This whole thing seemed fishy from the get-go. On Howard Stern's radio show last year, Trump mentioned how he distanced himself from O.J. (scroll down to 'Donald Trump Calls In' at 9:25 AM) and made it pretty clear he had doubts about his innocence, even though O.J. attended his wedding. Now Trump is having meetings with the guy, even after that whole show-down in Vegas over memorabilia (trial still pending). So what's changed?
One has to wonder if the "leaked info" regarding O.J.'s interest in Celebrity Apprentice was merely a publicity stunt to drum up interest in the show, even just by making more people aware that it exists.
O.J. Simpson is interested in appearing on television again, though for a much different sort of reality show than the interior of a courtroom. Namely, The Donald's boardroom.
O.J. reportedly is interested in appearing in the next season of Celebrity Apprentice (there's going to be another season?) and has even asked Trump to allow him to participate. From the Page Six article: "Simpson really wants to do it. Trump and NBC are thinking about it, but are being very cautious," their source said. "There's a certain amount of heat associated with Simpson." Ya think?
I'm betting Simpson's appearance on the show will boost ratings in some circles, while others will cry for a boycott of the show. I'm not sure where O.J.'s going to have time to finish tasks for The Apprentice when he's so busy scouring golf courses all over America in search of his late wife's killer. Maybe that will be the final Apprentice task.
The show would be a nighttime soap opera set within Trump Towers itself. Lifetime Entertainment President Susanne Daniels describes the series as "Desperate Housewives in Trump Tower with The Donald narrating." According to the article, Lifetime also has several other series in the works with a concentration on comedic appeal.
Given the fact that the Lifetime Network has historically been a women's network and Trump's behavioral history can hardly be called female-friendly, one wonders why this premise was proposed in the first place. The series might even make more sense for the network if the narrator was Ivana Trump or Marla Maples.
Obviously, this is an attempt by Lifetime to cash in on Trump's fame. This is another example of Jay Black's theory of channel drift.
After weeks of tasks, bickering between Piers and Omarosa, "You're fired!" and money raised for charity, Donald Trump finally said the words "You're hired!" (figuratively) to one of the two final contestants: America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan and country singer Trace Adkins. Since I know some of you haven't watched the finale yet, I'll name who was crowned winner of the first edition of NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice after the jump. I can confirm though that it's a man!
This coming Thursday, NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice will come to an end. Either the arrogant Brit or the American Cowboy will hear the words "You're hired."
In an unsurprising move, Donald Trump decided in last week's episode to have Piers Morgan and Trace Adkins face off during the final task. This decision goes against that of CNBC's Erin Burnett and Jim Cramer, brought on to interview the Top 4 contestants, but The Donald knew better than to have Carol Alt and Trace as the final two contestants. Both are really good contestants and played a clean game but, let's admit it, a live finale with Carol and Trace is not as promising as a Piers and Trace one ratings-wise.
A few words to describe the celebrity version of NBC's The Apprentice: drama, tempers, egos, backstabbing, bitching, arguing, egos and... more egos! This week, the bruised egos are those of America's Got Talent's Piers Morgan and of The Apprentice (Season 1) Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth. Since the beginning of the season, both have been strong and opinionated players on their respective teams. Even if they didn't have to work together, Piers and Omarosa were pretty vocal about what they thought of each other. This week, hell broke lose when Trump decided to mix up the teams and the enemies ended up, you guessed it, on the same team!
Even if you don't watch The Celebrity Apprentice, it's pretty much a given that you watched this week's preview (after the jump) during which we see Stephen Baldwin tell Donald Trump that he can't continue working with Piers Morgan.
Let's face it, Baldwin and the America's Got Talent judge have not been seeing eye to eye from the very beginning of the show. Even if they somewhat worked well together on the tasks, their business relationship was pretty much a hate-hate one or at least a "I'm tolerating you because I have to." But in light of the Vincent Pastore fiasco from last week, Baldwin has had enough and may give The Donald his resignation... or will he?
If you watched The Celebrity Apprentice this week, you probably still are thinking and talking about that boardroom scene (and I use that latter word here to mean both "a subdivision of the episode" and "an exhibition of anger or indecorous behavior"). Even if it looked childish at times, we have to admit that this was one of the most entertaining boardroom ever!
In short, during the task America's Got Talent's Piers Morgan, who was project manager for the men's team, sent The Sopranos' Vincent Pastore over the women's team to spy on them. Of course, it backfired: Vinnie, who did it willingly (see the first video after the jump), eventually admitted to the ladies that he was sent there to spy but that he now wanted to be a double agent; and, later on the episode, Vinnie and Piers had a major argument about the "rat project". In the boardroom, Vinnie revealed to Trump what had happened. This was followed by more argument between Piers and Vinnie, and comments from the women, the other men, Trump and his children.
I didn't think he could do it, but the Donald did it. I've been a fan of The Apprentice since its first season, but I threw in the towel with last season's lackluster gimmicky Los Angeles version of this unreality show.
But I started watching again this season as the celebrity (although far from A List celebs) started playing the game donating winnings to their favorite charities. Although my favorite Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) committed Apprenticide before my very eyes, only Lost will keep me from watching it as it airs.
And there you were, thinking that the Emmys were the biggest and best awards any television starlet could hope for. Think again, because all those moments that should get awards are being honored at AOL TV. Some are actually important moments in television history (i.e. The Soprano's finale) but others are just mishaps or fights that the nominees hope audiences will soon forget.
AOL TV is calling it their Top 5 Awards. They provide five nominations but you decide who the winner will be. You can watch the video clips and vote for your favorites. AOL TV will release the winners on December 13th.
Check out the nominations and my predictions after the jump.
Despite his showmanship, Trump isn't that great a businessman. If he was, he wouldn't need a television show (or multiple ones, as it were). He has had more failures than successes and given that the market in daytime TV (stay-at-home moms) isn't exactly his demographic, I have my doubts about the ability of this show to be successful.
Ben Silverman is loosening up as the NBC executive session panel continues.
Asked what he felt was missing from NBC's lineup, the new Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, joked he wanted the chimes in the network's jingle turned up by 30%.
Silverman assures a reporter that he and Graboff are comfortable working side by side. "This wasn't an arranged marriage," he says. "We've known each other a long time."
Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.
Today on TV Squad Daily:
Mindfreak's Criss Angel is doing damage control about his relationship with Cameron Diaz. Cameron Diaz doesn't need this kind of drama - she just wants to be friends.
The Apprentice is coming back? Was there a candy bar campaign I didn't know about?
Miss New Jersey received another package of blackmail photos, and won't talk about what's in them except to say they contain nothing illegal.
A couple of days ago I posted of the rumors that O.J. Simpson was being eyed as a possible participant in the next season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. NBC and Trump's reps are now calling it complete hogwash, saying he was never being considered for a spot.
O.J. Simpson is interested in appearing on television again, though for a much different sort of reality show than the interior of a courtroom. Namely, The Donald's boardroom.
In the strangest case of offbeat casting I've ever written about, the Lifetime Channel 
After weeks of tasks, 
This coming Thursday, NBC's 
A few words to describe the celebrity version of NBC's 
Even if you don't watch 
And there you were, thinking that the Emmys were the biggest and best awards any television starlet could hope for. Think again, because all those moments that should get awards are being honored at AOL TV. Some are actually important moments in television history (i.e. The Soprano's finale) but others are just mishaps or fights that the nominees hope audiences will soon forget. 
Good Morning America's Robin Roberts had surgery yesterday and is 
Ben Silverman is loosening up as the NBC executive session panel continues.
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