KITCHEN SYNC

They both have successful how-to TV shows, catty off-camera repu-tations, and egos bigger than Thanksgiving turkeys. But the eerie similarity between Martha Stewart and Sue Ann Nivens (whose Happy Homemaker Show can be found in reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, airing weeknights on Nick at Nite) doesn't end there. Below, a comparison of America's most famous real-life homemaker and television's infamous fictional home wrecker. -Benjamin Svetkey, Michele Romero MARTHA STEWART Straight Blond hair and Frozen TV smile SUE ANN NIVENS Curly blond hair and frozen TV smile

MARTHA STEWART Single (split with husband Andy Stewart while promoting her how-to guide, Weddings) SUE ANN NIVENS Single (her one-night stand with Lou Grant had him promising to give up liquor forever)

MARTHA STEWART Exchanges quipas with Bryant Gumbel while visiting the NBC Today show set. SUE ANN NIVENS Exchanges quips with Murray the writer while visiting the WJM newsroom.

MARTHA STEWART Offers invaluable household hints: (''Good compost looks like rich devil's food cake.'') SUE ANN NIVENS Offers invaluable househol dhints (''Lemon-juice your knickknacks!)

MARTHA STEWART Can bake a lovely cherry tart. SUE ANN NIVENS Is a lovely cherry tart