10-20-2003, 02:08 PM
We have the Osbourne's to thank for this phenomenon...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=st...showisborn
By ABBY ELLIN The New York Times
IF there's one thing Mark Burnett, the executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Restaurant," has learned in his decade in television, it is this: never let an opportunity slip away.
He put that principle to work when, one night last year, he found himself shooting the "Survivor" finale at Wollman Rink in Manhattan. Donald Trump, who happens to own the place, was there for the event, and though they had never met, Mr. Burnett walked right up and introduced himself.
Mr. Trump, sitting in his office on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, recalls the moment. "Mark came up to me and said, 'You know, I was selling T-shirts on Venice Beach and I read "The Art of the Deal," and it had a very profound effect on me.' " The approach worked. "I said to myself, 'Boy, this guy's really smart, because he's trying to get to me and he's saying just the right things.' And he said, 'I really want to see you about an idea.' "
These were not especially foreign words to Mr. Trump's ears: Plenty of producers have been fascinated by the idea of Donald Trump doing a reality show on television, even something so basic as a day in his life, watching him brush his teeth and the like. Mr. Trump, however, has not shared the interest, and has declined their offers.
But something about Mr. Burnett, who grew up in East London and speaks in a hybrid of English, Australian and American accents, impressed Mr. Trump. It certainly didn't hurt that Mr. Burnett was well versed in the art of flattery. It also didn't hurt that Mr. Trump had seen "Survivor" and found it smart.
And then there is the fact that Mr. Burnett, a former Beverly Hills nanny who did indeed hawk T-shirts on Venice Beach and lives in Malibu, seemingly could sell anything. Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS and the head of the UPN network, said that the best pitch he ever heard was Mr. Burnett's for "Survivor."
Two weeks after their initial encounter at Wollman Rink, Mr. Burnett called Mr. Trump and pitched "The Apprentice,'' a reality TV show set in the business world. Sixteen contestants would live together in a video-monitored space in an undisclosed location (Mr. Burnett is notoriously guarded about his productions; he forbids people to reveal any details until the shows air). But instead of manipulating each other in the Amazon, they would backstab each other in New York.
Every week the show's host would assign various business tasks: contestants might be told to run a hot dog stand, say, or to open a store in a crime-filled neighborhood. Someone would be fired during each show; at the end, the winner would get a six-figure salary and a one-year position as a president or co-president of a division of the Trump Organization, of which Mr. Trump is president and chairman. The host of the show would be the original Joe Millionaire, Mr. Trump himself.
"This is Donald Trump giving back," Mr. Burnett said. "What makes the world a safe place right now? I think it's American dollars, which come from taxes, which come because of Donald Trump. All these buildings. How many carpenters, steelworkers, construction guys, cleaners, bellboys and maids are working through the Trump entrepreneurial vision? And what Donald Trump is doing and what 'The Apprentice' is about is to show Americans that you have to be an entrepreneur."
MR. TRUMP said that when he was considering whether to do the show, he was swayed by the educational factor, and by the idea that it would be as brutal and real as any business transaction. Applicants came out in droves: 215,000 people in 13 cities auditioned for 16 slots.
The show began shooting in September and is scheduled to air on NBC in early January. Isaac Mizrahi, Regis Philbin, George Steinbrenner, and the Fab Five - the men from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" - have all made cameo appearances.
For Mr. Trump, the experience has been a revelation. "Before I met Mark, the reality stuff was of just no interest,'' he said. "But I think there's a whole beautiful picture to be painted about business, American business, how beautiful it is but also how vicious and tough it is. The beauty is the success, the end result. You meet some wonderful people, but you also meet some treacherous, disgusting people that are worse than any snake in the jungle."
After signing - Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett's production company are 50-50 partners - Mr. Trump warned that he had only about three hours a week to devote to the project. Those three hours have somehow morphed into 30.
"We've needed to establish the Trump lifestyle, so it's taking a lot of time," Mr. Burnett said. "Donald's been gracious with his time. Also, to be honest with you, it's been such fun."
The two men have been running around town like 12-year-old boys with an endless stream of toys at their disposal (think Tom Hanks in the movie "Big"). The chemistry between them is palpable; Mr. Burnett, 43, calls Mr. Trump, 57, a "soul mate." Mr. Trump says of Mr. Burnett: "I don't think I've ever met anybody with a deeper sense of curiosity." Mr. Burnett, in turn, appreciates Mr. Trump's intelligence.
