Martha Stewart, with Marcia Cross
Anders Krusberg/Martha Stewart Living Television/AP
The same divisions of opinion have arisen after Monday's debut of her new syndicated show Martha, which prompted the New York Daily News to declare: " Martha Misses." Meanwhile, the paper's cross-town rival, the New York Post, carried a gushing review, headlined: "Funny, You Don't Look Shrewish."
Not that even a softer new Martha could please everyone. Groused the Palm Beach Post: "It looks like she's trying too hard to be all warm and fuzzy."
Yet The Washington Post looked kindly upon the new show and the new image of its host, whom critic Lisa de Moraes says has made a "triumphant return to television. ... But unlike her previous syndicated talk/home-ec show, this one stars a warmer Lamb-y Martha ... different from the Evil Martha, who, live on CBS's morning infotainment show, once sliced into an innocent head of cabbage while hissing, 'I just want to focus on my salad!' – because the anchor wanted to ask a few questions about Stewart's then-rising legal woes."
Stewart actually launched her new show on Monday with a nostalgic look back – to New Orleans and Mississippi before Hurricane Katrina struck two weeks ago.
After an initial hello – during which she declared, "Welcome to the premiere of Martha. I am unfettered. I am free. No ankle bracelet," and humorous backstage shots of crew members, show producer Mark Burnett and even Martha's French bulldog each wearing an ankle bracelet – the domestic diva got down to business.
She showed TV clips of past visits she took down South, shucking oysters and enjoying po' boy sandwiches with locals. She also stressed the need to help the people affected by the disaster, and said she was launching a relief initiative that she will announce later this week or early next week.
"And yesterday, 9/11, another sad day in America," said Stewart, who wore a light blue cable-knit cashmere sweater over a white blouse on her kitchen set (which is said to resemble the kitchen in her Bedford, N.Y., home). On Sunday, she said, "I watched a lot of television, thinking about what happened a few years ago, and it's still kind of raw."
But, she added, "We can still look ahead and pray for the future of this great, great country."
Her first guest was Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross. Stewart – after asking the actress if her hopelessly perfectionist Desperate character Bree was actually based on her (Martha) – instructed Cross on the proper way to fold a T-shirt and how to make "perfect scrambled eggs." Stewart also playfully asked her in-studio audience if they wanted to come to her house and watch Desperate Housewives with her. The crowd roared.
Promos on Monday's show promised that on Tuesday there would be a segment all about the distinctive crocheted poncho Stewart wore the morning she left prison. The cloak had been a gift from another inmate. She also promised to present microwave-oven recipes she picked up behind bars.
