Just as I suspected would happen, President-Elect Donald Trump took to twitter to brag about his Apprentice ratings.
“Wow, the ratings are in,” he tweeted, “and Arnold Schwarzenegger got “swamped” (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine DJT. So much for…being a movie star-and that was season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1. But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary”
Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got “swamped” (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT. So much for….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017
being a movie star-and that was season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1. But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017
The ratings for the The New Celebrity Apprentice premiere, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which aired Sunday Jan 2, were markedly down from the Trump-helmed premiere in 2015.
The New Celebrity Apprentice premiered to a 1.3 in the 18-49 demo on NBC, well below The Voice’s fall average. The Voice dip was expected. However, the numbers were about one point below the premiere of the previous Trump-helmed Apprentice–about a 35% drop.
You’d think a guy who was 14 days away from becoming one of the most powerful people in the world would have better things to do than obsess over Nielsen ratings. You would be wrong.
Also, Trump has a producer’s credit on Apprentice. If they make money, he makes money. He should be supporting the show, rather than trashing it. Trump’s ego supersedes his business interests, which is scary to contemplate considering he’s about to become President of the United States.
Additionally, Trump hosted the Apprentice for 14 seasons, of which the last few were considerably lower rated than the first years. In the end, that show was in no way a “ratings machine.” Furthermore, comparing ratings from fourteen years ago to now is useless. Broadcast ratings have been on a continual slide since the 80s.
UPDATE: Schwarzenegger has responded: “There’s nothing more important than the people’s work…I wish you the best of luck and I hope you’ll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings.” The shade is strong!
I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings.
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) January 6, 2017
And then Arnold quoted his “hero” Abraham Lincoln and then ended by saying, “We are not enemies…we are all Americans.”
Please study this quote from Lincoln's inaugural, @realDonaldTrump. It inspired me every day I was Governor, and I hope it inspires you. pic.twitter.com/QRoOFTZfQ9
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) January 6, 2017
