Donald Trump

CHICAGO – Donald Trump, the P.T. Barnum of modern television, is back with the highly-anticipated “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice,” the ultimate edition of one of TV’s guiltiest pleasures.

CHICAGO – When the new 2013 cast of “Celebrity Apprentice” was recently announced, it brought back memories of last season, in which one of the contestants was rocker Dee Snider (“Twisted Sister”). Snider was in Chicago in May on a promotional tour, touting his new book “Shut Up and Give Me the Mic.”

CHICAGO – Who would volunteer to go on national television and be ridiculed and demeaned by not only an egotistical blowhard like Donald Trump but his two children (who, for the record, I like significantly more than dear old dad)? I understand the desire to get back in the public spotlight but at so high a cost?

CHICAGO – In the opening scenes of the season premiere of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” the amazing Donald Trump actually claims to have turned Joan Rivers, Piers Morgan, and Bret Michaels into stars through their winning the show (and he’s only maybe half-joking; more like a quarter).

CHICAGO – Reality shows are comfort food to millions because they deliver exactly what viewers expect. You know precisely what you’re getting out of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Bridezillas,” or “The Bachelor”. The names and faces may be different but the experience of each season is essentially the same. The same goes for “The Celebrity Apprentice” and if you garnered guilty pleasure thrills from last season, it’s hard to believe that’s going to change this year.

CHICAGO – “The Apprentice” star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth posed for the HollywoodChicago.com camera on Oct. 22, 2008 before beginning her two-day Chicago book tour to promote “The Bitch Switch” at Borders in downtown Chicago.

CHICAGO – Donald Trump appeared in Chicago on Sept. 24, 2008 to comb over reporters and VIPs at the opening of his new Trump International Hotel & Tower in the Windy City.