News

Home & Family’ Shocker: Longtime Co-Host Mark Steines Let Go Without Warning

June 1, 2018

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In a shocking move, Home & Family’s original host, Mark Steines, who has been with the show since October of 2012, was abruptly let go by the Hallmark Channel. From various reports, Steines was “blindsided by the news.”

Apparently, Steines was simply given an explanation that they were changing the show’s “creative direction.” A rep with knowledge of Steines’ deal told The Wrap that his contract was not up, and they expect to be paid out through its conclusion. Hallmark clarified on friday that there were no specific complaints about Steines’ behavior on or off the set.

Crown Media Family Networks only made a brief statement on its Twitter account Thursday, “Hallmark Channel has parted ways with Mark Steines as the co-host of the network’s lifestyle series Home & Family.”

Sadly, a rep for Steines said he was completely unaware that when he went to tape Wednesday’s episode that it would be his final one! Home & Family always tapes its episodes one day in advance of airing.

In an expanded statement released on Friday, Hallmark Channel expressed, “Shows evolve and change all the time. Mark has been an instrumental part of Home & Family for the past 6 years, and we are extremely grateful for his incredible work and leadership. We truly wish Mark all the best in his future endeavors.”

The Home & Family team, anchored by Steines and his most recent co-host, Debbie Matenopoulos, looked positively shocked when Debbie had to make the announcement of his sudden departure on the episode that aired today.

“We have a very hard announcement to deliver. Our dear friend, our very good friend, and my wonderful co-host for years, Mr. Mark Steines is no longer with Home & Family. He has been an amazing friend to all of us here at Hallmark Channel, the cast, the crew and a wonderful friend to all of you at home as well. And we are grateful to Mark, and we want to thank him from the bottom of our hearts for six of the most incredible years that he has had here hosting this incredible show that he helped build. He really did. He’s been here from the beginning and a lot of this show has Mark’s handprint on it, so we support him in everything he does in the future, his future endeavors. We will miss him dearly and we will think about him fondly and often and we thank you all at home for your kindness and understanding and your support and for being part of our family everyday.”

As soap opera fans know, Home & Family has been a great friend, offering full episodes of an All My Children reunion, a The Bold and The Beautiful anniversary show, a Y&R-centric show, and many more.

So, what do you think happened to Mark Steines? Why was he shown the front door at Hallmark? Is there more to the story than we know? Than just citing “creative differences?” Will Debbie Matenopoulos have a new male co-anchor?

Also on Friday’s episode of Home & Family, was former GH favorite, Ryan Paevey (Ex-Nathan West) who was on the show to promote his Hallmark Channel movie airing Saturday night: Marrying Mr. Darcy. Check out that clip below.

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Guest

Dzzdee

Wow I liked him a lot better than the women on that home and family. Was one of the reasons I watched the show. I don’t care for females hostesses. Other talk shows woman appear to be babbling always. Woman can’t be taken seriously in my opinion. Yes I’m a woman.

Guest

G N

Well they did the same thing to Cristina Ferrare too! Seems to be a pattern.

Guest

Llanviewer717

The same thought crossed my mind GN. Seems like ageism to me.

Guest

Lisa

Shock is right ! I remember when Mark left ET to do this new exciting show.
I wish him well in his next venture.

Guest

Michelle Mccluskey

I am very sad about this ! He is the the show and makes it worth watching ! BIG MISTAKE ,HUGE !

Guest

Dawn

I’m done watching, why do they want to change a good thing?

Guest

Jimh

probably want someone younger…

Guest

virginia roberts

Big mistake, get rid of Debbie she hasn’t inpressed me always got her mouth going also helping with food part needs to allow the food person do there thing not her,she shows off to much. Won’t be watching it any more.

Guest

Charday

I remember when Debbie Matenopoulos joined the show a few years back, I suspected Cristina Ferrare wouldn’t be around much longer…and then sure enough, she was fired. Steines firing is odd, too, cause he was good on the show.

Guest

dmr

I liked Cristina Ferrare, never been a fan of big-mouth’s (Debbie). I always liked Mark.

Guest

NIk

Really? I will miss him and good luck to him.

