SYNDICATION 'Martha' to be pulled from TV

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
NEW YORK -- Martha Stewart's TV show has been put on the shelf.
The domestic diva, who could be facing prison time soon, will vanish from the TV screen starting in September, her company said this week.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was forced to pull the plug on "Martha Stewart Living" because it can't count on her being around.
Stewart is facing possible prison time of 10 to 16 months on a felony conviction and obstruction-of-justice charges related to her sale of ImClone stock. Her sentencing is set for June 17.
"I am deeply sorry that it has become necessary for the show to go on hiatus until my personal legal situation is resolved," Stewart said in a statement.
Forty staffers will be let go, executives said. The syndicated how-to home show will finish out the current season with new programs and reruns.
Staying busy
For now, Stewart continues to show up for work at her Westport, Conn., television studio.
"Martha comes into the office regularly; she works on a variety of projects, including the TV show," said spokeswoman Elizabeth Estroff.
Stewart's TV gig has been on the rocks for some time. CBS stations essentially wrote off the show in September, when it moved it to a little-watched 1 a.m. time slot.
When Stewart was convicted in March, CBS canceled the program. The once-popular, Emmy award-winning show, distributed by prominent TV syndicator King World, is now carried in just half the country. As Stewart's legal woes mounted, its ratings have plummeted.
Stewart's company is hoping it can fix its flagging fortunes by distancing itself from its founder. She stepped down as chief executive after she was indicted and left the company's board after her conviction.