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Why Martha Stewart's making the move to cable's Hallmark ChannelSep 11, 2010 (Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Like Oprah, Martha Stewart is making the move from broadcast syndication to cable. "It's really an indication that many of us want to have stable time periods ... and not be at the mercy of syndication," Stewart recently told reporters during a telephone press conference. And she's beating the mad rush. On the heels of a multi-year partnership announced earlier this year, "The Martha Stewart Show" will make its debut on the Hallmark Channel Monday. It brings with it an additional block of Martha Stewart programming and specials. "It's a watershed time for us," wrote Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Hallmark Channel. "Not only are we working with the acknowledged leader in cooking, decor, design and gardening, but we also have the opportunity to develop a fully integrated lifestyle block of programming on multiple platforms which speaks to the strengths of both Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart." Fans of "The Martha Stewart Show" can expect to see the usual segments, including home improvement with designer Kevin Sharkey and do-it-yourself entertaining with Darcy Miller, weddings editor at Martha Stewart Living. "Nobody gives a better cocktail party," Stewart says. Of course the show has made some changes. Instead of brief cooking segments, chefs will now whip-up dishes in the kitchen during the course of the show as Stewart checks in from time to time. There also will be field trips to places like Turkey, one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world, and Singapore. And get ready for date night. Accompanied by two MTV personalities, Stewart hits the town for food, drinks and laughs. "They take me to their kinds of places and I take them to my kinds of places, and it is a total education for all of us," she says. "You'll see." Following "The Martha Stewart Show" at 11 a.m. is "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer," an hour-long topical talk show executive-produced by the Emmy Award-winning comedian/director David Steinberg and hosted by Sirius XM's "Whatever" hosts Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt. "David calls them delicious," says Stewart, Alexis' mother. "But we'll see how delicious they are." The show is succeeded at noon by the half-hour program "Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn." Quinn, who is the executive food editor at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, hosts Sirius XM's "EatDrink" and just penned "Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys," has pegged her show as a guide to getting a family meal on the table no matter what. "Lucinda has three strapping boys ... and a strapping husband ... and Lucinda has to feed them in addition to a very time-consuming job," Stewart says. "And she does it with great ingenuity and great aplomb, and that's what the show is all about." In addition to the daily lineup that's expected to branch into pets next year, Stewart will be tapping her love of in-depth interviewing with the first of many 9 p.m. primetime specials. "Martha Stewart Presents: The Women Who Dress America," airing Sept. 19, highlights the prominent designers Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Tory Burch and J. Crew's Jenna Lyons. In talking about the specials Stewart revealed her aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Larry King and Barbara Walters, both of whom are retiring. "Who's going to take their place as the serious, great interviewer? I'm throwing my name in there because I love to talk to people," she says, envisioning future upclose and personal interviews with hot, young male actors, her favorite comedians and even politicos such as First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among others. "I would love to interview Nancy Pelosi in detail," she adds. "I think she's a phenomenal woman. Look what she's done and how energetic she is, and how absolutely gorgeous she is too. It's just incredible that she's able to do what she does." Stewart recently finished taping the Halloween special to airs Oct. 10. "Halloween is one of my very, very favorite times of year," she says. "I can't tell you who's in it but it is the perfect celebrity for Halloween, and the stuff we do is just extraordinary. It's going to be a smashing hit. "And we are already working on our Christmas special, which you will adore," Stewart adds. "It's all new crafts ideas and cooking ideas that we've never done on the show before ... and it will really get you through those holidays." And that's just the beginning. The Martha Stewart Show When: 10 a.m. weekdays beginning Monday, Sept. 13. Where: Hallmark Channel To see more of the Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailynews.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Daily News, Los Angeles Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |