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 record the program daily and watch it later. But, now, instead of watching two hours, I can watch the whole program in thirty or forty-five minutes. I skip over most of the parts that hve Debbie. She tries to out do everyone on the show .
And the redecorating that she did made the once warm and inviting house into a cold atmosphere.
Are the ratings slipping? I’ve noticed that you are using special co-hosts for several days or even a week. Do you think this will help the show?
There aren’t enough co hosts in the world to save what they have done to this program. It’s a train wreck now compared to what it used to be.
I loved Cristina and she was a sweetheart, but now we must wish Debbie the very best. Debbie is a very talented woman and she works very well with Mark. There is absolutely no good reason to put Debbie down like many of the comments have done. Even Cristina loves her and visa versa. So, let’s give Debbie a chance. I’m sure Cristina would want that! To Cristina: I wish you nothing but love and happiness. The producers should have you on the show a lot so you can make nummy things in the kitchen and show everyone that you… Read more »
I must disagree. Debbie is not a good host. She talks over everyone, wants to be on camera at all times, over acts with fake exaggerated expressions, crying and laughing . She cannot cook at all. Cristina at first thought Debbie and Mark were her friends but found out later they were not. Debbie has been on and fired from several shows in the last 20 years. She will never be a talented host like Cristina and I would never support someone who stabs a friend and mentor in the back.
I don’t think it was completely Debbie’s fault that Cristina was fired, but that doesn’t make her a good replacement for Christina. She is loud and shallow. Christina was gracious and warm. I don’t think you can say Debbie is ‘warm’ at all. She tries and fails to be gracious, because you can’t learn that from a book. I think Christina got thrown under the bus by her co workers, because they were trying to save their own skins. Debbie has the job now, and fine for her. They have been hoping people will forget Christina and give Debbie a… Read more »
This is just not true! Cristina found out later that Mark and Debbie were NOT her friends. And NO we do not have to wish Debbie the best. She is not a good host and acts immature and over does everything. That is fine if thats how you feel but don’t lecture others about what their opinion is.
Yes, I miss Cristina being on the show plus Tanya too so because they are gone I don’t watch the show that much anymore!!!
Why Is she Not on the show no more…
She was fired by Woody Fraser, the producer of the show, because she was TOO old. I am boycotting anything that is Hallmark related.
I’ve been wondering what happened to Tanya. Does anyone know?
they got rid of her quietly, just like they got rid of others. Since this approach worked so well before, they tried using it on Christina and it backfired. People took notice of their sneaky dealings finally. The show and its producers are poor examples of what Home and Family stands for. Stopped watching a year ago, and I refuse to purchase Hallmark products, and encourage everyone else to do the same. That’s the only thing they understand. Hit them in the wallet.
Yes, I miss Christina! I only watch now whenever you have a guest worth watching. Christina was a wonderful host and worked well with Mark. Too bad you choose someone who might have a “younger” touch. Sometimes age comes with expertise on what people want to watch/hear. I love the Hallmark Channel, which I will continue to watch the movies, etc, but will only watch H & F with the guests I enjoy watching. I wish Christina the best always!
I miss Cristina. I don’t watch the show anymore. Too bad, it was one of my favorites!
I quit watching Home and Family after I heard you chose Debbie to replace Christina. I have not watched since. Christina was Home and Family! Mark should have been replaced. Now you just have 2 pretty faces. You are missing the heart and love Christina brought to the show! I watch other things at that time.
Not surprised that the negative comments are still coming in. I was a loyal…or, more accurately, addicted….viewer for so long and keep hoping my old H&F will come back. I tune in maybe twice a month just to see what’s happening and continue to be disappointed. And, as so many of us have commented, What you did was bad enough, but the Way you did it was deplorable.
I thought I found I gold mine the day many years ago. When I found H&F… It was like going home to a warm beautiful place. I never missed a show. One day Cristina was not on. I thought something terrible happened to Cristina. Well, to my surprise I looked up on the internet too find out something terrible happened…To the show and Thank the heavens above Cristina was alright! But the show is not at all the same. Cristina was the home and spirit of the H&F show. I do not watch the show anymore..To me the home and… Read more »
I haven’t watched since Cristina !!! Miss her :((
I have watched since 2013. I will not watch it anymore. I loved Christina on the show. I thought there was good chemistry on the show when Christina was on. I won’t be watching unless you ring her back.
Yes, I miss Cristina. So warm, plesant and fun to watch.
Yes I miss Cristina!
Miss Cristina she made the show Mark and Christina had such great chemistry. Not a big fan of Debbie to hyper for me. Paige would have been better. Will rethink my TV choices
I miss Christina. She represented my age group. Finding I do not watch the show as much now. The show is loud and just a little too much most days . Christina grounded the show. I miss her warmth and kindness. The kindness seems fake now
I feel it’s a big mistake! and I’m 53 yr’s old loved the show and my girl’s watched it with me. No more go ahead with your replacement! she might be younger, but not as sweet or talented. Really sad for the show to many fake blondes!!
I miss Cristina, will not be watching H&F anymore. Change is good but in this case,,,,,not good