Who's Making a Mockery of Martha? - Popcast | Entertainment

What could be the most surprising thing Martha Stewart could do, besides cutting her chest open and revealing that she has a real live beating heart and not the robot machinery that we suspect lurks inside?

How about make fun of herself?

The New York Times reports that Martha's company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, is launching a new TV comedy on the Fine Living Network that will mock … Martha! The Times describes the show, "Whatever, Martha!," as having "a provocative premise: mocking Ms. Stewart. For a half hour, two hosts will critique — in “candid and often acerbic” language, according to the channel — old clips from her 1990s cooking and craft show."

According to the article, Martha came up with the show idea herself – seriously, this woman raises her own chickens in a palais du poulet, you don't think she'd be in control of precisely how she'll be made fun of? – staying up late one night watching reruns of the cult show "Mystery Science Theater 3000," which had a similar premise, but revolved around two robots mocking cheesy horror movies. Martha isn't just allowing herself to be made fun of out sheer good will. The real motivation is to attract younger audiences to Martha's brand.

The real kicker is that the hosts of "Whatever, Martha!" are Martha's daughter Alexis Stewart and Jill Koppleman Hutt, who happens to be the daughter of Martha Stewart Omnimedia's Chairman, Charles Koppelman. The two already also host a Sirius radio show together. In addition to making fun of the big M, they'll also be attempting to do what Martha does on the show:

“In one episode, Martha is showing people how to properly whittle a twig to roast a marshmallow,” said Ms. Koppelman Hutt. “That is screamingly funny. The woman is actually whittling a twig. I mean, who does that?” Alexis Stewart, on the other hand, defended her mother. “We always whittled at our house,” she responded. “What’s so unusual about that?”

"Whatever, Martha!" debuts on September 16th on the Fine Living Network.

Click here to comment. How do you feel about Martha and the show? Do you think it will be funny? Will you watch it? Will Martha's daughter skewer her or go soft on her? Tell us what you think!


Message Edited by KirstenH on 08-11-2008 03:32 PM