# The Apprentice (American TV series) season 2
**The Apprentice** season 2 was the second season of the NBC reality competition series in which candidates complete weekly business tasks while vying for a job with Donald Trump's organization; it premiered on September 9, 2004 and concluded on December 16, 2004.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) The season retained the format that made the first season a hit: two teams take weekly business assignments, the losing project manager brings teammates back to a boardroom presided over by Trump, and one candidate is fired each week.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and premiere | NBC, September 9, 2004[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) |
| Episode count | 16 episodes, ending with "Decision Time 2" on December 16, 2004[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) • [2](https://www.epguides.com/Apprentice/) |
| Opening field | 18 candidates split into two teams in the premiere, "Toying with Disaster"[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) |
| Host and boardroom | Donald Trump as host, with Carolyn Kepcher and George Ross as boardroom advisors[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) |
| Critical reception | Metascore 73, "Generally Favorable," from 6 critic reviews; user score 4.0 from 5 ratings[3](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-new-celebrity-apprentice/season-2/) |
| Audience score | 19% on the Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter, from fewer than 50 ratings; Tomatometer 0 reviews[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) |
| Availability | Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, including a free-with-ads option[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-apprentice/season-2) |
## Production background
NBC renewed the show for a second season while the first was still airing, and began accepting candidate applications at that time. A network executive quoted at the announcement called Trump and creator [Mark Burnett](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-burnett) "the most potent force in television today."[5](https://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=2233) The renewal followed a first season that averaged about 21 million viewers over its January 2004 run, a success NBC built on by scheduling the show on Thursday nights.[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/06/18/donald-trumps-apprentice-may-never-end-the-odd-story-behind-the-reality-show-that-will-not-be-stopped/)
## Format and tasks
The season's weekly tasks were drawn from real companies and products. The premiere, "Toying with Disaster," opened with a field of 18 candidates split into two teams and assigned to develop a new toy, with the product deemed most viable winning.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) Later assignments included creating and marketing a new gelato flavor with the Ciao Bella Gelato Company for the Trump Ice Cream Parlour ("Scoop Dreams"), creating buzz for a new toothpaste flavor with an appearance by MLB player [Mike Piazza](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-piazza) ("Send in the Crowns"), competing in the New York restaurant industry ("The Last Supper"), selling on a national shopping network ("Lights! Camera! Transaction!"), a high fashion competition ("Crimes of Fashion"), creating dog service businesses in parks and streets ("Barking Up the Wrong Tree"), and creating an NYPD recruitment campaign with advertising executive [Donny Deutsch](https://www.edgepedia.org/donny-deutsch) ("A Tale of Two Leaders").[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) • [2](https://www.epguides.com/Apprentice/) In the December 2 episode "Sweet and Lowdown," the teams were assigned to produce and sell the M-AZING candy bar, a new product from M&M Mars.[3](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-new-celebrity-apprentice/season-2/)
**The boardroom.** Trump was flanked by advisors Carolyn Kepcher and George Ross, both returning from the first season.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02) First-season winner [Bill Rancic](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-rancic) stood in for Ross in the boardroom during "The Last Supper," the episode in which the 15 remaining candidates worked in the New York restaurant industry.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02)
## Finale
The finale, "Decision Time 2," aired December 16, 2004. The two remaining candidates undertook their final tasks, with Trump directly involved in missteps at both a polo match and an NBA charity game, before Trump hired the winner; the episode also included a cast reunion and a performance of the theme song by the O'Jays.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02)
## Reception
Professional critics rated the season favorably: Metacritic recorded a Metascore of 73, "Generally Favorable," based on 6 critic reviews, while its user score stood at 4.0 out of 10 from 5 ratings.[3](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-new-celebrity-apprentice/season-2/) On Rotten Tomatoes the season's Tomatometer had 0 reviews and its Popcornmeter stood at 19% from fewer than 50 ratings, so both audience figures rest on very small samples.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02)
## Availability
The season streams on Amazon Prime Video, by subscription, with ads, or free with ads.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-apprentice/season-2) In March 2025 Amazon announced that the show's first seven seasons would stream on Prime Video, with seasons arriving weekly until late April.[7](https://apnews.com/article/527854e86e07e1b58aed61e5d2f872b7)
## References
1. [The Apprentice: Season 2, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-apprentice/s02)
2. [The Apprentice (US), a Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides](https://www.epguides.com/Apprentice/)
3. [The Apprentice season 2, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-new-celebrity-apprentice/season-2/)
4. [The Apprentice Season 2, watch episodes streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-apprentice/season-2)
5. [NBC renews 'The Apprentice' for a second season, Reality TV World](https://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=2233)
6. [Donald Trump's 'Apprentice' may never end, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/06/18/donald-trumps-apprentice-may-never-end-the-odd-story-behind-the-reality-show-that-will-not-be-stopped/)
7. [Amazon Prime to stream Trump's 'The Apprentice' reality show, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/527854e86e07e1b58aed61e5d2f872b7)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Quiz, panel, and game show seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license