Star Trek’s original Sulu George Takei is headed to another reality show, this time joining the cast of the next season of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. Details and announcement videos below below. Plus there is a fan movement to get TNG’s Marina Sirits a spot on the next season of Dancing with the Stars.
George Takei headed to Celebrity Apprentice
This morning Donald Trump announced Star Trek’s George Takei will be part of the cast of contestants for the fifth installment of Celebrity Apprentice, which premiers on February 12th. Takei will be part of the largest-ever lineup of famous faces for the series. The show breaks contestants into two teams (men and women), here is the full list:
Men: late-night legend Arsenio Hall, pop star Clay Aiken, radio host Adam Carolla, the “Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno, magician/comedian Penn Jillette, rock star Dee Snider, actor George Takei, IndyCar legend Michael Andretti, and star of “American Chopper,” Paul Teutul, Sr.
Women: supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, pop star Debbie Gibson, actress and multi-Grammy winner Tia Carrere, author and reality star Victoria Gotti, comedienne Lisa Lampanelli, former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, singer and actress Aubrey O’Day, actress and model Patricia Velásquez, and star of “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” Teresa Giudice
Takei with the men’s team on the upcoming season of "Celebrity Apprentice"
In his typical bravado, executive producer and star Donald Trump talked up the season saying:
"This season of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ will be the most exciting yet. The show will be great, with a record number of contestants and 15 episodes. We are thrilled to bring 18 new and talented celebrities who will help me make ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ one of the hottest shows on television this spring. This will be season 12 — Amazing!”
The 18 celebrity contestants will compete with the goal of raising money and awareness for their charity of choice. The last person standing will be chosen as the Celebrity Apprentice and have the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to their designated charity, following in the footsteps of previous winners Piers Morgan, Joan Rivers, Bret Michaels and John Rich. Takei will be playing for the Japanese American National Museum.
The celebrities will be subject to long hours, grueling deadlines, intellectual challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny under the careful watch of Donald Trump and his advisors, Don Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump. Last season, “Celebrity Apprentice” raised a record amount for the contestants’ charities, donating over $3.1 million to charity.
Here are videos of Trump and some of the contestants talking about the upcoming season (Takei wasn’t at the event).
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This will not be Takei’s first time on a celebrity reality show. In 2008 the actor appeared on the UK’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! where he lived in the Australian outback for three weeks. Takei ended up in 3rd place out of 15 contestants. Here is a video of George eating bugs on the show.
Sirtis fans lobby for Dancing With The Stars spot
In other Star Trek celebrity on reality show news, fans of Next Gen’s Marina Sirits are trying to get the actress onto the next season of ABC’s hit Dancing with the Stars (apparently with the blessing of Sirtis herself) They have set up a website and are asking fans to vote for Marina at the official ABC site.
Sirtis fans trying to get her onto "Dancing with the Stars"
I liked this show because they visited various workplaces; less of that happened with the celebrities — it’s all marketing. But this could interesting.
Good for George! And I say YES to Marina!
I’m afraid I never watch any of these “Apprentice” shows. As soon as I switch onto the channel it happens to be on, I am very quickly reaching for the remote while attempting to keep my retching under control. Sorry – just can’t these show…ugh!
Edit: just can’t WATCH these shows…
And yes to Marina Sirtis to get to be on “Dancing with the Stars”. She looks so fit and lovely. Also yes to George Takei – whatever rows his boat…
As Marina Sirits is British, she would have more chance getting on the original, ie strictly come dancing
Oh, My!
(Someone had to say it.)
Rarely watch reality broadcasting. Pro wrestling, on the other hand….
Maybe Koenig should pretend to be gay he can finally get some work in Hollywood. He’s far more intelligent and interesting, but he doesn’t have a “cause” that makes the industry want to support him.
Odkin final warning for trolling
Boy, Clay Aiken’s star sure burned out fast, not that I was really paying any attention.
Happy for George for getting whatever work he can.
I may even watch that DWTS show just to see Marina at least once if she can get on it, although I’d much rather see her on the bridge of the Enterprise again.
#8 Oh, stop it!
I don’t care what cause it’s for, George Takei should not have to share screentime with that short-fingered vulgarian.
I’ve always preferred Grace McFadden when it came to Next Gen ladies but that DWTS Marina pic made me say “OH MY!!!”.
I feel….young! (again)
Hmmmm…….. :-) :-)
#8
Fair play with your utterly pathetic and truly disgusting remark designed to get a reaction.
It’s wonderful that your love of Star Trek has made you open minded.
I salute you.
@ 8
Gee, can’t you be happy for George without making this about you’re dislike for his “cause.”
Congratulations George Takei. And how does Victoria Gotti lose? I mean do you really want to say to Ms. Gotti, “You’re fired.” I keeed. I keeed.
