Spin-meister. Emerging from prison, Martha's royal return to civilian life was eaten up by the American press. Alternately called the "wealthy entrepeneur...rocked...by a felony conviction,"(NYTimes) a "beaming Martha,"(NYDailyNews) and a "low-key" Martha (NYPost), she made a "tightly choreographed" trip home to Bedford, NY (and her $16m estate) with her daughter, Alexis.
In all of this there was very little news to report except that we are now all that much closer to seeing if Martha has a second act. We would be apt to believe that she does if it weren't for her inability to inspire trust with her canned statements. Case in point is her latest statement on her website:
The experience of the last five months in Alderson, West Virginia has been life altering and life affirming. Someday, I hope to have the chance to talk more about all that has happened, the extraordinary people I have met here and all that I have learned....
We all know that she is a tough, hard-nosed autocrat - which is fine - just don't try to pull the wool over our eyes with the warm-fuzzies (Can't wait for The Apprentice). (Photo: Jeff Haynes) MGR
Some may not agree, but I think that Martha has the potential to be MORE popular with the masses now that she has served her time. She realizes this as well, hence why she didn't plea bargain (wants to maintain integrity) - she never wanted to appear as if she could "buy" her way out of prison time.
I don't know that she'll be quite the same trendsetter now that she was in the early-to-mid 90s... I don't think she's "over", but I don't know that her second act will be quite as earth-shatteringly sucessful, even if MSO and the magazines can regain advertisers and market share. I've no doubt that she'll be popular, but I don't think she's going to come out with something radically new.
Her stock is certainly up. It will be interesting to see if she becomes a charitable person after all this. But then it's her bitchiness that makes her compelling to watch.
Her spin machine has been on the entire time she was in jail. We barely missed her because we were all aware of her. She may change her tactics somewhat, go more low-key in tone, or go more zen, or something, (recall Donna Karan's transformations over the past 15 years), but I foresee a reemergence of Martha. And of course she will embrace the luxe, as always. C'mon, we've been made aware by page six that Martha's "inability to eat prison food" caused her to lose weight. She still has her delicate sensibilities! Her palate remains refined!
It's a perfect way for Martha to launch a new style, a new line, something different from what she used to hawk/promote. Going to jail for lying about insider trading has nothing to do with choux puffs, caviar, and creme fraiche, or hand-made grosgrain ribbon-bound invitations for a toddler's birthday. She still knows how to do all of that.
But some of us (like me) have outgrown her altogether, which may have happened regardless of her time in jail. So many innovative things to do on one's own, with blogs like this and d*s and many others...
I have to say that I hated her before, thought she had serious mental problems, but after going to prison, I absolutely respect her. That decision to serve her time and not waste the courts' money I thought was so admirable. So, her stock is up with me and I daresay lots of others like me.
I never bought her magazine or watched her on TV because I am basically lazy and would never remake or cook or create etc. However, I always thought she was bright, creative, innovative and a real go-getter. My opinion has only been raised because she served her time, unlike the Big Boys who are still out walking around.
Her reality show should give her a boost.
I was raised on Martha and did a few of her projects from time to time. I've enjoyed reading her magazine from time to time and have to say I'm really impressed by her choice to serve her time, regardless of the final outcome. Most of America loves to love someone on the rebound (remember Hugh Grant?) so as long as she plays this off with the whole "I've learned so much from this experience..blah blah blah"..I think America will welcome her back. Mind you she'll have to change her tune a bit..but she'll be back.
She'll definitely be back. The thing is no one replaced her. No one jumped in who was better at doing what she does while she was gone.
America will definitely welcome her back. We all love a good comeback story.
I totally agree that Martha will be fine etc back and all.
I just wanted to say Hugh had that he had a cute English accent going for him.
Martha is a cold cold women.
But yes she'll be making oodles of cash once again.
I love The Martha!
Ironic- the jury is literally out on Bernie Ebbers on the day The Martha is released. Puh-lease.
Hey, as an MCI employee, I hope Bernie Ebbers is someone's prison girlfriend very soon!
I want to answer, "Yes, absolutely." And yet I hesitate. Knowing full-well that photos of her release will be appearing ev-er-y-where, she chooses to wear that poncho??? Even though she's been inside for a few months, I'm sure Martha realizes the poncho phenomenon has been declared officially over for quite some time now.
Bon, Martha was never considered a fashionista even when she wasn't coming straight from jail. I thought that was pretty good for her.
Re; the poncho- she has taken some serious flack for that wardrobe choice, and I want to come to her defense- I was thinking that maybe 5 months ago when she went into Camp cupcake maybe that is what she wore in? I have never been in prison and I know that TV and movies aren't factually correct, but doesn't it seem like she would wear out what she wore in? That she would be handed over a bag of clothes that she checked in when she went in?
Also after reading Maureen Dowd's op-ed piece I really think she will have a strong "comeback" but as LL says "don't call it a comeback" I don't think she ever left- we got updates via her website, she even did Christmas cards from Alderson, WV.
What I think is really great is that she isn't apologizing or really showing any shame for "doing time" we all know that if she were a man she wouldn't have gone to jail. Anyway as Maureen said Americans love their women after they have been humiliated.
Martha will regain all of her power even without the CEO title.
We all know (whether you like her personality or not) that Martha is a talented and intelligent women. And frankly, if Donald Trump can bark at people and clowned them on TV (even) and still be deemed the lovable tycoon, then darnit so can Martha. Give the sister a break...she's strong and unapologetic about it! I luvit!! In my book Auntie Martha (as I like to call her) never left the top...merely a brief intermission, my friends.
And, to the faux fashionista...the poncho is a hit! I Luvit!!
Prison isn't like TV portrays it at all. Martha wore the poncho because it was likely hand made, as in crocheted, either by her or a friend she met there. It is another sign of her integrity to stand up and say I AM SOMEONE and I DON'T CARE WHAT THE FEDS OR PUBLIC THINK!!! Martha is a hero inside many prisons because she went to trial, took the hit, and decided to do her sentence like a soldier, up front and personal. All these stories about Camp Cupcake and prison are a joke. Until you've been there and walked hundreds of miles around the track (yard) in a prisoner's shoes, you don't have a clue. Camp, Low, Medium, FCI, or USP, prison is prison and heroes are heroes. I'd take a bullet for Martha just because of what she stands for.
Scot Arnjo
www.postconvictionassociates.com