NBC Renews "The Apprentice"

You didn't seriously think he would just go away, did you?

While NBC's former prexy Kevin Reilly, who supported the renewal of his darling Texas-based drama "Friday Night Lights" but wasn't too sure about a new season of Donald Trump's "Apprentice," negotiates his new job with FOX, his successor Ben Silverman has made a decision that NBC go into business with The Donald again.

After Reilly presented NBC's new fall schedule at the Upfronts in May, the media was confused as to the fate of the 6-cycle old reality contest because it was ominously missing from the new grid. Reilly informed the reporters NBC would make a decision about the renewal of "The Apprentice" by June 1, but Trump's over-inflated ego was faster.

Days before NBC's deadline, the controversial billionaire announced that "NBC wanted to do another season of 'The Apprentice,' but [he] didn't have time to do it." There were rumors Trump would partner with the new FOX Business Channel on a new reality venture.

Now, TV Guide reports NBC's Silverman has made a decision to renew "The Apprentice," but it is not clear whether only for a 7th season with an option to do an 8th season, or if the show will immediately get a green light for 2 more seasons. In any event, the announcement in expected to be made by July 16 at the Television Critics Association press tour.



As someone who has actually enjoyed the show in the first couple of cycles, I certainly hope Trump and the show creator Mark Burnett will come to their senses and nix all changes that had been made to the original formula.

That means - ditch those ridiculous tents, the winning Project Manager does not go into the boardroom, Trump's kids do not get to assist daddy dearest and the production goes back to New York. Oh, and pretty please - give the teams more compelling business tasks and make sure the show does not ridicule itself by turning into one giant infomercial for "The Apprentice" sponsors.

Trump's British counterpart Sir Alan Sugar, who has recently concluded a very successful third cycle of the UK version of the show on BBC, has criticized the original series for "trying to make changes for the sake of it, which backfired."

But when has Donald Trump listened to anyone else but his own ego?

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