The North Carolina State Fair has unveiled its 2011 concert lineup for Dorton Arena, and it has all the usual elements. There are a couple of Christian-pop acts, plus country groups you've never heard of even though they've won a bunch of awards; an "American Idol" alumnus; a burned-out classic-rock band; plus a partridge, pear tree, expatriate local Tift Merritt, classy oldie Dionne Warwick and the most attention-getting name of all, one of the biggest danged legends in country music -- the great George Jones.

One act is still to be announced, but here's what we've got so far:
 

Oct. 13 -- Craig Campbell, $5
Oct. 14 -- Skillet, $15
Oct. 15 -- TBA
Oct. 16 -- Tift Merritt, $5
Oct. 17 -- Steel Magnolia, $5
Oct. 18 -- George Jones, $10
Oct. 19 -- David Nail, $5
Oct. 20 -- Dionne Warwick, $10
Oct. 21 -- Newsboys, $10
Oct. 22 -- Kansas, $10
Oct. 23 -- Kellie Pickler, $15

You can roll your eyes all your want, but I can't stop watching this 'Celebrity Apprentice.' Not only do I watch, but thanks to the unpredictable craziness of Gary Busey, Star Jones, Meat Loaf, and Dionne Warwick, I actually look forward to Sunday nights on NBC. 'Big Love' finale? It can wait. 'Mildred Pierce' premiere? It'll be there tomorrow...

Only four episodes in, this season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' has been downright educational -- and we don't mean the imparted wisdom from Busey's inspirational anagrams. No, the most surprising, though not very useful nugget I've gleaned so far, is that Dionne Warwick is a great big bully. 

One of the most-addictive things about the so-bad-it's-great "Celebrity Apprentice" is that the gaggle of crazy folk that Donald Trump has put together this season never cease to surprise.

For example, you would think that the biggest, beefiest, most formerly "juiced" player on the team (that would be you, Jose Canseco) might actually help in moving heavy equipment around. (Nope, not when there's a couch or camping chair nearby for the former baseball player to lounge in.)

You would guess that the absolute worst camper sales person in the world would be spacey LaToya Jackson. (But actually, the CEO of Camping World would like to put LaToya on the payroll. Hmmm, maybe the nation's unemployment problem isn't that bad after all?)

And you would think that someone whose teammates and Trump and the Trump spawn all agree is "a class act" would not be fired. (No, actually you probably would think that. Because "Celebrity Apprentice" and "class act" usually aren't used in the same sentence.

Let me clear something up right off the bat: This post was conceived by Dionne Warwick and ghostwritten by Star Jones (because I believe in giving credit where credit is due).

And because Star Jones is busy passive-aggressively orchestrating her takeover of the world, this note on last night's "Celebrity Apprentice' will be brief.

Mostly, I need to say this: Dionne Warwick is a rhymes-with-witch.

Holy smokes. And she's the worst kind of rhymes-with-witch: an old one. As NeNe Leakes pointed out on last night's show, you just look bad arguing with a 70-year-old woman, so nobody wants to challenge her. Also, Dionne sits in the boardroom with big boss Donald Trump and smiles sweetly . . .

'The Celebrity Apprentice' might be a stupid show, but it's a highly entertaining stupid show, and I'm proud to say, I have tricked some very smart people into watching it and getting hooked on it.

The key to this season is the delicious combination of "crazy" that Donald Trump has cooked up: Gary Busey, Richard Hatch, LaToya Jackson, Meat Loaf, Star Jones, NeNe Leakes, and Jose Canseco, just to list a few.

Jury's still out on how to categorize Dionne Warwick (besides "Hella Slow on the Cash Register"), John Rich, Lisa Rinna, Lil' Jon, and some of the other contestants, but there's crazy potential there for each.

I'd put former teen star David Cassidy in the "Delicate Nicotine-Addicted Little People" category, but after Trump put him out of his misery -- I mean, fired him -- last night, categorizing him is irrelevant.

The new season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' begins this Sunday on NBC, and after seeing the promos, I know I can't resist this particular batch of CRAZY. Just take a look.

The cast is: Gary Busey, NeNe Leakes, LaToya Jackson, Lisa Rinna, Star Jones, Marlee Matlin, Dionne Warwick, Meat Loaf, David Cassidy, Lil' Jon, Jose Canseco, Mark McGrath, Richard Hatch, John Rich, Nikki Taylor, and Hope Dworaczyk.

'Celebrity Apprentice' airs at 9pm on Sunday night on NBC.