Then there's Mr. Trump's attention to detail, which Mr. Burnett cannot help but admire: "He walks fast, really fast," Mr. Burnett said. "The joke is you need roller blades to keep up with him. And he's walking through the casino in Atlantic City and from the corner of his eye he sees a frayed carpet, and he says to the president of the casino, 'Make sure and take care of the frayed carpet.' "
Since September, the two men have filmed at various spots throughout New York and its environs: Mr. Trump in his limousine, in his helicopter, with his girlfriend, the model Melania Knauss, playing golf at a course he owns in upstate New York.
And there have been other outings: a Neil Young concert, a Wyclef Jean record release party, a visit to Seven Springs, Mr. Trump's estate in Bedford, N.Y.
Quite often, it seems, they crack each other up. "The other night we were having dinner," Mr. Burnett said, "and people kept coming up to Donald and he was so gracious, and he said, 'This is my friend, Mark Burnett, 'Survivor.' It occurred to me that half of them haven't seen the show and they're thinking, 'Oh, what can we say? He survived cancer.' And I started to laugh, and Melania was laughing so much tears were streaming down her face. How funny was that?"
Whether or not "The Apprentice" will succeed, of course, remains to be seen. Mr. Trump has boasted that when he attaches his name to a building or golf course, it brings in more than twice the revenue it would have otherwise.
MILLWARD BROWN, a market research agency, surveyed more than 2,000 people on behalf of Advertising Age magazine, comparing Mr. Trump with five other "branded business entrepreneurs." Mr. Trump was considered less appealing to see in a reality show than Oprah Winfrey or Ted Turner, but more engaging than P. Diddy or Martha Stewart (news - web sites).
But Mr. Burnett expects big things. He said he hoped to create other "Apprentices, either with Mr. Trump or other business luminaries.
Above all, Mr. Burnett is thrilled to be working so closely with his idol. "I'd like to go at his level," he admits. "I don't know if I'll ever make it. But you know something, if you're not shooting for the stars, you're not shooting."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=st...showisborn
By ABBY ELLIN The New York Times
IF there's one thing Mark Burnett, the executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Restaurant," has learned in his decade in television, it is this: never let an opportunity slip away.
He put that principle to work when, one night last year, he found himself shooting the "Survivor" finale at Wollman Rink in Manhattan. Donald Trump, who happens to own the place, was there for the event, and though they had never met, Mr. Burnett walked right up and introduced himself.
Mr. Trump, sitting in his office on the 26th floor of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, recalls the moment. "Mark came up to me and said, 'You know, I was selling T-shirts on Venice Beach and I read "The Art of the Deal," and it had a very profound effect on me.' " The approach worked. "I said to myself, 'Boy, this guy's really smart, because he's trying to get to me and he's saying just the right things.' And he said, 'I really want to see you about an idea.' "
These were not especially foreign words to Mr. Trump's ears: Plenty of producers have been fascinated by the idea of Donald Trump doing a reality show on television, even something so basic as a day in his life, watching him brush his teeth and the like. Mr. Trump, however, has not shared the interest, and has declined their offers.
But something about Mr. Burnett, who grew up in East London and speaks in a hybrid of English, Australian and American accents, impressed Mr. Trump. It certainly didn't hurt that Mr. Burnett was well versed in the art of flattery. It also didn't hurt that Mr. Trump had seen "Survivor" and found it smart.
And then there is the fact that Mr. Burnett, a former Beverly Hills nanny who did indeed hawk T-shirts on Venice Beach and lives in Malibu, seemingly could sell anything. Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS and the head of the UPN network, said that the best pitch he ever heard was Mr. Burnett's for "Survivor."
Two weeks after their initial encounter at Wollman Rink, Mr. Burnett called Mr. Trump and pitched "The Apprentice,'' a reality TV show set in the business world. Sixteen contestants would live together in a video-monitored space in an undisclosed location (Mr. Burnett is notoriously guarded about his productions; he forbids people to reveal any details until the shows air). But instead of manipulating each other in the Amazon, they would backstab each other in New York.
