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”m broken hearted that Cristina is off the show. There are many cooking shows, fashion shows, interview shows and health up date shows….only one Home and Family, and to me Home and Family Show was Cristina.
I will miss Christina dearly, but I also love Debbie. She will be great as Co/host of Home and Family!!! I love your show and will continue to watch!!!
WELL, EVERYONE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH IS FURIOUS WITH HALLMARK CHANNEL. DEBBIE WILL NEVER, EVER HAVE THE CLASS AND DIGNITY CHRISTINA HAS. BAAAD MOVE, HALLMARK CHANNEL. GOT A BIT TOO BIG FOR YOUR BRITCHES. THIS APPLIES TO THE “NEWBIE”, AS WELL.
I think it is more than sad that Christina is not on home and family anymore. I was flipping through the channels to find something good to watch and I seen Christina on home and family and that is why I started watching the show. What is even sadder is that there was no goodbye party for Christina on the show or anything they just let us believe that she was on vacation. But I read that they let her go because they needed a fresh face for season five.but when they explained it on home and family when they… Read more »
I will miss Christina, she was dearly loved, but I also love Debbie and she will be an asset to Home and Family!!!
Cristina Ferrare is, in my opinion, the one and only gracious hostess of Home and Family. She is a beautiful and lovely person. As much as we have enjoyed Debbie in a support role, she is not Cristina and unable to replace Cristina. You have lost yet another previously loyal viewer. Please bring her back and admit that you made a mistake! We have traveled to be in the audience in the past, but will no longer drive that far to see anyone else host the show.
I am very disappointed that Christina has left or was asked to leave “Home and Family”. She is one of the REASONS I watch because she keeps, what I believed Hallmark wanted, Christian influence to each day. Her Beauty, Character, Beliefs, and Confidence was what Morning Television needed!!! I’m not sure about Debbie. She’s younger which is probably what Hallmark is looking for. If so, that is so sad because young to older women love Hallmark. It gave those of us who are not “21” a good perspective, role model and a reason to watch. WHAT’S NEXT FOR HALLMARK???
I have been a long time Home and Family watcher, from the original before it was on Hallmark. I am very disappointed in this decision! I like so many others have said will not be setting my DVR…..Bring Cristina back!
A little Debbie goes a long way. Christina was so lovely, kind and compassionate. The way Christina’s departure was handled was inappropriate. The others,including Mark, should realize they are all expendable.
It was a very matter of fact when mark said Christina would not be back. I wonder what the real reason was. Very cold send off!!!!
Bad move. Christine made the show. She is the only reason I watched. Will probably not watch anymore.
Disappointed in hallmark channel portraying as God home and family would you do this to a family member? Christina will be missed won’t be the same a family member is missing!!
Just lost another viewer… Debs nice but the “homeliness” of the show is now gone.
I don’t think the show just got rid of Christina because they didn’t want her anymore. I think she might have something like Parkinsons. Not sure but I was noticing similar signs of it. She is a great person and I hope that the show will continue to have great success. My best to Christina and all she has in her future.
Very interesting……You say this. I had noticed a few things she was doing but thought they were talking in her ear and so she would seem a bit….hmmm, jerky movement, I can’t put my finger on it, but I had been noticing something. What did you see?
I noticed that too, but wasn’t sure.
I have been reading all the comments about Cristina “leaving” Home & Family and I agree, it is a shame we will no longer see her every day because of a decision made without much thought. You lose a lot of credibility with the viewers on how you handled everything concerning Cristina’s departure, especially not telling us why she is gone. Debbie is not going to add much to Home & Family, talking over everyone and interrupting the guests. I trust Cristina will read all these comments and realize how much she is loved and will be missed. Woody, watch… Read more »
I am happy for Debbie’s new position but will certainly miss Cristina. I always felt I would love to hang out with all the folks on Home & Family. Cristina was such a graceful entity as a host and welcoming as if one was entering her own home. I was glad for Debbie just being on this show because having seen her on The View I did not feel that she was appreciated or really treated with much respect on that show. Time will tell how Home & Family fares now.
Just read Christina Ferrare’s Facebook post. Then promptly turned off the show and deleted Home and Family from my DVR schedule. You’ve lost more than Christina…You’ve lost a loyal Hallmark customer and network follower.