Martha Stewart Pranks Warm-Up Comic With April Fools' Coughing Fit (VIDEO)

Martha Stewart pulled a pretty excellent April Fool's Joke today on 'The Martha Stewart Show' (weekdays, 10AM on Hallmark), feigning a convincing coughing fit that pressed her warm-up act and sidekick Joey Kola into service hosting the show. Coughing into a napkin, Stewart whispered "Joey, take over," sending Kola nervously to center-stage.

Kola was obviously tentative and nervous. "You want me to do this?" he asked a producer. "I'm going to do it? All right, here we go." He took a deep breath and tried to navigate his way through a segment, with Stewart whispering nitpicky instructions to him, like "Read [the telemprompter] slower."

Kola seemed genuinely worried about Stewart, whether that was because he really thought she was sick or because he just wanted to get off the stage during a cooking segment is unsure. Stewart finally revealed she'd punked Kola on a couple of cardboard signs and he left shaking, saying, "I have to go change myself now."

Do not look for 'The Joey Kola Home and Craft Hour' on Hallmark anytime soon.