OJ to Trump: 'Hire Me!'

Simpson gets thumbs down for Celebrity Apprentice

(NEWSER) - Donald Trump won't have the chance to hire—or fire—OJ Simpson on the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice, E! Online reports. The ex-footballer, awaiting trial on kidnap and robbery charges, had approached Trump about a spot in the show, but he never got to the 10-yard line, said an NBC rep. Trump was big on the idea "for a few minutes"—but the studio wouldn't consider it. More»

And it includes ... Teresa Giudice?

(NEWSER) - This season's Celebrity Apprentice cast is the smartest ever, according to an executive producer—but that might not really be saying much, considering members include bankrupt Real Housewife Teresa Giudice and mob-daughter-turned-reality-star Victoria Gotti. Even so, "We've never seen such a smart and funny group as this year's lineup of celebrities," Mark Burnett says of the season that starts Feb. 12. More»

...John Rich, in Donald Trump's toughest ruling yet

(AP) - Spoiler alert! Country singer John Rich went all the way on The Celebrity Apprentice, claiming victory and $250,000 for charity. He was up against actress Marlee Matlin during last night's finale of the NBC reality show. This season of Celebrity Apprentice began in March with 16 contestants, each competing in business-oriented tasks around Manhattan to raise money for and publicize their favorite causes. The final challenge called for competing promotional campaigns for a brand of soda. Host Donald Trump said it was his toughest Apprentice ruling yet. More»

Confrontation is good, media might not be so good

(NEWSER) - Donald Trump is taking his toys (and his hair) out of the 2012 sandbox and going home to run Celebrity Apprentice, and that has the blogosphere predictably buzzing. A sample of reactions to the Donald's departure:

• Chris Cillizza, the Washington Post: While "Trump’s Icarus-like rise and fall in the 2012 presidential race is likely to wind up as no more than a footnote in the story of this election ..." The most important takeaway is that "Confrontation is good. Confrontation works."

He'll host another season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' instead

(NEWSER) - It's official: Donald Trump has decided to host another season of the Celebrity Apprentice instead of jumping into the 2012 fray. "I will not be running for president, as much as I'd like to," Trump told reporters at a hotel in New York, according to the AP . The real estate mogul had to tell NBC about his plans today, ahead of the network's presentation of its fall lineup to advertisers. Word broke earlier that NBC would renew the Apprentice , but there was some speculation that it might do so without Trump. More»