Donald Trump Quits "The Apprentice"

The man who has turned "You're Fired" into a cultural catch phrase has quit NBC's "The Apprentice." According to CNN, Donald Trump, billionaire, real estate mogul reality television star and thorn in Rosie O'Donnell's side has quit his once popular reality show amid rumors that NBC planned to cancel the show.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that "The Apprentice" would not be renewed, and the rumors seemed to be true when NBC released its fall TV schedule. "The Apprentice" was noticeably absent, further fueling rumors that Donald Trump's days as a reality television star were over.

The show, which debuted during the reality show glut of 2004, once drew 21 million viewers. "The Apprentice" turned Donald Trump into a cultural icon. A failed attempt to branch out by bringing a Martha Stewart hosted show in addition to Trump's original may have hurt the ratings, which have dropped steadily. Trump publicly accused Martha Stewart of tarnishing the brand when his ratings began to plummet after the two shows were aired in the same season.

"The Apprentice" pitted young business people against each other as they competed for a slot in one of Trump's many business ventures. Challenges included ad campaigns for Pepsi and McDonald's, and some of the shows alumni have gone on to become stars in their own right, pitching products and serving as hosts and celebrity spoke people. The show has been successfully syndicated in other countries, and many countries have produced their own versions as well.