| The New Celebrity Apprentice | |
|---|---|
| Season 15 | |
 | |
| No. of tasks | 12 |
| No. of contestants | 16 |
| Winner | Matt Iseman |
| Runner-up | Boy George |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | January 2[1] – February 13, 2017 |
The New Celebrity Apprentice (also known simply as The Apprentice) was the eighth and final installment of the reality game show The Celebrity Apprentice, thus making it the fifteenth and final installment of The Apprentice as a whole. It aired from January 2 to February 13, 2017. The winner of this season was Matt Iseman.[1]
The season marked the only appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and former Governor of California, as host. The show's previous and original host, Donald Trump, stated he opted to leave "out of respect" while he was focusing on his presidential campaign. NBC had also begun to cut ties with Trump following controversial remarks he made upon the start of his campaign in 2015.[2][3][4] Trump remained as an executive producer through the show's production company, MGM Television.[5]
NBC announced the 16 contestants, as well as advisors Warren Buffett, Tyra Banks, Steve Ballmer, Jessica Alba, and Patrick M. Knapp Schwarzenegger, on January 28, 2016. On December 1, 2016, six more advisors were announced. Those advisers were former The Apprentice winner Leeza Gibbons, celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, Extra co-host Tracey Edmonds, The Biggest Loser host Bob Harper, YouTube star iJustine, and "Moola" CEO Gemma Godfrey. The season was filmed in Los Angeles.[6]
Along with the change of host and location, the catch phrase that accompanied a candidate's elimination from the show was changed from "You're fired" to "You're terminated", a reference to one of Schwarzenegger's most famous film roles. Also, instead of sending contestants away in a taxi cab or limousine, Schwarzenegger would send them away with a helicopter, telling them to "get to the chopper", a reference to the film Predator.[7][8]
On March 3, 2017, Schwarzenegger announced he would leave the show after one season, since he did not like the "baggage" attached to the show caused by Trump. On August 3, 2017, NBC announced that the show had been cancelled outright.[9]
- ^ a b Lawrence, Derek. "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Celebrity Apprentice gets premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "NBC to Donald Trump: You're fired". USA Today.
- ^ Nededog, Jethro (August 19, 2015). "Donald Trump says 'angry' NBC execs tried to change his mind about leaving 'Apprentice' to run for president". Business Insider. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ Min, Janice (August 13, 2015). "The Donald Trump Conversation: Murdoch, Ailes, NBC and the Rush of Being TV's "Ratings Machine"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (December 8, 2016). "Donald Trump to Remain Executive Producer on 'Celebrity Apprentice'". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (January 28, 2016). "Warren Buffett, Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba Join Arnold Schwarzenegger for 'Celebrity Apprentice' Season 8". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
- ^ Jagannathan, Meera (January 3, 2017). "Arnold unveils lame new 'Celebrity Apprentice' catchphrase". NY Daily News. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
- ^ Ross, Dalton (January 3, 2017). "'The New Celebrity Apprentice' season 8 premiere recap: 'In Here You Call Me Governor'". EW.com. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
- ^ Arnold Schwarzenegger is leaving 'Apprentice' because of the baggage