Live from LA: 'Apprentice' gets star-struck, more NBC tidbits
Posted: Monday, July 16, 2007 11:11 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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TV
The most interesting news from NBC's executive session Monday with co-chairs Marc Graboff and Ben Silverman was that Isaiah Washington will be joining "Bionic Woman" for at least five episodes, as I discuss above. But the two suits dropped some other choice tidbits, too.
It's already been reported by Reuters that NBC will bring back Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" reality show, despite ratings that had many wondering if cancellation was in the offing. Silverman confirmed that news, and announced that the next season will feature a celebrity theme. Noting that a British take on this theme performed well in the U.K., Silverman said the new season will feature Trump "sharing his business acumen with celebrities."
In other words, actors, athletes and other famous folks who also run some sort of business, such as clothing lines, will be the contestants. No names were mentioned, but Silverman joked about Trump's nemesis being a possibility. "I think it would be great to have (former "View" host) Rosie (O'Donnell)," he said. The show is casting now and hopes to premiere midseason, he said. All money raised in episode challenges and the winner's prize money will go to charity. Well, yeah...if you're a supposed celebrity who also has your own business of some kind, you probably don't need another check from Trump.
Hmm...Gwen Stefani has a fashion line, but I just can't see her needing -- or taking -- any business advice from The Donald. Can't help but wonder if this cast will be so B-list you'll need Wikipedia or IMDB to even figure out who the "celebrities" are.
In other NBC news:
SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT...SOMETHING
--The network is planning a reality show called "Phenomenon," featuring magician/ illusionist/spoon-bender Uri Geller and new-generation illusionist/soon-to-be-divorcee Criss Angel. The show will search for the next great...magician? Illusionist? Paranormalist? Mentalist? Spoon-bender? and is based on an Israeli hit called "The Successor," which was hosted by Geller. That show sparked a bit of controversy as magicians accused it of being full of "tricks and stunts" and Geller successfully persuaded YouTube to take down recent clips in which he allegedly uses a magnet to move a compass.
A GUEST APPEARANCE ABOUT NOTHING
--Jerry Seinfeld will play himself on the premiere of "30 Rock." And Silverman confirmed that both Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan are committed to the sitcom and will be returning.
TGIF
--"Friday Night Lights," which earned a full-season renewal from the network, has been moved to the only night of the week where it won't confuse people -- Fridays, following an 8 p.m. ET episode of "Deal or No Deal." Hey, how many shows have a written-in-stone permanent reminder of their scheduled night in their title? You gotta use that whenever you can.
ALL IN THE NBC FAMILY
--Silverman is working with legendary writer and producer Norman Lear on a one-hour comedy he described as "the story of a gender battle." He said the network is pursuing an "A-list" actor and actress for the lead roles. In an era where the kind of brave TV Lear once did -- think "All in the Family" -- is almost always dumbed-down or just plain considered too risky for today's audiences, this can only be good news.
IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN
--Bravo Media president Lauren Zalaznick announced that NBC is going green, for at least a week. For the week of Nov. 4-11, the network and all its subsidiaries, including Universal theme parks, will be focusing on environmental issues, featuring green-themed programming and consumer events. Characters from "The Office's" Michael Scott to the lead of the new time-travel series "Journeyman" will see green issues impact episodes of their shows, Zalaznick promised. This could actually be hilarious when done on "The Office," since Michael's attempts to force recycling and planet-saving light-bulbs upon his unhappy band of men and women can only end in his trademark brand of disaster. I can only hope that Dwight and Jim are forced to carpool, maybe in Meredith's mini-van.