Every week the show's host would assign various business tasks: contestants might be told to run a hot dog stand, say, or to open a store in a crime-filled neighborhood. Someone would be fired during each show; at the end, the winner would get a six-figure salary and a one-year position as a president or co-president of a division of the Trump Organization, of which Mr. Trump is president and chairman. The host of the show would be the original Joe Millionaire, Mr. Trump himself.
"This is Donald Trump giving back," Mr. Burnett said. "What makes the world a safe place right now? I think it's American dollars, which come from taxes, which come because of Donald Trump. All these buildings. How many carpenters, steelworkers, construction guys, cleaners, bellboys and maids are working through the Trump entrepreneurial vision? And what Donald Trump is doing and what 'The Apprentice' is about is to show Americans that you have to be an entrepreneur."
MR. TRUMP said that when he was considering whether to do the show, he was swayed by the educational factor, and by the idea that it would be as brutal and real as any business transaction. Applicants came out in droves: 215,000 people in 13 cities auditioned for 16 slots.
The show began shooting in September and is scheduled to air on NBC in early January. Isaac Mizrahi, Regis Philbin, George Steinbrenner, and the Fab Five - the men from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" - have all made cameo appearances.
For Mr. Trump, the experience has been a revelation. "Before I met Mark, the reality stuff was of just no interest,'' he said. "But I think there's a whole beautiful picture to be painted about business, American business, how beautiful it is but also how vicious and tough it is. The beauty is the success, the end result. You meet some wonderful people, but you also meet some treacherous, disgusting people that are worse than any snake in the jungle."
After signing - Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett's production company are 50-50 partners - Mr. Trump warned that he had only about three hours a week to devote to the project. Those three hours have somehow morphed into 30.
"We've needed to establish the Trump lifestyle, so it's taking a lot of time," Mr. Burnett said. "Donald's been gracious with his time. Also, to be honest with you, it's been such fun."
The two men have been running around town like 12-year-old boys with an endless stream of toys at their disposal (think Tom Hanks in the movie "Big"). The chemistry between them is palpable; Mr. Burnett, 43, calls Mr. Trump, 57, a "soul mate." Mr. Trump says of Mr. Burnett: "I don't think I've ever met anybody with a deeper sense of curiosity." Mr. Burnett, in turn, appreciates Mr. Trump's intelligence.
Then there's Mr. Trump's attention to detail, which Mr. Burnett cannot help but admire: "He walks fast, really fast," Mr. Burnett said. "The joke is you need roller blades to keep up with him. And he's walking through the casino in Atlantic City and from the corner of his eye he sees a frayed carpet, and he says to the president of the casino, 'Make sure and take care of the frayed carpet.' "
Since September, the two men have filmed at various spots throughout New York and its environs: Mr. Trump in his limousine, in his helicopter, with his girlfriend, the model Melania Knauss, playing golf at a course he owns in upstate New York.
And there have been other outings: a Neil Young concert, a Wyclef Jean record release party, a visit to Seven Springs, Mr. Trump's estate in Bedford, N.Y.
Quite often, it seems, they crack each other up. "The other night we were having dinner," Mr. Burnett said, "and people kept coming up to Donald and he was so gracious, and he said, 'This is my friend, Mark Burnett, 'Survivor.' It occurred to me that half of them haven't seen the show and they're thinking, 'Oh, what can we say? He survived cancer.' And I started to laugh, and Melania was laughing so much tears were streaming down her face. How funny was that?"
Whether or not "The Apprentice" will succeed, of course, remains to be seen. Mr. Trump has boasted that when he attaches his name to a building or golf course, it brings in more than twice the revenue it would have otherwise.
MILLWARD BROWN, a market research agency, surveyed more than 2,000 people on behalf of Advertising Age magazine, comparing Mr. Trump with five other "branded business entrepreneurs." Mr. Trump was considered less appealing to see in a reality show than Oprah Winfrey or Ted Turner, but more engaging than P. Diddy or Martha Stewart (news - web sites).
But Mr. Burnett expects big things. He said he hoped to create other "Apprentices, either with Mr. Trump or other business luminaries.
Above all, Mr. Burnett is thrilled to be working so closely with his idol. "I'd like to go at his level," he admits. "I don't know if I'll ever make it. But you know something, if you're not shooting for the stars, you're not shooting."
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