Stewart Planned to Bump Trump From Show



Before her version of "The Apprentice" began, Martha Stewart thought she was saying "you're fired" to Donald Trump.

While "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" hasn't done well in the ratings, Stewart initially had much higher hopes — even that her NBC show would eclipse Trump's original.

"I thought I was replacing The Donald," Stewart says in the Nov. 14 issue of Fortune magazine, on newsstands Nov. 7. "It was even discussed that I would be firing The Donald on the first show."

When did Trump learn that she intended to bump him off his own show? "I don't think he ever knew," Stewart tells the magazine.

Instead, Trump remained for a fourth season, and he has recently suggested that his show has been diminished by Stewart's. Trump's "Apprentice" has been averaging around 10 million viewers a week, down 4 million from last season. Stewart's "Apprentice" is drawing closer to 7 million viewers.

"I think there was confusion between Martha's `Apprentice' and mine, and mine continues to do well and ... the other has struggled very severely," Trump said recently on a radio program. "I think it probably hurt mine and I sort of predicted that it would."

Stewart also reveals in Fortune another unrealized business plan: to buy Kmart. In 2002, while the retail giant was going bankrupt, Stewart floated the idea — dubbed "Kmartha" — of buying the company, which sells her Martha Stewart Everyday brand.

Stewart, 64, also says she plans to sell Turkey Hill, her famous Westport, Conn., home. "I hardly ever go there anymore. I don't miss it."

After serving five months in jail for lying about a 2001 stock sale, which was followed by nearly six months of house arrest, the lifestyle guru says she feels resilient.

"I have learned that I really cannot be destroyed."

lol, At first I thought thats what she was gonna be doing to.

Frankly, they never should have aired them "together". I realize NBC did it for the promotion (which is all but gone, now), but they should have aired Martha in the spring and Donald in the fall.

Probably would have worked out better. Or not. We'll never know.

:brent

I'm sorry... but that's funny. Martha's version is failing MISERABLY. The only reason NBC hasn't pulled it is because they have nothing to replace it with.

Donald's version is down, but isn't going anywhere. It's still 2nd place in one of the toughest hours on TV(unless your CBS).

Yeah her version is horrible.

I can see why Martha wouldn't be getting the same ratings, but I don't see what's so bad about her show.

I love Marthas, and 7 million viewers doesnt sound like 'failing miserably' to me.

I love Marthas, and 7 million viewers doesnt sound like 'failing miserably' to me.

Well... it gets 4th place. Oh and it's already changed timeslots once, which is never good(it used to be on at 8, with E-Ring at 9).

Its getting awful ratings and its providing an awful lead in to Law And Order which is getting their worst ratings in recent memory. E-Ring was a better lead in.

7 million is AWFUL for a Wednesday Night. It's dragging the whole night for NBC down as well.

I love Martha's a million times more than Donald's.

martha is 64 years old?

I love Martha's a million times more than Donald's.


Why is that? Her show is just like Trump's

Her show is just like Trump's

Except it doesn't have Trump.

CBS took the lead at 9 p.m. with "Criminal Minds," which hit a series high at 10.4/16. The rest of the Big Four battled for second, with ABC's "Lost" rerun, 5.6/9, edging FOX's "Trading Spouses," 5.4/8, and NBC's "Apprentice: Martha Stewart," 5.1/8. The WB moved up to fifth with a "Related" encore, beating out UPN's "Veronica Mars" rerun.

It lost to TRADING SPOUSES. That is just pathetic, and Lost was a REPEAT. Next week with everything new, oh it's dead... and if Idol doesn't move to Thursday, then it's really dead.

The two have such enormous egos, they couldn't fit them in Madison Square Gardens... :lol:

Her show is a goner... her ratings have hit rock bottom.

Only managed a miserable 4.6 on a WEDNESDAY. Those numbers are flat out unacceptable. There is no way this show will be back after the finale next month.