Eventually, everyone will be the star of his or her own reality TV show,
Donald Trump
Mark Burnett, reality show kingpin and executive producer of The Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump, told CNBC Monday.
“How much reality TV does the public want?” said Burnett. “They want tons of it.”
On Thursday at 9pm ET, NBC launches the “recessionary” Apprentice, which will feature 16 out-of-work contestants who were impacted by the economic downturn. Two of Trump's children, Ivanka and Donald Jr., will serve as judges on the show.
CNBC and NBC are both units of NBC Universal.
Thursday’s show will be a two-hour premiere; the regular episodes will air each Thursday at 10pm ET.
“This is a great time to show real life people who are down and out,” said Trump, who added that many of the show's contestants have Ivy League degrees. “One went to Stanford and is now selling cupcakes.”
Burnett said the contestants are “fighting back,” by “choosing” to appear on The Apprentice.
Trump said that today's workers need more technology skills than before, but added, “a job is a job: You’re smart, you work hard.”