SMALL SCREEN THE BUZZ ON TELEVISION.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

THE DONALD AND ...?: Who knew a few months ago that the phrase ``You're fired!'' could be the stuff of T-shirts, coffee mugs and high-fiving celebrations? Tonight the words fans of ``The Apprentice'' are waiting to hear are ``You're hired,'' as Donald Trump chooses in a two-hour finale between two finalists, Harvard MBA Kwame Jackson and entrepreneur and true ``people person'' Bill Rancic, for the job of a lifetime in the Trump empire - complete, no doubt, with ready access to assorted ulcer and migraine remedies. TV Guide Channel has hired the famously fired Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth to provide ``Apprentice'' teasers at the top of each hour today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Trump, who has rebounded from his seemingly bottomless debt in the early '90s, is said to be looking for a raise for the second season, possibly doubling his reported $50,000-per-episode fee. We suggest he not close that deal until after Thursday's ratings come in. Last week's show scored 22 million viewers and tonight's audience should go through the roof. What's more, Trump Tower in Manhattan has ``attracted flocks of fans and tourists,'' according to Cox News Service. ``To snap pictures, they line up in rows, pull over their cars or step into the busy street, dodging yellow taxis.''

THE APPRENTICE, 9 tonight, NBC, Channel 4.

`PASSION' RIGHTS: Will ``The Passion of the Christ'' play in prime time? Mel Gibson's Icon Prods. has quietly started the process of shopping for TV licensing deals for ``Passion,'' which is the first hugely successful film in ages to hit the pay TV and broadcast/basic cable market as a free agent. ICM chief Jeff Berg is spearheading the ``Passion'' discussions with networks on behalf of Icon and the ICM-repped Gibson. Industry sources say each of the Big Four broadcast networks has been pitched the movie, along with HBO, Showtime and other major cablers. Sources say Icon has made it clear to prospective buyers that the film must run in its entirety, including even the most graphic beating scenes. That makes it a tough sell for the broadcast nets, which would undoubtedly have a hard time lining up advertisers even if edits were made.

LOVE IS LOVELIER...: ``The One That Got Away,'' a reality show that condenses that search for love into a single two-hour episode, will air next month on NBC. Here's its twist: The seven contestants competing for bachelor Skipper Kress' affection were once involved with him. ``We found the bravest guy in the world who decided to open up his romantic past and take a shot at falling in love all over again,'' executive producer Joe Livecchi said. The show will air May 31.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) TRUMP, WITH BILL RANCIC, TOP INSET, AND KWAME JACKSON

(4 -- color) no caption (scene from ``The Passion of the Christ'')