Mark Burnett, executive producer of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” described the late Joan Rivers as “the best example of an American.”
“Joan Rivers busted her ass for other people, feeding people in New York City and we were with her,” Burnett recounted Friday during the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena.
The comedian and “Apprentice” winner returns as a guest judge in Monday’s episode. This season finished filming last spring before Rivers, 81, died after complications arising from a routine throat procedure, TheWrap previously reported.
“Real Housewives” star Kenya Moore appeared awed when talking about Rivers.
“She was quite amazing actually. She’s a little powerhouse of a woman. She was so big in heart, and she made us all feel welcome,” Moore said. “It was a great inspiration to have her on set.”
Show host and executive producer Donald Trump talked about Rivers’ tenacity.
“She had more strength and brainpower… I’ll never forget… we had athletes, a baseball player, a wrestler and an MMA guy, and they were exhausted,” Trump said. “But she was amazing and that’s why she came back as a judge.”
Recalling Rivers brought back fond memories for journalist Geraldo Rivera. They reunited on “Apprentice.”
“Joan and I worked in the daytime talk show business for 60 years,” said Rivera. “It was wonderful to be reunited with her,” he said about seeing her on the episode airing Monday. He continued, “To have her life snubbed out like that by a gross and utter negligence, it was appalling and upsetting,” Rivera said.
“Celebrity Apprentice” will air Monday at 8 p.m. Rivers will appear in the first episode.