NEW YORK - Martha Stewart (news - web sites), you're hired. NBC, Donald Trump and Mark Burnett, the masterminds behind NBC's "The Apprentice," announced Wednesday that Stewart will host "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," a new version of the business-themed reality show.
"Mark and I have always admired her," Trump said during an NBC conference call. "She's a very brave women. She's built a multimillion dollar empire. It was an easy decision. We think this will be an absolutely tremendous success."
Burnett didn't reveal many details on the show — whether there will be a boardroom, when the show would begin taping. However, Burnett did make it clear he never discussed any business with Stewart during his monthly visits to her.
Stewart was convicted last year of lying about why she unloaded shares of ImClone Systems Inc. stock in 2001, just before the price plunged.
Stewart, who founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., began serving her five-month sentence in October, and is due to be released in early March from a prison in Alderson, W.Va.
"Since the last four months, Martha's been incarcerated and has given no input," said Burnett during the conference call.