The cast for “Celebrity Apprentice” was introduced to members of the press at a behind-closed-doors conference in Manhattan last month. Everyone was asked to keep the secret over the names by that time. Now the secret can be told, as NBC made public the names of the members on Monday.

Few of them did not need introduction at all. Everyone knew Omarosa who made everybody angry as a contestant on the first “Apprentice” season in 2004. “I did it for redemption,” she told reporters, according to the Associated Press.

Another celebrity entering the competition was Vincent Pastore known as “Big Pussy” from “The Sopranos.”

Stephen Baldwin was also instantly recognized. He explained his participation noting he already had “a bunch of reality…I thought it would be fun to play the game.”

Gene Simmons of Kiss, who stars his own reality series said that participating to the show can only lead to good results in his business: "I'm in the Gene Simmons business…Everything helps everything,” he said.

Few of the new contestants needed a little bit of introduction. The vaguely familiar-looking woman introduced as Marilu Henner, known worldwide from the sitcom “Taxi” a quarter-century ago was one of them.

Nely Galan, himself wanted to play this game. He used to be the entertainment president of the Telemundo network and executive producer of “The Swan” a program that aired on Fox a few years back.

The 14 celebrities will not compete for a job with Donald Trump, as the others did in the previous six “Apprentice” seasons. This time they are determined to raise money for their favorite charities fulfilling several business-oriented tasks around New York City. The one winning this competition will gain $250,000 bonus to donate.

The contestants’ tasks will be discussed in the boardroom by executive producer-host Trump and his personal advisers, including once again his children/ colleagues Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr.

The taping for the new show began by mid-October after the contestants had already faced their challenges. Its debut will be on January 3.

Trump told reporters that 125 celebrities applied for the competition and the selection was rough. The decisive factor seemed to be their calling to the business world.

"They were all begging to be on the show. The hardest thing was breaking it down to these 14…These people have all done something very dramatic with money," Trump said, according to the AP.

Being familiar with the business world, their only fear seems to be related to appearing in front of the cameras and being supervised in their actions the whole time.

"I've produced reality shows. To be on the other side is a little creepy. It's my karmic boomerang,” Galan said.

Country music star Trace Adkin, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Nadia Comaneci, Playboy Playmate of the Year Tiffany Fallon, Olympic softball gold medalist Jennie Finch, heavyweight-boxing champion Lennox Lewis, “America’s Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan and Ultimate Fighting Champion Tito Ortiz number between the other contestants in the competition.