People

Madge No More
Moving to London and adopting a British accent: that was child's play. The mother of reinvention, MADONNA has gone and changed her name — her religious name, anyway. In adherence to Cabala, the medieval Jewish mysticism she famously studies, the Ethereal Girl has taken on the Hebrew name Esther because her given name, which belonged to her mother, who died young of cancer, carries negative energy. Dropping her dead mother's name? If it's good karma she's after, this seems like a wash.

Still a Star?
It's hard to believe that a woman facing prison time still cares about crafting belts out of festive grosgrain ribbon. But the namesake company of lifestyle maven MARTHA STEWART hopes you do. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia struck a deal with the Style Network to continue airing Martha Stewart Living, which many stations dropped after Stewart's conviction on four felony counts in March. Style will air mainly reruns from 11 seasons of Living, but the network has ordered four new specials about weddings, which the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine staff will help produce. A company spokeswoman says the Style deal "is a way for us to continue to fulfill the demand and love for Martha." Asked if the domestic diva will be host of the new shows, she declares, "She will not." That's some tough love.

Knicks Need a Yesss! Man
For more than 35 years, MARV ALBERT has been the voice of the New York Knicks. Last week he said he was quitting his job as play-by-play man for the Madison Square Garden Network. His bosses were reportedly displeased with paying him $2 million a year for frank and often, ahem, biting commentary on an ailing team. The network characterizes the parting as amicable, but according to Albert's agent and longtime friend, Evan Bell, "[Marv is] sorry to leave. He loves the Knicks. He loves the Garden. He was put in a position where his journalistic integrity was more important than renewing." In short, Marv wouldn't say the company "Yesss!" for the team when it deserved only a "Nix."