Apprentice Bill's Gig Uncertain?

Apprentice winner Bill Rancic earned what Donald Trump touted as the "dream job of a lifetime," but what, exactly, did he sign on for?

The Chicago skyscraper project that the 32-year-old cigar salesman will reportedly be helming in some fashion may not be as concrete as the Donald made it sound on TV.

Despite Donald's grandiose descriptions of his tower-to-be, financing for the tony high-rise has yet to come through, according to the New York Times--and there are those that doubt that it ever will.

"There is a lot of healthy skepticism about it, I would say," Anthony R. Licata, a Chicago real-estate attorney, told the Times. "That said, Trump has made a career of proving people wrong. I would never bet against the guy."

Hollinger International, Donald's partner in the project, has been dealing with internal problems since ex-CEO Conrad Black quit in November, after directors smelled something fishy about multimillion dollar payments to himself.

Donald, himself, is saddled with nearly $2 billion in debt from his despairing Atlantic City casino holdings.

However, the real-estate mogul says he has no doubt that the skyscraper will rise.

"This thing is happening," Donald told the Times. He claimed he was in talks with five potential backers, "all of which are dying to do the job."

Then there's the small matter of Bill's lack of experience in the real-estate arena. Though the Donald hasn't yet determined what Bill will actually be doing, he's emphatic that it "will be an important job."

But does a cigar salesman have the necessary know-how to head up the construction of a major real-estate venture? Um, no.

"I think I'm going to need some guidance," Bill said. "But I think Mr. Trump has the right people in place. They'll take me under their wing."

Bill said he felt ready to take on the one-year challenge, which will net him a $250,000 salary.

The mix of big bucks and little experience could prove irresistible for NBC, which, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is toying with the idea of doing an Apprentice spinoff that would sic cameras on Bill as he sweated out his job. Nothing is official, however, and it seems the proposed project would be scuttled if the financing falls through.

Bill also performed his first official duty as the Apprentice: handing out a $10,000 grant to a young entrepreneur as part of a contest sponsored by Apprentice underwriter Chrysler (as you undoubtedly remember, Chrysler also kicked in a convertible for Bill).

While Bill is assured a meaty paycheck once he begins his chores, other Apprentice alums are struggling to keep themselves bankable and in the spotlight.

Proving that popularity isn't everything, show villain Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth has reportedly scored a potential shampoo endorsement with Clairol and was being screen-tested this week to measure her ability to star in Herbal Essences commercials.

Fellow contestant Ereka Vetrini is less than happy with Omarosa's good fortune and has threatened to boycott Clairol products, should her foe be chosen as a shampoo spokeswoman. (We're sure they're really worried...)

"I'm shocked that Clairol would consider using Omarosa to endorse their products," Ereka told the New York Post. "To glorify and praise her bad behavior is a bad move for such a well-respected company.

"You can be sure I won't be using Clairol products anymore."

The two reality starlets became known enemies after Omarosa publicly accused Ereka of using the N-word--an allegation Ereka emphatically denies.

A rep for Clairol says the company has not made a final decision on whether the Omarosa spot will air.