Donald Trump not running for president spares NBC a tough task

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One NBC exec says no one else could bring “the overconfidence, the personality or the charisma” of Donald Trump on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

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Updated: June 18, 2011 12:26AM

The honchos at NBC are breathing a huge sigh of relief now that Donald Trump has faced reality and decided against a quirky and likely futile run for president.

Behind the scenes, network executives were deeply worried, concerned that a White House bid would necessitate Trump’s exit from his super-lucrative “Celebrity Apprentice” franchise — a more than $100 million annual cash cow for both Trump and the Peacock Network.

“Most important, there simply was no one that anyone could think of who was a possible replacement for Trump,” a top NBC executive told me Monday. “The show has to go on, but frankly there was no one with the business expertise, the edge, the overconfidence, the personality or the charisma of the Donald who could have stepped into that boardroom.”

† “This isn’t like replacing Charlie Sheen with Ashton Kutcher,” a second key NBC source said. “It’s not like finding a new actor. You need to find an established personality with broad business experience that the public will accept.”

COMING OUT: We finally have learned the identity of the “major TV star” who was rumored to be close to revealing he or she was gay.

Turns out it’s CNN anchor and former WMAQ-Channel 5 reporter and anchor Don Lemon. The newsman’s exit from the closet was coordinated by another ex-Chicagoan, Howard Bragman, the openly gay, high-profile Hollywood publicist who has eased the coming-out of such other celebrities as country singer Chely Wright, WNBA player Sheryl Swoopes, actress Meredith Baxter and Chaz Bono — back when he thought he was a lesbian.

Lemon explains all very directly in his upcoming memoir, Transparent, saying he knew he was gay since he was “knee-high to a duck.”

WHAT AN ENTRANCE! That famous door from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo studio — which she donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in 2004 after a set-design change — will go on display today, the day of her big United Center tapings. “Oprah” fans will be able to pose by the door at the MBC’s new lobby from noon to 5 p.m. today through July 15 — plus museum founder Bruce DuMont encourages everyone to leave “good luck, Oprah” notes for the TV queen as she begins the next chapter of her amazing career.

TOGETHER? While there is lots of rumbling about a budding romance between Justin Timberlake and Olivia Wilde, the actor and singer’s publicist has issued a very blunt statement that Timberlake has only “starred in two movies with Ms. Wilde. … They are friends and are not romantically involved, nor is Mr. Timberlake involved with anyone.”

Of course, that’s the kind of statement we often have heard from stars’ spokesfolks — later refuted by the reality of obvious coupling.

NOT TOGETHER: After a marriage of exactly four years and one day, actress Neve Campbell and English actor John Light are officially divorced — having signed a confidential settlement dividing their assets.

ARTFUL ACTION: Congrats to prominent Chicago area philanthropists Maureen and E.B. Smith, who will receive the Pro Musica Award from the DePaul University School of Music for their long commitment to the arts at a gala dinner May 25 at the Grainger Ballroom of Symphony Center.

† In case you haven’t heard, Colin Firth is following up his Oscar winner “The King’s Speech” with “Gambit,” a remake of the 1966 flick starring Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine. Written by Ethan and Joel Coen and directed by Michael Hoffman (“The Last Station”), the crime comedy will star Firth as a London art dealer who teams up with Texas roping champ Cameron Diaz — conspiring to sell a fake Monet to one of the world’s richest men.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: TV legend James Burrows was spied loving a recent performance of American Blues Theater’s “Rantoul and Die,” penned by Mark Roberts — a longtime collaborator on Burrows projects including the hit sitcom “Mike & Molly,” which they co-produce. … CBS-2 sports director Ryan Baker was seen dining at Rosebud Prime. … Stage and television star Michael T. Weiss checked out Teatro Vista’s “Freedom, NY” — cheering on Chicago actor Desmin Borges, who recently co-starred with Weiss Off-Broadway in “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity.” … Marisa Miller supped at Sunda with Billy Dec before heading to her Captain Morgan’s/Maxim event Friday. … Actor Ben Lawson (“No Strings Attached,” “The Deep”) was sighted over the weekend at the Underground, where Derrick Rose and most of the Bulls were seen anticipating their Sunday win over the Heat.