Donald Trump Quits "The Apprentice"
Once Popular Show Was Not on NBC's Fall Schedule
Rumors have been circulating for weeks that "The Apprentice" would not be renewed, and the rumors seemed to be true when NBC released its fall TV schedule. "The Apprentice" was noticeably absent, further fueling rumors that Donald Trump's days as a reality television star were over.
The show, which debuted during the reality show glut of 2004, once drew 21 million viewers. "The Apprentice" turned Donald Trump into a cultural icon. A failed attempt to branch out by bringing a Martha Stewart hosted show in addition to Trump's original may have hurt the ratings, which have dropped steadily. Trump publicly accused Martha Stewart of tarnishing the brand when his ratings began to plummet after the two shows were aired in the same season.
"The Apprentice" pitted young business people against each other as they competed for a slot in one of Trump's many business ventures. Challenges included ad campaigns for Pepsi and McDonald's, and some of the shows alumni have gone on to become stars in their own right, pitching products and serving as hosts and celebrity spoke people. The show has been successfully syndicated in other countries, and many countries have produced their own versions as well.
In recent months, Donald Trump as been known less for his reality show stardom and business acumen than for his frequent feuds with "The View" co-host Rosie O'Donnell. The feud started when Trump allowed Miss USA Tara Conner to retain her crown as she underwent treatment for alcoholism. O'Donnell blasted Trump for the decision on her daytime talk show. Trump fired back, and the acrimony continues today, with Trump attacking O'Donnell's appearance. O'Donnell frequently mocks Trump's famous combover. While the feuds seemed to provide a ratings bounce for the ABC talk show, the increased publicity did not translate into more viewers for "The Apprentice."
According to a Trump press release, he will be pursuing another "major new TV venture." He has declined to say what that venture will be, but it could involve beauty pageants. Trump is the owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which will continue to be aired on NBC.
Source: Reuters- "Trump to NBC: You Can't Fire Me, I Quit" CNN.com
Published by Kari Livingston
Kari Livingston is a freelancer writer living and loving life in the foothills of the Arkansas Ozarks. She specializes in local restaurants, attractions and family events. Her work has appeared on HubPages,... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentI liked the series originally, but the last couple years it went downhill. The first season was more sales-oriented tasks where the results were tangible and usually the winner was clear-cut. More recently, the tasks were judged by marketing folks who had one preference over the other and no winner was obvious (usually).