KOTB:
All...
HODA KOTB, co-host:
Oh, I'm sorry! Oh!
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, co-host:
We're back with more of TODAY, and that's
Star Jones
rocking it during the
season premiere
of "
The Celebrity Apprentice
."
KOTB:
Yeah. But the lawyer and
TV personality
still has a rough road ahead. Hello, Star.
Ms. STAR JONES:
I'm glad to see you. It's good to be here.
GIFFORD:
Yeah, but right now you're on top, right?
Ms. JONES:
Yes. One task down, a whole heck of a lot to go if you're lucky is the best way to put it.
GIFFORD:
That's right
.
KOTB:
Well, you were -- you're the
project manager
. You were in charge of all the ladies.
Ms. JONES:
I was the
project manager
of
Team ASAP
for the very first episode.
GIFFORD:
And you smeared the guys, right?
KOTB:
It was a wipeout.
Ms. JONES:
Yeah. Well, you know what? You -- it's very difficult to decide who wants to be the first
project manager
...
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
...because that means you could be the first one fired.
GIFFORD:
Right.
KOTB:
Right.
Ms. JONES:
But I always have known that the first episode is about a sales task.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
That's what
"Apprentice" does the first thing.
GIFFORD:
Always, huh?
Ms. JONES:
Always.
And I
looked over all the seasons. So if the first episode is a sales task and it's going to be in and around
New York
, I know my resources are in
New York
. So that's the time to be the
project manager
.
KOTB:
OK. Do you know the homework she's done? Look at the homework this woman's done.
GIFFORD:
But see, you went in there to win this thing, didn't you?
Ms. JONES:
I -- you know what?
GIFFORD:
But that's your nature.
Ms. JONES:
My legal training, that's who I am.
GIFFORD:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
You've known me a very long time.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
I am. I'm supposed to put a whole plan together. I was strategic.
GIFFORD:
She thinks things through,
Hoda
.
KOTB:
Well, let me tell you, we had
NeNe
on the show and she trashed you.
Ms. JONES:
I saw it. I said, look at girlfriends allowing someone to get on national television and trash me. I thought to myself, I'm going to tell those girls.
KOTB:
OK.
GIFFORD:
You can't control a woman like
NeNe
, you know that.
Ms. JONES:
Well, yeah, I actually do.
GIFFORD:
And you're a lawyer and you know that there's such a thing as free speech.
KOTB:
Now, do your guys really have a battle on the show?
Ms. JONES:
There's a moment that, in my opinion, is pretty embarrassing, because I just can't imagine a woman behaving that way in public. But, you know, things have changed. I wrote an article for
UPTOWN Magazine
this month on shame.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
People are allowed to say and do what they want to and they get covers in magazines as a result of it.
GIFFORD:
I miss shame personally.
Ms. JONES:
Yeah, I do, too. I think it just packed its bag and left, you know.
GIFFORD:
I practice guilt. I miss all those wonderful old things, sin. I miss all that stuff.
KOTB:
The funny thing about this whole episode of "
The Celebrity Apprentice
" is it's -- they're selling it as good crazy. Like everyone on the show they're portraying as a little bit nuts.
Ms. JONES:
I'm not nuts. I mean, I'm -- I am the bossiest person...
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
...you will ever see on
TV
. I am bossy. Do you know that they didn't show this, I actually organized the team. The first thing I did when they put me as
project manager
, I assessed strengths and weaknesses. I had a whole flow chart in our war room. I said, 'These are the 12 things that we're going to need to implore during this season. So tell me which category do you fit in. Do you fund-raise? Do you public speak?'
KOTB:
Oh, you did all that?
Ms. JONES:
'Do you have graphic design experience?'
GIFFORD:
It makes great sense.
Ms. JONES:
'Do you know how to use the computer? Are you good with money?' That's why
Dionne
was actually on the cash register. She said she was good with money.
KOTB:
She was good.
GIFFORD:
All that. They should have shown that. That's fascinating.
Ms. JONES:
I did that stuff the very first thing.
KOTB:
Well, how about
David Cassidy
getting the boot on the first show? He's out, that's it.
Ms. JONES:
I know.
KOTB:
What did you think?
Ms. JONES:
But you know, I never saw what the men were doing.
KOTB:
Oh.
Ms. JONES:
Because we were separated.
GIFFORD:
You were so busy, yeah.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
And I
just thought to myself, I'm -- I have to remember the whole time, I represent 82 million people with
heart disease
.
KOTB:
That's your charity.
Ms. JONES:
That's my charity, the
American Heart Association
.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
And $170,000 went to the
American Heart Association
from the show. And then on premiere night, we had a fund-raising party and we doubled it, another $170,000.
KOTB:
Good girl.
Good for you
.
GIFFORD:
So that's your incentive.
Ms. JONES:
Almost $350,000 went to the
American Heart Association
.
KOTB:
Amazing. That's terrific.
Ms. JONES:
So for me, I count it a win.
KOTB:
Good for you
.
GIFFORD:
Yeah, of course.
KOTB:
Star
, good luck with the show.
GIFFORD:
And it's been a year since your...
Ms. JONES:
One year next week.
GIFFORD:
Oh, sweet.
Ms. JONES:
Since they sort of cracked -- well, not sort of cracked my chest.
GIFFORD:
You know what, it works nicely, though, with your cleavage.
KOTB:
Cleavage.
GIFFORD:
You know, it really does, sweetie.
Ms. JONES:
It's an anchor, my sister.
KOTB:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
And it anchors me down...
GIFFORD:
Yeah.
Ms. JONES:
...and it makes me want to pay it forward. That's why I did the show.
KOTB:
Good girl.
GIFFORD:
Well, it's great to see you,
Star
.
KOTB:
Thanks, Star. Thanks for coming to see you.
GIFFORD:
We'll beat up on
NeNe
next time she's here, OK?
Ms. JONES:
I love you.
KOTB:
Don't worry.
GIFFORD:
All right, hon. Good to see you.
KOTB:
All right. And you can catch "
The Celebrity Apprentice
" Sunday nights at 9, 8
Central
, right here on
NBC
.
