Arnold Schwarzenegger filled Donald Trump’s hosting role on NBC’s revamped “The Celebrity Apprentice,” but he wasn’t able to match the president-elect’s ratings numbers.
Monday’s two-hour premiere of the “Terminator” star’s version of the business reality show was viewed by 4.9 million live viewers in early Nielsen ratings numbers. As for adults under the age of 50, the demographic TV advertisers desire most, the show earned a 1.3 rating, according to TheWrap.
For comparison, the previous Trump-hosted season-seven premiere in January 2015 was watched by 6.8 million viewers and earned a 2.4 rating among the advertiser demographic.
“Celebrity Apprentice” faced some big competition on Monday night, including the season-21 premiere “The Bachelor.” The ABC dating competition earned a 2.1 rating and 6.6 million viewers.
This season of “Celebrity Apprentice” features 16 contenders: Laila Ali, Brooke Burke-Charvet, Eric Dickerson, Boy George, Matt Iseman, Carrie Keagan, Carson Kressley, Lisa Leslie, Jon Lovitz, Vince Neil, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Kyle Richards, Chael Sonnen, Porsha Williams, Ricky Williams, and Carnie Wilson.
Schwarzenegger's main advisers for the season are Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba, and his nephew, Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.
Keagan and Wilson were the first to be fired with Schwarzenegger's "Terminator"-inspired new catchphrase: "You're terminated."
