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Biography
about||the actress|Jean Simmons|the rockabilly singer|Jumpin' Gene SimmonsMultiple issues| BLP sources = August 2011| primary sources = August 2011Infobox musical artist| name = Gene Simmons| image = Gene Simmons - Azkena Rock Festival 2010 6.jpg| caption = Gene Simmons on stage with Kiss, 2010| birth_name = Chaim Weitz (IPAc-en|icon|'|x|??|j|?|m; ?he| ???? ??? )| alias = "The Demon"| Born = Birth date and age|1949|8|25 Tirat HaCarmel , Israel| occupation = Musician, songwriter, producer, actor, entrepreneur| genre = Heavy metal music|Heavy metal , hard rock | instrument = Bass, vocals, guitar, piano| associated_acts = Kiss (band)|Kiss , Wicked Lester | years_active = 1960–present| website = URL| http://www.genesimmons.com| notable_instruments = Cort Guitars|Cort Signature GS-1 Spector|Gene Simmons Signature model | background=solo_singer Gene Simmons (born Chaim Weitz he|???? ???; August 25, 1949) is an Israeli-American Rock music|rock bassist , singer-songwriter , entrepreneur and actor . Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/co-vocalist of Kiss (band)|Kiss , a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s. Kiss has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
Biography
Early life
Chaim Witz (later Gene Simmons) was born at the Rambam Health Care Campus|Rambam Hospital in Haifa , Israel in 1949. Mother and child emigrated to Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City when he was eight years old. http://www.genesimmons.com/bio2.html Biography. GeneSimmons.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. His mother Flóra "Florence" Klein (formerly Kovács) was born in Jánd , Hungary. The German name Klein (means: small) is sometimes used informally in Hungarian as Kiss , that gave the rock band's name. http://boards.aetv.com/topic/Meet-The-Simmons/Gene-Honors-His/700001881 Message Board – AETV Community – Real Life. Drama. Boards.aetv.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. Florence and her brother, Larry Klein, were the only members of the family to survive the Holocaust . Simmons' father, Feri Witz, also Hungarian-born, remained in Israel, where he had one other son and three daughters. Simmons says the family was "dirt poor," scraping by on bread and milk.cite web|last=Associated |first=The |url= http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/lead-singer-of-kiss-gene-simmons-slams-israel-boycotters-1.351197 |title=Lead singer of Kiss Gene Simmons slams Israel boycotters |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=March 22, 2011 |accessdate=August 10, 2011 In the United States, Simmons changed his name to Eugene Klein (later Gene Klein), adopting his mother's maiden name. He attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as a child, from 7& nbsp;am to 9:30 pm Kiss and Make-Up (Simmons' autobiography)
Kiss
Simmons became involved with his first band, Lynx, then renamed The Missing Links, when he was a teenager. Eventually, he disbanded The Missing Links to form The Long Island Sound s, the name being a play on words relating to the estuary separating Long Island, New York|Long Island from Westchester County, New York , Connecticut and Rhode Island . While he played in these bands, he kept up odd jobs on the side to make more money, including trading used comic books. Simmons attended Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, New York|Loch Sheldrake , New York. He then joined a new band, Bullfrog Bheer, and the band recorded a demo, "Leeta"; this was later included on the Kiss box set.
Simmons formed the rock band Wicked Lester in the early 1970s with Stanley Harvey Eisen (now known as Paul Stanley ) and recorded one album, which was never released. Dissatisfied with Wicked Lester's sound and look, Simmons and Stanley attempted to fire their band members; they were met with resistance, and they quit Wicked Lester, walking away from their record deal with Epic Records . They decided to form the ultimate rock band, and started looking for a drummer. Simmons and Stanley found an ad placed by Peter Criscoula, known as Peter Criss , who was playing clubs in Brooklyn at the time; they joined and started out as a trio. Paul Frehley, better known as Ace Frehley , responded to an ad they put in The Village Voice for a lead guitar player, and soon joined them. Kiss (band)|Kiss released its self-titled debut album in February 1974. Stanley took on the role of lead performer on stage, while Simmons became the driving force behind what became an extensive Kiss merchandising exclusive right|franchise . The eye section of his "Vampire" makeup with KISS came from the wing design of comic book character Black Bolt . http://www.livedash.com/transcript/gene_simmons_family_jewels-(under_the_knife_)/6120/AETVP/Wednesday_November_3_2010/328010/ Gene Simmons Family Jewels – Under the Knife? – Wednesday, Nov 3, 2010 – mReplay Livedash TV Transcript – Livedash – Search what is being mentioned across national TV. Livedash. Retrieved on February 1, 2011.
