From a press release that just hit my inbox:
NBC COMMITS TO A NEW CELEBRITY VERSION OF ‘THE APPRENTICE’ FEATURING
DONALD TRUMP AS CELEBRITY CONTESTANTS VIE TO BE THE BEST BUSINESS BRAIN
UNDER TRUMP’S TUTELAGE
Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Return to the Boardroom
BURBANK — July 16, 2007 — NBC has renewed "The Apprentice" for mid-season
with a creative twist. In a new celebrity version of the popular series,
celebrity contestants will vie for Donald Trump’s attention in what will be
the highest-profile competition in the groundbreaking series’ run, it was
announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and
Universal Media Studios.
Now, I stopped watching The Apprentice after the Randall debacle, but this is the reaction from Whitney Pastorek, who has bravely TV Watch’ed the show since, like, forever:
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO."
And also: "how the f— is it going to work? Is, like, Joey Fatone going to be creating a Hewlett-Packard sales display for the Secaucus, N.J., Best Buy? Will Loni Anderson be washing cars? I think not."
What say you, kids?
Comments (1-30) of 34 Add your comment
I’m actually like Dawnie on this. I stopped watching after the season Randall won. Not so much because of the debacle, but because the show was so played out.
That being said…NOT to Care. In fact, I only care less about the continued existence of “The Bachelor” as far as well-past-their-prime reality shows go.
Also, the Apprentice was a “groundbreaking series”…so apparently Trump is spending his spare time writing press releases.
Though it’ll be slightly more interesting with the C-grade celebs around (as opposed to another round of W-grade nobodys) I mostly just feel sorry for poor Whitney Pastorek, who’ll actually have to watch this damn thing for her TV Watch (which is the only positive thing from the Apprentice’s existence).
I say it’s fine so long as Rosie is one of the contestants. Otherwise this sounds like a REALLY bad idea. These “celebs” are going to appear beyond desperate – kind of like the way Donald looks for wanting to continue with this horse that’s been dead for some time.
Yeah, not only was it “groundbraking,” but they’re also calling having D-listers as contenstants “creative.”
So does the Donald HIRE the celebrity at the end? What a gyp.
Way to go Ben! You got your first bad decision out of the way as the new head of NBC Entertainment! Success!
I’ll pass, thank you anyway NBC.
Oh. Dear. God.
You have got to be kidding me! Didn’t they learn from last season, this show is awful. Totally bombing in the ratings, unoriginal, incoherent, and nothing more than a badly choreographed ego trip for the Trump clan.
Not for my sake, but for God’s sake, whoever is watching this show, PLEASE STOP ENCOURAGING DONALD TRUMP! Someone out there is watching his show and buying his steaks…STOP IT, and he’ll go away!
What’s sad about this, I mean, aside from everything, is that it totally misses the point of what made the show interesting the first time around: the idea of intelligent, competent people in the wacked-out reality show environment. This just sounds like “Armed and Famous” without the insult to the idea of rule of law or opportunities for tazer injuries.
On the other hand, I have no pity for Whitney, because I am a cruel and heartless person and because I love her write-ups. Vive la snark!
If this is the mark of what Ben Silverman is bringing to the table at NBC, I’m truly concerned for the network. At least Kevin Reilly was trying to make quality programs. This reminds me of the craptacular stuff Jeff Zucker would come up with when he was programming head.
This is a really bad idea. After watching last season, I’m done with the Apprentice. This show has now offically jump the shark. The celebrities are only going to make this show look more desperate for viewers. Having celebrities goes against the whole concept of the show in my opinion. Why would someone famous want to work for Trump?
Not caring about this. At all.
I think every contestant from season one (with the exception of Omarosa) just died a little inside.
Please, nobody watch this. The topic should NEVER be mentioned again by anybody.
Can we put Posh and Beck on this show and then all agree to never watch it?
It will be another pedantic reality show to watch just to kill time. At least Gordon Ramsay is likeable jerk who is willing to help when something goes terribly wrong.
What the hell is wrong with bobble head spice? Whst women really wears skin tight Ziplock sandwich bag dresses around the house?
NBC will soon be all reality/game shows all the time.
Celebrity Hopscotch! Be There!
After Nicole and Franky made the final four while Kristine and Heidi were left out in the cold, this show was dead to me. But then, I’m a liar.
I’ve watched every season of this terrible, beautiful mess and I will watch again if they come out with another. Because it sucks SO MUCH you just have to see it to believe it.
The Donald got around to seeing an episode of The Surreal Life, and thought “I gotta get me some of that”. Train wreck straight ahead.
I’m reminded of that scene from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, when Austin is trying to kill the evil female agent Robin Swallows (maiden name is “Spits” lol). Remember after falling out a building when he says to her, “Why won’t you die already?!?”
That’s EXACTLY how I feel about the Apprentice. Can’t this show just die already? Hmph!
Um, can’t you just not do a TV Watch for this show?
What say I? “Eww.” And, “Ugh.” And, “Heeeeell-to-the-No!”
Horrible, horrible idea. Poor Whitney, having to cover it ! But if there’s a TV Watch, I’ll read it !!
They did not describe the series as “popular” in that blurb. What have they been smoking?
wtf is wrong with NBC?
Is it ust me or is the Donald his own traveling circus in a way?
Let Whitney know she has my permission to sit out for the next season of “The Apprentice”. Pick a better show that won’t suck the life out of your body, woman. Do something for your own sanity.
first of all, i concur with whitney. NOOOOOOOOO!!!
second, what randall debacle???? i watched that whole season and missed anything resembling a debacle.
Maybe this will finally kill the show.
RE: So does the Donald HIRE the celebrity at the end?
Considering the “celebrities” that usually end up on a show like this, they’d probably be grateful for a regular gig.
I will watch the first episode just to see Dustin Diamond’s lemonade stand, but I’m tuning out after that.
NBC is desperate, Trump is desperate. Just goes to show what desperate people will do.
GOTTA have Rosie on this! THAT would make it a true trainwreck/memorable event…