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.