The creators' infamous back-pedal response that the film was made as a satire is belied by the flashback scenes, all of which are lacking in humor or camp value, especially when compared to Shepherd's dysrgulated performance in the modern-day scenes.
In one of the oddest twists in television history, this film received scathing reviews, prompting its creators and star Cybill Shepherd to publicly announce that their project was not meant to be viewed -- or reviewed -- as a serious biography of Martha Stewart, but as a scathing satire. The network reran the film within a few weeks, a very unusual practice for a TV movie, and it has since been embraced as a camp classic. However, it remains unclear whether its creators actually set out to make a comedy or were merely saving face in the wake of the film's deadly reception.