LOS ANGELES — The Donald is returning to the place where he first staked his claim as a TV personality.

NBC has announced a premiere date for its "Celebrity Apprentice." The seventh edition of the show, which will feature 14 reasonably famous people vying to raise money for their favorite charities, is slated to premiere Jan. 3.

The scheduling of the show on Thursdays is a major hedge against a prolonged writers' strike. "Celebrity Apprentice" will slide into the hour now occupied by "The Office," which has exhausted its supply of new episodes for now, and "Scrubs," which has six completed episodes yet to air — hardly enough to fill out the rest of the season.

Fourteen celebs — including Vincent Pastore, Marilu Henner and Gene Simmons — will compete in business-related tasks while raising money for nonprofit groups. The winner will get to present a $250,000 check to their chosen organization.

LOS ANGELES — As freedom fighter/recently revealed Cylon Sam Anders on "Battlestar Galactica," Michael Trucco hasn't had too many laugh-out-loud moments. Nonetheless, NBC and Conan O'Brien think he has the chops to lead a comedy pilot.Trucco has taken the lead role in "Man of Your Dreams," a pilot about a cad who puts his skills to use in helping women find romance. His signing lifts a cast contingency from the project."Man of Your Dreams" comes from writer Jay Lacopo and O'Brien's production company, Conaco. The two will serve as executive producers with Jeff Ross and David Kissinger. The pilot is slated to go into production soon after the writers' strike ends, whenever that may be. In the meantime Trucco will continue working on the final season of "Battlestar Galactica," which is scheduled to premiere in April.Trucco has guest-starred on "Joey" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."