After a disappointing sixth season, NBC left the once popular reality series The Apprentice off its fall schedule. NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly maintained that the Donald Trump series had not been cancelled and that the network was discussing its future with series creator Mark Burnett and Trump. Now, perhaps in a preemptive action to avoid being told his own dreaded catchphrase “You’re fired!”, Trump has quit the series.

The real estate mogul’s organization has issued a statement that says he is “moving on from The Apprentice to a major new TV venture.” Trump’s ego sounds like it’s intact as the statement goes on to say, “It looks like viewers will have to wait to see what Mr. Trump plans for the future but if Mr. Trump’s past TV success is any indication of the future, then one can anticipate that millions of Apprentice fans will be migrating to his new venture.”

It’s unclear what sort of project that may be or if it will include Burnett who was a big supporter of Trump’s. Burnett had said he intended to continue the series if NBC dropped it because the appeal of its host.

There’s been no statement from NBC but the series is undoubtedly cancelled. Still, Trump and the network aren’t parting ways just yet. The peacock network will continue to air the Trump co-owned Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants until 2010. Stay tuned!