LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Donald Trump, whose low-rated reality show “The Apprentice” was left off the new prime-time schedule unveiled this week by NBC, says the network can’t fire him — he quits.

The real estate mogul issued a statement on Friday saying he has informed the U.S. television network he is “moving on from ‘The Apprentice’ to a major new TV venture,” though he declined to elaborate.

There was no immediate comment from NBC.

But his announcement appeared to end any lingering doubt that “The Apprentice,” which turned the self-styled tycoon into a television star and popularized the catch phrase, “You’re fired,” would be banished from NBC’s airwaves next season.

Wow. That’s surprising.

I really enjoyed this season. I thought it was interesting, and for once I thought there were a lot of good potential candidates. I guess NBC needs to make room for another Sci Fi drama or some other predictable show (No, I’m not talking about Heroes; I’m thinking more along the lines of Deal or No Deal).

I find it hard to believe that The Apprentice had a ratings problem this season, and if it did, I find it hard to blame Trump’s show itself for it. It was on at 10:00 on a Sunday. If that isn’t a graveyard slot, I don’t know what is. It’s quite a self-fulfilling prophecy. NBC demonstrates little faith in the show’s ratings, moves it to a graveyard, gets the low ratings one would expect, and then doesn’t put the show on the following season’s primetime schedule, and the show is off.

Not the way I would’ve hoped the Apprentice would end. I have a feeling someone will pick it up, though. That is, if Donald isn’t too busy with his new “venture.”

Technorati Tags: trump, the apprentice, donald trump, nbc