Why is Carol Leifer doing Celebrity Apprentice?
But the name that sticks out to me is Carol Leifer. She's a writer, stand-up comic, and the inspiration for the Elaine Benes character on Seinfeld. Doesn't she seem like the type of person who would dump on reality shows (especially celebrity reality shows) rather than be on one? Then again, even Jerry Seinfeld himself isn't immune from the lure of reality shows. He's producing one that debuts later this year.
Celebrity Apprentice #3 launches on NBC March 14.
Here's the new cast for Celebrity Apprentice
- Sharon Osbourne
- Bret Michaels
- Cyndi Lauper
- Carol Leifer
- Bill Goldberg
- Daryl Strawberry
- Curtis Stone
- Summer Sanders
- Sinbad
- Holly Robinson Peete
- Maria Canellis
Leifer is a stand-up comic and a writer for Seinfeld. I was going to watch this just for her and then decided...no.
Blago not done with reality TV, our sanity
An unidentified source close to team Blago confirmed that the ousted Illinois governor will compete on the upcoming season of The Celebrity Apprentice.
Of course, NBC wouldn't confirm the info until the network makes an official announcement or maybe it just didn't want to come to terms with the fact that are giving the human spotlight once more chance on TV. I'm sure it's the first one.
Joan Rivers on longevity, Brooke Shields, and not caring about Johnny Carson
But, Joan being Joan, she also randomly let loose on Brooke Shields, Sarah Palin, and whoever else was in her mind during the ten minutes we spoke.
We start off by talking about longevity. She feels one of the reasons she stays relevant is that she doesn't live in the past. "I don't give a shit about Johnny Carson," she said.
Continue reading Joan Rivers on longevity, Brooke Shields, and not caring about Johnny Carson
David Tutera gave up on The Apprentice, not just Joan Rivers
After Tutera presented a panel introducing the second season of his WE show My Fair Wedding, I caught up with him outside the ballroom to get his response to Joan. He knew the questions were coming, because I had mentioned them to his publicist, but I wanted to ease into things by asking him about the show and its upcoming season. Oh, and I asked him for suggestions on how to throw a relatively inexpensive wedding in New Jersey, but that was just for personal reasons.
But Tutera seemed ready. He answered Joan's charges calmly and without the same rancor she used.
Continue reading David Tutera gave up on The Apprentice, not just Joan Rivers
The Reverend Omarosa?!?
Great, now Omarosa has God on her side.
In what can only be construed as a last ditch attempt to somehow gain immortality, America's favorite reality TV villainess, Omarosa, has enrolled in seminary school, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The former star of The Apprentice, The Celebrity Apprentice, and The Surreal Life will be earning her doctorate of ministry at the United Theological Seminary. She'll be taking classes in Old Testament, New Testament, and History of Christianity. According to Omarosa, this is part of a "transformation" she's going through.
Continue reading The Reverend Omarosa?!?
NBC execs don't seem to know much about NBC - TCA Report
Of course, many of the questions had to do with The Jay Leno Show and Ben Silverman's departure. What the gathered reporters got out of the two executives was evasiveness, referrals to other executives, and a general sense that the two of them either don't know or don't want to provide answers about their own network.
When the question of Leno and CBS's Nina Tassler's assertion that NBC would declare victory no matter what numbers they got, Bromstad tried to pass us to the session for Leno's show later in the day. Telegdy did the same. But we wouldn't let them off the hook. An example exchange, for instance, went like this:
Continue reading NBC execs don't seem to know much about NBC - TCA Report
Joan Rivers takes her shots at David Tutera - TCA Report
But Rivers also took some vicious shots at David Tutera, the party planner who left her and Duke high and dry on The Celebrity Apprentice's finale, quitting after Joan asked him to make some changes to his plan. Since Tutera is scheduled to do a panel on his show My Fair Wedding on Friday, I wanted to post what she said about him here and then give Tutera a chance to respond.
Continue reading Joan Rivers takes her shots at David Tutera - TCA Report
WWE Monday Night Raw: Trumple H?
All weekend long, USA promoted tonight's WWE Monday Night Raw event, on which Trump will appear. The "ruse" is that Trump bought the WWE, something John Scott Lewinski reported last week didn't sit well with the company's stockholders. On tonight's show, Randy Orton defends his title against Triple H, as "decreed" by Trump. And he gave a press conference today with the WWE Divas. What could be more fitting?
Continue reading WWE Monday Night Raw: Trumple H?
Trump grapples with WWE as new 'owner' of RAW
Before a shock wave ripples through the sports entertainment and reality show worlds, it's safe to say this is "a work" -- as they say in grappling circles. Trump has his orange-topped mug back on TV as an on-screen performer with WWE. Behind the curtain, when the arena goes dark, McMahon is still in charge.
According to McMahon, Trump will take over running the show in person next Monday night when a special, commercial-free Raw originates from Green Bay, Wisc.
Continue reading Trump grapples with WWE as new 'owner' of RAW
Charity doesn't make for better TV
Celebrity reality shows can succeed without having to play the charity card. It's all about maintaining the quality level.
Continue reading Charity doesn't make for better TV
Summer reality TV alternatives
If one recalls, several summer reality TV shows have eventually moved to prime real estate in the fall or spring. If rumors are true the summer favorite So You Think You Can Dance will be the next to move, airing in the summer and fall.
Here are some alternatives for your favorite reality TV shows.
Continue reading Summer reality TV alternatives
The Upfronts: NBC
Returning: Heroes, The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: SVU, Saturday Night Live, SNL: Weekend Update Thursday, Parks and Recreation, The Office, Law & Order, Southland, Dateline NBC
Returning mid-season: Chuck, 30 Rock, The Celebrity Apprentice
Gone: Life, Medium, My Name is Earl, Kath & Kim, Kings, Knight Rider
New: Trauma, The Jay Leno Show, Parenthood, Community.
New for mid-season: Day One, 100 Questions, Mercy, The Marriage Ref
Not reflected on the schedule, but will be returning in the summer: America's Got Talent, Friday Night Lights (which will once again be aired first on Direct TV).
Watch this space for more details on the new shows...
More on the schedule and comments after the jump.
Continue reading The Upfronts: NBC
We're barely halfway through and I've already got finale fatigue!
Over the next two days we have America's Next Top Model, Lie to Me, Lost, Bones, My Name Is Earl, Smallville, Parks & Recreation, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Hell's Kitchen, The Office, Supernatural and even CSI: NY on a special night. And it goes on through the weekend. In an era where ratings are slipping, how can it make good business sense to put all of these finales on against one another all within a few days of each other. I know they've always done that, but I just don't think it makes sense anymore.
Continue reading We're barely halfway through and I've already got finale fatigue!
And the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice is....
I took this post over from Isabelle, who fell ill while putting it together (no worries, she's OK), but I couldn't resist keeping her joke intact. Of course, the winner of this year's Celebrity Apprentice was going to be a woman, given that the finalists were Joan Rivers and Annie Duke.
Last week, Isabelle polled the TV Squad readers on who they thought should win the show and on who they thought would win the show. As of now, 52.8% said that Annie should win while 59.1% said that Annie would win. The poll results are rather close but Annie got the lead for both questions. Were your predictions right?
Continue reading And the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice is....