In 1983, while Kiss' fame was waning, the members took off their trademark make-up and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity that continued into the 1990s. The band hosted their own fan conventions throughout 1995, and fan feedback about the original Kiss members reunion influenced the highly successful 1996–1997 Alive Worldwide reunion tour. In 1998, the band released Psycho Circus . Since then, the original line-up has once again dissolved, with Tommy Thayer replacing Ace Frehley on lead guitar and Eric Singer (who performed with Kiss from 1992 up through 1996) replacing Peter Criss on drums.
Stage makeup and persona
During an interview in 1999, Simmons was asked about the source and significance of Kiss' stage makeup and personas: quote|I've always been a fan of Americana , and Americana has always been about imagery, often above content. I think there's nothing wrong with that. The world worships this culture. Most people only think about America in terms of rock & roll, movies and television. Kiss is very all-American, in the sense that our constituency has never had anything in common with critics . . . because our power, our lifeblood, our very reason for existence is our fans. Without them, we'd be nothing.
Rock & roll is, in fact, all about gimmicks. Most people love gimmicks. I love gimmicks — Jerry Lee Lewis getting up and playing the piano with his foot. I love all of it — anything that puts on a show, where the performer makes a spectacle of himself — and that's everything we've ever been devoted to. If people think of Kiss as performers first and musicians or anything else later, that's wonderful. It's the most boring thing to be known as a musician, because those guys eventually wind up playing Holiday Inns. The Illustrated Portraits: Rolling Stone , Rolling Stone Press (2000) p. 214
Political views
Simmons was a supporter of the foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration . http://www.genesimmons.com/news/082004.html News. GeneSimmons.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. He supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq , writing on his website: "I'm ashamed to be surrounded by people calling themselves liberal who are, in my opinion, spitting on the graves of brave American soldiers who gave their life to fight a war that wasn't theirs...in a country they've never been to... simply to liberate the people therein". http://www.genesimmons.com/news/042003.html News. GeneSimmons.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. In a follow-up, Simmons explained his position and wrote about his love and support for the United States: "I wasn't born here. But I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away... and rescued my mother from the Nazi German concentration camps. She is alive and I am alive because of America. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me".
During the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Lebanon , Simmons sent a televised message of support (in both English and Hebrew) to an Israeli soldier seriously wounded in fighting in Lebanon, calling him his "hero".cite news|title=Gene Simmons hails Israeli soldier|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/26/AR2006082600502.html|agency=Associated Press|date=August 26, 2006|accessdate=May 12, 2010|work=The Washington Post
In 2010, Simmons said he regretted voting for Barack Obama and criticized the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|2009 health care reforms .citenews|url= http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1012/gene_simmons_knocks_obama.html|work= The Politico |first=Patrick|last=Gavin|accessdate=December 6, 2010|date=December 6, 2010|title=Gene Simmons Knocks President Obama Following Obama's 2011 Mideast speech, in which the President called on Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate a settlement "based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps," http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/19/remarks-president-middle-east-and-north-africa Remarks by the President on the Middle East and North Africa, Barack Obama, The White House , May 19, 2011 Simmons told CNBC that Obama was gravely misguided. "If you have never been to the moon, you can't issue policy about the moon. For the president to be sitting in Washington D.C. and saying, 'Go back to your '67 borders in Israel' – how about you live there and try to defend an indefensible border – nine miles wide? " Simmons also accused the United Nations of being "the most pathetic body on the face of the earth."cite news|last=Ben Gedalyahu|first=Tzvi|title=Video of Rock Star Gene Simmons: Obama Doesn’t Have a Clue|url= http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/144384|accessdate=June 1, 2011|newspaper= Arutz Sheva!Israel National News |date=May 22, 2011
During his visit to Israel in 2011, he stated that the artists refusing to perform in Israel for political reasons are "stupid," referring to artists who canceled planned concerts in Israel.cite news|title=?'?? ??????: "??????? ?????? ????? – ??????"|url= http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4046360,00.html|agency=YNet|date=March 23, 2011|accessdate=March 23, 2011
Personal life
He became a science fiction fan and published several science fiction fanzines , among them Sirruish , Id , Cosmos (which eventually merged with Stilletto to become Cosmos-Stilletto and then Faun ), Tinderbox , Sci-Fi Showcase , Mantis and Adventure . He also contributed to other fanzines, among them BeABohema . http://www/genesimmons.com/news/102008.html "Gene Simmons: 60's Fanzine Publisher", October 2008
In the late 1960s, he changed his name to Gene Simmons, after legendary rockabilly performer Jumpin' Gene Simmons .cite news| title = Tongues were wagging as KISS star Gene Simmons visited Memphis| first = Michael| last = Lollar| url = http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jun/14/kiss-star-gets-ducky-during-02/| publisher=Memphis Commercial Appeal| date = June 14, 2009| accessdate =June 14, 2009 Simmons' legal name after arriving from Israel is Gene Klein .
