At first glance, Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart appear to have little in common. On closer inspection, this is totally confirmed. Welcome to Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.
An unusual blend of cooking, music, games and the least subtle drug references imaginable, Potluck is a unique variety show hosted by the unlikely duo of Snoop and Stewart. Each captaining a team, they cook and compete in various challenges with the aid of celebrity guests who often seem appropriately baffled by the situation and the existence of the show in general.
Teams then eat the genuinely appetising food they have prepared while partaking in common dinner party activities, with guests including Seth Rogen, Kathy Griffin, Ice Cube, Jason Derulo and Kelis.
Meanwhile, allusions to drug use flow thick and fast, to the point where the show could be called Snoop Dogg: I Like Drugs and its undertones would be only slightly less subtle than they already are.
It's all capped off by a resident DJ, a musical act, and an enthusiastic audience that laugh and cheer for practically everything regardless of how innocuous. Viewers are quickly made aware this show is going to be loose at best.
Though none of this may sound appealing or even remotely sane, the show works thanks largely to the pairing of Snoop and Stewart. An unquestionably odd couple, their relationship dates back several years to a time when Snoop was a recurring guest on Stewart’s daytime TV show. Bonding further on projects including the TV roast of Justin Bieber, the two remain diametrically opposite in character but have clearly built an understanding and genuine rapport, making them easy to watch and comfortable in each other’s company.
Despite their differences, one thing the hosts undoubtedly share is business savvy, with Snoop known for attaching his name to popular ventures including a clothing line and legal marijuana products. For her part, Martha Stewart is also a highly accomplished businesswoman. With the exception of the time she went to prison for insider trading, she has found huge success, turning her skills and knowledge into an almost billion-dollar empire.
Now combining their disparate skills on Potluck, the two stars have continued their success, embracing stereotypes and clichés to create something truly, and perhaps surprisingly enjoyable.
There is something here for everyone, whether it be listening to Stewart describe the times she has been struck by lightning – apparently three – or discovering Snoop has an unexpected and delightful fear of lobsters.
At its heart, Potluck is all about entertainment, with everyone involved in the show clearly having fun without taking things too seriously.
It may be an odd combination of concepts and personalities, but if you enjoy food, Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, celebrity guests, drug references and wondering whether life is nothing but a bizarre dream, you will not be disappointed.
Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party airs Sundays at 8:30pm on SBS VICELAND. Watch the first episode here:
