PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES: While President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next month, another celebrity-turned-politician is taking over The Apprentice.
Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger – who served two terms as California governor – promises a more humorous touch on The New Celebrity Apprentice, starting on NBC on January 2, with a new round of stars taking on business-related challenges. The 69-year-old has even had the reality show to move from New York to California so that it could reflect his personality more. "Even though it looked very dramatic and terrific when you saw the boardroom in New York, it was kind of dark. I wanted to see everything be brighter. I’m a very upbeat person with a good sense of humour," Schwarzenegger said recently. "I want to play up my personality. Trump did a great job playing up his personality."
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Trump's 11-year stint on The Apprentice and sister show Celebrity Apprentice catapulted him from New York businessman to a household name. Not to mention, news that the soon to be US President will retain the position of executive producer of the show – which generally involves a payment – created a media furor earlier this month, for a potential conflicts of interest.
Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, does not feel Trump will play an active role in the show. In fact, the actor says the entire arrangement is similar to his own transition from movie star to politician in 2003. "I am the new host. I hope I can match what he has done and continue on with a great and successful show ... I want to have my ratings a little higher than his were," he quipped.
The New Celebrity Apprentice has some serious star power with its advisers, who include billionaire investor Warren Buffett, as well as ex- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and former supermodel Tyra Banks. Amongst the 16 contestants are Boy George, Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil, boxer Laila Ali and former Jersey Shore star Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi.
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Trump’s popular catchphrase from the show "You're fired!," became one of the most but popular television catchphrases over time but Schwarzenegger says viewers will have to wait and see the tagline he has chosen. "You're terminated? Hasta la vista baby? Consider this a divorce? There's many, many lines we can grab. That's the great thing when you have had a long movie career," he said.
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