16 Jobless Contestants Compete To Be "The Apprentice"
Tapping into recession-era angst, Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" debuts tonight with a cast of ordinary workers, rather than the celebrities we've become used to seeing in recent years.
A celebrity version of the show returns in the spring.
All 16 of the contestants vying for a job in the Trump organization have lost their old jobs and can't find new ones. For the most part, they are accomplished and well-educated.
In the past, prizes for winning challenges were deluxe excursions or pricey meals. Now, it's interviews with CEOs.
The sense of desperation that stalks the show has led to some intense moments in the boardroom Trump has said. That is one reason why he has been promoting it as the best since season 1, if not the best ever.
