NBC: 'Apprentice' Will Carry On With or Without Donald Trump

If Donald Trump does throw decide his hat into the ring as an official 2012 Presidential candidate, he'll lose his place at the 'Apprentice' boardroom table. NBC President Bob Greenblatt has announced that the show will go on without Trump at the helm.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Greenblatt said that, although the network hopes to have Trump back for the next season, "If he decides to run and is unavailable to do the show, we will bring the show back and someone else will be sitting at the head of the board table."

However, Greenblatt wouldn't be drawn on who Trump's replacement could be. (Gary Busey, anyone?) "Who that is, we're not going to really entertain, because I'm still hoping we'll have Donald back in the seat."

Season 5 of 'The Celebrity Apprentice' is slated to launch in the midseason of NBC's 2011 fall lineup. It's due to air right before new drama, 'The Firm' (based on the John Grisham thriller), and NBC execs are confident it will deliver a strong lead-in audience for the newbie.

There's been much speculation in recent months as to whether Trump will actually run for President, and Greenblatt said he's not interested in stopping him if that is indeed what he wants to do. "I've said I don't want him to be unavailable. ... It's the right and privilege of anyone to run for the highest office of the land. Nothing would make me happier than for someone to reach that."

Source: http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/16/nbc-apprentice-will-carry-on-with-or-without-trump/

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