The Apprentice sounds like it could be wicked good fun. The thought of a bunch of Ivy League MBA's who think they are gods gift to the corporate world being publicly humiliated would be a dream come true. And yes, I admit it, I'm still bitter from my years in a corporate culture.

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30819

'Survivor' Guru Burnett Branches Out
Tue, Apr 1, 2003 04:48 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Reality-TV titan Mark Burnett is getting involved with two new unscripted series, and each will have some elements -- namely gorgeous scenery and intense competition -- of his biggest hit, "Survivor."

Burnett has joined The WB's "Boarding House: North Shore" as a producer, where he will help assemble already-shot footage of surfers living and competing together in Hawaii for the show's June 18 premiere.

He's also executive producing a series called "The Apprentice" for NBC, in which a contestant has to survive New York's corporate world to win a job working for Donald Trump. The show has just begun pre-production and will put out a call for contestants in the coming weeks.

"The Apprentice" will draw from a pool of contestants -- from Ivy League sharks to street hustlers -- who will go to work for The Trump Organization. They'll have to complete a series of tasks each week, and those who don't measure up will face a review board of Trump and several of his executives. Trump will then fire one person at the end of each episode.

The winner will receive a one-year assignment within The Trump Organization and a six-figure salary.

"Mark Burnett and Donald Trump are the best in their respective businesses," NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker says. "Just as these young competing professionals will enhance their career prospects, we believe that this series will push the reality genre to new creative horizons."

Burnett is something of a latecomer to "Boarding House," which was shot during the "Triple Crown of Surfing" event late last year in Hawaii. His role will be to shape the raw footage into an interesting story.

"The material is there for an exciting and compelling show," says Keith Cox head of alternative programming at The WB. "I am sure that Mark ... will craft this into outstanding television."

Burnett is also executive producing a sitcom pilot for The WB called "Are We There Yet?"