David Cassidy on the Web
'Celebrity Apprentice' returns with another mixed bag of players
March 2, 2011
Recent editions of The Celebrity Apprentice have fared better than the non-celebrity versions.
The Celebrity Apprentice
8 p.m. Sunday
KXAS/Channel 5
By Robert Philpot
dfw.com
The Celebrity Apprentice returns Sunday night, with a two-hour premiere and another motley crew of familiar and not-so-familiar participants who, NBC hopes, will give the network a Sunday-night hit ( The Celebrity Apprentice has done better than recent editions of The Apprentice). Here's a look at this season's "candidates," all of whom are playing for charity.
Gary Busey
Known for: The Buddy Holly Story, Lethal Weapon and going Charlie Sheen rogue decades ago.
Business cred: He produced the 2009 movie Hallettsville, which is obscure enough that Internet Movie Database doesn't even have box-office estimates for it.
Why he might win: He might be a little wacky, but he's outgoing and knows how to haul in customers. Donald Trump might keep him around just because he makes The Celebrity Apprentice funnier than a lot of sitcoms.
Why he might get fired: Busey seems most likely to just walk off from a task and set off on his own adventures, especially if the voices in his head tell him to.
Jose Canseco
Known for: Playing Major League Baseball, writing a book about steroid use in Major League Baseball, alienating other Major League Baseball players.
Business cred: His MLB salary topped out at a reported $5.8 million for the 1995 season.
Why he might win: He shows a lot of integrity in opening episode.
Why he might get fired: Of course, this being The Celebrity Apprentice, integrity could be a drawback.
David Cassidy
Known for: Being a teen idol -- and perhaps even more important, surviving being a teen idol. Still acts and performs.
Business cred: Besides performing and producing, he also breeds thoroughbred horses, and races them throughout the country.
Why he might win: Anyone who can build a 40-year career on I Think I Love You has enough durability to survive Donald Trump.
Why he might get fired: He might be too nice a guy. But he won't let himself be pushed around, even though he's smaller than most of the rest of the men's team.
Hope Dworaczyk
Known for: Appearing on the cover of Playboy, and being a fashion model and 2010 Playmate of the Year.
Business cred: Dworaczyk, a former Miss Teen Texas, not only hosts Toronto-based TV show Inside Fashion but was instrumental in developing the show and directing what it covered.
Why she might win: She's a sleeper candidate in that she's arguably the least-known of these celebrities, but she has accomplished a whole lot, and she's only 26. And, let's face it, Donald Trump is slow to fire good-looking women.
Why she might get fired: It's probably not a good sign that she doesn't make much of an impression in the first episode.
Richard Hatch
Known for: Winning the first Survivor (and practically setting the template for how the game is played); spending more than three years in prison for tax evasion; being devious.
Business cred: He was a corporate trainer and motivational speaker before finding fame on Survivor.
Why he might win: He knows how to manipulate people and get what he wants. Except for that prison sentence, of course.
Why he might get fired: His reputation as a strong reality-show player puts a big target on his back. He might have a bigger ego than Donald Trump.
La Toya Jackson
Known for: Being Michael Jackson's second-most-famous sister.
Business cred: She recently launched Dream Cream, a hand-cream line for German cosmetics firm Alessandro International. She plans more such ventures in 2011 and does loads of charity work.
Why she might win: She has survived her own family, which makes Donald Trump look like a pussycat.
Why she might get fired: She has a family trait of being soft-spoken, which could make her hard to hear during one of The Celebrity Apprentice's many boardroom arguments.
Star Jones
Known for: For all she's done, she's still best-known as a former co-host of The View.
Business cred: Besides being an attorney, an author and a television personality, she founded Girlfriend Entertainment, a production company that focuses on family-friendly entertainment.
Why she might win: She has a powerful personality and a bio that shows she can do practically anything.
Why she might get fired: View experience shows that she doesn't always get along with other women; she's capable of saying almost anything.
