The NCAA men’s basketball tournament won’t be the only broadcast show crowning winners tonight. The seventh season of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” closes tonight with a two-hour finale at 9 p.m. as tabloid editor Piers Morgan and country crooner Trace Adkins square off for the title on the show’s first-ever celebrity edition.
The Donald looks all but sure to come out a winner as well.
Last May then-NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly left “Apprentice” off the fall schedule, prompting Trump to quit the network in a huff. Reilly’s replacement, Ben Silverman, lured Trump back a few months later.
That turned out to be a smart move.
“Apprentice” now seems likely to return for an eighth season next year. Season seven has averaged a 3.8 rating among adults 18-49, up 21 percent over last year’s 3.1 average and one of very few shows this year to show improvement.
The word is next year’s, too, will be a celebrity edition. Like this year’s, the winner will get not a job with Trump, as on past editions, but a $250,000 donation to his or her favorite charity.
As with many other NBC Universal shows, including Sci Fi’s “Who Wants to be a Superhero?” and Bravo’s “Project Runway,” this year’s “Apprentice” has a new media audience participation angle. Viewers will be able to donate money to either Morgan's or Adkins’ favorite charity by texting the message “Trump” to a special number. Those who donate will receive a video message from the Donald himself thanking them.
Tonight “Apprentice” could certainly build on last week’s 3.1 average for its penultimate episode. The show had seen its ratings fall since ABC’s “Lost” took over the 9 p.m. timeslot in February, but that show’s now on a brief hiatus. And though CBS has NCAA men’s basketball coverage, that doesn’t draw huge ratings.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws
|
|
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“College Basketball” (S)
|
Are your brackets already busted? Coverage of the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Miss Guided” (C)
|
The first time in her life, Becky acts like a rebel.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CW
|
“Smallville” (D)
|
Clark tries to use his flying skills to take on Brainiac.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)
|
Season finale. The Donald names his winner and awards $250,000 to his or her charity of choice.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Eli Stone” (D)
|
Still another appearance by singer George Michael.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
MTV
|
“Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” (R)
|
Season finale. The winning team is selected.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
TLC
|
“LA Ink” (R)
|
Kat’s boyfriend tells her dad all about their relationship.
|
|
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
ABC
|
“Good Morning America” (N)
|
Doctors Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen both guest.
|
|
7 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“College Basketball” (S)
|
More coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball regional semifinals.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CMT
|
“Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search” (R)
|
The seven remaining contestants compete in a challenge called “Don’t Stop Dancing.”
|
|
8:30 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“The Return of Jezebel James” (C)
|
Coco gets a job walking a neighbor’s dog.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
Travel Channel
|
“Mysteries of the Smithsonian” (N)
|
A look at some of the most unique items at the famous institution.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Sci Fi Channel
|
“Battlestar Galactica: Revealed” (A)
|
A recap of the show’s first three seasons.
|
|
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
3 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Third-round coverage of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
|
|
6:30 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“College Basketball” (S)
|
The first of two regional finals that will determine half of this year’s Final Four.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Cops” (R)
|
Cops in Las Vegas use their trusty spike strips to slow down a stolen car.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Nickelodeon
|
“Kids’ Choice Awards” (A)
|
The 21st annual event, hosted again this year by Jack Black.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
Showtime
|
“John Witherspoon: You Got to Coordinate” (A, C)
|
The aging comedian delivers a stand-up special.
|
|
11 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Mad TV” (C)
|
Spoofs of Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, as well as a “Juno 2” sketch.
|
|
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
2 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“College Basketball” (S)
|
The first of two more regional finals, completing this season’s Final Four.
|
|
3 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, won by Nick Watney last year.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“The Simpsons” (C)
|
Lisa becomes addicted to secondhand smoke.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Univision
|
“Por Siempre…Selena” (A)
|
Latin music stars offer a tribute to the late singer.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
CW
|
“The Game” (C)
|
Serena Williams guests and goes on a date with Malik.
|
|
9:30 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Unhitched” (C)
|
Season finale. Tommy teaches Freddy how to drive.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
FX
|
“Dirt” (D)
|
Willa and Farber try to find juicy tidbits on celebrity relationships.
|
|
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
|
