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 stopped watching Home and Family when you got rid of Christine and have not watched it since and never will unless she comes back to show.
Ditto.
It has been one year since Christina was fired . I am still sad over it and miss seeing her smiling face. I still watch Home and Family, but not on a regular basis anymore. It is not the same without Christina. Please bring her back!!
She’s gone on to better things. She’s not coming back to that disgraceful program, and I can’t blame her, although if she did come back, I would start watching again, too.
I don’t know why Cristina Ferrare was fired. She was the real reason I watched Home and Family. Now it disturbs me to see clips from the show, and I have no interest to watch the Home and Family program. I do not watch anymore. I don’t think this Debbie is as good as Cristina was. Should have left well enough alone…
I do not watch anymore. Age discrimination at its subtle best. The show is hokey.
I stopped watching shortly after Cristina left. I have not read a lot about it, but if this program is about “Home & Family” why would the “older woman (mother) get replaced? That is not what a family oriented program is supposed to do. She is so pretty and sweet, and I think a lot of older women were upset. When are you Hollywood executives going to stop treating women like they are goods to be tossed out when they age – as if they did something wrong. What older woman do is gain seasoning, life experience and that makes… Read more »
You do know, Cristina is NOT the original host! Please research before writing
The show premiered in April 1996 on The Family Channel. Cristina Ferrare and Chuck Woolery were the hosts.
I think you are the one that needs to do the research! Lol
Christina was indeed the original host, after a couple of years was replaced with Page, and then became the host again with Mark, and now Debbie M. replaced Christina
Actually, Justamea, Cristina WAS the original host from Home and Family when it was on in 96-98 with Chuck Woolery. Once they took it to Hallmark and redid it with Mark, she took Paige Davis place. Paige “left” because she was pushed out when they thought that Cristina, having been in the original show, would bring better ratings…which she did.
I’ve watched the Home and Family show from time to time and I enjoyed Cristina Ferrare I thought she did an excellent job. I was under the impression she took time off because she needed a break. Someone had said she was ill. But you know rumors. I have nothing against the new co-host Debbie I’ve watched her personality and she seemed to be a go getter. Does a good job. It’s a little hard warning up to her. I figured it had to do with the age thing though. I enjoy the show nevertheless. I’ve often wondered though is… Read more »
No it’s not a Christian oriented show. Christina said a prayer of thanks once, and right after that, she was GONE! All the fans were wondering if that was the reason they fired her. It was probably a part of it, but ultimately it was that they wanted someone younger (who doesn’t pray) instead of Christina. Since leaving the show, Christina has been ill and under extended treatment, so it’s worked out better for her that she didn’t have the H&F rats nest to deal with on top of everything else.
OOPS!!! Didn’t mean to say “Before Christina”. Should have been BCL (Before Christina Left). But as long as I’m here again…will someone on the staff PLEASE get Debbie to stop looking at herself in the monitors? I only tune in from time to time, but she’s still doing it.
If you had been a fan BC (Before Christina), you might better understand and respect the many “negative” comments you see here. In fact, I envy your enjoyment of the show today. You have no idea how much higher the bar had been set during Christina’s time on H&F.
exactly right!
I’m sorry I didn’t get to know Christina. She had a lot of friends watching. I haven’t been watching H&F that long, but I love it. I love the happiness and positive atmosphere. Not much laughter around these days. I record the show everyday and look forward to turning on some informative happiness when home. I enjoy the chemistry between the hosts. They seem very respectful of each other. And I love how Mark is so attentive of Debbie & other female guest and very good looking. I look forward to seeing what Debbie is wearing, she’s really cute &… Read more »
The show now is but a shadow of what it used to be. It is fortunate for the H&F people that you didn’t watch before when Christina was on, because you have nothing to compare it to. Had you seen how lovely the show was when Christina was the hostess, I have NO DOUBT you would understand the negative comments. This show is a poor reflection of what it used to be. It will never be what it used to be. All the comments come from knowing what the show was, and how poorly they treated Christina, and the viewers.… Read more »
Valerie, I so agree withyour reply to Diane Thomas. I really don’t like to be mean or negative, but…. I can’t imagine someone liking this show now if they saw it when Cristina was the host. Debbie and Mark are so into themselves, rude and condescending to guests, I can’t watch it. Debbie cannot cook as well as my 11 year old grand daughter. It’s just another show with fake smiles and emotions for the camera.
So sad as Cristina was truly the heart of the show. That can’t be replaced! I think you should get on your hands and knees and beg her back after you sincerely apologize to her and the show’s supporters.
I so unhappy that Christina was fired because you wanted younger people on the show. She was the heart of the show. And Christina was my age which I could relate to. I have followed Christina since she was in the impossible years. It’s a shame that you don’t care about your older viewers.
Debbie seems to feel like she has to scream over everyone. She needs a chill pill. But you have lost this 66yr. old viewer.
Home & Family was one of my favorite shows. I always recorded it to watch in my spare time. Since Christina is gone … not so much anymore. I watch certain guest and skip over many other things. Debbie tends to overdo everything … seems to be trying too hard. Not enjoyable to watch. Sure, she is younger but since I am a senior lady myself … I enjoyed the grace, maturity and humor Christina brought to the show. In other words, she is why I watched the show everyday. Also, I love crafts but must say some of those… Read more »
I agree with you 100%.
I can’t watch the show anymore totally. Since Cristina left or got fired the show is very uninteresting. Cristina was for sure the heart and sole of the show. Too bad for all of us. I was a daily watcher but no more.