Clearly Survivor producer Mark Burnett recognizes a good idea when he sees it. After witnessing the ratings success that a men vs. women gender theme brought to his Spring 2003 edition of Survivor: The Amazon, Burnett is bringing the idea back -- this time for his new NBC The Apprentice reality show.

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NBC has revealed that in the first episode of The Apprentice, Donald Trump gathers all 16 contestants into his boardroom and announces that they will be split by gender into two teams of eight. Their first mission is to come up with a name for their “corporation.” After much debate, the men choose “VERSACORP” and the women name themselves “PROTÉGÉ”.

The Apprentice will make a super-sized premiere after “Friends” on January 8 (8:30 - 10:00 PM ET). The following week it will move into its regular timeslot, Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET), beginning January 14.

“Donald Trump and I wanted to create the ultimate challenge for our 16 contestants,” said Mark Burnett, Executive Producer. “Splitting the teams by gender accentuates the strengths and weaknesses of men and women in a business environment. Does a glass ceiling still exist for women? Do men and women play by the same rules?”

The men of “VERSACORP”:

• Jason Curis,
• David Gould
• Bowie Hogg
• Kwame Jackson
• Troy McClain
• Bill Rancic
• Sam Solovey
• Nick Warnock

WOMEN: “PROTÉGÉ”:

• Heidi Bressler
• Katrina Campins
• Jessie Conners
• Kristi Frank
• Amy Henry
• Tammy Lee
• Omarosa Manigault Stallworth
• Ereka Vetrini

For more information on the sixteen contestants, click here.

The Apprentice is produced by Mark Burnett Productions in association with Trump Productions LLC. Mark Burnett and Donald Trump are executive producers. Burnett is represented by Conrad Riggs who will also serve as a producer on the project.