“All-Star Celebrity Apprentice” premieres on NBC on March 3, 2013, at 9 p.m. EST/PST. To promote the show, executive producer/host Donald Trump met with journalists on Feb. 27, 2013, at Trump Tower in New York City, where much of the show is filmed. “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice” features 14 previous “Celebrity Apprentice” contestants competing to win money for their selected charities. The winner gets a grand prize of $250,000 for his or her charity. Here is what Trump said when I caught up with him at this press event.
What can people expect to see on “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice"?
We are looking forward to this season. It’s going to be an amazing season. It’s going to be really tough, really nasty and really smart.
Gary Busey is one of the most talked about contestants. What was he like this time around?
Gary is fantastic. Getting him to come back was great. We’re very happy about it.
Which contestant surprised you the most on “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice”?
I think maybe Dennis Rodman. Dennis Rodman has really cleaned up his act. And I think Dennis Rodman was maybe my greatest pleasant surprise.
Penny Marshall is directing a documentary about Dennis Rodman. Do you think any of his “Celebrity Apprentice” footage will end up in the movie?
She’s terrific. I gave her a piece [of footage]. Dennis Rodman really is a strong player, and I didn’t really think I was going to see that. People love him, but I wasn’t sure I was going to see it. Dennis Rodman does great.
What about Bret Michaels? Did you have concerns about him competing again?
I did. And frankly, I said, “Why are you doing this?” When you win, it’s like a heavyweight champion that wants to come back and then retire. I don’t know that he made the right move. I personally didn’t think he made the right move, but he’s highly competitive, a great guy, and he wanted to win more money for his charity.
Can you talk about other past “Celebrity Apprentice” winners and their involvement in “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice”?
We have Piers Morgan, Joan Rivers, John Rich and Arsenio Hall. And they will sit in for [my eldest children] Ivanka, Don [Jr.] and Eric as judges. They’ll be sitting in with me in the boardroom. And that’s what I thought Bret Michaels should be doing, to be honest with you, but he chose to do it a different way.
What’s the biggest thing that you’ve learned from the celebrities on this show?
I think the biggest thing is that these people just don’t give up. I mean, for the most part, they are really tough people. And I see why they’re so successful: because they don’t give up, they compete, they don’t want to lose. That stick-to-itiveness they have is amazing.
For more info: "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice" website
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