by David McAlpine

Last week, executive producer Mark Burnett and host Donald Trump held a conference call with reporters about the return of a regular cast on the tonight's premiere of The Apprentice on NBC.

Q. Economic times are different since the last time we saw regular people on the cast of The Apprentice, even since 2007. How has the show been changed and updated?
A. Donald Trump: It was a big hit, but it was in a different world, times were booming, but now times aren't booming. So many people want to see this show reflective of the current time. These are people who went to the best schools and have no jobs, people who had good jobs and now don't have a job. These people were high flyers.
A. Mark Burnett: There's one person who has a Masters in Engineering, worked as a mechanical engineer and is now a tow truck driver. Another woman went to Stanford, was a cancer researcher, then her funding fell through and now she's taking care of her grandmother. The point of this Apprentice is fighting back. Many people lost their jobs but these people want to fight back. go on television and prove themselves. One person gets the job with Donald Trump, but the rest get to show that they're worthy, use the show to market themselves.

Q. We're used to seeing the show have these lavish rewards and the show is still promising great rewards. With the change in economic times, what kind of rewards will be offered?
A. Mark Burnett: Every week, the winning Project Manager's reward is to meet with a big industry titan in different industries in different areas. It's like a motivational speech from winners to give these people a chance. It's amazing to see how they come out of these rewards so energized. Even though this is a TV show and they were doing a task, we got so many comments from the contestants about how great it feels to be back at work again. Of course they're not really at work, but the feeling and energy of being back at work gave them a sense of hope.

Q. Given what American are faced with in the current situation, how will this give viewers more faith in corporate America?
A. Donald Trump: I think that's what we're trying to portray here. I'm not a big fan of the way the country is being run and I think that'll come through, and we discuss that. We discuss politics and other countries ripping us off. I think it's the fait that we're going to end up changing this country that really shows through.

Q. How can you relate to being given a second chance?
A. Donald Trump: In the early '90s, I was billions of dollars in debt. I was in serious trouble, but it came to a point where my company is stronger than it would have ever been had I not made those risks. I talk about second chances because I can relate to that. These people have to come back, they're not in a good position right now. In the past, the contestants were high flyers and they wanted to reach higher places, but these guys are down and out and they have to come back.
A. Mark Burnett: It's one of the reasons I chose to move to America. Second chances are really what Trump stands for and what America stands for.

Catch the premiere of The Apprentice tonight at 9/8c on NBC!

(Image courtesy of NBC)

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