Comedian, writer takes reality TV leap: Leifer headed to Sarasota for keynote speech

By TIMOTHY R. WOLFRUM, Bradenton Herald - Comedian and screenwriter Carol Leifer took a leap out of her comfort zone by signing up for “Celebrity Apprentice 3.”

There’s no script for how to deal with the psychological puppetry of mogul Donald Trump or the psychosis of the cast.

But Leifer, a 53-year-old veteran who has written for “Seinfeld,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and “Saturday Night Live,” insists her brush with reality television is not a betrayal of her script-writing past.

“Who can say why you watch something,” Leifer said during a phone interview from her home in Santa Monica, Calif. “A show I watch a lot is ‘The Real Housewives’ of whatever city. It’s literally like, ‘I can’t stand these women, yet I can’t stop watching these women.’ What is it? In a way, I don’t even want to know. When I want to have my mindless television experience, I want to enjoy it.”

Leifer will be the keynote speaker Tuesday at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida’s 44th annual dinner celebration at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.

Though shooting is complete, Leifer won’t be able to talk much about “Apprentice,” which premieres March 14 on NBC.