With Donald Trump otherwise occupied, NBC has hired movie star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to do the terminating on the next season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” And I bet the network is paying him a lot more than it paid Trump!
Another movie star, Jessica Alba, will serve as one of Schwarzenegger’s “advisers” alongside supermodel Tyra Banks, billionaires Warren Buffett and Steve Ballmer, and entertainment-attorney/nephew Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.
The new season launches Jan. 2.
The contestants, none of whom is described as a “has-been” in NBC’s press release:
· Laila Ali - Retired four-time boxing world champion and two-time hall of famer, TV host, author, health and wellness expert and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali· Brooke Burke-Charvet - Actress, host, entrepreneur, fitness expert and CEO of ModernMom.com
· Eric Dickerson - Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons
· Boy George - Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, lead vocalist for the pop band Culture Club, international DJ and a coach on the U.K. version of "The Voice," as well as a top fashion designer and photographer
· Matt Iseman - "American Ninja Warrior" host, comedian, actor and licensed physician
· Carrie Keagan - Actress, producer, writer, entrepreneur and the former host of VH1's Emmy Award-winning live morning talk show "Big Morning Buzz Live with Carrie Keagan"
· Carson Kressley - Emmy Award-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer, as well as a successful horse show exhibitor who owns saddlebred horses
· Lisa Leslie - Naismith Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion who earned an MBA
· Jon Lovitz - Comedian, film and television star and former "Saturday Night Live" cast member
· Vince Neil - Lead vocalist for the heavy metal band M�tley Cr�e as well as eclectic businessman with interests in liquor, bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors along with clothing and retail
· Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi - Reality television star and New York Times bestselling author
· Kyle Richards - Actress and star of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is a philanthropist who owns an innovative boutique concept in Beverly Hills
· Chael Sonnen - Former UFC standout and mixed martial artist
· Porsha Williams - Co-host of nationally syndicated Dish Nation, star of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," entrepreneur.
· Ricky Williams - Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Texas, 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN sports analyst who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens
· Carnie Wilson - Singer, television host and member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.