Seattle Post-Intelligencer TV critic Melanie McFarland does not like Martha Stewart and Tyra Banks’ new daytime talk shows — and she ain’t afraid to say it. She makes two very interesting, overarching points about Martha and The Tyra Banks Show: that Martha Stewart (near left) is not such a good interviewer (true), and that Banks’ program is overstuffed with her own narcissism (also true).
But I think she just needs to embrace the new daytime surrealism. Anyone who watched Martha suck the head off a crawfish while dazed-and-confused guests Ben Vereen and Liza Minnelli tried to corral a writhing mass of hundreds of live mini-lobsters hellbent on escaping from Martha’s kitchen/laboratory knows that Martha packs more humor into one hour (albeit unintentional humor) than, say, two episodes of Arrested Development.
And I’ll get into the confessional for a minute and admit that, yes, I watched the infamous Tyra "breast" episode. Among other segments, the boob-a-thon included Anna Nicole Smith pantomiming the various sizes of implants she has had using a "whoosh"-like noise and an all-bra fashion show with running commentary from a male audience member ("Me like that one. That one nice"). I kept waiting, as did McFarland, for the inevitable breast cancer segment. Instead, we saw Miss Tyra (above left) fight back tears — tears! — as she reported that it hurts her that people think her breasts aren’t real. Aw. And to prove it, she brought in a real-live doctor to check out her merchandise for any "enhancements." It was compelling television, but in the same sense that Courtney Love is a compelling musician — fascinating, but not always worth watching.
What do you guys think? Are Martha and The Tyra Banks Show living up to the promise of their charismatic celebrity hosts?
I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT TYRA, BUT I MUST SAY, I TRULY ENJOY WATCHING MARTHA. I THINK SHE HAS LOOSENED UP SINCE HER PRISON JAUNT. SHE HAS DEVELOPED A SENSE OF HUMOR, WHICH SHE NEVER HAD BEFORE. SHE USED TO BE VERY UPTIGHT, ALMOST ANAL. WHEN SHE WAS DOING HER OLD SHOW, SHE WAS TO STIFF, NOT ANYMORE. SHE LETS HER GUESTS GO WHERE THEY MAY, AND DOESN’T SEEM TO WORRY TO MUCH ABOUT A SCRIPT. I WATCH TWO SHOWS DURING THE DAY, MARTHA AND ELLEN.
THEY ARE BOTH IMAGINATIVE, INFORMATIVE, AND THEY MAKE ME LAUGH. CAN’T GET ENOUGH LAUGHTER THESE DAYS.
well, i just think that Tyra is trying waaaay too hard to be the next oprah- but HELLO! there will NEVER be another Oprah, okay, she is the queen of daytime talkshows…. Tyra’s show just doesn’t flow like it should (and i do agree she is WAY too narcissistic)…..now,martha on the other hand….well, she’s not that great either- but she’s not TRYING to be an interviewer, she’s a domestic diva, that’s all….and i think her show is great- for what it is…..NOT a talkshow but a home- decorator thingy…..god, critics can be way too harsh sometimes….
I think Tyra’s show is very sweet…She is taking it very seriously! I hope it lasts. Martha, on the other hand, is quite boring. She is so dry and uptight. I admit, though, I am watching her other show, The Apprentice. But it has nothing on America’s Next Top Model! GO TYRA!!!!!!!!
I think Tyra’s show is very sweet…She is taking it very seriously! I hope it lasts. Martha, on the other hand, is quite boring. She is so dry and uptight. I admit, though, I am watching her other show, The Apprentice. But it has nothing on America’s Next Top Model! GO TYRA!!!!!!!!
I’m sticking with Ellen.
Big fan of Tyra, but her show isn’t up to Top Model.
Sadly, it’s closer to Maury than it is to Oprah, which I blame fully on the Jenny Jones like set.
I’ve seen Tyra and I thought it was a mess. I saw once when I was home sick and had to turn off. However, for a few moments during my fever haze, I was held in wonder trying to decide if she had hair plugs to fill in her crazy high forehead, which looked smaller than normal.
I also TiVo’d the “they are real” episode and almost died when she fought back the tears. Why Saturday Night Live has not done that yet is beyond me.
Ugh, Tyra is so annoying. She talks way too fast and like a valley girl.
I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of each, so by no means am I an expert on this, but I thought Martha seemed a bit uncomfortable. It’s a shame because I want her to succeed. I think she needs to pick a new way to show off her talent.
Tyra is a hot mess. She’s unintentionally entertaining on America’s Next Top Model, but she’s tolerable on that show because she’s only on screen for about ten minutes.
I agree with the earlier posts – Ellen is easily more watchable.
I have been a big fan of EW and the website for awhile now but comparing the comedic genius that is Arrested Development to Martha Stewart biting the head off of a small crustacean makes me think twice about you.
Now on to tyra banks. What were you expecting?? Oprah but with more in-depth pieces on mozart and classical music.
The post claims they both have “charisma”? I’d say with both of them it’s all naked ambition and insincerity, and a eye-dropper of charisma. Producers should have learned from Ellen’s success – find someone genuine who can actually TALK TO PEOPLE (famous or otherwise) in a way that makes the interviewee and the watcher comfortable. The shows are over-produced, and Martha/Tyra’s personalities are underwhelming.
I haven’t watched Martha’s new show yet b/c she scares me.
I think Tyra’s new show is ok. It’s definitely targeted to young women which is good b/c sometimes Oprah’s show is unrelatable if you’re not a 40 year old housewife.
Martha is a scum bag and should have served more time. If it were a private citizent they would have served more time and not in a swanky place as she did. She is sickening and disgusting. I have no respect for her.
I haven’t seen either day-time show, but I love both of their night-time shows – in fact, I can’t wait until tonight!
I can’t stand Martha, so no comment.
However, I love ANTM and I really like Tyra. I think her show has an overall good feel to it. It is more urban and youthful than the other talk shows out there. It deals with a lot of light, fun topics. An on occasion some very serious ones. Does it need improvement, yes, most shows can be tweaked in the beginning. I think she is trying to make a difference and is a really good role model for young women of all colors, shapes and sizes. Does she talk about herself a little to much, yes, but I can handle that. How many times have we heard about Steadman or Gayle from Oprah?
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