NBC to Donald: You’re rehired
Donald Trump will be back next year with a celebrity round of “The Apprentice” – but don’t expect to see Rosie O’Donnell as one of the contestants.
NBC announced Monday that the reality show, which it previously had canceled, would return at midseason with a new format: celebrities going head-to-head to win Trump’s approval of their business acumen.
Instead of going to work for The Donald, the winner will receive prize money that will be donated to charity.
The network said it was looking for well-known names who have entreprenurial abilities in the areas of sports, entertainment and fashion.
Asked for a list of dream contestants, new NBC boss Ben Silverman offered only one:
“I think it’d be great to have Rosie on ‘The Apprentice.’ Donald personally told me to extend an invite to her.”
But a spokeswoman for O’Donnell – who famously feuded with Trump last year over his allowing Miss USA Tara Conner to keep her crown despite her underage drinking – says: “It will never happen in this lifetime or beyond.”
Lending him a hand
Speaking of second chances, NBC also announced that former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington – who was fired from that ABC series after a flap over his use of a homophobic slur – will have a recurring part on “Bionic Woman” in the fall.
“I’m humbled by this opportunity,” says Wasington, who’ll appear in five of the first six episodes this fall.
High and dry
Lindsay Lohan has checked out of a Malibu rehab center after more than six weeks, but she’s voluntarily wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet.
“In part she is wearing the bracelet so there are no questions about her sobriety if she chooses to go dancing or dining in a place where alcohol is served,” her publicist says of the device, which measures skin vapors.
Over the weekend, Lohan was reportedly seen partying at Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas with several friends.
Pretty Becky, lucky Jerry
Actors Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell were quietly married over the weekend.
“Ugly Betty” star Romijn, a fomer model, was previously married to John Stamos. It’s the first for O’Connell (“Crossing Jordan”).
Dropping the ball?
Rapper Snoop Dogg will star in an upcoming reality series on the E! Entertainment Network.
“The juggling act that Snoop faces day-in, day-out between career and family is certain to resonate with our viewers,” the network says.
Mr. Dogg, who has three children and is involved in a youth football league and other community causes, recently was sentenced to five years’ probation and 800 hours of community service after he pleaded no contest to felony gun and drug charges.
The birthday bunch
TV personality Art Linkletter is 95. Comedian Phyllis Diller is 90. Actor Donald Sutherland is 72. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 72. Actress Lucie Arnaz is 56. Actor David Hasselhoff is 55. Actress Bitty Schram (“Monk”) is 39. Rapper Sole’ is 34.