Martha Stewart TV Show Ends

The Martha Stewart Living television show, a long-time staple of the do-it-yourself genre, will complete its eleventh season and then go on "hiatus" for the 2004-2005 season. The reason for this is clear: the show's star, Martha Stewart, faces her sentencing on June 17, and will most likely be serving jail time for a good portion of the next season. She was convicted on March 5 of lying to investigators about her sale of ImClone Systems stock.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO) has been distancing itself from its founder since her March conviction, and will probably continue to play down her name as a future strategy.

The "Everyday Food" brand, which doesn't even feature Martha's signature pastels, has been fairly successful, and the magazine version of Martha Stewart Living plans to downplay the connection with the once-popular star. Stewart has resigned as an officer and member of MSO's board.

Stewart seems hopeful that her TV show will air again, and expressed wishing to "resume our close collaboration just as soon as I am able to do so." However, only time will tell what MSO and audiences will want when that day comes.