Sexy Actress Salma Hayek to be "Knighted"

Sexy star Salma Hayek will be 'knighted' in France when she receives the Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). The Mexican-born actress was among the list of new recipients of the merit award that was announced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

People reported that, according to source, her induction ceremony could take place in the next two months. The medal will be presented by Sarkozy himself.

The Legion of Honor was founded as a merit award by Napoleon in 1802 and is traditionally given to civilians and members of the military for their contributions to France. While Hollywood actors like Clint Eastwood, Jerry Lewis, Robert Redford and Robert De Niro have received the medal in the past, Hayek's selection has been met with fierce criticism.

Many in the French press see it as a last ditch effort by Sarkozy to get re-elected in the spring. Marianne, a political magazine, had a headline that read "Last distribution of the gongs before leaving," while L'Express wrote that Napoleon would be "turning his grave" if he knew who was receiving the award.

According to the controversy, Hayek's husband is Francois-Henri Pinault, a businessman who is reportedly close friends with Sarkozy.

Martha Stewart Show Axed

Martha Stewart daytime show got axe from Hallmark Channel. The Martha Stewart Show is set to stop production this spring after disappointing ratings weren't worth the steep cost the show needs to maintain daily live shows.

Sources said that once Stewart's Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was informed of the cancellation, they started to plan a copious send off finale show similar to Oprah Winfrey's after 25 years of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Stewart's entire programming block, which includes Emeril's Table, Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn, and Martha Bakes, is said to be running through September, but any show that surpasses the month of April will be a repeat. The Martha Stewart Show's average audience was only around 200,000 viewers. Lisa Gersh, president of MSLO, hinted that the costs were getting too high at an investor conference last month.