Greenlighting a celebrity or all-star edition of a reality show is essentially an acknowledgement by a network that its once-hot program is slowing down. So it was for CBS’s “Survivor” and “Big Brother” and ABC’s “Celebrity Mole” and so it is for NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” the seventh incarnation of Donald Trump’s entrepreneurial-themed program.
Just a few months ago, it looked as though “Apprentice” wouldn’t return at all. Then-NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly left the show off the network’s fall schedule at the May upfront, prompting Trump to quit the network in a pique of ego. Just weeks later, however, after Reilly was forced out, replacement Ben Silverman wooed Trump back to the network with the promise of a celebrity edition.
“Apprentice” returns to the 9 p.m. Thursday slot where it became a surprise smash four years ago, when the first edition of the show drew more than 28 million in its finale. Viewership hasn’t approached that level since, and last year “Apprentice” had its lowest-rated season yet airing on Sunday nights.
Ratings could pick up a bit initially compared with last year, with light competition on the other networks because of the strike. ABC has only one fresh episode of timeslot competitor “Grey’s Anatomy” slated, airing next week, while CBS’s “CSI” will also segue into reruns soon. "Apprentice" will face the return of ABC's hit "Lost" starting in late January in this timeslot, however.
The list of contestants could also spark some early interest. Among more obscure competitors like former Telemundo president Nely Galan and Stephen “The Other Brother” Baldwin lurks Omarosa, the breakout star of the first “Apprentice.”
She has gone on to a lucrative career on other reality shows like VH1’s “The Surreal Life,” and her villainous presence could lure back former “Apprentice” viewers who have long since abandoned the show.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 3
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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4 p.m.
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CNN
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“
America Votes” (N)`
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All-day reports and results on the
Iowa caucuses.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Deal or No Deal” (G)
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Three million-dollar cases are in play when an
Oklahoma woman takes the stage.
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8 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Big Ten Conference play kicks off with a game between
Ohio
State and
Illinois.
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8:15 p.m.
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Fox
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“College Football” (S)
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The Orange Bowl between
Kansas and Virginia Tech.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)
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Season premiere. Fourteen “celebrities” battle it out with Trump for charity.
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10 p.m.
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Bravo
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“Make Me a Supermodel: Meet the Models” (R)
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A behind-the-scenes look at auditions in 14 cities across the
U.S.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“ER” (D)
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Pratt wonders whether his talents will be appreciated more at another hospital.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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The Pistons take on the Raptors in
Toronto.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“1 vs. 100” (G)
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Season premiere. A battle-of-the-sexes theme graces tonight’s premiere.
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8 p.m.
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Sci Fi Channel
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“Flash Gordon” (D)
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Flash and Aura are kidnapped.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Women’s Murder Club” (D)
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The women look into a wine broker who’s found decapitated.
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10 p.m.
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NBC
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“
Las Vegas” (D)
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Danny and Mike head to
Wyoming to buy a horse for Cooper.
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10 p.m.
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TLC
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“Miss
America Reality Check” (R)
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Series premiere. New reality series focusing on the 52 Miss
America contestants.
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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4 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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In-state rivalry game between
Louisville and
Kentucky.
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4:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“NFL Football” (S)
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Wild card playoff game between the Redskins and Seahawks in
Seattle.
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7 p.m.
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ABC
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“ABC News Coverage of the
New Hampshire Debates” (N)
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The title basically explains it all. Both Republican and Democratic debates are featured.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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A traffic stop in a drug-riddled area of
Florida gets messy.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“NFL Football” (S)
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An AFC wild card game between
Jacksonville and
Pittsburgh.
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9 p.m.
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Nickelodeon
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“Goodbye Zoey” (K)
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Special takes on new meaning after star Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy announcement.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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1 p.m.
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Fox
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“NFL Football” (S)
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The second NFC wild card game of the weekend between the Giants and Buccaneers.
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4:30 p.m.
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CBS
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“NFL Football” (S)
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The last of the weekend’s wild card playoff games, this one between
Tennessee and
San Diego.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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Homer burns down the fast-food district of Springfield.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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The residents of
Wisteria Lane begin to rebuild after the tornado.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“American Gladiators” (G)
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Series premiere. An all-new version of the show with hosts Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“
Cashmere Mafia” (D)
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Series premiere. Four female friends help each other through life in
Manhattan.
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10 p.m.
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E!
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“The Girls Next Door” (R)
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Hef’s personal secretary lets the girls hang at her house while he hosts a guys’ night.
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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.
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