Apprentice Finale Not so Finalized
Apprentice Finale Not so Finalized by Roxanne McDonald
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The Apprentice finale–finally. And then again, maybe not so final. The people have spoken, and the people continue to speak…furiously questioning what Trump meant when he told James, right before firing him, that were some unresolved issues–comments and things–that pissed him off about James. |
James has some predictions about Trumps reservations; Nicole is still joking about how she thought Stefani had no chance; and I who am as susceptible to predictions and proselytizing on subjects I have limited knowledge on (business on such a grand scale) refuse to offer another recap, despite how I took my usually scrupulous notes— deferring to the many fine recaps already extant and to the more insider-savvy interviewers and correspondents.
At least the announcer didn’t promise “the most shocking finale ever”—as many are wont to do even when there is nothing unpredictable about a backstab, a backslide, or a backpedal, as this “Apprentice: Los Angeles” final episode seemed to contain.
Didn’t Trump seem to lean toward James throughout the season? What little whispers in his ear at half-time (or, as he implied, throughout the course) made him change his mind?
Was it the immigrant angle that James played in his final video, the implied but no less fallacious angle that says because I want this and need this as an immigrant I therefore deserve it? Was it something he wrote on his site, Zoodango.com, or something he said in pointing to his existing site?
Even Stefani thought James had it, and was “shocked” to hear her own name inserted into the now infamous tag line, “You’re hired.” At Reality TV World, Christopher Rocchio reports how Stefani felt going in to the finale:
“I was very relaxed because going into the finale, I really thought James had it…. I thought that Mr. Trump was very fond of James, and I thought Mr. Trump would be saying, ‘James you’re hired.’ And so I wasn’t nervous at all because I figured well I’m going to go out and just argue for the fun of it and have a good time and congratulate James, who I respect and care about very much.”
Carrie, at Reality Shack Blog actually communicated with James, who wrote to her in response to one of her recaps and who tried to explain Trump’s reasoning as he understood it. James evidently sent Carrie to his website/blog to get insight into the “mysterious dialogue.” However, Carrie surmises, James is as clueless about Trump’s rationale as the rest of the James camp is.
The Four Forever Friends Headed for Finals
The Four Forever Friends Headed for Finals by Roxanne McDonald
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They lost together in the tent, they won together in the tent, and they complained together in the tent, says James. But now they compete together for the final position as Apprentice Number Six. |
In what was likely a change for better ratings—or maybe Trump just got tired of dragging the process of elimination out any longer—the thirteenth episode became the penultimate episode of “The Apprentice: Los Angeles.”
Maybe it was for better ratings (not only speeding up the endless and drawn out but hyping the competitive angle by having four very aggressive or three aggressive and one assertive and cool players) that Trump jumped from final four to finale mode, or maybe it was TV scheduling issues (which is not unlikely what with so many new shows, other program popularity/competition, and baseball…..
And then again, if the reason is held to the integrity of the show alone, maybe Trump is sending Nicole, Frank, James, and Stefani to the finals because they deserve it.
Trump has pointed several significant critiques at each of the remaining apprentice hopefuls, and writers following “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” have had this to say about them:
Frank — Reality Dish calls him “over the top” and “feisty”; and Reality TV Calendar’s Donna Emery determines that while has been “every PM’s right-hand man…, it won’t be that fair if he makes the final two” [is there a final two this season, Donna?]
James — Reality Dish calls him “excitable” and “sharp”; and Reality TV Calendar’s Donna Emery calls him the “more well-rounded” and “most qualified” candidate left.
Nicole – Reality TV Calendar’s Donna Emery says she “…isn’t the worst candidate ever to apply for this show, but she hasn’t shined in the way [Emery] would have expected a Final Four candidate to shine;” NBC5 Online described her episode 16 competitive composure as “strong and confident;” and Reality Dish is “not sure why” Nicole has made it this far.