Simmons lived in Beverly Hills, California with former Playboy Playmate and actress Shannon Tweed for 28 years. He often joked that he and Tweed were "happily unmarried" for over 20 years. He often stated, "Marriage is an institution, and I don't want to live in an institution." Simmons and Tweed finally wed on October 1, 2011, at the historic Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills , California.cite web|url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20533363,00.html|title=Gene Simmons is married|publisher=The People|dateOctober 1, 2011|accessdate=October 2, 2011cite web|url= http://wonderwall.msn.com/entertainment/gene-simmons-and-longtime-girlfriend-marry-1644963.story|title=Gene Simmons and long term girlfriend marry|publisher=MSN - Wonderwall|dateOctober 1, 2011|accessdate=October 2, 2011 They have two children: a son, Nick Simmons|Nick (born January 22, 1989), and a daughter, Sophie Alexandra (born July 7, 1992). He formerly had live-in relationship s with Cher and Diana Ross . Simmons can speak English, German, Hungarian and Hebrew.
Homecoming visit to Israel
In March 2011, Simmons visited Israel, where he was born. He described the trip as a "life changing experience". He talked about how he still feels that he is an Israeli: "I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider".cite web|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110322/ap_en_mu/ml_israel_people_gene_simmons|title=AP Interview: Simmons blasts Israel boycotters|author=Josef Federman|publisher=Yahoo! While there, Gene met his half-brother Kobi, and twin half-sisters Drora, Sharon and Ogenia.cite web|author=Late Night Rocker |url= http://kissmaskwebzine.blogspot.com/2011/03/meet-gene-simmons-brother-and-sisters.html |title=Kiss Mask Webzine: Meet Gene Simmons' Brother and Sisters |publisher=Kissmaskwebzine.blogspot.com |date=March 31, 2011 |accessdate=August 10, 2011 Simmons has plans to bring his band, Kiss (band)|KISS , to Israel. He has always said that he is an ardent supporter of Israel.cite web|last=Brinn |first=David |url= http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx? id=213425 |title=Kiss rocker Gene Simmons back in Israel after 51 years |work=Jerusalem Post |date=March 23, 2011 |accessdate=August 10, 2011 At a press conference in Israel, he spoke both Hebrew and English.youtube|FhnTbJNH0Wo|Gene Simmons in Israel / ?'?? ?????? ??????
Controversy
In February 2002, Simmons was interviewed on the National Public Radio|NPR radio show Fresh Air and asked about his claim of having had sex with 4,600 women. He told Terry Gross : "If you want to welcome me with open arms, I'm afraid you're also going to have to welcome me with open legs," paraphrasing a lyric from The Who 's 1981 hit song " You Better You Bet ". Gross replied: "That's a really obnoxious thing to say." At the time, Simmons refused to grant permission to NPR to make the interview available online.cite web|url= http://www.archive.org/details/TerryGrossInterviewWithGeneSimmons|title=Terry Gross interview with Gene Simmons|work=Internet Archive|accessdate=August 13, 2009 However, it appears in print in Gross's book All I Did Was Ask (ISBN 1-4013-0010-3) and unauthorized transcripts are available. NPR re-broadcast part of the interview in August 2007. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=14081542 The Unpredictable Gene Simmons. NPR. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. Simmons' bandmate Paul Stanley has frequently used the phrase "... welcomed us with open arms and open legs" in onstage patter during Kiss concerts.
In 2004, during an interview in Melbourne, Australia, while talking about Islamic political violence|Islamic extremists , Simmons described Islam as a "vile culture", saying that Muslim women had to walk behind their husbands, were not allowed to be educated or to own houses. He said: "They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil." Amongst ensuing criticism, Australian Muslim of the Year Susan Carland argued that Simmons' stereotyping of Muslims was inaccurate. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/14/1084289868279.html "Outrage as KISS player mouths off on Muslims". Sydney Morning Herald , May 14, 2004 Simmons later clarified his comments on his website, saying he had been talking specifically about Islamic fundamentalism|Muslim extremists .
