Lock up your ad agency – The Apprentice is coming to Australia
Nine has kicked off its contestant recruitment campaign for what it hopes will turn Mark Bouris into the next Donald Trump.
Bouris, the founder of Wizard Finance will front the Australian edition of The Apprentice. The network has launched a website seeking competitors and this week begun an on air push.
The series has been massive for NBC in the US with billionnaire Donald Trump fronting the programme. A BBC version in the UK, featuring tycoon Alan Sugar has been similarly succesful.
In the programme, a group of would-be entrepeneurs compete for the prize of a job – in this case a six figure salary with Bouris’ company.
With the casting call only just beginning, The Apprentice is some months way from airing. If it follows the pattern fo the UK and US shows, filming will take place over several weeks.
And if it follows the same format as its predecessors, Australia’s advertising agencies can expect a phone call from the makers quite soon. Virtually every series has featured a challenge for the competitors to create ads – generally with hilariously bad results:
Meanwhile, Nine also confirmed this week that it is about to start shooting Underbelly 3.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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As Sir Alan said himself:
“I’ve written books on advertising … cheque books”
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Sugar
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I could not think of anything more boring…we’ve had plenty of seasons of Trump, Sir Alan Sugar as well as Branson’s slant and take of the show..why is Nine making an Australian version years after the popularity has wained?
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Who doesn’t want to sit around drooling over the sexiest silver fox in Australian business history? Any excuse to put Mark Bouris on TV is a good excuse as far as I’m concerned.
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Hi Cash,
I’m really looking forward to it. It really could work, but like all of these reality formats, it’s going to depend on the casting of the contestants. A blend of likeable idiots, hateable idiots and one or two normal people would seem to be about right…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
I am jaded with most TV because the “reality” format is so done to death. I admit I did not mind any of the Apprentice/similar shows but I can see Nine doing a celebrity one at some stage. The reason that the US one was popular is that being in New York and having Trump’s influence in getting companies to be involved made the difference….Australia is a very different place and just wonder how hokey it will be or if it can be a diamond in the rough.
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Reality is dead, long live reality. The reason networks keep pumping out reality shows (apart from their relatively cheap cost) is that audiences keep tuning in – with SYTYCD, Biggest Loser and masterchef doing some big numbers, it ain’t dead yet.
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I actually can’t wait!
I am so sick of Vanilla Reality TV targeting similar or the same target audiences (Hello SYTYCD, Master Chef, Australian Idol ) ie almost everyone with only half a brain.
Bring on a show where contestants have brains and where there is some intellectaul stimulation for the audience.
Yes, bring it! I’ll be there with popcorn!
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SYTHYCD (US/Aus), Biggest Loser (US/Aus) and Masterchef Australia are 3 examples of poor TV. At least Australia has plenty of channels to choose which have other programs. The biggest flaw in “reality” TV is the ability to edit so much of the content so it’s not reality and even get people to reshoot scenes.
Aside from the wasteland of “reality”….Australia used to be a great place for drama, comedy..etc and now we have to copy everyone or make poor quality fodder shows. It’s good to see that the ABC gets in the top 10 ratings often for more original programming.
Britain and The BBC was the same as they were pioneers in so many shows and now they have to copy the states and vice versa.
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australian top gear 2 anyone? the apprentice works cos of trump and not much else. not sure this format would work in AU when the apprentice hasn’t.
mark bouris is generally known to joe public as that likeable, albeit excessively tanned handsome mature guy from the wizard ads who used to try and sell them a home loan they probably now regret.
they wouldn’t view him as a relentless, rude business tycoon
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I’ll be applying for the Apprentice and, if I was a good cook, I’d be applying for Master Chef too. Not all reality TV is shonky. A lot of it rates better (because it makes for better viewing) than the rubbish TV series that are on.
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Go for some fresh content, set them a PR challenge instead! That will sort out the men from the boys.
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Good on you, Mark Bouris! You will be fabulous on TV.
It is the right time to set a great example for the business population in Australia.
It would be wonderful to see a fresh approach, to business, yes! Testing people is good, but also to incorporate and foster health in the population, raising awareness in an intelligent way.
Yes looking at Alan Sugar versions, it is too negative, too pressurous, That would not motivate the individual business to follow those foot steps, to create a better environment.. It is time to adopt to a win/win management. so all the people can benefit from the show. not the only apprentice winner.
Steering away from the materialistic world. why not package the product 100 % health!? How to increase client health education in the country so we reduce the retirement bill later on..? And gather the ideas to then present to the government?
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30 something? Unattractive? Worked overseas at some point? Don’t really care about anyone else? Designer clothing on your list of ‘the important things in life?’ YOU’RE HIRED!
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