Stefani — Reality Dish describes her as the “quiet, confident” one; and Reality TV Calendar’s Donna Emery says she has seldom seen such professionalism” and that if Trump is going for a woman this year, Stefani is “the only one worth considering.”
Rats Emerge, Rats Converge on Apprentice 12
Rats Emerge, Rats Converge on Apprentice Episode 12 by Roxanne McDonald
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And finally the right one is caught in the trap. |
No more teams Arrow and Kinetic, and just in time Arrows might say: as Nicole is reading a “cute” letter from Tim and Frank insists that if Nicole isn’t feeling something then she is a cold b, a rat sighting freaks out the tent dwellers.
Trump calls soon after, though, and notifies both teams that they will all live in the mansion; they will be partnered; and they will have no PMs.
As Arrow rejoices and heads out (or in), Frank confirms that are friends… forever, Heidi (or Stefani) adds.
Wooop. You just know this is a brand that will not necessarily take.
Frank and Heidi are doing photography in the models at the second Trump tower in Vegas (to do a promotional campaign), and James and Stefani show up in the same twelve-foot area to do the same. (Isn’t that place big enough that you wouldn’t bump elbows with the enemy?)
Frank tells their photographer they are not to be associated with, as they are competitors.
Heidi whines about having to rein Frank (whom she calls her polar opposite) in to keep him focusing on the task at hand.
And it’s One, Two, Three, Four–What are We Fighting For?
And it’s One, Two, Three, Four–What are We Fighting For? by Roxanne McDonald
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More dictionary definitions of “loyalty” than the Library of Congress would have; and one more gross exaggeration about “fighting for my life” make for the most heated war, yet. |
It’s not that all the remaining apprentice hopefuls are all that bellicose. It’s just that enough of them are—or have turned from being such happy, excited, energized team players to individuals once again, ugh, “fighting for their [lives].”
Frank used the cliché this time, and in such a cowardly way, too.
The love thing had nothing to do with it. Just ask Tina Turner.
Or maybe it did, I don’t know. I almost don’t care.
Was Tim “distracted”?
Was his spearheading the SmartMouth campaign ideas in any way influenced (poorly) by his subconscious desire to be humping (or kissing, or having make-up sex with, or whatever) Nicole instead?
Tim does start “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” episode off with his concessions that he is a mess. He does take responsibility for the failure to defend Nicole in some way when she was unilaterally shoved across town to the other camp. He does define loyalty in so many realistic terms. But oh, the conflicted feelings.
And he wasn’t all that clever to determine his loyalty to the Trumpire [yeah, I said it again] as not mutually exclusive from his loyalty to Nicole.
In response to this vacillating or ambiguous devotion on Tim’s part, Ivanka was incredibly sharp* in the boardroom, too, I noticed: She says it HAS to be…for, she adds, ambiguity will wreck his purpose there, will wreck him.
And wreck it does.
[*The other smart advice in this episode comes from Nicole’s mother, who, when asked what she thinks about the definition of loyalty and Tim and Nicole, etc., says to her daughter that she should keep her attention on the task, for that’s what she’s here for. Go sagacious woman, go!]
Egomaniacs Incorporated
Egomaniacs Incorporated by Roxanne McDonald
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Lots of odd bragging…and some not even justified or verified? |
The self-aggrandizing begins at Grommet’s Theatre, where Sir Donald Trump tells the remaining Apprentice hopefuls that he should have a star on the walk as he has the number one show on television. [Wha? From my research, “The Apprentice” is not even on top 100 lists….]
More plugs, this first one for Universal Studios (not that it needs a boost), as Trump announces how eight million come every year, as they “happen to have,” Trump adds, “a spectacular theme park.”
Oh, damn, let this greatest writer of all time back up: Trump had called Arrow, saying how Kinetic had been [again he uses the word, again incorrectly] “decimated” and Trump needs for James to send someone from Arrow over…to balance the numbers and all.
