Clash of celebrity certain in ‘Apprentice’
Tonight’s must-see
“The Celebrity Apprentice” debut, 9 p.m., NBC. Over the next week, NBC will be stuffing its strike-depleted line-up with games and reality shows.
This one is one of its key steps. Donald Trump is suddenly in charge of people who don’t usually take orders.
A tough, reality-show judge (Piers Morgan of “America’s Got Talent”) will now be judged. There’s also a former reality show creator (Nely Galan of “The Swan”) and several people who have been on reality shows.
Gene Simmons (from the rock group Kiss) had his own reality show (“Gene Simmons: Family Jewels”), Stephen Baldwin was a clever strategist in both editions of “Celebrity Mole” and Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth was an early “Apprentice” villain. Also, Vincent Pastore was on “Dancing With the Stars” for a moment or two, before dropping out.
There are more contestants, including Olympic champions (Nadia Comaneci, softball pitcher Jennie Finch) and fighters (Lennox Lewis, Tito Ortiz), plus country star Trace Adkins, actresses Marilu Henner and Carol Alt and former Playmate Tiffany Fallon. Each will be trying to win $250,000 for a charity. NBC – which has already moved this show’s debut date twice – needs a winner.
Might-tape
“Doctor Zhivago” (1965), 5 p.m., and “Gone With the Wind” (1939), 8:30 p.m., Turner Classic Movies.
In Hollywood’s grandest days, there was an art to creating period epics. Each film had sweeping visuals, soaring emotions and, alas, a war. And no matter how big the story was, it had an intimate story at its core.
“Gone With the Wind” has always been the key example. “Doctor Zhivago,” however, copied the formula perfectly.
It’s a different war (the Russian Revolution), but the same feeling of warmth amid chaos. “Zhivago” won five Academy Awards and was nominated for five more, including best picture.
It also became the ultimate in global filmmaking. “Zhivago” had an Italian producer (Carlo Ponti), British director (David Lean), Russian novelist (Boris Pasternak), French composer (Maurice Jarre) and Egyptian star (Omar Sharif). And it’s considered an American movie.
Other choices include
Political coverage, all day. This is the day of the Iowa caucuses, the first step in straightening out a complex presidential race. CNN claims its political coverage starts at 1 p.m. and continues for six hours. MSNBC starts at 6, Fox News Channel starts (after Bill O’Reilly) at 5:30. In truth, though, coverage will begin as soon as there’s information; that’s on the network newscasts and on cable.
Football preview (4:30 p.m.) and game (5:15), Fox. It’s the Orange Bowl, with Kansas and Virginia Tech.
“Deal or No Deal,” 8 p.m., NBC. Here’s a transplanted hour, designed to boost the “Apprentice” debut. There’s more money at stake than usual; plans call for three briefcases (instead of one) to each have $1 million.
“Ugly Betty,” 8 p.m., ABC. James Van Der Beek, of “Dawson’s Creek” fame, guests as a demanding new advertiser. Meanwhile, Betty takes a writing class.
“Without a Trace,” 8 and 10 p.m., CBS. In the first rerun, a man who cleans crime scenes has disappeared. So has his teenage daughter. In the second, a teen vanished during her prom.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 9 p.m., CBS. In this rerun, identical twins – each of who didn’t know the other existed – have been killed on the same night. We’re guessing it’s not a coincidence.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” 9 p.m., ABC. This rerun stirs up some dark Halloween moods. Some are a bit silly, with Meredith fearing that her mom’s ashes are hexing the hospital. Others are solid, as Callie suddenly tells everyone that her husband (George) is having an affair with Izzie.
“Desperate Housewives,” 10:02 p.m., ABC. There’s a new episode coming Sunday but here’s a quick rerun to remind us what just happened. A tornado is whirling toward Wysteria Lane. Neighbors huddle together, secrets and dislikes are shared – and then there’s a possible disaster. It’s a strong episode worth seeing.
“ER,” 10:01 p.m., NBC. In a new episode, Jeanie Boulet (Gloria Reuben) is back; her adopted son is rushed to the emergency room. Meanwhile, Pratt – fuming that he’s not taken seriously – might quit.