Update: I have replaced the original post with the NBC press release.
NBC PICKS UP HIT SERIES ‘THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE’ FOR SPRING 2010
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. ? April 29, 2009 ? NBC has picked up the hit series “The Celebrity Apprentice” for another season in Spring 2010, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios
“‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ is the ultimate business and reality show at the top of its game and has exploded in popularity this season while also raising an impressive amount of money for charity,” said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. “It’s a valuable franchise and proven competitor and we’re thrilled to have Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett back to create another brilliant season.” ”
‘The Apprentice’ and ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ have been an amazing adventure for me and, obviously, a very popular show with the public,” said executive producer Donald Trump. “Its Emmy nominations and great success have translated into a wonderful experience. Working with Mark Burnett has been terrific, and I am greatly honored that NBC has renewed us for yet another season, our ninth.”
“The Celebrity Apprentice” is averaging a 3.5 rating, 9 share among adults 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers overall this season. The popular unscripted series is up 39 percent versus NBC’s non-sports adult 18-49 average in the time period prior to “Apprentice” (”live plus same day”) and is doubling its lead-in from the 8-9 p.m. hour in adults 18-49. In the 10:30 lead-in to local news, “Celebrity Apprentice” has out-rated all regular competition for the last six weeks in a row in the key news demographic of adults 25-54.
After last year’s ratings blockbuster, “The Celebrity Apprentice” and host Donald Trump returned last January with a dynamic cast of celebrities. The 16 new celebrities have vied for the coveted title, using all their business savvy as they fight for causes close to their hearts. They use their fame, their rolodexes and their business acumen to win weekly tasks, while ultimately battling with each other to stay out of the boardroom and avoid hearing those dreaded words, “You’re Fired!.”
“The Celebrity Apprentice” is produced by Mark Burnett Productions in association with Trump Productions LLC. Mark Burnett, Donald Trump, Page Feldman and Eden Gaha are Executive Producers.
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April 29th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Thank goodness for this - more mindless reality dribble. Can’t wait!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:42 am
good news
April 29th, 2009 at 9:52 am
No real surprise there.
The real question is will it be an hour or two hours…
April 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I really enjoy this show. Good for them, only the should bring bigger stars in the game!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:02 am
So NBC is going to take up 4 hours of of already limited programming with reality TV? (i.e. this and biggest loser)
Such a shame…
April 29th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Jenna, you’re right, time is limited, that’s why you bring back your show’s with the best ratings, like Biggest Loser and Celebrity Apprentice.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:03 am
No surprise, the numbers are solid.
I actually love this show. I can’t say it’s good, it’s trashy, takes cheap shots and tries to build fake tension, not to mention every week Donald kisses major celebrity butt, but I love it anyway. It’s my guilty pleasure.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:06 am
It’s my guilty pleasure too, I just can’t help it
I thought Joan and Melissa Rivers were absolutely hilarious the other night. I guess the botox got in their brains or something - what a miserable family.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:11 am
excuse me while i barf all over my keyboard
April 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Oh I understand, I just don’t have to agree
But I do agree with djm haha
April 29th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Its also my guilty pleasure!!! I love this season also!!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I’m not surprised by this at all…not excited…but not surprised.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:21 am
djm, let me help you with….
Got my own mess to clean up now, sorry.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I’m not surprised eiher, just a little disappointed. Mr Obama, please outlaw reality shows. Yes, I’m talkin about you too, American Idol!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:45 am
hahaha begging the President to outlaw reality shows what about swine flu?…nahh thats not important we just cant have those damn Rivers on TV haha
April 29th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Seriously what do people think is going to happen if the networks stop producing reality television? Do you honestly believe that the networks are going to invest more in scripted content than they already do? Do people seriously not realise that networks are businesses and that the successful reality shows (which again network has at least one of) help to bring in the big bucks that allow them to keep producing scripted content.
Without reality TV you’d just get more repeats and probably fewer shows.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Alex, isn’t the real issue how much time NBC surrendered to Leno. Things would be very different if they had not surrendered all of that time. Also, Leno’s show can’t possibly help Conan.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
More crap.
What Id really like to see is CELEBRITY SAW - hosted by Tobin Bell.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
So that’s their spin. How many did *really* watch it?
April 29th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
“What Id really like to see is CELEBRITY SAW - hosted by Tobin Bell.”
ahahahhaa
April 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I’d prefer the original to return, though on the last regular season the show was a bigger joke than what you’d expect from VH1.
Oh well, the show’s still watchable in a trainwreck sort of way.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Why???? This is the most absurd thing I’ve heard since they decided to give that joke Leno his own show!
April 29th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I wonder if they will get the has-beens that were rejected from Dancing with the Stars?
April 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I’d say that it being 2hr or 1hr is dependent on the success (or lack thereof) of NBC’s fall. I doubt the idea of a 2hr Apprentice would have even dawned on NBC had a)it not been working so well for Biggest Loser and b)everything new this year tanked.
The ratings are good, but don’t scream “Keep me at 2hrs!” like BL’s do. If everything works ok for fall, they’ll probably do a 1hr edition and stretch it over more time. If everything hits the fan again, they’ll probably bring their midseasoners in early like this year, and be plugging up holes with a 2hr edition of Donald.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I think it will end up back at 1hr, with maybe the premiere and finale being 2hrs. Some of the episodes this season seemed to contain a lot of filler just to stretch them to 2hrs.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Is this show really popular?
I have never been interested in it, especially the celebrity editions.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Jon K, the critical assessments of how a 2 hour Apprentice works out aren’t particularly meaningful, it’s done fine for those 2 hours in the ratings, and I’m sure 2 hours of Apprentice are likely among the cheaper 2 hours NBC airs each week.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
True, so do you think this makes it more likely NBC’s bubble shows get cancelled?
April 29th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Jon K, I’d say it changes nothing. I assumed that Apprentice would be back. The only thing that would prevent it would be The Donald changing his mind.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
annon I’m the wrong person to talk to about Leno because unlike the majority I don’t see it as a sign of the apocalypse, I think all things considered with NBC right now it’s a relatively smart move that allows them focus on rebuilding and fixing what’s broken 8-10 whilst delivering all but guaranteed profit from 10-11. It remains to be seen whether they actually do that or not but as things stand I think it’s a smart move across the board and again the profit Leno brings in will be nothing but good news for NBC and eventually scripted content.
I’ll also ask this question in the eight seasons that American Idol has been on the air how many scripted shows has Fox launched and/or sustained off the back of it? And they’re going to give the post-finale spot this year to Glee a very adventurous scripted show, which as a result is going to be exposed to a huge audience. I don’t know why people have this idea that reality television is the enemy.