Mark McGrath
Known for: Singing lead for Sugar Ray, becoming TV sound-bite personality and game-show host
Business cred: We're not seeing a lot on his bio aside from his show-biz success, but make no mistake: This is one smart dude.
Why he might win: His tattooed body and light alt-rock/game-show background could lead other contestants to drastically underestimate him.
Why he might get fired: Other contestants seem to have much deeper business backgrounds; Donald Trump might just want to get the Fly earworm out of his head.
NeNe Leakes
Known for: The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Business cred: She founded Twisted Hearts, a charity that works to raise awareness of domestic violence and help its victims.
Why she might win: She has a tell-it-like-it-is honesty that has helped make her a breakout star on Housewives and will help her put up with difficult teammates.
Why she might get fired: She's the contestant most likely to tell off Donald Trump. That won't fly, even if you're a celebrity.
Lil Jon
Best-known for: Rapping, producing, and, according to his bio, creating and popularizing the Southern movement and lifestyle known as crunk.
Business cred: He has expanded beyond music to energy drinks and a deal with Oakley sunglasses.
Why he might win: He's innovative, energetic and funny. And he started a movement.
Why he might get fired: You know who doesn't strike us as "crunk"? Donald Trump.
Meat Loaf
Known for: 10-minute mini-rock operas, occasional gigs that involve acting.
Business cred: His 1977 album Bat Out of Hell has sold more than 43 million copies worldwide. That's cred enough for us.
Why he might win: Because he's Meat Loaf, that's why! We're waiting to see whether Trump will address him as Mr. Loaf.
Why he might get fired: There's a possibility he might break into a song that's longer than an Apprentice boardroom session.
Marlee Matlin
Known for: Winning Best Actress Oscar for Children of a Lesser God; activist for the hearing-impaired and many other causes, much TV work. Masterful and prodigious Twitter user.
Business cred: She was honored by America Online in 2006 as "Chief Everything Officer," highlighting the contributions of mothers (she has four children) in home and work environments. And if you read her bio, you'll find "Everything" isn't very far off the mark.
Why she might win: She was instrumental in getting Congress to pass legislation requiring all TVs to have closed-captioning abilities. Having dealt with Congress, she should sail through The Apprentice.
Why she might get fired: Well, she got past Congress, but she'll still have to get past Star Jones.
John Rich
Known for: Extensive country-music career that includes being part of Big & Rich, one of the best country-music band names ever.
Business cred: His songwriting and producing credits show an eye for spotting talent and developing careers, including his own.
Why he might win: He's a quietly witty and polite hard worker who could go far just by being a good team player.
Why he might get fired: Donald Trump could get tired of hearing "Rich" in a context that doesn't refer to Trump himself.
Lisa Rinna
Known for: Lips, Days of Our Live s, lips, Melrose Place, lips, being married to Harry Hamlin, lips, reality-TV appearances and lips.
Business cred: She has opened two Belle Gray fashion boutiques.
Why she might win: She shows a strong work ethic in the first episode ...
Why she might get fired: ... but also shows difficulty in overcoming obstacles, which include but are not limited to several teammates.
Niki Taylor
Known for: Being a supermodel and a supermom
Business cred: From her Celebrity Apprentice bio: "Niki's branding value on Wall Street is $100 million."
Why she might win: She really lives up to her girl-next-door rep in first episode and plays well with others.
Why she might get fired: She could get run over by more powerful personalities, but work ethic, personality and looks are in her favor on a Donald Trump show. But even good contestants have bad luck.
Dionne Warwick
Known for: Smooth singing voice; best interpreter of Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs ever.
Business cred: She has helped raise millions of dollars for at least a half-dozen charities.
Why she might win: She has collaborated not only with Bacharach/David, but with Luther Vandross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and many others. In other words, she's a team player, which is an advantage on The Apprentice -- up to a point, anyway.
Why she might get fired: The premiere episode shows she may have difficulties with modern technology. But her teammates see her as such a legend, she might be able to get past glitches like that one.
