The Collegian

Issue date: 2/18/05 Section: Opinion

Stewart is in the works to get her own "Apprentice."

Reality television has done it again and NBC has truly made television history by hiring a convicted felon to host its new show. Yes, NBC presents "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart."

So, what is this new television show about? It is a spin-off series of the original "Apprentice" hosted by Donald Trump. This edition, however, will be hosted by the infamous Martha Stewart.

It is said that this particular version of "The Apprentice" will not be the same as the original. It will contain those eliminations that everyone loves but will be "made to fit Stewart's personality."

With this information though, I have to wonder whether or not the networks have gone too far with this one. No one will forget how Stewart was found guilty of insider trading.

So, is it right to give an ex-con, who was convicted of a serious crime dealing with a great amount of money, a second chance in the business of television? Are the networks doing it solely for ratings?

I personally believe that it's all about the ratings. As much as everyone denies that they like reality shows, most must admit that they have watched one. Throw in the former all-American housewife who was loved by all, then convicted of a crime, into the mix and the ratings can do nothing but increase.

However, the crime of which Stewart was found guilty of must be put into perspective. A woman who is guilty of insider trading, meaning she lied about a stock exchange in order to obtain more wealth, seems selfish to me.

To let a celebrity who has done such a thing have another chance to gain so much more money for a show with great potential, seems absurd to me.

What kind of values are we trying to instill in society?

It seems as if her punishment was never really a punishment at all.

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