'Apprentice' Trumps 'Ed' for NBC in January

[Brian]

Come January, Donald Trump promises that NBC's schedule will feature "two billionaires -- Katie Couric and myself."
Trump made a cameo on NBC's November sweeps conference call Monday (Nov. 24) to announce that "The Apprentice," an unscripted series in which 16 would-be tycoons vie for a job as the billionaire real estate mogul's apprentice, will premiere Thursday, Jan. 8.

The show's 90-minute premiere will follow "Friends" that night, then move into its regular time, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, on Jan. 14. As a result, "Ed" will move to 9 p.m. ET Fridays -- where it aired for part of last season -- and share that hour with "Miss Match" for the remainder of the season.


"The Apprentice," from "Survivor" swami Mark Burnett, will follow 16 people from various backgrounds who want to work at Trump's right hand. They'll face a number of job-related tasks, with one person eliminated each week in an "exit interview" with Trump. The winner will receive a one-year contract and six-figure salary within The Trump Organization.
"I promise this series will be the smartest and toughest reality show so far put forth on television," Trump says. "It's the ultimate job interview."

"Ed" will air at 9 p.m. Fridays through January and February, then end its season early to make room for "Miss Match." NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker says the shared timeslot will cut the number of reruns on the network's schedule.

Zucker also told reporters that NBC is likely to order more episodes of "Miss Match," although a decision on just how many more hasn't been reached.