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?
If age was the reason Christina was booted it doesn’t make sense to continue calling the program Home and Family. It should be renamed. Don’t homes and families consist of people of all ages? Christina may have been older than Debbie but the show was still inclusive of those of any age. The way this was done sends a poor message which says that as you get older you decrease in value. Older people have had more life experience, are more interesting, and can relate to people of all ages because they have been there themselves. It is ironic that… Read more »
I am very disappointed in the Hallmark channel and how they shoved Cristina Ferrare out!! If you wanted Debbie, why did you do it on the sly? Why didn’t you give her a lovely sendoff? I loved her energy on the show. I am in Cristina’s demographic and I realize you want to appeal to a younger audience. I don’t like how you did it!!!! It was VERY unHallmark of you!!! I like you are missing the point going to a Younger person. There are many things that Debbie can’t relate to; can’t remember because she wasn’t born, etc. All… Read more »
You guys suck.will miss her won’t watch anymore
Considering how many people liked Christina, I feel it must have been a rather quick change, possibly no one knew about it, except the people that do the change. This is normal in television. From what I understand I don’t know if anyone on television is able to have job security. However, even with all of the comments on this site, as well as other sites, which is over a couple of thousand, I hope Christina does not go back if they did ask her. What they might do is probably not keep Debbie, and possibly are looking for someone… Read more »
I was waiting for Christina to come back from vacation, and then the truth finally hit me. I Googled “what happened to Christina?” and couldn’t finish the question when several responses appeared on my screen. Of course, I’m saddened to learn that Christina’s beautiful face will no longer be gracing Home & Family. I, too, have been following her since she was with Steve Edwards, and missed seeing her until I landed on H&F one day and there she was. Since I work from home, I would watch every day because of Christina, but also because of the diversified themes.… Read more »
I too watched every day because of Christina she is one of the sweetest people. I totally agre with Gael Faulkner Gonzalez!!
I am also sad to see the changes to this program. I miss Christina. Debbie is nice, but she does not connect. I don’t watch as much now and will most likely find something else to fill my mornings.
Good morning everyone. Like everyone else Ive been waiting to see Christina back. The majority of watchers were in my age bracket and easily related to Christina, wasnt this the original intent to give us that homey feeling? I cannot relate to Debbie at all. She tries to hard to fit into Christinas shoes but simply put…..noone will ever fill those shoes. Im retired, dont care about latest fashions or whats happening in Hollywood. It seems that H&F/Hallmark is pushing an agenda geared towards the liberal side and political correctness, big mistake. Now I know…Im nobody and my $300 a… Read more »
Very disappointed that Matt R. would take that position about viewers’ right to know why Christina disappeared. Our concern and curiousity speak to the overwhelming amount of respect and connection we felt with her. If Matt R. is even half the man I thought he was, he would surely understand that.
I think it stinks, won’t be watching anymore!!!!!
Please bring Christa back. There is and was an audience that related to her. It is not a good match with the new co-host and Mark. He is trying too hard to make it work and it is just silly. Hallmark must realize their fan base is middle age and older. Just not the same show. Mark better watch out he will be next with Hallmark trying to correct a mistake.
As I read these comments I realize, I like many others are disappointed as we were in Cristina’s demographic and feel disinfranchised yet again with this young group. I agree, Debbie is NOT Cristina, and I DO worry that Mark will be next!
I am greatly saddened by the absence of Cristina Ferrare. I have followed her since she was with Steve Edwards. She is so talented, beautiful, and has a great personality. I will not be watching this show any more. As far as I am concerned this was a major mistake….What a lose for the network
The show is no longer the same DOUMB move Hallmark Cristina Ferrare made that show u have lost a lot of viewers by letting her go and I’m sure u will lose a lot more u replace her with a blonde bimbo that no one seems to care for we the viewers make ur rateings all we can hope for is u lose so many viewers u have no choice but bring Cristina back or be canceled that’s my hope cause the u replace her with
Christina really added a flare of just an everyday person . She was very down to earth like a true friend and asked questions or commented at everyday people’s level. You’ve lost my interest in the show without her. I’m sure my not viewing is not a loss to you but the show is a loss to me.
Very sad to see Cristina gone from home and family. She and Mark had a chemistry that is not there with Debbie.. Debbie is a very sweet and beautiful woman, but Cristina has the umph in the show… Cristina and Mark fed off of each others personalitys. Please bring her back.. I miss watching home and family
Hope you don’t mind that I pop in to comment from time to time, but Valerie A. is on the money with “forced hysteria”. I keep trying to give H&F one more chance, but today I couldn’t hit the clicker fast enough. And Mark is going overboard explaining Debbie’s few days away. Wish they’d kept us as informed about Christina’s sudden departure….”canning peaches” my eye!