'Celebrity Apprentice' begins with a 1st firing

[March 15, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Writer-comedian Carol Leifer (LEEF'-ur) is the first person to go as NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" starts a new season.

Leifer called her fellow female teammates "dumb" on Sunday's premiere. She was deemed the weak link in their initial project: to make more money from a startup diner than their rival team of seven men.

Rock-star wife Sharon Osbourne, singer Cyndi Lauper and actress Holly Robinson Peete are among the women. Next week they face another challenge against a men's team including baseball great Darryl Strawberry, comedian Sinbad and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich).

The celebrities play for their favorite charities. But they can meet swift ends in the boardroom with the words "you're fired" from "Apprentice" boss Donald Trump.

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On the Net:

Celebrity Apprentice:
http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/

[Associated Press]

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