celebrity-apprentice

What do you do if you’re a D-list celebrity in need of a quick buck – and a brief hit of fame?

If you’re lucky you might land yourself a spot on Dancing With The Stars – which not only pays big bucks and brings in great ratings but also has the power to reinvent stars (Gilles Marini, Kirstie Alley, Joey Fatone).

Unfortunately not everyone can make it onto DWTS – they’re gotten fairly choosy over at ABC – so what’s the next best place to be? Well Celebrity Apprentice of course. The ratings are nowhere near as good (about 8 million on average compared to Dancing’s 18-20 million), and the Donald Trump show can’t resurrect your career – but hey it’s a payday. And who’s going to turn down a $50,000 fee for a few weeks work? Not these guys anyway…

Yep, the latest Celebrity Apprentice cast has just leaked and they’re the usual assortment of D-listers and desperadoes…

Best names in the bunch? Well I think ex-American Idol runner up CLAY AITKEN is kind of interesting – if only because he’s now out of the closet and has a reputation as a bit of a catty old queen!

Then there’s ex-Danity Kayne singer AUBREY O’DAY who’s already had her own Oxygen reality show that came and went and is now trying desperately to hold onto her 14th minute of fame. Tick tock.

Audrey’s got a reputation as a bit of a mess – but that’s nothing compared to VICTORIA GOTTI (remember Growing Up Gotti on A&E) who friends have described as a complete nightmare to work with. The question of course is whether anyone actually remembers her! Growing Up Gotti feels very much like yesterday’s news now.

Speaking of combustible personalities… ‘comedian’ ADAM CAROLLA, himself fresh from Dancing With The Stars, and whose middle name should really be desperate, is also part of the Trump cast. Have to admit I find Carolla a pretty loathsome personality given some of his on air statements – so I’m sure he’ll fit right in here.

Then we have the batch of names who are kind of interesting but don’t strike me on the surface as being the biggest of personalities. There’s Twisted Sister singer DEE SNIDER, 80’s pop star DEBBIE GIBSON, Incredible Hulk LOU FERRIGNO, talk show host ARSENIO HALL, Wayne’s World Star TIA CARRERE, magician PENN JILLETTE and Star Trek’s GEORGE TAKEI. Personally I think these are all solid bookings – at least they have actual accomplishments under their belt (unlike say Gotti). Plus you can’t deny that they have a certain level of fame and name recognition.

Rounding out the pack are the usual mix of models and sportsmen that always crop up on shows like this. There’s race-car driver MARCO ANDRETTI and former model CHERYL TIEGS for example. Worst booking of the bunch? Probably DAYANA MENDOZA, aka Miss Universe 2008… but then we all know Trump likes his beauty queens!

Speaking of Trump – personally I think working with The Donald is the most unpleasant aspect of the Celebrity Apprentice experience. This will be the first full season following Trump’s disastrous – and short-lived – Presidential campaign and I wonder if viewers will react accordingly. I’ll be honest, Trump’s statements changed the way I thought about him. I used to think he was an amusing blowhard – but now I think he’s just a liar with a vindictive streak, painfully thin skin and an unsteady grasp on the facts. I also have to say it’s disappointing to see gay celebrities like George Takei and Clay Aitken – and comedienne LISA LAMPANELLI who’s also part of the cast and a big gay rights supporter – involved in a show with someone as homophobic as Trump. But then that’s what a payday does to people. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years – celebrities are some of the greediest people in the world…

So what do you think of the new Celebrity Apprentice cast? Will you be watching in the Spring – or are you also put off by Trump’s political views? Comment away…