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 am in mourning after hearing Mark’s shocking announcement this morning.
I was already missing Tanya, and now Cristina! Who’s next? Is this how we treat family?
Why all of these changes…first, Michael Strahan now Cristina Ferrare! I loved watching both of these hosts now the shows just aren’t the same!! I’m sure you will lose a lot of viewers, me being one!
Wow! Goodbye Home and “Family”. Letting go of Christina for a new face is terrible. She is one classy woman who treated everyone with grace and respect. Was she just too old for you? Just another talk show now. I am so glad she is not I’ll. Shame on you Mark and the rest of the execs who had a say in this matter.
Having Cristina leave is a huge mistake. She is what made Home and Family so different from all the other talk/entertainment/diy shows. I will no longer be watching! I also thought it was very unprofessional the way it was announced without showing any appreciation to Cristina. Frankly, I am very tired of Debbie’s tears and goose bumps on nearly every episode—very insincere. Big mistake Hallmark Channel. I hope the show gets cancelled!
Unbelievable, the way this went down! I’ve watched daily, seems Cristina was what held the show together. Her calm manner and the ease she had with cooking and projects was enjoyable. With the new host, the atmosphere will be a little jolting I’m afraid. I felt With Christina, that said H&M.
Very sad that Cristina is no longer on the show. I won’t be watching any longer.
Cristina was THE person to co-host with Mark. She actually feels like family. I like all of the contributors but Cristina was genuine. She added her personal warmth to the show. I have a Tivo One Pass for the show and always made sure that I viewed it. It certainly doesn’t have the same attraction without Cristina. It is a sad day to learn she was replaced! Hallmark needs to reassess it’s values. We already have enough superficial people on tv. WE NEED MORE FAMILY, AND CRISTINA IS FAMILY! Please wake up and have a Family Reunion by bringing her… Read more »
I hastily posted a comment earlier speculating on Cristina’s health. I have since seen the updates and Cristina’s facebook post. So happy to hear she is well. Hallmark, you are going down the toilet like all the other t.v. stations. I’m done!
Debbie is nice but she can’t possibly replace Cristina. Cristina was the anchor, the glue. Her beauty, kindness and grace came through the screen. I like Mark but he doesn’t seem to know whento knock off the dumb jokes. That is only funny the first few times you hear it then it becomes very annoying. Cristina brought balance. I don’t see Debbie in that role. What is strange for me is I discovered Home and Family was back just a year ago and I was so excited. Cristina and Kym were my favorites on the original, and on this one… Read more »
When my daughter called me with the sad news of Cristinas departure I was devastated. I will never watch this talk show again. Prior to Paige leaving I was getting close to not watching it anymore. When they announced that Cristina would be joining them, I was overjoyed with enthusiasm. I am a few years older than Cristina so I have had the opportunity to watch her on television and it has always been with class, dignity, laughter, seriousness and the list goes on. She can never be replaced by Debbie or anyone else. I like Debbie and with no… Read more »
Sorry! I was so upset while typing this I spelled executives wrong and much!!!
Cristina’s fun and believable banter with the bimbo co-host Mark was what make this show tolerable. Having decided that your viewers were too stupid to realize that Cristina wasn’t coming back and not allowing us to say good bye to her fans tell us just how you feel about your viewers, you don’t care. It’s all about the me me’s co-host(s). Well just finished deleting future recordings just like you deleted millions of viewers who may or may not be senior viewers and Woodie it’s not like you’re a Spring Chicken either.
I cannot believe what arragant idiots they r if they think the young crowd (which i am) would ever want Christina replaced! Smart, beautiful the most entertaing on that show.Cooled feuds between Mark andthe diy lady…unreal keep the idiot guy but get rid of the true talent ,replace talent with another anorexic blonde..yeah just what us YOUNG PEOPLE NEED ANOTHER ANOREXIC LIE IN FRONT OF US POSING AS TALENT…GOODBYE HOME AND FAMILY…NOT FAMILY LIKE AT ALL!! I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR THE CANCELLATION DATE!
BIG mistake letting Cristina go!!!!!
Shirley Greenhalgh
I am so sad and disappointed. I thought Christina was “on vacation”. For the last two years I have DVRd every Home and Family episode just to watch Christina and Mark as a co-host couple. Together they made a fun an exciting show. I love all the other family members but not as permanent co-hosts. Temporary co-host for either one just didn’t make the grade. Now that Christina is no longer a co-host I will cancel the Home and Family event from my dvr list. Hallmark you have made a BIG mistake by removing Christina. She was an asset to… Read more »
Good bye, Home & Family. Now, you are just another talk show. I won’t be wasting two hours of my time in the afternoon to watch any longer. Cristina’s personality and sweet spirit is what made this show different than the rest. Now, you’re left with more nonsense and silliness and a very few “family members” who are really gifted and talented. Just a bunch of fluff with not much substance. Not the way I’ll be spending my afternoons any longer.
Love Cristina. She is one main reason I tuned in everyday. Debbie is not my cup of tea. Cristina is one classy lady. My hubby and I have stopped watching. Not even a kind send-off for her!