. Please keep your chin up, will be praying for you.t
End for me ! bad move Debbie is not anywhere near the class of Cristina too abrasive!
I will probably still watch as I do love Debbie but I was so happy that Cristina was co host of this show. I am sad that she is gone. I feel it was a bad move by the network if it was their decision and not hers. She was a good balance for the show and appears to be so kind and genuine. Had a lot to offer.
I love Cristina, please bring her back! Nothing against Debbie, but Cristina is the one who makes the show! I don’t know how you made that decision but it is so wrong! Older and more experience is better!!!