The Celebrity Apprentice

5.0

2004•1h

The ultimate sixteen-week job interview where eighteen Americans compete in a series of rigorous business tasks, many of which include prominent Fortune 500 companies and require street smarts and intelligence to conquer, in order to show the boss that they are the best candidate for his companies. In each episode, the losing team is sent to the boardroom where they are judged on their performance in the task. One person is fired and sent home.

Production

Seasons

16 Episodes • Premiered 2004

The Apprentice 1 is the first season of The Apprentice, which aired on NBC in the winter and spring of 2004. It is currently available on DVD. It featured 16 candidates. The first season was a ratings smash, ranking at #7 in the average weekly Nielsen Rankings, with an average viewership of 20.7 million viewers each week. The final episode of the season was seen by an estimated 28.05 million viewers and ranked as the #1 show of the week, beating out a new episode of CSI. It was the most popular new show of 2004.

1. Meet the Billionaire

1.0

The contestants are split into two teams, one team of 8 men and another team of 8 women. The two teams are then given their first challenge - sell lemonade on the streets of New York with a budget of $250. The team that makes the most profit wins.

2. Sex, Lies and Altitude

1.0

For the second task, the corporations have to design advertisements for the Marquis Jet Card.

3. Respect

1.0

The challenge this week is a lesson in negotiation. The task is a scavenger hunt of sorts - the teams are given a list of items to buy from vendors from all over New York City.

4. Ethics, Shmethics

1.0

This weeks task is to manage a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Times Square. The object is to make more money in one night than the same night last year.

5. Trading Places

1.0

After a corporate restructuring, where Project Managers Nick and Kristi choose their own team, the new co-ed teams are given their fifth task: hold a flee market.

6. Tit for Tat

1.0

This week's task is to raise money for charity at a Sotheby's celebrity auction.

7. Dupe-lex

1.0

This week's task is renovating and leasing apartments in New York City.

8. Ice Escapades

1.0

This week's task is marketing a new product.

9. DNA, Heads and the Undead Kitty

1.0

10. Wheeling & Dealing

1.0

This weeks task is operating a rickshaw pedicab service.

11. A Look Back

1.0

Nobody gets fired on this episode, in which Mr. Trump recaps the first 10 shows and explains his termination decisions. The episode also includes outtakes from past episodes.

12. Circus, Circus

1.0

This week's task is to lure gamblers to Trump's Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City by creating a new and unique game of chance for customers to play.

13. The Price is Height

1.0

This week's task is to rent out a luxurious penthouse for one evening. The catch is it must be rented for at least $20,000.

14. Down to the Wire (1)

1.0

In the first individual task, the remaining four candidates participate in a series of round robin, one-on-one interviews with some of Trump's most trusted advisors, who give their feedback, which is somewhat surprising, to Trump.