THE PITHY ADVICE one always gets when going on a job interview, first date, or other new social excursion is, “Just be yourself.”

Well, it seems that no one gave Martha Stewart this advice when she left prison, started to redefine her image, and launched two new television ventures “Martha,” a daily syndicated talk show, which airs in Washington, D.C., on ABC at 10 a.m., and “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart,” an NBC reality show where 16 men and women compete to be the major domo of her domestic media empire.

Before being led off to the clink for obstruction of justice and lying about a shady stock sale, Stewart was known as an imperious, mean perfectionist who looked down on those who couldn’t make arts and crafts from any material or create an elaborate dinner menu in no time at all.

She has emerged as a cuddly bunny that wants to teach the world to sing — or at least how to make the perfect breakfast in bed. To be fair, it could be that prison has softened the old girl, but she really wasn’t locked up that long.

Watching both of her shows, it’s hard to witness Stewart playing nice, whether it’s interviewing the guests on her talk show or trying to be sweet and firm with the contestants on her reality show. This new side of the domestic doyenne is probably courtesy of Mark Burnett, the reality show guru who executive produces both shows.

The problem is Stewart doesn’t seem natural being nice. The interviews on her talk show are horribly awkward and the phony relations between her and her staff on the reality show are laughable. She seems to be faking the funk.

No wonder Stewart’s reality show tanked. Only 7 million people tuned in for the premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Last year in the same time slot on NBC, the premiere of drama “ Hawaii” attracted 11 million viewers, and now no one remembers that hastily cancelled gem.

STEWART COULD LEARN a thing or two from the contestants on her show, two of whom are openly gay.

The original “Apprentice” is also host to its first openly gay contestant this season, Clay Lee, a handsome real estate agent from rural Texas, who outed himself in the program’s first few minutes. He claimed that his sexual orientation would be one of his greatest assets.

Burnett’s original hit, CBS’ “Survivor,” again features a gay male contestant. This time it’s Rafe Judkins, a gay, Mormon wilderness guide. One of his teammates noted that everyone in their tribe gets along, despite their differences.

On reality shows, and in life, everyone is eventually judged on what they produce, not on their sexual orientation or personality. Jeffrey Rudell, the gay contestant who was kicked off in the first episode of Stewart’s “Apprentice,” learned that the hard way.

He got canned not for being gay or bitchy, but because the children’s book he was responsible for producing was bad. So, Martha, if your shows continue to be bad because of your newly created persona, you might suffer the same fate.

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