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?
Why is it conceived that Debbie is the chosen one? I feel it is an injustice when women are pushed out of their jobs because they are older when men run businesses and hold political office as long as they can crawl. What a double standard!! I will no longer be watching H&F as I don’t care to hear about Debbie’s child everyday. Others on the program have children but you don’t have to hear about them daily. As for me I feel you have made a bad decision.
Thinking I may have missed the send off for Christina, I decided to check into it. I am a daily viewer and having just found out what went down, am extremely disappointed in Hallmark. Make no mistake, I feel that all contributors on the show are excellent, as was Christina in her host role. This unfortunate decision ” screams” of age discrimination and lack of understanding of the target audience. Once again, the Hallmark Channel is merely a reflection of a country that does not value experience, wisdom, and dedication. The combination of Mark and Christina is what set the… Read more »
Absolutely agree ,age discrimination !!!
Miss Christina and her classy contributions to show…The show is becoming too much like an Inside Edition vs real home and family issues. SO SAD!! I really enjoyed it previously.
Amen shame on them and the way they pushed her out because of age not a good decision on home n family I have watched it since day one Debbie tries to hard not as a natural as Christina as u can c Debbie doesn’t have a cooking segments hands on they have guest cooks doing the cooking she might stir this is a let down to the viewer sooo disappointed
Didn’t watch the show much ….but now that Cristina is no longer on it….I won’t be watching it at all….bad decision on Hallmarks part to let her leave.
Won’t be watching Home and Family anymore–Christina was the very heart of the show!
I’m very very disappointed in home and family . Will not watch the show without Cristina. It’s not good anymore . Not crazy about mark and Debbie m is extremely annoying. Too bad for me and everyone else.
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF A DAYTIME TALK SHOW STARRING CRISTINA? SHE WOULD BE OUTSTANDING. I’M TIRED OF THE KELLY, WENDY SHOWS, ETC. SHE SPEAKS HER MIND IN A LOVING WAY. I LIKE HER SHOWING HER LOVE OF GOD WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT. PLEASE BRING US GOOD GROWN UP, INTERESTING TALK SHOW.
Cristina’s voice will be greatly missed. She has class, style, and grace. Her personality & warmth made every show better. She was also a fantastic cook. I record the show but after viewing a few episodes without Cristina it just wasn’t the same. As a young business woman, I understand that networks think younger is better. However, the network entertainment shows are full of all the same people type and programming. If you see one, you’ve seen them all. Change is usually good but not in this instance. Perhaps this was a decision to improve ratings, so good luck to… Read more »
What idiot made this decision?
Woody Fraser, the jerk who did this!
I saw a rerun of the show where Woody Frazer told why he, being the person he is, doesn’t make mistakes. He touted his many successful shows. Very arrogant man. Guess what? Firing Christina is the very first mistake you’ve ever made in your life. Uck
Woody Fraser is the person who hired her. I watched some of her first H&F shows when she had replaced someone else and she stated that back then.
I was sorry to Christina is no longer on the show. Certainly hope it wasn’t do to age. That would upset me. I do like Debbie and wish her the best on the show.
Like many others I at first thought it was an extended vacation. When nothing was said about her absence I decided to do a search and am shocked that this has taken place. Christina was an excellent host of the show. Will watch and see what Debbie brings to the show.
This is very sad and disappointing !! This is one of my favorite tv shows and there really isn’t much to watch on daytime tv. Christina was the main reason I watched Home and Family . Please bring her back !!
I am very concerned with the way Hallmark Channel handled Cristina Ferrare’s departure. As much as the network tries to make it seem like an amicable situation and promotion for another of its own, it very much looks like Cristina was just cast aside without proper regard nor respect for her involvement, presence, and contribution to the show. It’s even more suspicious that Cristina did not have a proper send-off from the show and its family cast. It makes one wonder: did it have anything to do with age and or looks? I really like Hallmark Channel and its programming,… Read more »
I think Christina connected better to the medium to mature age audience. Although Debbie is good, she can never replace Christina! Sad for Hallmark decision.
This a big mistake. I am not watching the show anymore. Christina brought the show class. Debbie does not fill her shoes!!
I hate to see Cristina goned. Debbie is nice but she will not fill Cristina’s shoes in my opinion. Have only watched it a couple times since Cristina’s untimely departure.