Diddy Take Over

Diddy T.V.??? How does that sound to you? It very well could be a possibility. Aside from already having two hit shows produced by Diddy in MTV's "Run's House" and "Making the Band" (which premieres Aug 13), his latest series, "I Want to Work for Diddy," premieres 9 p.m. EDT Monday on VH1.

"It's all part of my strategic plan to take over TV: Diddy TV," he said in a phone interview with Billboard.com. The new show arose from his need for a personal assistant, and a realization that conventional recruitment methods weren't finding the right replacement. He put out the word through the media that he was welcoming candidates. Then he created a competition-style TV series for choosing a winner from 13 finalists vying for the job.

"But the show isn't about just seeing if I could find someone to work for me. It's about people chasing their dreams," he said. "I don't say it in a cocky way, but I take pride in being one of the best at doing what I do," which, of course, encompasses a multi-pronged entertainment empire.

Combs sees himself serving as an inspiration, particularly for young African-Americans, "to show them that they can do more things than shoot basketball or rap." On the series, a panel of judges makes the initial eliminations, Combs said, with him entering the picture toward the finish. The candidates "had to fight to get to me," he explained. "To get to me is like getting to the Wizard of Oz. They had to prove themselves. They had to walk down the yellow-brick road."

"I Want to Work for Diddy," which he said has wrapped production, may sound a bit like Donald Trump's "The Apprentice." That's OK with Combs."My show has a whole different style and a whole different energy," he noted. "But if 'The Apprentice' helped to open up the door for this show, then so be it."And while he called Trump a friend and business giant, he didn't hesitate when asked who would be more fun to work for. "Oh, definitely, me," Combs said with a laugh