Wow both sound great. I especially would love to see Marina on DWTS.
These shows are horrid.
But they are watched.
If it gives Marina Sirtis a celebrity ‘bump’ like Takei has had in recent years in his various projects, all power to her.
personally, i DEMAND marina sirtis be in the upcoming mass effect film. matriarch benezia? yes please!
Congrats to George! But I’d rather see the “dancing doctor” (Gates McFadden) on DWTS, than Sirtis
Looks like this could be good. Would love to see the full cast of Trek be on the show. Tos and Trek movie cast vs Tng and Ds9.
It insults the people that go on the show. Sorry George and Marina, but I just lost some respect for both of you.
Which show insults the people that go on it?
George is going to be on Celebrity Apprentice while Marina is hoping to be Dancing with the Stars. Different shows.
Glad forTakei. And coming from someone who didn’t watch TNG,….just fom that picture alone, get that Sirtis on ‘Dancing’. Let’s go!
@12 …Her first name is Gates (or Cheryl, once upon a time), not Grace.
Good for George. It’ll be interesting to see if there is going to be clash of egos between him and Donald Trump. :-)
As for Marina Sirtis, I hope she gets on “Dancing With The Stars”. They hardly ever have any true “stars” on that show anyway so she’ll fit right in. :-)
YES please! Put Marina on DWTS! She’d be awesome and it’s the only reason I would ever watch it again!
Yes, PLEASE!! We would LOVE for Marina Sirtis to be on DWTS!! The campaign is definitely ongoing. To make your desires known, fans need to tell the producers at ABC by following the link on the campaign post http://www.gomarinasirtis.com/index.html
or by telling ABC directly in private messaging at
http://abc.go.com/site/contact-us
What about Gates McFadden? Just sayin. I love Marina, don’t get me wrong…
It’s official: Everyone who appears on “Celebrity Apprentice” is probably clinically depressed.
(See photograph.)
Just kidding.
Marina has been a fan of DWTS as a viewer. Fans personally asked her last year at a convention in Albuquerque if she would compete on the show if given the opportunity. Marina answered with a “Yes”. Since then, Marina’s FANS have pursued this campaign, NOT Marina. Gosh, why do people have to be so negative? My philosophy is if you don’t have something nice to say, keep your opinion to yourself. The same goes for the negative comments about George. Are you true Trek fans? Makes me wonder. We should support any Trek actor in ventures they would wish to pursue because TOS and TNG are over. These actors most likely won’t be back on our televisions as the same characters except in reruns.
Sorry, I realize there are many “yeah’s” for these actors. My comment above is directed at the negative comments.
One thing about these “celebrity reality shows”: The one you really, REALLY shouldn’t want to be on is that celebrity rehabilitation show with Dr. Drew Pincus. I don’t think anyone looks like a celebrity on that show.
Just sayin’.
I think the late Jeff Conaway was on that show.
Poor Mr. Conaway.
Also, a rant: To all the hipsters of the world, enough with the neologisms. I read somewhere on the newfangled “internets” that these shows are called “celebreality” shows. “Celebreality”? Really?! Come on. Too cute by about a parsec.
Also,
[Comm]
To all hands on deck: Now hear this, now hear this: Donald Trump is not my favorite person.
That is all. [/comm]
I want Marina!
On DWTS.
Lou Ferrigno looks smaller than Penn Gillette…how can this be?
No sense in the other contestants even showing up…..because nothing can stop THE HULK!!!!
(He’s the strongest one there is, you know.)
Though Marina Sirtis would be interesting on Dancing With The Stars, Gates McFadden should be on there. After all she did play the Dancing Doctor, Dr. Beverly Howard Crusher.
Make it so, George Takei.
Mongo give tidbit information to Trek fan may not know:
Dr. Crusher woman’s choreograph for Jim Henson. Her name Cheryl McFadden. She do Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and others.
Mongo still want see Sirtis womans dance
Yes, Marina has given her blessing to the fan campaign…she’s the one who pretty much said to start one in the first place. At the Albuquerque Comic Expo in June of 2011, she asked fans to use the power of the internet for two fan campaigns…one to get her on DWTS and one to have her as the next computer voice in the future Trek movies since Majel has passed away. She knows about the campaign for DWTS and is pretty excited about it. I spoke with her about it at an Arkansas convention in September as well as back in June.
40. Yup, Mongo. Which is why I’d like to actually see her dance (as I’d heard about her choreography for years but have never seen her do anydancing). Haven’t they had semi professionals on before?
But, yes. Sirtis would be swell.
Yay, George (the nicest of the TOS cast)!
I had given up watching most reality TV series this year as they are the death of Network Scripted programming as most shows cannot compete on the same level, however I will watch George and definitely will return for Marina 100%!!!!
How much do they pay the contestants on that show to be humiliated by The Donald? Seriously, how much?