No one volunteers, so James uses a fairly sound reasoning, deciding that because he, Nicole, and Tim are all creative people, he should give up one of them. He chooses to eject Nicole, which of course sends a message, creates a ripple, a rift, an eventual problem—for as you know, Nicole and Tim were falling in love and a great dual contribution to the team, etc.
Nicole is so good, so competitive, and so likeable that it is hard to watch and listen to her vow she will make James and all of Arrow sorry….
Especially when the outcome of her promise is the opposite of what would have been sweet poetic justice and all that:
The challenge to sell Universal Studios passes using a new technology (called either Adwalker or Addwalker) has the teams in too close a proximity, sees Arrow tearing Kinetic customers away, admits defeat for Kinetic, who actually chase customers on roller skates while Arrow is purportedly stationary with a kiosk (though they sure do alot of moving toward potential customers—Kinetic’s potential customers).
Anyway, Kinetic pulls in 4,000+change, while Arrow scams some 30,000+ bucks.
Hey, Frank had warned us, what with his description of the team: “I mean come on, look at us. We’re strong, confident, A-team…[gonna] kick ass.”
And the braggadocio ensues: Arrow’s reward is a helicopter ride. But as Trump describes it, it is “one of the best helicopter charters anywhere;” and as Frank adds, it “wasn’t just any helicopter—it was one of the world’s largest…and Mr. Trump personally mapped out parts of Los Angeles he wanted us to see.” Wooo.
Finally a Venue for Their Dramatics
Finally a Venue for Their Dramatics by Roxanne McDonald
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After the boardroom firing of Surya, the remaining Arrows do more “fought for my life” exaggerating, step up their games, and find ways to get some of that drama expressed for real. |
Frank is stressing how he fought for his life; James is telling confession cams how this is his “moment” and how he is either going to step up and win or go home. Hmmm. Seems that this tautological thinking is about right. Either you win or you lose, eh, Frank? Doi.
Tendentious tenants of Tent City keep on with their chatter, and Nicole accelerates the energy level by screaming and groaning in the outhouse shower—either over something personal or over the fact that they are going to task as webisode creators for the Passions and Soft Scrub people.
It’s the latter. And as much I can’t stand any of the Arrows (and most of the Kinetics), I have to admit they approach their task with pleasantness and outright joyfulness. It pays off, and Arrow wins.
This of course puts the burden of threat on Kinetic and
makes for perfect timing for the Evil Queen Kristine to feed the more innocuous Muna the poisoned apple. Or would that be to smash her head over the table? I don’t know, but a PM who sends the others to do the grunt work (doesn’t it seem that Kristine does this every time?) while she flits off or directs or pushes and pokes…then again displaces all responsibility is one I am just about ready to wish for a smashing to happen to her. And I’m a pacifist. A coward. A non-confrontation- preferred type….
And again, I may be way off, here, but if someone has an accent, combined with a case of nerves, and therefore talks too fast to be understood when the very saving grace of the team is a clear product branding effort, why would you 1) follow through with her as the main “advertiser” of the product, and 2) blame her for the failure of what is human dialect to begin with?
Are These Our Future Leaders?
Are These Our Future Leaders? Mindless Menaces and Mutineers? by Roxanne McDonald
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I am absolutely disgusted with the Omarosa-like characters on this season’s Apprentice— horrified that these are the types we might have to do business with in the future. |
Maybe it’s too late to recap and then bitch about the outcome of episode eight of The Apprentice [Sorry, I was still reeling from last week’s American Idol results—mutter mutter grumble.] Then again, it is likely never to late to identify crass and crappy attitudes that may impact us, directly or indirectly, in the future.
A number of these men and women do not deserve to win an apprenticeship with Donald Trump (or a job after having done their apprenticeship, or however that works). For starters, Kristine is way out of control. Her ego is so self-aggrandized I can barely stomach watching the teams go to task, even when I am interested in what challenges Donald Trump has for them and am intrigued by the creative team-brainstorming processes.
