TVSquad

If you're Alexis Stewart, daughter of domestic goddess Martha Stewart; your childhood was weird. It's an unavoidable fact; no one could grow up around that much tulle and handmade, hand-stamped wrapping paper and escape without any lasting effects. Luckily, Alexis has been able to use this to her advantage. Along with her friend Jennifer Koppelman Hutt, Alexis Stewart is mining her experiences growing up with Martha for her new show, Whatever, Martha.

When I first heard about Whatever, Martha, I laughed. Seriously; it sounded like one of those ideas you come up with at three in the morning after downing a family sized bottle of Cabernet. Kind of an, "oh my God, I just had the best idea for a show: what if we sat around and watched old episodes of Martha Stewart Living and tried to do the crafts while I talk about how screwed up my childhood was and how Martha always forgot my birthdays and stuff" kind of idea. Starting on September 16, that 3 am idea is going to become a reality -- and we have video.

How's this for a winning recipe? Domestic diva Martha Stewart has snagged superchef Emeril Lagasse for her empire. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. announced today the acquisition of Emeril's franchise -- all those cookbooks, kitchen products and TV shows in which he stars -- for $45 million in cash and $5 million in stock at closing. That $50 million could swell by $20 million more if "if certain benchmarkets are achieved."

Martha's purchase, however, does not include Emeril's Homebase, which includes the chef's 11 stellar restaurants, including Emeril's New Orleans and Delmonico's Steakhouse in Las Vegas.

I don't think this is on the level of something like, say, Jay Leno appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman, but it's still something I didn't think I'd see: Martha Stewart interviewed by Howard Stern. She'll be on his Sirius Satellite radio show tomorrow.

Sure, they're both part of Sirius and it's good synergy, but it's still rather interesting. They seem to be very, um, let's just say "different' types of people. The questions that Stern asks, especially on Sirius...will he be that bold and blunt with Martha? Will he ask about her sex life? Will she swear? Will she go after Donald Trump? I can't really imagine he's going to ask her questions about making the perfect Christmas decorations or how to bake the perfect apple pie.

Stern was on The Late Show last night, dressed as Santa (or, more accurately, Father Christmas), and gave free Sirius radios to Dave, Paul, and everyone in the audience.