If It Ain't Broke...

Why do TV producers feel the need to "improve" things?

Take Sunday's installment of "The Apprentice." Please.

The new season kicks off Sunday (NBC, 8 p.m.) as the candidates move from New York to the sunny beaches of L.A. I could live with that change. No big deal.

The new series doesn't have previous boardroom sidekicks George and Carolyn; instead, Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, takes on the role as chief 'yes'-man. A little tougher to swallow, but OK.

And the candidates are still a bunch of ridiculously pretty, Type-A types. Check.

But, as producer Mark Burnett has done with his other big show, "Survivor," tweaks have been thrown in.

In past "Apprentice" episodes, the winners get a great reward and the losers go to the boardroom, where someone (perhaps even two or three) get fired. That's still the setup, but...

The winners stay in a fabulous mansion. The losers stay in pup tents in the backyard.

The project manager of the winning team stays as P.M. until his or her team loses; no one else gets a shot. In addition, the P.M. serves with Ivanka as Trump's advisor in the boardroom.

The changes are really unnecessary and in the long run, hurt the show. One of the best aspects of the show was seeing the various P.Ms. fight to control their teams. That's all gone now.

That being said, much of the show remains the same. In Week 1, the two teams square off at a car wash business; in Week 2, there's a hilarious challenge involving fashion swim wear.

I realize the need to shake things up to keep the show fresh. But change for change's sake isn't always a good thing. You'd think Trump would know that.

FRIDAY'S BEST BET: "Numb3rs" returns with a brand-new episode (CBS, 10 p.m.). In addition, ABC is re-airing the pilot of "Knights of Prosperity" for those that missed it the first time.