I am not watching The Apprentice but I know that tonight is the big finale where we find out which of the contestants wins. At 8:21 PM Pacific Time, an Associated Press report appeared at news websites revealing that winner. The final show airs on this coast from 9:00 to 11:00 PM, so the answer was available before the show even started. That had to ruin it for someone…but of course, there's no way to embargo or suppress this kind of news on a show that isn't done live to all of America.
Once upon a time, there was a simple reason for networks to air shows on tape delay to the West. It would have been inconvenient for the Pacific Time Zone (and decreased viewers) if the shows programmed for 8 PM aired here at 5 PM. It would still be inconvenient but with the rise of VCRs and DVRs, it's a little less so. People are increasingly recording shows when they air and then watching them when they feel like it. Also, those of us with satellite dishes can watch a different time zone. I have The Tonight Show on right now.
It won't happen tomorrow but it's also not in the distant future that most viewers will have that choice. Every cable company will carry multiple versions of CBS, NBC, ABC and other networks. You'll be able to watch CBS-East or CBS-West, NBC-East or NBC-West, etc. This will solve the problem of "live" events because everyone will have the option of watching a show like The Apprentice live. We may also have "delay" channels that will run the entire network schedule again, twelve hours later. So if you miss a show that airs at 9:30 PM, you can just set your TiVo or VCR to record it the following morning at 9:30 AM. This will make it possible for you to watch several shows that air opposite one another.
And they'll still screw us up by having shows start at 8:57 and end at 9:32.