Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Stewart to star in new ‘Apprentice ’ By DERRIK J. LANG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Martha Stewart, you’re hired. The masterminds behind “The Apprentice” — Donald Trump and Mark Burnett — and NBC announced Wednesday that Stewart will host “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.” “Mark and I have always admired her,” Trump said. “She’s a very brave woman. She’s built a multimillion-dollar empire. It was an easy decision. We think this will be an absolutely tremendous success.” Burnett didn’t reveal many details about the new version of the business-themed reality show, such as whether there will be a boardroom or when the show would begin taping. But Stewart’s take on “Apprentice” should be distinct, Burnett said. “Martha has her own empire, which has a different look and feel,” he said. Her show will film in either New York or Connecticut, where the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. empire is located. Sixteen to 18 contestants will vie for a one year job with her company and $250,000 salary. Casting has already begun. Producers just before the price plunged. Stewart began serving her five-month sentence in October, and is scheduled for release in early March from a prison in Alderson, W.Va. “Since the last four months, Martha’s been incarcerated and has given no input,” said Burnett. Wednesday’s announcement means Stewart will have two shows. On Dec. 8 it was announced that she will revive her daily homemaking show next September, this time with a live audience, celebrity guests and with Burnett’s help. Filming on her “Apprentice” could begin as early as March when Stewart goes from prison to house arrest. Under her probation, she’ll be allowed to work outside of her home, which Burnett said may include shooting the show. Other moguls have attempted to walk in Trump’s reality TV show shoes - such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Virgin owner Richard Branson, who starred in “Apprentice”-like shows. But both garnered low ratings. Trump, who will stay in the boardroom for “Apprentice” seasons four and five, is ready to guide Stewart to success. “With Branson and Cuban, I wanted them to fail,” said Trump. “Fortunately, they did. Martha and I are teammates.” But just how far will the team mentality go? Will Trump appear on her show or vice versa? Maybe, he said. And will Stewart recite Trump’s infamous phrase “you’re fired” before eliminating contestants? “She’s probably going to use a different expression,” said Trump. currently seeKing applicants for the fourth edition of Trump’s “Apprentice” will also search for Martha wannabes. And a graphic with Stewart’s face touting “Apply now to be Martha Stewart’s Apprentice!” has already sprung up on NBC’s Web site. Since Stewart is not allowed to conduct business while in prison, Burnett made it clear his deal with Stewart was completed before the domestic mogul entered prison although he’s made monthly visits to her. She was convicted last year of lying about why she unloaded shares of ImClone Systems Inc. stock in 2001, I_M_;_ 'mawmmmk__| GREGORY BULL/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Martha Stewart will host “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," a version of Donald Trump’s business-themed reality TV show. She will begin taping when she is released from prison. ■ PREP Continued from page 5 few of her close friends throughout her high-school career and gains more notoriety with the rest of the campus through a school-wide game at which she excels. This book is a collection of seemingly everyday instances in Lee Fiora’s high school career. To anyone who has been through high school, these funny, sexy, embarrassing and sentimental moments will seem very familiar. The stories are so realistic because Sittenfield actually lived it. A graduate of Groton School, Sittenfield went through the entire boarding school experience herself. While Ault School is fictional, it has been closely modeled after Groton School. Sittenfield maintained in a news release, however, that Lee’s story is not her own autobiography — it is a fictional story, but one which any teenager or former teenager can sympathize with. On the outside, this book could be viewed as a superficial tale of high-school angst, but Lee makes extremely profound realizations that give this story the depth to put it in the same category of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” “The interest I felt in certain guys then confused me, because it wasn’t romantic, but I wasn’t sure what else it might be. But now I know: 1 wanted to take up people’s time making jokes, to tease the dean in front of the entire school, to call him by a nickname. What I wanted was to be a cocky high-school boy, so damned sure of my place in the world.” I I »■'"(.. -4*tr -*•—**--*■' “Arular” M.IA(XL) Meet Maya Arul, the perfect pop star. “How can this be?” you might ask. “The perfect pop star and not a mention on E! or a single on my local corporate pop-music station?” Admittedly, to call M.I.A. a pop star, nevertheless a perfect one, is to implicate her in a whole mess of connotations American mass media has given the term, but it’s an astonishing proposition that M.IA exists outside this structure and still carries the potential to unite nations on a single colossal dance-floor. An attempt to force M.IA into a sole music genre is an exercise in futility. As the daughter of a Sri Lankan political refugee, M.IA spent equal time in Sri Lanka, India and England during a tumultuous childhood. This nomadic existence is no doubt the root of M.IA’s music, which is equal parts hip-hop, reggae, punk and southeast Asian. Such a wonderful collision of seemingly dissimilar influences is the basis for M.IA’s potential for ruling the world — that is, if she chooses to. And thanks to the guerilla marketing tactics of releasing the ironically titled “Piracy Funds Terrorism” limited mix-tape in early 2004, M.IA’s reputation precedes her, and there’s already a substantial amount of buzz built up around “Arular” before it even hits the streets. “Galang” is the album’s single and has been in the crate of any DJ who is in the know for almost a year now. The song convulses with raw dub reggae beats and M.I.A.’s sultry vocal flow. While the beats and sampling here are certainly top notch — especially on “Bucky Done Gun” with its booty bass and trumpet blasts that are like Gabriel signaling dance-floor Armageddon — it is M.IA. herself that shines the brightest and carries “Arular” clear into album-of-the-year territory, even though it’s only February. Her brash boasting and unabashed sexuality are qualities Britney Spears or Gwen Stefani can only wish for — traits earned, not manufactured in a corporate boardroom. If there is any justice in this world, M.I.A.’s “Arular” will make pop music more organic, lead world music out of the Coffee shops and into the streets, and unite indie and mainstream as only a classic album can. By JORDAN REDMOND THE GAMECOCK New Movie Releases “THE WEDDING DATE” §1 “BOOGEYMAN” M comments on tens story f ts-man gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu I GAMECOCK CLASSIFIEDS If this is the best that you can come up with... Send your sweetheart a _ _ _ ___________ 1 don t lhink ,liere is any way for mo to show you how much I really love you. Youmake myworlilgo *»«*SV'W<I ’round. You make me whole. I love you so much! love, C.D. Deadline: Fehruary nth at 12 noon Call: 777-3888, E-mail: sholmes@gwm.sc.edu or Come by Student Media, Russell House Rm. 343 All Ads Must Be Prepaid!