Celebrities For The Apprentice Revealed
November 20, 2007

As the writer's strike drags into a third week, the very real possibility that we will live in a near future where the only original programming is reality TV must be faced and what better way to do it than to announced the 14 contestants of the new celebrity edition of The Apprentice. Donald Trump unveiled his list of 14 contestants this week and, as E! notes, there's not a single A-lister in the bunch. This group of contestants might make The Surreal Life look positively A-list.

The most recognizable names on The Celebrity Apprentice, one last gasp for a once-strong franchise already canceled once, are Trace Adkins, Stephen Baldwin, Carol Alt, Marilu Henner, and Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore. Yes, those are the MOST recognizable names. (Our money's on Baldwin. Those Baldwins are tough. Didn't Baldwin do a Celebrity Mole too?) Other contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice include Lennox Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, and, the biggest name of all and a man who will do anything if he thinks it will get him some press, KISS legend, Gene Simmons. Honestly, we can't wait to watch Gene Simmons and Stephen Baldwin fight.

And they'll be fighting with Tito Ortiz, Piers Morgan, Tiffany Fallon, and someone who is a "celebrity" because of The Apprentice, Omarosa. Courtesy of E! News, the cast of The Celebrity Apprentice will be rounded out by Jennie Finch and Nely Galan. Yes, they're celebrities in the eyes of Donald Trump.

Never one to play something subtly, Donald Trump told the press yesterday, "This will be the most exciting season of The Apprentice yet-maybe even better than season one. Our 14 celebrity contestants are incredible individually, and as a group they will make The Celebrity Apprentice one of the hottest shows on television."

The Celebrity Apprentice will air in the show's old time slot, as Mark Burnett, the Emmy-winning creator of the show, who added to the Donald's sense of understatement by saying, "The series is epic, and Donald is on fire!"

Contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice will play for a chance to win $250,000 for their designated charity. The show debuts on January 3rd on NBC.