'Pray for Arnold': Trump keeps trashing 'Apprentice' ratings, but are they really that bad?

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: LOS ANGELES TIMES

URL: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-trump-nationa-prayer-breakfast-schwarzenegger-apprentice-20170202-htmlstory.html

by Libby Hill


During the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, President Donald Trump took time to request prayers for an old friend: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Trump was introduced at the breakfast by Mark Burnett, producer and creator of “The Apprentice,” the series that first beamed Trump into American homes on a weekly basis.

The president called Burnett a “special, special friend”  before pivoting to his concerns about the current ratings for “Celebrity Apprentice,” now hosted by Schwarzenegger.

“We had tremendous success on ‘The Apprentice,’” Trump said of his history with Burnett. “And when I ran for president, I had to leave the show. That's when I knew for sure that I was doing it. And they hired a big, big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place. And we know how that turned out.

“The ratings went down the tubes. It's been a total disaster, and Mark will never, ever bet against Trump again,” Trump added. “And I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those ratings, OK?”

Schwarzenegger had an immediate response for Trump’s thoughts and prayers, suggesting that the two of them switch jobs.

https://twitter.com/Schwarzenegger/status/827169996866347008

This is not the first time that Schwarzenegger and Trump have engaged in a war of words.

The former governor of California announced in October that he would not be voting for the Republican candidate for president, for the first time since becoming an American citizen in 1983.

In January, Trump tweeted his concern about the ratings for “Celebrity Apprentice,” saying, “So much for … being a movie star — and that was season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1. But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary.”

In response, Schwarzenegger tweeted, “I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings.”

The president is correct that “The Celebrity Apprentice” has seen a slump in ratings since his departure. Monday’s episode drew 3.7 million viewers; the last episode hosted by Trump in February 2015 scored 6 million viewers.

But even Trump’s ratings were a far cry from the kind the series garnered at its height, raking in about 21 million during peak viewership in its first season in 2004.

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[geronl]

But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary.

Trump is really that thin-skinned and he will never be President of all Americans because he wouldn't want to be.

[driftdiver]

But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary.

Trump is really that thin-skinned and he will never be President of all Americans because he wouldn't want to be.

@geronl

He's not any more thin skinned then Barry was.

[XenaLee]

Trump should just STFU about his old show, The Apprentice.  Seriously.  It's just downright petty and juvenile.

[SirLinksALot]

I posted this in another thread about Trump's tweeting...

Folks,  there is a method to the madness as to what's is going on in the Twitter world, especially when it comes to these so called, childish tweets about Arnold.

Like it or not ( and the ethics of the issue aside), Trump is still the show’s executive producer, every time he mentions Arnold and the show, he stokes curiosity and people will likely tune in to see what’s going on.

This tweets will hike the interest in the Apprentice and the audience should grow. It is free advertisement.

My conclusion is --- This Twitter “feud” (Note the quotes)  will continue. Arnold himself is playing along. Never underestimate the power of PR.

[truth_seeker]

It is just good natured joking, between two very rich Republicans with similar backgrounds. Close in age, too.

(Remember that Arnold is a very rich, self made man. He didn't even get money from his father.)



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger
 

[skeeter]

I posted this in another thread about Trump's tweeting...

Folks,  there is a method to the madness as to what's is going on in the Twitter world, especially when it comes to these so called, childish tweets about Arnold.

Like it or not ( and the ethics of the issue aside), Trump is still the show’s executive producer, every time he mentions Arnold and the show, he stokes curiosity and people will likely tune in to see what’s going on.

This tweets will hike the interest in the Apprentice and the audience should grow. It is free advertisement.

My conclusion is --- This Twitter “feud” (Note the quotes)  will continue. Arnold himself is playing along. Never underestimate the power of PR.

Whether intended or not, it also serves to divert the media's attention and prevent their interference in the more substantive things he's trying to accomplish.

On the other hand, this could be construed as a conflict of interest.

[XenaLee]

I posted this in another thread about Trump's tweeting...

Folks,  there is a method to the madness as to what's is going on in the Twitter world, especially when it comes to these so called, childish tweets about Arnold.

Like it or not ( and the ethics of the issue aside), Trump is still the show’s executive producer, every time he mentions Arnold and the show, he stokes curiosity and people will likely tune in to see what’s going on.

This tweets will hike the interest in the Apprentice and the audience should grow. It is free advertisement.

My conclusion is --- This Twitter “feud” (Note the quotes)  will continue. Arnold himself is playing along. Never underestimate the power of PR.

Uh...pardon me for saying this...but....if that is true...

wouldn't that make it 'even worse'?  (fake, phony, all for show, Kabuki, etc.)

America needs a CIC that says what he means, means what he says and is sincere in all things.

Plus, I had some wild idea that Trump has had to divest himself of such private business affiliations due to the conflict of interest issue.  No?

[Rivergirl]

Wouldn't watch Apprentice if they sent ME a check to do so.

[mountaineer]

Wouldn't watch Apprentice if they sent ME a check to do so.

I never watched it when DJT was the star, and am not about to start now. "Reality TV" is the pits.