On Sunday, World Series of Poker bracelet winner Annie Duke will square off against talk show host Joan Rivers in the finale of Season 2 of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. According to NBC Universal, the popular reality series has been renewed for Season 3.
The final episode of Season 2, which airs on Sunday night at 8:00pm ET and runs for three hours, will feature Duke and Rivers hosting VIP parties and private auctions prior to a New York City production of the Cirque du Soleil show Wintuk. The current installment of the reality franchise began back on March 1st and occupied a two hour time slot on Sunday nights. Over the course of the 10 weeks since then, the show was truncated to an hour just once, making room for the extended premiere of NBC’s new drama Southland, which was created by the personalities behind E.R.
Celebrity Apprentice Season 3 will mark the ninth overall edition of the show. The first six seasons, one of which was set in Los Angeles, ended with candidates being hired to manage projects for real estate mogul Donald Trump. Bill Rancic won the show’s original installment, which premiered back in 2004. He was hired to develop Trump Tower Chicago, which makes its home on the pristine Chicago River in the city’s bustling downtown. Kelly Perdew was the second apprentice hired by Trump. Perdew directed development of Trump Place in New York City. Kendra Todd became the first female apprentice during Season 3 and assisted with the construction of a mansion in Palm Beach, California. Randal Pinkett won Apprentice’s fourth installment and worked with Trump Entertainment, while Sean Yazbeck assisted in the building of Trump Soho after winning Season 5. The final Apprentice candidate hired was Stefanie Schaeffer.
During each episode, teams are charged with a task that typically centers on a major corporate sponsor. Companies that have had their products touted during the second season of Celebrity Apprentice include Zappos.com, ACN, Loews Hotels, All detergent, Lifelock, Schwan’s, and Right Guard deodorant. Eight men and eight women were cast for the show’s second season, its eighth overall.
Last time out, America’s Got Talent judge Piers Morgan survived an onslaught of personal attacks by fellow contestant Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth to defeat country music star Trace Adkins in the finals of Celebrity Apprentice Season 1. Morgan has appeared on several episodes during the current Celebrity Apprentice and most recently advised Trump who the final two contestants should be. As a result, West Coast Choppers CEO Jesse James and Playboy Playmate of the Year Brande Roderick were fired during last week’s show, setting up the showdown between Duke and Rivers on Sunday. Other celebrities who competed last season included supermodel Carol Alt, boxer Lennox Lewis, Mixed Martial Arts fighter Tito Ortiz, “Sopranos” star Vincent Pastore, and actor Stephen Baldwin. The latter two appeared during the Loews challenge this year.
According to a press release by NBC Universal announcing the return of Celebrity Apprentice for its third season, the current installment is averaging a 3.5 rating and a 9 share among adults 18-49. Overall, it is attracting 8.6 million viewers. Trump commented about his Apprentice franchise, “Its Emmy nominations and great success have translated into a wonderful experience. Working with Mark Burnett has been terrific and I am greatly honored that NBC has renewed us for yet another season, our ninth.” During the half-hour time block prior to the 11:00pm ET local news, NBC claims that Celebrity Apprentice has bested regular competition for six straight weeks among adults 25-54.
The Celebrity Apprentice’s producer, Mark Burnett, is also behind such reality hits as CBS’ Survivor and Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? Celebrity Apprentice Season 3 will air in Spring of 2010.