LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The entrepreneurial spirit abounds for those involved with "The Apprentice."
There's talk at NBC of mounting a spinoff of sorts to its Donald Trump-hosted hit, which would follow "Apprentice" victor Bill Rancic during the next year as he dives into his grand prize: overseeing the construction of a 90-story Trump International Hotel and Tower in Rancic's hometown of Chicago.
Sources stressed that the discussions are in the early idea stage and that no formal deals are in place, but "Apprentice" creator/executive producer Mark Burnett says a follow-up series on Rancic "seems like a fairly obvious choice."
Burnett wouldn't elaborate on specific plans for the show but did hint that Rancic might even be persuaded to hire some of the contestants from "Apprentice" -- Are you listening, Omarosa? -- to work on the construction project and, of course, he'll have to deliver a progress report to the boss each week. Rancic may well need the help and counsel.
According to published reports, the $700 million project is facing an uphill climb in securing final approvals from city officials.
Hmmmm, with that kind of deterrence effect, perhaps Omarosa should be a lawmaker, a top cop, a prosecutor or some governmental regulator to promote compliance.
Omarosa instills fear and lights a fire under people.
Schmiggens, you work for a real estate company down there. Who is likely The Donald Trump in Australia? They're looking for a Donald Down Under at Australia's Network Nine. The network will air the American edition of the hit reality show as well as produce its own version (when it finds a local Donald to fill the role) following a pre-emptive move by its Los Angeles-based scout to snap up the show and the format rights.
Donald Trump (L) and contestants Bill Rancic and Kwame Jackson (R) are shown in New York, April 15. Photo by Chris Haston/Nbc/Reuters
Aussies Brace for Trump's 'Apprentice'
Mon Apr 19, 2004 - By Steve Brennan
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - They're looking for a Donald Down Under at Australia's Network Nine. But Kerry Packer, Australia's richest man -- and owner of Nine -- has turned down an offer from his own development executives to take on the Trump role in an Aussie version of "The Apprentice."
Nine will air the American edition of the hit reality show as well as produce its own version (when it finds a local Donald to fill the role) following a pre-emptive move by its Los Angeles-based scout to snap up the show and the format rights. Andrea Keir, Nine's president of programing and acquisitions, spotted the potential for "The Apprentice" long before it went on air here.
The move was a coup for Keir, whose job is to get U.S. programing information through her network of industry insiders and to keep her bosses back in Australia up to the mark on everything that's coming down the line in U.S. television.
"American programing is still of major importance for Nine. Some of our top-rated shows are 'CSI,' 'Without a Trace,' 'ER,' 'Malcolm in the Middle,' 'Survivor,' and now we have 'The Apprentice' going on air in two weeks' time and we have very high expectations for it," says Keir, who took up her post in Los Angeles just nine months ago.
Keir got to visit Trump at his headquarters in the Big Apple when she was producing a promo spot for the Aussie outing. "He was just incredibly gracious and was so into what we were doing over at Nine," she says. "I was in one of the boardrooms when we were shooting, not sure if it was the one where everybody gets fired. Now that would have been too scary."
"The Apprentice" is set to be a major commitment for Nine despite the fact that there has been a dip in ratings for many reality shows in Australia this season. Additionally, U.S. programing is getting ditched in other big TV territories in favor of locally produced programing.
04-20-2004 08:05 AM
Hmmmm, with that kind of deterrence effect, perhaps Omarosa should be a lawmaker, a top cop, a prosecutor or some governmental regulator to promote compliance. 
They're looking for a Donald Down Under at Australia's Network Nine. The network will air the American edition of the hit reality show as well as produce its own version (when it finds a local Donald to fill the role) following a pre-emptive move by its Los Angeles-based scout to snap up the show and the format rights. 
