IMAGINE NO MARTHA

New York Post ^ | 7/08/02 | CHRISTOPHER BYRON

[kattracks]

July 8, 2002 -- NO one knows what the future holds for Martha Stewart in the ImClone mess. But the sheer uncertainty of the situation gives rise to an obvious question: Can Martha Stewart's company survive without her?

The general view of the matter - at least among her fans and investors - is that the Martha Stewart brand name is so potent, and the loyalty of her nearly cult-like following is so intense, that Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will flourish even if Martha herself has to step aside.

[smith288]

< imagining >

[backhoe]

I really don't like the woman at all, but reading this:

Martha is the star of her own 60-minute daily TV how-to show

I almost feel sorry for her, trying to imagine me doing the same thing!

[kattracks]

I think the only thing Martha has to do with the show is show up.

[kcvl]

Martha Stewart is a phoney! I could care less if she was "put back in the kitchen" because that's where she made her money anyway(or at least pretended to be in the kitchen, gardening, sewing, crafting or whatever). If she didn't do anything wrong she has NOTHING to worry about. If she did, she needs to pay like anyone else(except the Clintons, of course).

I have NOTHING against people getting rich. More power to them! But, I don't like phonies, hypocrites, liars and crooks.

[kcvl]

I believe you're right. She makes everyone else do what she pretends to do. I wonder if she can even cook? lol!

[backhoe]

Good point- I was thinking along the lines of "First, at 4:00 in the morning Taffy gets John up to go on the Great Rat Hunt/I really gotta pee Now!, Dad!" and it degenerates from there into sitting by the PC, breakfast, ride to work & Wal-Mart, etc.

No doubt Martha lives a less boring life and has more help, too!

[capt. norm]

Our local NBC outlet that had been carrying Martha's program has already replaced it. The first half-hour has been replaced (at least for now) by Bob Villa's "Home Again" or whatever the name is...I never remember it correctly.

[bandleader]

I Could "Manage"Quite Easily Without Martha.Add To That Oprah,Ricki Lake,Montel et al................

[goodnesswins]

WHO has time for Martha, et al....when there is FREE REPUBLIC??????

[gopwhit]

Why doesn't Martha pull a Clinton and admit that her relationship with this ImClone mess was "inappropriate" and move on with it? Yes she can say she believed she had an understanding with her broker for the stop-loss, that she was confused and screwed up, etc. You know she will get away with it.

The fact is, while we may think Martha is a scary mean hag, a lot of folks out there think she has good taste (if good taste means making your guests all feel horrible because you haven't had a moment to breathe prior to your garden party because you were weaving and hand-embroidering your linens, curing your own beef from your own corn-fed herd and making the dirt in which the vegetables grew) and they'll continue to listen to her, watch her, buy her products, etc.

This does, however, open up an opportunity for someone to jump in and grab market share while she's vulnerable. Any Freepers out there ready with some theme ideas on a new "how-to for the home" show we can launch?