Now that Donald Trump has a new gig, former governor, movie star, businessman, and bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has taken the job of manning the boardroom when The New Celebrity Apprentice begins on January 2. Since the “celebrity” version of The Apprentice show began in 2007, over $15 million has been given to charities selected by the winning stars. For the show’s eighth season, the overall winner will receive $250,000 to give to their charity.
If you have never seen the show before, now is a great time to jump in as there are numerous changes to The New Celebrity Apprentice including the move from New York and Trump Tower to Los Angeles, but the show will have the same premise. Sixteen celebrities will be divided up into two teams of eight to complete various tasks. The team that conquers the challenge the best will be deemed the winner of that round and the team’s leader will receive a donation for his or her charity. The losing team will have to face Schwarzenegger in the board room where one participant will be sent home.
The female contestants competing are:
- Laila Ali — a four-time boxing world champion and daughter of boxing great Mohammed Ali. She will be playing for The Women’s Sports Foundation which aims to ensure that all girls have access to sports.
- Brooke Burke-Charset — an actress and TV show host and will be playing for Operation Smile, an international medical charity that goes around the world. Each year, Operation Smile performs hundreds of free surgeries for children with cleft lip, cleft palates, and other facial deformities.
- Carrie Keagan — an actress and TV show host. She will be playing for The Humane Society’s “Pets for Life” program which provides free veterinary care to underserved neighborhoods.
- Lisa Leslie — an Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star. She will be playing for The Semper Fi Fund which provides resources and support for wounded members of the armed forces and their families.
- Nicole Polizzi — better known as “Snooki” from the reality TV show, the Jersey Shore. Nicole will be playing for North Shore Animal League America which is the world’s largest no-kill rescue and animal adoption organizations.
- Carnie Wilson — a member of the band Wilson Phillips and daughter of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Carnie is playing for The Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America which funds grants for surgery and is the creator the anti-obesity bullying initiative #TakeTheOath.
- This season will also include two “housewives”; Kyle Richards from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Porsha Williams from Real Housewives of Atlanta . Kyle will be playing for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Porsha will be playing for Hosea, which provides clothing, hot meals and medical services to seniors.
Playing on the men’s team are:
- Eric Dickerson — an NFL Hall of Fame running back. He will be playing for Young Warriors, which is a mentoring program for fatherless boys and teenagers.
- Boy George — a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and former leader of the group Culture Club. He will be playing for Safe Kids Worldwide which aims to provide families with good information on how to protect children from accidental injury.
- Matt Iseman — co-host of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior . He will be playing for The Arthritis Foundation.
- Carson Kressley — a reality TV star and fashion maven probably best known for appearing on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy . He will be playing for The True Colors Fund, which was co-founded by singer Cyndi Lauper. Its goal is to end homelessness among LGBT youth.
- Jon Lovitz — a comedian and former star of Saturday Night Live . He will be playing for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital which combats childhood cancer.
- Vince Neil — the lead vocalist of Motley Crue. He will be playing for Keep Memory Alive which benefits the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.
- Chael Sonnen — a UFC standout/mixed martial artist. Chael will be playing for Hire Heroes USA which provides coaching help for those transitioning out of the military into the civilian world.
- Ricky Williams — a former football star and current analyst. Chael will be playing for the Dr. John E. Eupledger Foundation to raise awareness, support, and treatment for CranioSacral Therapy.
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The New Celebrity Apprentice will also feature high-profile sponsors this season from such companies as Tyra Beauty, Trident, Welch’s, King’s Hawaiian, Kawasaki USA, See’s Candies, Lorissa’s Kitchen, Universal Studios Hollywood, L.A. Clippers, QVC, The Honest Company, and Carnival Corporation.
The New Celebrity Apprentice airs on Mondays, beginning on January 2 at 8 p.m. The two-hour long show will air on NBC.
[Featured image by NBC]