THE BULLETIN • APRIL 8 - 14, 2021
TV • PAGE 21
BY GEORGE DICKIE
What Stewart says goes on Food Network’s ‘Chopped: Martha Rules’
Martha Stewart has had her hands in so many television
and retail ventures over the years, one might say she’s
practically a cottage industry.
But that would be inaccurate. With her Martha Stewart
Living Omnimedia brand, she became an actual industry.
Her newest TV endeavor comes this week on Food
Network with “Chopped: Martha Rules.” Premiering
Tuesday, April 13, the hourlong stunt series finds Stewart
presiding over the competition at an outdoor kitchen in
Kennebunkport, Maine, as chefs are challenged in three
rounds – appetizer, entree and dessert – to make delicious
creations from a basket of mystery ingredients.
But they’ll need to adapt on the fly as Stewart has carte
blanche to change the rules without notice and even
take control of the clock. The winner of each episode, as
determined by Stewart and fellow judges Marc Murphy
and Marcus Samuelsson, advance to the finale and
compete for a $50,000 grand prize.
It’s the latest step in a career that has seen Stewart
dominate the culinary/homemaking/design landscape on
television for three decades. The following are a few of
her other more noteworthy projects.
“Martha Stewart Living” (1993-2004, syndicated):
Stewart arguably made her name on TV with this half-
hour series based on the same-named magazine, in which
she presented segments on cooking, gardening, craft
making and decorating. The show left the air in 2004
after Stewart was convicted and sentenced in a stock-
trading case.
“Martha” (2005-12, syndicated and Hallmark
Channel): Also titled “The Martha Stewart Show,”
this variety/talk offering represented Stewart’s return
to daytime television and like its predecessor featured
culinary, craft-making and decorating segments as well
has conversations with celebrity guests. Rising costs
forced Hallmark to shutter production in 2012.
“Today” (1996-present, NBC): Hosts may have come
and gone, but Stewart continues to be a presence on the
iconic morning franchise with her regular segments on
cooking, crafts and gardening.
“Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Party Challenge” (2016-
19, VH1): In an odd pairing, Stewart joined rapper and
marijuana advocate Snoop Dogg for this cooking series in
which they put their personal spins on dishes for themed
dinners and drinks with celebrity guests including Seth
Rogen, Wiz Khalifa, Kathy Griffin and Robin Thicke. A
little too much fun was had by all.
“The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” (2005, NBC): A
rare misfire was this effort in which Stewart served as a
more tactful version of the show’s regular boss, Donald
Trump (who was one of the executive producers here).
Sagging ratings brought about its demise after one season.
“Martha Knows Best” (2020-present, HGTV):
Gardening is front and center of this series that finds
Stewart offering up tips to callers and celebrity friends
and showing off projects and improvements at her 150-
acre estate in suburban New York.
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Martha
Stewart