Schwarzenegger quits 'Celebrity Apprentice' over show's Trump ties

[rooster59]

Schwarzenegger quits 'Celebrity Apprentice' over show's Trump ties

By Piya Sinha-Roy

 

File Photo: Host Arnold Schwarzenegger participates in a panel for "The New Celebrity Apprentice" in Universal City, California, December 9, 2016. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Friday he will not be back for another season of NBC's reality show "The Celebrity Apprentice," blaming U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing role as executive producer for low ratings.

Action movie star Schwarzenegger took over as host of "Celebrity Apprentice" last year. His first season, which premiered in January, has been watched by around 4 million to 5 million viewers.

"Everyone - from the celebrities to the crew to the marketing department - was a straight 10, and I would absolutely work with all of them again on a show that doesn't have this baggage," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

The actor's representative said Schwarzenegger would not be returning for a second season.

NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp <CMCSA.O>, did not comment on Schwarzenegger's decision not to return for another season, or the show's future. There was no immediate comment from Trump or the White House on Friday.

Schwarzenegger, a Republican who served two terms as California governor but said he did not vote for Trump as president, told British film magazine Empire in an interview published on Friday that he was leaving the show due to Trump's involvement.

News that Trump will retain an executive producer credit on the show, which usually involves a payment, caused a media furore in December about potential conflicts of interest.

Schwarzenegger told Empire that the show was "a really great opportunity, but "under the circumstances I don't want to do it again."

"When people found out that Trump was still involved as executive producer and was still receiving money from the show, then half the people (started) boycotting it," Schwarzenegger said.

New York businessman Trump, who took office in January after winning November's presidential election, became a household name as the host of "The Apprentice" and "The Celebrity Apprentice" for 14 seasons, where contestants would compete in business challenges.

Trump mocked Schwarzenegger and the 43 percent fall in the coveted 18-to-49-year-old audience for the show's January premiere, sparking a Twitter fight between America's two biggest celebrities-turned-politicians.

"Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got 'swamped' (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT," tweeted Trump.

"I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings," Schwarzenegger tweeted back.

Some 20 million Americans watched the first year of "The Apprentice" but viewership dropped to around 6 million in 2015 for Trump's final episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-04

[craigt3365]

Trump may find his fortunes actually go down due to his shenanigans in Washington.  I read an article about Trump Towers in Istanbul where locals are now avoiding the place. 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

blaming U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing role as executive producer for low ratings.

Can hardly wait for the Donald's low energy tweets on this one. Way to go Arnie you finally grew a pair. 

[Falcon]

Schwarzenegger was terrible on the show anyway, his attitude was awful and he added absolutely nothing to the show. Having to call him governor, when he now isn't is just another way to boost his own ego. Hopefully there will be another more orifessiinal, and less egotistical 'boss' in the boardroom for next seasons celebrity apprentice.

[elgordo38]

27 minutes ago, Falcon said:

orifessiinal,

Ah yes my new word for the day. Hmm does it relate to orifice or opening somewhere on the body? Just have to love these high falutin words being bandied about on TV definitely makes my day. 

[smotherb]

30 minutes ago, Falcon said:

Schwarzenegger was terrible on the show anyway, his attitude was awful and he added absolutely nothing to the show. Having to call him governor, when he now isn't is just another way to boost his own ego. Hopefully there will be another more orifessiinal, and less egotistical 'boss' in the boardroom for next seasons celebrity apprentice.

Referring to people by their former professional, government or military title is rather standard practice.

 

Perhaps you should watch more realistic sources than reality TV.

[jippytum]

Arnie was as poor a governor in politics as he was on the Apprentice  .Poor excuse for the low ratings .Jumped before he was fired.

[binjalin]

6 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Trump may find his fortunes actually go down due to his shenanigans in Washington.  I read an article about Trump Towers in Istanbul where locals are now avoiding the place. 

yup nothing to do with the fact he was bad and ratings were low , nothing at all  

[DJConan]

Watching this show with my wife, I told her I felt that Arnold was not returning.  He talked about himself so much to make a point that I could not imagine him returning for a second season to repeat those same stories.  If the show continues, I think the host will change each season.  For me, it was set up that way this year and Arnold not returning is not a surprise to me.  

[hdkane]

I seriously doubt that a guy who would have an affair and father a child under his wife's nose has the personal integrity to quit anything he finds contrary to his "ethics or morals"...

 

most likely, it's just that Arnold is starting to feel his age, and doesn't want the commitment and intrusions of a regular TV series...he would much rather spend six weeks a year making stupid action movies, and pocketing the same millions of dollars... 

[lungmi]

4 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Ah yes my new word for the day. Hmm does it relate to orifice or opening somewhere on the body? Just have to love these high falutin words being bandied about on TV definitely makes my day. 

My translation is "mild speaking"

[JHolmesJr]

Arnie was last seen heading for "the chaaaper".

 

byebye

 

 

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, Flustered said:

Who cares, it's not news, just gossip.

With all this fake alternative truths flying around its hard to tell the difference. 

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

I keep searching and searching for the good news but is rarefied at best. 

Here I was going to change my handle to Flustered and you beat me to it!! It better describes how I feel. 

[binjalin]

He won't 'be back' and the show was crass anyway whoever was presenting it

[Sphere]

On 04/03/2017 at 7:08 AM, rooster59 said:

Schwarzenegger quits...

 

Hmmmmm....what role was he playing there? Celebrity or Apprentice? 

[Thakkar]

On 3/4/2017 at 7:08 AM, rooster59 said:

Schwarzenegger told Empire that the show was "a really great opportunity, but "under the circumstances I don't want to do it again."

"I inherited a mess, a total mess," he went on to say.