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 so sorry to see Cristina leave. She was a breath of fresh air every morning. Truth be told, I enjoyed her more than I do Mark. Won’t watch anymore!
SHAME on Hallmark. She is a beautiful, elegant role model. I am thinking “age discrimination” is going on here.
Classy just walked out the door. This doesn’t feel like home anymore.
VERY BAD DECISION GETTING RID OF CHRISTINA!!!!!!
SHAME ON YOU HALLMARK CHANNEL – CAN’T STAND DEBBIE – SHE THINKS SHE’S ALL THAT AND MORE – I JUST DECIDED NOT TO WATCH THE SHOW ANY LONGER. I AND I’M SURE MOST OF YOUR VIEWERS FEEL THE SAME WAY. PLEASE BRING DEBBIE BACK – MAYBE WHEN YOU SEE HOW YOUR RATINGS HAVE DROPPED – YOU WILL BEG CHRISTINA TO COME BACK!!!
I just found out that Christina is not just on vacation. She added class and Christian spirit to the show that was so appealing to all ages in today’s crazy world. I will miss her. Prayers for peace and hope to Christina.
it is a HUGE mistake on the part of Hallmark and Home and Family to fire Cristina and replace her with Debbie….There is nobody that can bring the warmth and kindness to this show like Cristina did……I can not relate to Debbie in any manner…It saddens me that the network and the show have given no explanation to is decision….People have been very vocal and still no word…I have chosen to no longer be a viewer of Homa and Family or of Hallmark… Will not stand behind a company that feels is ok to treat people they they treated Cristina… Read more »
I think it’s the biggest mistake you have ever made —Debbie is good at her segments –but as a co-host she needs to wear appropriate clothing for day time
I missed a couple of shows and assumed Cristina was on vacation. Today I went to the website and sadly found out she will not be returning. Cristina made Home and Family the best family show on TV. Hallmark you made a big mistake!!
I think Christina was treated very badly by a classy network. I missed some days and no idea she was not coming back. She deserved better
I have been wondering where is Christina? I thought she was ill but am sad to hear she has been replaced, I used to love her cooking segments, I am sure Debbie will do a fine job however she is much younger than I and I can’t relate to her so sadly I will not be watching anymore. so long Home and Family 🙁
I could not agree more with all of the comments expressing disdain for the rude dismissal of Cristina. Her departure does not seem to have been by choice. I have lost respect for Hallmark and what it supposedly represented. Cristina was the “heart” of the show. Big mistake on Hallmark’s part. I tried watching while thinking Cristina was on vacation. I didn’t like it, but figured I would deal with it until Cristina came back. I won’t be watching any more. It no longer feels like “home” nor “family”.
I will really miss Cristina..she is Home..warm and inviting! Class act! The show had a amazing flow..Now it’s just too fast! Going to really miss watching!
That’s it for Home and Family and the Hallmark Channel altogether. I loved the cooking segments with Christina and I thought she went well with Mark. I hope another channel picks up Christina soon and when Mark is out maybe He can join Christina.Never watching that channel again. I like Kym but it’s not enough.
A terrible mistake to replace a class act like Cristina Ferrare, especially in such a classless way. The show will not only lose viewers (myself included), but will most likely fail to draw a new and loyal audience, and therefore bring the end to the show and the talented cast, whose best has always been encouraged by Cristina. So terribly sad at this time when good shows are hard to find on the networks. Guess Hallmark has fallen into that group.
I don’t like it when any changes happen to shows I really like and watch daily or weekly. It really hurts me too to find out there is discord amongst the “stars”, on the shows. Like Aunt Bea and Andy Taylor hating each other, or Chrissy Snow and Janet &Jack. And God only knows the real truth like on, The View or The Talk!! I’d rather know the truth all along. I know it’s just a job and I haven’t always loved my coworkers. Just tell us the truth!