Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the new host of "The Celebrity Apprentice," NBC announced Monday. The former California governor and action movie star will replace Donald Trump, who announced earlier this year he would not return to the reality program as he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. NBC later cut ties with Trump after he made offensive remarks about Mexican immigrants.
"We are thrilled to be opening a powerful new chapter in the story of the ‘Apprentice’ franchise,”NBC Entertainment's president of alternative and late night programming, Paul Telegdy, said in a statement. "Arnold Schwarzenegger is the epitome of a global brand in entertainment and business, and his accomplishments in the political arena speak for themselves. It was Arnold's personal passion for the format that Mark Burnett and Donald Trump built over the last decade, as well as his fresh take on how to take it to new heights for today’s audiences, that made him the man to hire. 'The Celebrity Apprentice' … will be back!"
Schwarzenegger will take the helm as "CEO" of the program, where celebrities compete to win money for the charity of their choice, next year. "I have always been a huge fan of 'The Celebrity Apprentice' and the way it showcases the challenges and triumphs of business and teamwork," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I am thrilled to bring my experience to the boardroom and to continue to raise millions for charity."