Guest

CHeryl

It’s disgusting. This has happened to many times and their always saying wer’re going in a new direction. They get rid of the good ones and keep others like Debbie. They are going to lose a lot of viewers

Guest

nancy dillingham

Wow! I think they should have been more transparent in giving a “reason.”

Guest

Elite

People that have been in this business a long time and then cut, for no apparent reason, as uncerimoniouly as he was, there’s obviously A REASON. He still had time on his contract as well. It will eventually come out… obviously everyone was shocked.

Guest

Judith A Harl

Amen me too.women are argumentative too much drama all self absorbed

Guest

Timmm

Another backdoor move by ABC to mave that annoying Cameron Mathison into ANOTHER cushy role at the network! I hate him! But Mark, you will be better off with your talent to go on and achieve better things my man.

Guest

dmr

They got rid of the wrong co-host…Debbie Matenopoulos-ugh.

Guiding Light

Soap Alums: Helgenberger, Bonilla, and Ilonzeh Cast in New Drama Pilot ‘Getaway’

July 30, 2021

Three very familiar faces to daytime fans have their new potentially new nighttime gig! E.J. Bonilla (Ex-Rafe, Guiding Light) has been added as as series regulars opposite Annie Ilonzeh (Ex-Maya, GH) along with former Ryan’s Hope favorite Marg Helgenberger (Ex-Siohan) to the NBC drama pilot, Getaway.

In Getaway, the loglines for the series read that the proposed series “centers on a destination wedding at an isolated luxury resort that quickly descends into chaos after a group of dangerous criminals takes the island hostage. The small group of guests, led by a fearless female Army vet (Ilonzeh), will do everything they can to stay alive.

According to Deadline: Helgenberger will play Sen. Charlotte Pierce. As a senior Democratic senator from New York, Charlotte is used to calling the shots. She’s happy to see her son, Jack (played by Matt Long), settle down with his bride, Grace (Jasmine Mathew), but there are darker forces at play she has yet to fully understand. Charlotte will soon have to choose between her family and the political career for which she’s worked so hard. Bonilla will play Rafi Salinas. Rafi claims to be a fisherman on the run with his friends from a gang of cartel members, but he’s hiding a dark secret that will put everyone at the resort in danger.

So, what do you think of the concept for this new drama pilot for NBC and the cast? Comment below.

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Chrishell Stause and Her ‘Selling Sunset’ Boss Jason Oppenheim Make Relationship Instagram Official

July 29, 2021

There’s a new man in soap veteran and Selling Sunset star, Chrishell Stause’s life. And it is … none other than her boss at the Oppenheim Group, a real estate company, in Los Angeles which is at the epicenter of the Netflix reality series.

Stause who is also a real estate agent at the firm, made her relationship with Jason Oppenheim Instagram official when she posted a pic of the two of them while the cast of Selling Sunset were in Italy.

Oppenheim told PEOPLE: “Chrishell and I became close friends and it has developed into an amazing relationship. I care about her deeply and we are very happy together.”

Previously Stause was married to This is Us star, Justin Hartley and following their divorce, was briefly dating Dancing with the Stars pro dancer, Keo Motsepe.

So, what do you think of the love connection between Chrishell and Jason? Comment below.

News

‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ Remake Lands at TBS

July 28, 2021

Another soap opera gets a reboot, and as we previously reported this one is starring former Schitt’s Creek star, Emily Hampshire.

The remake is of the satirical, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ,that developed quite the cult-following back in the 70’s and was a look into American media and consumer culture which starred Louise Lasser as Mary Hartman. In the original, Mary was a small-town Ohio housewife who reacted to the bizarre goings on all around her. The cast also included Greg Mullavey, Dody Goodman, Norman Alden and Mary Kay Place.

In the updated version of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, the loglines reveal it’s: “about a small-town woman who feels like a nobody in every aspect of her life until she suddenly becomes a ‘verified[ social media somebody after her nervous breakdown goes viral.”

According to Variety, “After being shopped by Sony Pictures TV to buyers this spring, the project has landed at TBS.” That means that it will be in development for the cable outlet.

In addition, it was a welcome birthday present for its creator, the iconic Norman Lear who is celebrating his 99th birthday.

Hampshire not only will star as “Mary” but she will also serve as an executive producer and will co-write the script with Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny).

So, do you like the concept of the updated version of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman? Did you watch the original version? Comment below.