'Whatever, Martha!' Mocks Vintage Martha Stewart TV Shows
Making use of old episodes of Martha Stewart Living, which ran in syndication from 1991 to 2004, proved challenging to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. DVDs of the series did not sell well, online applications mustered minimal buzz, and reruns are nowhere to be found on television. The show is stale and dated.
Fast forward: Martha is watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 reruns during a sleepless night. Ding! If there's great TV revolving entirely around mocking sci-fi B-movies, the same could work for Martha Stewart Living.
And so, Whatever, Martha! was born. The Fine Living Network will unveil the new comedy series on September 16. It will be hosted by Alexis Stewart, Martha's daughter, and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt, Alexis Stewart's cohost on the Martha Stewart Radio show Whatever. The two will poke fun of Martha's unfortunate outfits, anal retentive tendencies, and "habit of mixing sexual innuendo with her household hints."
For a look at what they'll be poking fun at, watch a couple vintage Martha Stewart Living show clips after the jump.
The hope is that badly needed new and younger viewers will be brought into the Martha fold by an appreciation of the hilarity that is twig-whittling lessons (for marshmallow roasting purposes, of course.)
But Martha laughing at herself is indeed a radical notion. We're surprised she can take herself less than totally seriously.
“Contrary to popular opinion, I do have a sense of humor,” Martha told the New York Times, which reported on the new show. The sense of humor will breathe new life into old material, like the fabulous old-school Martha clips below.
Does this premise sound promising? Will you tune in for some familial Martha-bashing?
Martha Stewart 'Secrets for Entertaining' from 1988
Martha Stewart's 1999 Halloween
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14 Comments:
I have Sirius Radio. Martha Stewart radio is (including Alexis Stewart) cruel and inhuman punishment. It needs to be outlawed in every civilized country. I have really tried to listen to it. Alexis is by and large the most boring person I have ever had to try to listen to. The topics for the show are not catering to any tangible demographic. They run from infertility to getting the sticky mess off the glasses once you remove the tags.
I guess this is what happens when you are the daughter of the domestic queen, you just get your own show and you say whatever you like.
I hope that the tv show is better. Making fun of Martha is always good fodder. But nothing beats 2 hours of Alexis talking about infertility with turkey basters. That made me laugh my ass off. Then I went home and threw my turkey baster out.
JerzeeTomato at 10:18AM on 08/13/08
I'd need several pots of coffee to watch those videos. I tried, I truly did, but I fell asleep at my computer in the middle of attempting to FF through.
PerkyMac at 10:21AM on 08/13/08
I actually had the good fortune to attend a taping of her show last November. http://feistyfoodie.blogspot.com/2007/11/martha-stewart-show-taping.html I wasn't a big fan before going, but after I went, I discovered, by observing her interactions with the crew and her general demeanor - especially during the 2nd taping (which I mention in my post) - that she actually seems like a funny person. Or maybe not funny, but has a sense of humor and can laugh at herself - she messed up while filming the promo and she went bleh bleh bleh sorry can we do that again? and was kind of giggling. I think she's just a high strung person, a bit anxious when things need to be done right the first time - since her shows are usually taped live - and that creates a lot of stress and nerves. And learning she likes Eminem was totally awesome, made her a real person. :)
feistyfoodie at 10:38AM on 08/13/08
the whole premise gives me the willies. i think i'd rather pull my toenails out with pliers than listen to alexis stewart make fun of her mother in public.
cybercita at 11:21AM on 08/13/08
Yeah. She actually does have a sense of humor and can poke fun at herself. If you've ever seen her on Letterman or Conan, you'd see that side of her.
Adam Kuban at 12:32PM on 08/13/08
I remember watching one of her Christmas videos where she attempted turkey "en croute". She enshrouded a HUGE turkey in puff pastry, baked it and then served it with the pastry... it still boggles my mind (and not in a good way).
Many years later on her TV show, she mentioned that little entree and looked straight into the camera with an impish, OOOPS sort of laugh! Oh Martha, what's not to love?!
On the other hand I hope no one attempted that revolting turkey dish...if so please fill us in on it!
Pointy at 2:32PM on 08/13/08
I had a crush on her when I was a kid. There was always something very attractive and fascinating about a woman who could take a couple sticks, a clump of dirt and a ribbon... and build something cool from it.
To me, at that time, she was like a female Macgyver. Heh! :)
FastFoodCritic at 12:47PM on 08/14/08
Jerzee..that's the same opinion I have of Paula Deen's sons' show...Road Tasted, i think it's called. I only watched it once; thought to myself "who the heck are these bozos related to to get a show of their own?", and never had a clue until surfing one night and ran accross the Deen family vacation show and recognized the dreadful duo. Mamma used to say "it's not what you know, it's who...".
DeepCreekPagan at 1:31PM on 08/15/08
I watch the premiere of Whatever, Martha -- Oh, what a disappointment.
These girls are the most negative of all and what an embarrassment it must be to Martha, although she did talk the show up very well. They seem to be a very unhappy pair. I'm sure having a tv show is not necessary to show how boring, negative and critical they are, I think they can do it on their own. I know it's supposed to be the basis for the show, but it's not funny, not well written, and will really have to go some to make this one work.
Triska at 9:46PM on 09/16/08
i watched whatever, martha and the only word i can think of is "DISAPPOINTING" nope... four words.... "DISAPPOINTING TO THE MAX"..
it wasn't entertaining... it wasn't funny... it wasn't... won't be watching this again... BORING it was.............
fleabrain2u2 at 11:09PM on 09/16/08
I liked the premise but I've been disappointed with the first few episodes. Maybe they're still getting into their stride but so far it's been really bad and terribly unfunny.
The first show I watched they spent most of the episode making fun of Martha's clothes and butt as she painted a porch. There was a lot more to work with here, how'd you miss it?!
If this is improved, maybe they need to think about hiring some writers or getting some people who are better at improve to host the show.
Listening to Alexis, Martha's daughter, is tiresome at best. It's hard to believe someone that grew up with the perfect mother turned out so socially maladjusted. I'm just kidding Alexis, I hope the therapy can help you straighten things out! Until then, maybe don't work so hard trying to be in the public eye.
I hope instead of cancelling this show they think about writers or new hosts first. They've got an idea that could work.
gabek1 at 1:48PM on 09/17/08
I was looking forward to Whatever, Martha, and boy, was I disappointed! It's terrible. Jennifer has some nerve sprawled out on that couch making fun of how Martha looks. She only wishes she could ever look half as good as Martha. Jennifer is so boring and unfunny. It is outrageous that she has a show. Only because of her father, I imagine. And Alexis was a real drip. I thought her sour-puss attitude was wearisome. She can do better on her own without that cow.
busybeard at 2:53PM on 09/17/08
I loved "Whatever Martha", I guess a lot of people just don't "get it". You have to have a sense of humor to get it.
redhed100 at 2:25PM on 10/07/08
this show rocks..........alexis is brilliant and dark..........I can't say enough good things about this show.........all my friends got sirius for howard stern, but tell me alexis is the real breakout star of the network........now that it is visualized, I am completely almost happy for the first time in 2.7 years.......i wish there was a way to download and archive it forever
429monkeyboy at 3:20AM on 11/30/08