May 19, 2011

NBC has announced that The Celebrity Apprentice will be returning for another season this coming Fall. This will mark the second season in a row that the reality competition has opted to go with celebrities rather than unknown contestants.

The Apprentice got its start in 2004 as a reality series where people from various walks of life would compete for a job as Donald Trump's "apprentice", where the winner would actually walk away as an employee at one of the real estate mogul's companies.

After six seasons of declining ratings, the show changed things up by bringing in celebrities to compete, vying to win money for their charities rather than a job. The move proved to be a success, revitalizing ratings and interest in the show. As a result, NBC ran three straight seasons of The Celebrity Apprentice before attempting to try going back to its roots in Season 10.

When ratings once again dropped off, the show reverted back to its celebrity edition for its current eleventh season, which is currently averaging a decent 2.8 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic.

When the show returns in the Fall, it will keep its 8:00-10:00pm Sunday night time slot, ahead of new series The Firm.

(Source: TV by the Numbers)