Martha Stewart Set Stage for Lifestyle Shows

Regarding “Stage Is Set for Stewart to Make TV Comeback on NBC Next Fall,” Dec. 9:

I was very excited to see that plans are so far along for Martha Stewart’s return to television.

I was disgusted by Stuart Fischoff of Cal State L.A. saying “What is it about corporate America -- particularly those in the entertainment industry -- that they have no shame or ethics? They will put anyone on TV so that they can make money.”

Read one way, Fischoff is calling Stewart shameful and unethical. Stewart was caught in an unfortunate situation and was convicted simply of defending her company in public.

Read the other way, Fischoff is calling Stewart “anyone.” Stewart is not just anyone. Stewart is the lady who picked up the ball Dione Lucas and Julia Childs started in play, and ran long and far with it.

Without Martha Stewart, there would be no Home & Garden Channel, no “Trading Spaces,” no Food Network, no “shabby chic,” no Nigella Lawson and very likely no “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

Martha Stewart single-handedly changed the landscape of lifestyle and home shows.

Eric Christianson

West Hollywood