Martha Stewart made most of time at ‘Camp Cupcake’

Alderson, W.Va. — From scrubbing floors to raking leaves, Martha Stewart spent the past five months performing the sort of tasks ordinarily done by the hired help.

She also foraged for dandelions and other wild greens, concocted recipes in a microwave, even ate from the vending machines, heaven forbid.

That could all come to an end as early as Friday, when the foremost authority on gracious living gets out of prison in time for the spring gardening season.

Instead of working for pennies a day at the Alderson Federal Prison Camp, Stewart will once again collect her $900,000-a-year salary while serving five months of home confinement at her Bedford, N.Y., estate for her part in a stock scandal.

By many accounts, prison workers found her to be a pleasant inmate. She even posed for pictures with fellow inmates’ families.

Things look ‘Desperate’ for Bob Newhart

New York — Now look who’s moving onto Wisteria Lane.

Bob Newhart will begin a multi-episode stint on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” set to air in April. The 75-year-old actor-comedian will play Morty, the estranged boyfriend of Susan Mayer’s mom, Sophie, played by guest star Lesley Ann Warren.

“I’m looking forward to being involved with one of the hottest shows on TV,” Newhart said in a statement Wednesday.

In the episode, Teri Hatcher’s single mom, Susan, will attempt to get Sophie and Morty back together to keep her mother from moving in with her and her daughter.

“Desperate Housewives” airs Sundays at 8 p.m.

On March 13, “The Bob Newhart Show” will receive TV Land’s Icon Award at a ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif. The first season of the TV classic will be released on DVD next month.

A princely gesture

Alice Springs, Australia — Ozzy Osbourne sent his congratulations to Prince Charles on his upcoming marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles.

Charles was in Alice Springs Wednesday during a five-day tour of Australia that has been overshadowed by scrutiny of his wedding to Parker Bowles, which has fazed some observers because the couple’s romance began before Princess Diana died.

Osbourne weighed in on the issue while in Sydney to host the first MTV Australia Video Music Awards, calling Charles a “mate” and saying he should be allowed to marry Parker Bowles in peace.

“It’s his business you know. His first wife got killed so what’s he expected to do, be single for the rest of his life? If he likes her and she likes him or whatever, good luck on them,” Osbourne, the former lead singer of Black Sabbath, told reporters.

Charles, the 56-year-old heir to the British throne, has a hectic agenda on his last official trip before his April 8 wedding, cramming five Australian cities into as many days.

Turpin’s brother says suicide unrelated to ‘The Contender’

Los Angeles — The suicide of a contestant from NBC’s “The Contender” was unrelated to the reality boxing series, the man’s brother said.

It likely was a life of struggle that caused Najai Turpin to shoot himself, Diediera Turpin told “Access Hollywood” in an interview broadcast Tuesday.

“He came from nothing to do something because it’s hard out here. The show was never the problem, boxing and all of that was never the problem. It was a personal problem,” the brother said.

“The Contender,” in which 16 boxers compete for a million-dollar prize, is to debut Monday on NBC.

Bail lowered in Charles case

Los Angeles — Bail was reduced for a longtime sound engineer of the late Ray Charles who was arrested two weeks ago on allegations of stealing the singer’s master recordings.

At a hearing Tuesday, Superior Court Commissioner Dennis Mulcahy said Terry Howard had no prior record and reduced bail from $1 million to $100,000. Howard is charged with two counts of grand theft by embezzlement from Ray Charles Enterprises and one count of receiving stolen property.