The Apprentice is a reality talent game show franchise that originally aired in 2004 in the United States.
Created by Mark Burnett, the show depicts contestants from around the country with various professional backgrounds in an elimination-style competition to become an apprentice to a businessman. The show was originally hosted by Donald Trump, who was also one of the producers. Burnett developed the show after previous success in bringing Survivor to the United States. Since its premiere, The Apprentice has spawned several licensed international versions as well as unlicensed imitations.
Format The following description of the show is based primarily on the American version of The Apprentice, though the general format applies to all other versions.
Each season begins with a new group of contestants vying to earn a place in one of the organizations run by the host. The contestants (who are referred to as "candidates") have come from business backgrounds in various enterprises, including real estate, accounting, restaurant management, management consulting, sales and marketing.
The candidates are divided into two teams or "corporations" within the show. These corporations select a name they are subsequently referred to through the rest of the show. Each week, the teams are assigned a task and required to select one of their members to lead the team as "project manager", who is to take responsibility for organizing the team and making executive decisions. Tasks are generally business oriented and tend to highlight one of several business skills. Tasks most commonly revolve around sales (selling the most items or earning the most money) and marketing (producing a specific marketing material or campaign that is judged by a company's executives). During the tasks, the teams are usually visited by one of the host's "advisors" for that week. Tasks typically last for one or two days. In the global ONE Championship edition, an additional physical task is added before a business task, with candidates partaking physical challenges for various rewards and advantages, though usually meant to train and showcase candidates of physical prowess.
Business tasks followed with boardroom meetings. At the end of each task, the remaining candidates on both teams gather in the boardroom to be briefed on the task by the host and the advisors. Team members are asked about how the task went and whether there were any strong or weak players. Teams are sometimes asked to comment on materials or products produced by the opposing team. The host or advisors would usually provide future advice to candidates on improvement or address any criticisms, followed by the results for the task; members from the winning team are immune from elimination and depending on season, are being permitted to view the next stage of the boardroom on the TV in their suite.
Members from the losing team remain in/return to the boardroom and are confronted with their loss from the hosts, who are then interrogated as to the reasons for their loss and which players contributed to it or failed at the task. The project manager is asked to select a certain number of teammates (typically two, but on occasion one or three) to bring back into the final-stage boardroom meeting, though in some cases the host can overrule their decision to choose candidates instead if they see fit. These selected teammates then step out of the boardroom momentarily so the host can consult with the advisors.
Upon returning to the boardroom for the final stage, the host and the advisors continue interrogating the remaining players on their defeats. The project manager is sometimes further interrogated about their choice of teammates to bring back into the boardroom, and explain their reasons of their choices and any pleas to stay on the competition if required. Usually, the host would eliminate any candidates who have performed poorly in both the task and overall consistency from the show (via its iconic catchphrase of "you're fired" or any words or phrases that are synonymous herein) and has broad discretion to eliminate candidates outside of this usual process, including firing multiple candidates at a time and/or firing someone on the spot prior to the final boardroom; occasionally, the host may even cancel any elimination if the candidates performed with satisfactory standards. The eliminated candidates are shown leaving the boardroom with their luggage and entering a taxi cab, during which they are given time to recount on their elimination that is shown over the episode's credits; the host would usually explain any reasons for eliminating the candidate before or after their firing if required.
Numerous weeks (in the case where a "corporation" had uneven number of candidates) may result in a corporate restructuring by reassigning candidates to a different team, which usually determined by the host itself, though in some cases candidates can choose who they want to be transferred with. When no more than five candidates remain (typically three or four depending on season), these candidates go through a final phase of the competition where they would go through a series of small business tasks, unified as a team to work as a whole (as first seen in ONE Championship), and/or faced an interview with the executives, based on various companies interview the finalists and report their assessments to the host. Based on the interviews and tasks, along with the candidate's track record, if applicable, the host will select two candidates to compete in the finale.
The final two candidates are then each assigned a different final task. Each is given a support team of previously eliminated candidates. Final tasks generally require the finalists to organize (to various degrees) an event such as a party or a fundraiser which has multiple planning elements. Another boardroom takes place and the candidates had to plead on their case on why they deserve to win. Ultimately, one candidate will be "hired" (named the winner) as the titular Apprentice, with the winner offered a starting contract (usually a year valued at $250,000) to work with the company.
Original series
The American version of The Apprentice is the first version of the reality game show franchise. It was broadcast on NBC and billed as "The Ultimate Job Interview". The show depicted a group of 15–18 businessmen and -women competing in an elimination competition for a one-year, US$250,000 contract to run one of real estate magnate Donald Trump's companies.
The first season aired during the winter and spring of 2004, executive-produced by Mark Burnett, Jay Bienstock, and Trump, who also hosts the show. The show led Trump to become known for his fateful catch phrase "You're Fired!". The theme song for the show is "For the Love of Money" by The O'Jays, and other themes and underscore are written by composers Mark T. Williams and Jeff Lippencott of Ah2 Music.
