Arnold Schwarzenegger: new host of NBC's 'The Apprentice'
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Contestants on the NBC reality competition, 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� have a new boss.
Former politician and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the new host of the show, following the departure of Donald Trump. 鈥淎pprentice鈥� debuted on NBC in 2004 and follows contestants who complete various challenges in an effort to prove their business acumen and receive a yearlong contract to be in charge of one of Trump鈥檚 companies. The last several iterations of the show have been known as 鈥淭he Celebrity Apprentice鈥� and have included appearances by such well-known figures as Kate Gosselin, Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, and Trace Adkins.
In addition to starring in such films as the 鈥淭erminator鈥� series and 鈥淭otal Recall,鈥� Schwarzenegger has invested in various real estate ventures, among other projects, and served as governor of California.
Trump is now, of course, pursuing the Republican nomination for president. After he made remarks about Mexicans that some found distasteful, NBC it was 鈥渆nding its business relationship鈥� with Trump. Trump soon afterward that he was not working with NBC any longer.聽
Trump and Schwarzenegger are currently embracing almost the same career paths, just in the opposite directions 鈥� Schwarzenegger became a movie star, served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011, and since ending his time as governor has appeared in films such as the 鈥淓xpendables鈥� movie series and this summer鈥檚 鈥淭erminator Genisys.鈥� After becoming well-known in Hollywood for 鈥淎pprentice,鈥� Trump is now moving into politics.
With his many business ventures, Schwarzenegger is a logical choice to serve as host of 鈥淭he Apprentice.鈥�
Schwarzenegger's multiple job titles aren't unusual because Hollywood and politics crossing over is nothing new 鈥� the most famous example is probably former movie actor turned US President Ronald Reagan. But former 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� writer and performer Al Franken, who is currently serving as a US senator from Minnesota, and actor Clint Eastwood, who served as mayor of Carmel, Calif., are other notable examples.聽
In addition, few have jumped from job to job with as much seeming ease as Schwarzenegger, with his successful financial dealings, two terms as governor (though some criticized his financial work during the second term), and time as a Hollywood star.聽
When it comes to Hollywood, however, Schwarzenegger may need a restart. 鈥淕enisys鈥� didn鈥檛 perform well with critics or at the domestic box office this summer, though it did better financially abroad. In addition, his recent films where he was the big headliner, including 2014鈥檚 鈥淪abotage鈥� and 2013鈥檚 鈥淭he Last Stand,鈥� did not perform well at the box office.聽
鈥淎pprentice鈥� could be a promising new project for the actor and continue NBC鈥檚 long-running TV franchise.
