In a press release Sunday, NBC announced its 2011-12 primetime schedule. Amid the list of new shows and old, the network drops one semi-bombshell: Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” is coming back for another season.
While the likelihood of Trump running has been dropping with his poll numbers, his bizarre appearance at the end of Mike Huckabee’s 2012 announcement Saturday night suggested that he still considers himself a candidate. But if his show is renewed, is that the end of Trump’s pseudo-presidential campaign?
When the Associated Press asked NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt if this meant that NBC had a commitment from Trump that he wouldn’t run for president, Greenblatt said, “We’re putting a pin in that for the next 24 hours or so. Things will become clearer soon.”
How soon? We must know! But Greenblatt didn’t give additional clues. He said that NBC was prepared to go forward with a new host for “Celebrity Apprentice” if Trump decides to run, but also said, “I hope we don’t have to go there.” He was even more cagey with The Hollywood Reporter, where he indicatedthat “Celebrity Apprentice” would go forward with or without Trump.
“It’s such a strong franchise, not to minimize his presence in it because we love him,” said Greenblatt. “But I really do think it’s all about the casting of that show and the challenges and if he’s not available to us, we’re going to have someone really interesting sitting at the head of that boardroom.”