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 was in a bad car accident and am afraid to drive. I am basically pretty much housebound when I ran across Home & Family (my safe place). I immediately fell in love with Christina. She made it feel “like home”. I like Debbie but Christina is more my age and I felt connected with her, her beliefs and morals. She was one classy woman. I am disappointed to hear,, or better yet, NOT HEAR. What happened. I thought we were family. I guess not. I feel like we were lied to. Recharging as Mark said. Seriously?? The chemistry is… Read more »
I loved watching this show and Cristina was the reason why. She’s such a warm and beautiful lady and so fun to watch, and makes you feel like she’s inviting you into her own home every day. They aren’t saying why Cristina has left, i hope she is ok. I don’t think i will be viewing any longer, i watched a half an hour this morning and the new girl just kept loudly “whoo-hooing” the whole time…it was kind of annoying. By Hallmark…by Cristina, i wish you well.
She didn’t even say goodbye. Mark said she was welcome back anytime. No explanation. She has said she loved H & F and it was an honor to be part of it so why? I think we all want to know. My best wishes to her and hope all is well with her and her real family. H & F will not be the same.
I love Christina and really disappointed she has been replaced. She appealed to the mature viewers. She is so classy.
I have watched Home and Family since day one. I like Debbie on the show, but not as co-host. I was so looking forward to Cristina returning. I’m assuming Cristina was replaced because the show wanted a “younger” face. I thought the name “Home and Family” meant just that, that Cristina was family. I’m so disappointed with this announcement that I will no longer be watching the show.
I have a slow cable connection so I missed Mark’s speech on Christina’s departure. Only caught the “you are welcome to come and cook with us” statement. Sorry Mark, but shortly aftet that I changed the channel. Was it her decision or the network ? 🙁
I won’t be watching the show anymore, Cristina made the show. Don’t care for Debbie she’s to stuck on herself. She’s always interrupts ppl. when they are talking. Constantly looking at herself in the monitor. It’s a shame, it was a good show.
I am SO disappointed that Cristina is no longer with the show. Cristina and Mark together made the show. I am changing the channel.
What is going on?????? I loved the show mostly due to Christina……….She handles Mark’s dumb humor with grace. Debbie is okay with filling in but not for full time……I was eagerly waiting for Christina to return but now I will stop watching evety day…..BIG MISTAKE……..
So sad to see christina leave. Please explain why she left. Debbie is fine but…nothing like christina was. We will all miss her. She and Mark were the heart of the show.!
I am very sad to learn that Cristina will no longer host the Home and Family show. I hope that it was her idea and not the network’s way of booting out the older people. I recently retired after teaching for 40 years and was looking forward to watching the show every morning. I am not so excited to watch it now. Debbie is a sweet girl but senior citizens do not have a lot in common with her nor much with the other staff. I would think that since there are so many baby boomers, a smart network would… Read more »
I have waited and waited for Christina to come back and now as a woman of 60 but vital and active I looked FORWARD to the nice balance of ages on the show. I am so disheartened that Hallmark let her go (or did you make her go because of age please tell me no). The show will never be he same without her sparkle and fun. Please fix this awful mistake and bring Christina back.
I am so sad to se Cristina go. She was a big reason I watched the show. I am also very disappointed in the way the shows executives chose to handle it, acting like she was just taking time off. I resent being treated like a child. Tell it like it is and let fans know what is going on. I don’t agree that Debbie M. Is the best replacement. I guess I’m through watching.
So sorry to see Christina go. Hope all is well. She was a big part of the show. I’m sure the new co-host is very nice, but Christina bought such a nice, calming, natural sweetness to the show. Nothing was forced.
Very sad to see Cristina gone. She was such a wholesome person that we could relate to. She had a very caring and giving way about her. That is what you want to see on Home and Family. Tanya is also missed. I will no longer be watching like I used to. The show won’t be the same. The family is getting rid of their members
Rhonda D
I totally agree. I don’t think the Hallmark executives thought this through. In my opinion, Cristina WAS the show. Obviously the suits made a big mistake, bad decision guys!. I won’t be watching Home & Family anymore. Also, they got rid of Tanya Memme. Why did you do this? You are going to lose many viewers. I have nothing against Debbie, but she does not have Cristina’s charisma.