During Donald Trump's reign over the show, the contestants lived communally in a suite at Trump Tower in New York City and the boardroom showdown was with Trump and two of his associates (usually Carolyn Kepcher, former chief operating officer (COO) and general manager for the Trump National Golf Club, and George H. Ross, Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel, The Trump Organization). Season 6 saw the show move to Los Angeles. On May 14, 2007, NBC announced the show was not on its fall 2007 schedule, but that a decision to cancel or renew it had not yet been made. On May 19, 2007, Trump announced that he was "moving on from The Apprentice", effectively ending the series. However, on May 22, NBC responded by saying Trump still had a year left on his contract. On July 16, 2007, NBC renewed the show with a sequel series, The Celebrity Apprentice, The sequel debuted with season seven on January 3, 2008. The eighth season of The Apprentice premiered on NBC on March 1, 2009. Similar to the previous season, all contestants were celebrities playing for charity. The ninth season of The Apprentice began in Spring 2010, also featuring a celebrity cast.
In June 2015, Trump announced his campaign to run for President of the United States of America. He was accused of making several racially-charged remarks during his speech and was subsequently fired by NBC. Actor and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced Trump, beginning in Season 15.
International versions There are currently over 70 winners of the format, the first being Bill Rancic of the United States.
Overview
Area Name Host Channel Catchphrase Winners GlobalThe Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition Chatri SityodtongAXN AsiaYou're not the "ONE"!S1, 2021: Jessica Ramella African Union The Apprentice Africa Biodun Shobanjo S1, 2008: Isaac Dankyi-Koranteng AsiaThe Apprentice Asia Tony FernandesAsiaYou're fired!S1, 2013: Jonathan Allen Yabut Arab World Mohamed Ali Alabbar LBC S1, 2005: Cancelled Australia The Apprentice Australia Nine You're fired! S1, 2009: Andrew Morello The Celebrity Apprentice Australia Belgium De Topmanager Rob Heyvaert VT4 S1, 2006: Claudia SchiepersBrazil O AprendizRoberto Justus Record TVJoão Doria Jr. Aprendiz CelebridadesRoberto Justus S10, 2014: Ana Moser O Aprendiz Band S11, 2019: Gabriel GaspariniBulgaria Звездни стажантиZvezdni stajanti Stefan Sharlopov Nova TV S1, 2016: 100 KilaColombia El Aprendiz Jean-Claude Bessudo Canal Caracol ¡Estás despedido! S1, 2006: Kees StapelCzech Republic and Slovakia Šéfka Nora Mojsejová S1, 2011: Michal PilipDenmark Hyret Eller Fyret Klaus Riskaer Pedersen Kanal 5 S1, 2005: Louise HolmEstonia Mantlipärija Armin Karu TV3 S1, 2007: Sverre PuustusmaaFinland Diili Jari SarasvuoMTV3 S1, 2005: Olli Rikala Hjallis Harkimo France The Apprentice : Qui décrochera le job ? Bruno Bonnell M6 S1, 2015: Séverine VerdotGermany Big Boss Reiner Calmund RTL S1, 2004: Carmen DohmenGeorgia კანდიდატი Kandidati Lado Gurgenidze Rustavi 2 S1, 2004: Luka Lomaia შეგირდი Shegidi Kakha Bendukidze Imedi S1, 2011: ?Greece Ο Υποψήφιος Petros Kostopoulos Alpha TV S1, 2004: Thanos MarinisHungary Az álommeló Levente Balogh RTLIndonesia The Apprentice Indonesia Peter F. Gontha Indosiar (2005) TBA RCTIIreland The Apprentice Bill CullenTV3You are fired!Celebrity Apprentice IrelandCaroline DowneyS1, 2013: Edele LynchItaly The Apprentice Flavio Briatore Mongolia Аппрентис МонголApprentice Mongolia Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt Mongol TV S1, 2020: Ts. BarkhasThe Netherlands De Nieuwe Moszkowicz Bram Moszkowicz AVRO S1, 2005: Nienke Hoogervorst Topmanager Gezocht BNN S1, 2011: Rogier BerlipsCelebrity ApprenticeMichel PerridonVideolandS1, 2022: BizzeyNew Zealand The Apprentice New Zealand Terry Serepisos TV2 S1, 2010: Thomas Ben The Apprentice Aotearoa Mike Pero TVNZ 1 You're fired! S1, 2021: Vanessa GoodsonNorway Kandidaten Inger Ellen Nicolaisen TVNORGE S1, 2005: Jeanette BrettevillePortugal Temos Negócio Leonor Poeiras TVI S1, 2015–16: Luís & RodrigoRussia КандидатKandidat Arkady Novikov TNT S1, 2005: Tatyana BurdelovaVladimir PotaninSouth Africa The Apprentice: SA Tokyo Sexwale SABC3 You're dismissed! S1, 2009: Zanele Batyashe & Khomotso Choma Magda WierzyckaSpain El Aprendiz Lluís Bassat LaSexta S1, 2009: Juan Ignacio Lanchares Sweden The Apprentice Sverige Gunilla von Platen TV4 S1, 2022: Tom FlumésSwitzerland Traum Job Jürg Marquar SF1 S1, 2005: Martin BachofnerTurkey Çırak Tuncay Özilhan Kanal D S1, 2005: Ahmet IsikUnited Kingdom The Apprentice Alan Sugar You're fired!United States The Apprentice Donald TrumpNBC You're fired! The Apprentice: Martha Stewart Martha Stewart You just don't fit in! S1, 2005: Dawna StoneThe Celebrity Apprentice Donald TrumpYou're fired!The New Celebrity ApprenticeArnold SchwarzeneggerYou're terminated!S15, 2017: Matt IsemanVietnam Ước mơ của tôi Phạm Thu NgaVTV3S1, 2007: ?
Africa Pan-African