In 2005, Simmons was sued by a former girlfriend, Georgeann Walsh Ward, who said she had been "defamed" in the VH1 documentary When Kiss Ruled the World and portrayed as an "unchaste woman". http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp? id=1131640457086 KISS Singer's Motion to Dismiss Defamation Suit Denied. Law.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. A settlement was reached in June 2006. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201436,00.html Kiss's Gene Simmons Settles Defamation Suit by Ex-Girlfriend – Music | Songs | Country | Rap. FOXNews.com (June 28, 2006). Retrieved on February 1, 2011.
In 2007, Simmons openly spoke out against music piracy, and called for file-sharers to be sued. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/others/billboard-q-a-gene-simmons-1003671447.story Billboard Q& A: Gene Simmons, 12 Nov 2007 A year later, he threatened further lawsuits, and to withhold new recordings, if file-sharing continued. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/10/gene-simmons-vs-anonymous-whos-the-bigger-asshole.ars ArsTechnica 28 Oct 2010 - Gene Simmons vs. Anonymous: Who's the bigger tool? In 2010, Anonymous (group)|Anonymous staged a DDoS on his Web site, prompting Simmons to hit back with provocative comments once he was back online.
In 2011, Kiss was removed from the lineup for Michael Jackson 's tribute concert because of Simmons' allegations and negative comments regarding Jackson's personal life and legal issues.cite web | url= http://www.upvenue.com/article/1456-kiss-added-to-michael-jackson-s-tribute-despite-controversy.html | title=KISS Added, Then Removed, From Michael Jackson Tribute | date=August 17, 2011 | accessdate=2011-08-17 | work=UpVenue
Instruments
Gene Simmons has used various bass guitars during his career including:
Axe Bass ( Kramer Guitars|Kramer , Jackson, B.C. Rich and now Cort Guitars|Cort )
Punisher Bass (B.C.Rich, now made by Cort)
Spector Gene Simmons Signature
Pedulla Basses (mainly in the 1980s and early 1990s)
Gibson Grabber (mainly in Kiss' early years)
Gibson Ripper (mainly in Kiss' early years)
Custom lebau bass (Wicked Lester, very early kiss circa 73–74)
Cort Guitars Signature GS-1 Bass
He uses Ampeg SVT CL Series amps with 8x10 cabinets. He uses Silver Herco Flex .75 Nylon Flat Guitar Picks. In 2010 Gene Simmons collaborated with Cort Guitars to make his own signature bass line called the GS-AXE-2.
Film and television career
Simmons has been the creative force behind such television projects as:
My Dad the Rock Star , a cartoon by the Canadian animation company Nelvana , about the mild mannered son of a Gene Simmons-like rock star;
Mr. Romance , a show created and hosted by Simmons on the Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen cable television channel;
Rock School , a reality show in which Simmons tries to make a rock band out of a group of students of Christ's Hospital School in the first season, and in the second, a group of kids from a comprehensive school in Lowestoft ;
Gene Simmons Family Jewels , http://www.aetv.com/gene-simmons-family-jewels/ Gene Simmons Family Jewels – A& E TV. Aetv.com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. a reality show documenting the personal lives of Simmons, Shannon Tweed|his wife , Nick Simmons|his son and daughter
On March 9, 2011, Simmons and Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley and E& #33; Entertainment announced that they have finalized a production and development deal to create an as-yet-untitled comedic half-hour kids' television series. http://www.kissonline.com/news/News/4 > News > Kissonline.com; News. Kissonline.Com. Retrieved on February 1, 2011. Simmons appeared as a psychic working at the Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice, California on the American hidden camera prank TV series I Get That a Lot .cite web|url= http://www.metrolyrics.com/2010-gene-simmons-poses-as-psychic-for-us-prank-show-news.html|title=Gene Simmons poses as psychic for US prank show|date=January 7, 2010|accessdate=January 14, 2010
Awards and recognition
On January 28, 2011, Simmons was in Dallas, Texas to host the Aces & Angels Salute to the Troops charity event. While in Dallas, Simmons was presented the key to the city in Dallas , Texas and a street, Gene Simmons Boulevard, was named for him. Simmons and Tweed also visited Ft. Hood to support the Troops as a part of the Aces & Angels event. On June 15 of the same year he was given the key to the city in Winnipeg , Manitoba.
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
Himself
Paul Stanley
Documentary
1989
Red Surf
Doc
1999
Detroit Rock City
Himself
Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley
Simmons also produced
2002
The New Guy
Reverend
2002
Wish You Were Dead
Vinny
2008
Detroit Metal City
Jack lll Dark
Japanese movie
2009
Extract cite web
Joe Adler
2010
Expecting Mary
Taylor
2010
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Himself
Documentary
Television appearances
Year
Show
Episode
Role
Bandmates
Miscellaneous
1974
The Mike Douglas Show
June 11, 1974
Himself
Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley
Kiss' first national television appearance, performed "Firehouse". During the interview segment, ironically, comedian Totie Fields , after looking at Simmons in his full Kiss makeup and costume, remarks to Douglas that underneath it all, "he's probably a nice Jewish boy."
