A Rosie Outlook for “The Apprentice”?

TCA Press Tour Notes:

Hold on to your wig- or your comb-over in this case - not only has NBC decided to resurrect Donald Trump’s “yooge” reality competition “The Apprentice” for midseason 2008 in a “celebrity edition” but this morning shiny, new NBC entertainment co-chairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff half-joked that they would “love” to have Trump’s sworn enemy Rosie O’Donnell compete for her favorite charity. (All the yet-to-be-cast celebs will be playing for their favorite organization, presumably not needing a job with the Donald). Undoubtedly Rosie will be responding on her blog momentarily.

That was just one of several announcements Silverman and Graboff made at their presentation at TCA’s summer press tour.

Other news:

We Can Rebuild Him
Isaiah Washington’s recent “I Was Wronged” media tour accusing fellow “Grey’s Anatomy” cast members, crew and ABC of racism and lying among other sins has not hindered his stock in Hollywood. NBC has hired him to play a recurring character in five of the first six episodes of its upcoming remake of “The Bionic Woman.”

Why? According to Silverman, “He’s a wonderful actor and a great performer and he became available.” (Which got a nice big laugh). According to the press release Washington will play a “mysterious person” who plays a role in the “enigmatic organization” that creates the bionics that helps Jamie Sommers get her crime fighting on. The network is also developing an action series, potentially for the 2008-2009 season, based on Washington’s own concept.

Buzz!
Jerry Seinfeld will return to the Thursday night comedy line-up… for one night. The comic, who you may recall made NBC a little bit of scratch back in the 90’s, will appear on the season premiere of “30 Rock” on October 4 at 8:30 as himself. (The show will also pimp his upcoming animated film “The Bee.” Not to be confused with NBC’s “The Singing Bee.”)

Good News, Bad News
Good News: Ben Silverman personally persuaded sitcom god Norman Lear (“All the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” and my short-lived fave “The Hot L Baltimore”) to oversee the development of a new “battle of the sexes” one hour comedy. Bad News: Silverman was originally discussing a reality show idea with Lear. It’s a bummer to think that a whipsmart tv titan like Lear was thinking about reality tv, no?

Mindfreak and Spoon Bender
Criss Angel and Uri Geller are teaming up for a reality show searching for the “next great mindblower” called “Phenomenon,” based on an Israeli show called “Successor.”

"Friday Night Lights" Brought To You By "Your Company Here"
Buck up fellow "Lights"-fans (Light-ies? Light-ers?) Silverman says he's behind the show, it's relatively inexpensive to produce and NBC is in discussions with corporations (cars, soft drinks) to do product placement which will make it even more attractive to advertisers. So don't complain when Coach and Mrs. Coach start extolling the virtues of Pampers. Just be happy the "Lights" are still on.

SARAH RODMAN