1976
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special
October 29, 1976
Himself
Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley
Detroit Rock City " "King of the Night Time World" and " Beth (song)
Almost licked Jon Stewart's face in response to Jon being unable to explain the difference between pleasure and joy to a man with a 'twelve-inch tongue'
Performed medley of 3 songs with contestant Adam Lambert
2009
The Fairly OddParents
Wishology – Part 1: The Big Beginning "
Animated version of himself
Eric Singer , Tommy Thayer , Paul Stanley
2009
The Fairly OddParents
Wishology – Part 3: The Final Ending "
Animated version of himself
Eric Singer , Tommy Thayer , Paul Stanley
2010
I Get That a Lot
Episode 2
As Himself
Simmons appeared as a psychic working at the Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice, California
2010
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Episode 160
As Himself
The band Kiss made a personal appearance during the Wagstaff family's vacation in Disneyland and honored them as special guests at one of their concerts. Kiss also made a personal appearance at a local school where a donation of new musical instruments was made in the Wagstaff family's name.
2010
'' I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band!
Episode 1 And 5
As Himself
Discussing the requirements of being in a rock band.
2011
Castle
To Love and Die in LA
As Himself
Video appearances
In 2007, he appeared alongside other celebrities, as well as regular people, in the music video for " Rockstar (Nickelback song)|Rockstar " by Nickelback .
Video game appearances
Gene Simmons is a playable character in '' Tony Hawk's Underground , unlocked when completing the story mode on Normal difficulty, and also appears with his Kiss bandmates in the Hotter Than Hell level to play one of three songs upon collecting the four K-I-S-S letters.
Gene Simmons' Kiss character, The Demon, is a playable character in Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child . Simmons also has a large role in the 2010 music video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock . In addition to narrating the main storyline and doing advertising for the game, the Kiss song "Love Gun" is playable.
Discography
Kiss
main|Kiss discography
Solo
Gene Simmons (album)|Gene Simmons (1978)
Sex Money Kiss (audiobook CD), 2003)
Asshole (album)|Asshole (2004)
Speaking in Tongues (spoken word CD, 2004)
Publishing career
In 2002, Simmons launched ''Gene Simmons' Tongue'', a men's lifestyle magazine. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi? file=/chronicle/archive/2002/08/28/DD82104.DTL Tongue is cheeky / Kiss' Gene Simmons combines sex, showmanship in his men's magazine. Sfgate.com (August 28, 2002). Retrieved on February 1, 2011. The magazine lasted five issues before being discontinued.
Published works
Kiss and Make-Up , Gene Simmons (ISBN 0-609-81002-2)
Sex Money Kiss , Gene Simmons (ISBN 1-893224-86-4)
Kiss: The Early Years , Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (ISBN 0-609-81028-6)
Kiss: Behind the Mask , David Leaf and Ken Sharp (ISBN 0-446-96524-6)
Ladies of the Night: A Historical and Personal Perspective on the Oldest Profession in the World , Gene Simmons (ISBN 1-59777-501-0)
References
Reflist|colwidth=30em
External links
wikiquoteCommons category
Official website| http://www.genesimmons.com
IMDB name|0005430|Gene Simmons
KissThe ApprenticeThe Celebrity Apprentice Season 1 Use mdy dates|date=September 2011 Persondata | NAME = Simmons, Gene | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = August 25, 1949 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Gene Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:American entertainment industry businesspeople Category:American baritones Category:American bloggers Category:American heavy metal bass guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American male singers Category:American musicians of Hungarian descent Category:American magazine publishers (people) Category:American people of Israeli descent Category:American record producers Category:American rock bass guitarists Category:American rock singers Category:American voice actors Category:Children of Holocaust survivors Category:Israeli bloggers Category:Israeli entertainment industry businesspeople Category:Israeli heavy metal bass guitarists Category:Israeli heavy metal singers Category:Israeli emigrants to the United States Category:Israeli Jews Category:Israeli male singers Category:Israeli people of Hungarian origin Category:Israeli record producers Category:Israeli singers Category:Israeli voice actors Category:Jewish American musicians Category:Jewish singers Category:Kiss (band) members Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States Category:People from Haifa Category:People from Staten Island Category:Science fiction fans Category:Singers from New York City Category:The Apprentice (U.S. TV series) contestants