Kristin is selfish, taking on only what she feels like taking on; she is so self-important she cannot be bothered with the concerns and questions of her teammates; and she is—or will prove herself to be—a hypocrite.
It’s great she has prior successful experience with a similar PR half-time task. But it’s not so great, not all that impressive when she bulls her way through the idea sessions, deciding for all of them the shape of the task and then refusing to address or even acknowledge teammate concerns. Selfishly, she turns Muna’s questions, for instance, into some personal attack on her past greatness, which she repeats. Sigh. Get over yourself, chickee.
Though she admits that Surya worked well with the team when he was a Kinetic member, she also, when asked for recommendations on who to fire, says she would fire the project manager. This leads us into my next gripe, as her myopia works in her favor. Yes, it makes sense that each is out for her- or himself, but the logic is hypocritical: if the team wins, the team contributors should be lauded, but if the team loses, the project manager should be blamed and fired.
This brings back my ire for Arrowians. They don’t get that Surya, if followed, allowed to lead, wins tasks for the team. They don’t acknowledge [enough] how he has led to more wins than any other project manager. Of course, they cannot fully experience and then assess Surya or anybody else’s leadership for they are way too engrossed in fu—ing off, aping Surya, and defying his careful orchestrations and perfecting of processes.
Lessons in Dignity for the Apprentices
Lessons in Dignity for the Apprentices by Roxanne McDonald
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Kentic may have “gotten another piece of riff-raff off” their team last week, but this week they actually suffered a great loss. |
Consider how team players like express relief at Aimee getting fired, especially after the way she handled leaving. As he says, “It was like the ending of The Omen.”
Now consider their new PM, Jenn, the publicist.
She stepped up, volunteered to be the project manager.
When their team lost, she defended their group efforts, saying she would stick by her team, for it was “not like anyone was a colossal screw-up.” She even comes to the defense of individuals, saying how, for example, Derek’s go-cart idea was their only resort…for want of better ideas for activities.
Hmmm. Notice how she does not displace responsibility, does not re-assign blame, insisting it be on everyone but herself?
Jenn also speaks clearly, articulately, and boldly (but not brashly), suggesting to Trump that before he fire her….
Outside in the driveway is another testament to how some Apprentice candidates are anything but and have no balance of fairness and dignity, while others are model individuals: not only is Jenn escorted outside by all of the members of Kinetic, and not only does no one sneer or snipe at her in the process, but everyone of the remaining players hugs her lovingly, individually, and even in tandem.
It may be reasonable that Jenn was fired, but she certainly could not be said to be a sore loser, a crass act, or one who “deserved” to go to Tent City.
Lovely human being.
SirLinksAlot The Apprentice links
Apprentices Admonished, “Don’t Lie!”
Apprentices Admonished, “Don’t Lie!” by Roxanne McDonald
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Surya’s right. Have they learned nothing from Omagrossa? |
“The Apprentice” opens with Surya very obviously agitated. And who wouldn’t be? They “threw him under the bus,” as Big Brother housemates would say. They attempted to “bury” him, as Trump would suggest.
So Surya lectures them, wise old businessman that he is: “Don’t lie. We all have jobs to go back to. We have reputations. Just don’t lie.”
Besides calling them on their inappropriate behaviors and attitudes, Surya announces that he may as well be the PM for the next challenge. Good for him. He gets it, now.
Meanwhile, Aimee is still not getting it, one of her teammates says, though Aimee continues to insist “professional, professional, professional,” and as her only assertion, another teammate says, is over a pink octopus.
Back at Arrow, Surya’s still working toward thinking outside the box and cohesive processing of tasks, while his teammates are spending valuable brainstorming/rallying time drawing caricatures of their esteemed (or just steamed) leader. Idiots.
Despite their disrespect and distractions, they win, leaving room for Kinetic to let the fur fly over and around the almighty Aimee. Though Donald Trump has gotten wise, too, to their ways of waiting till they lose to trash their PM: before we find out who won the Priceline.com task, he asks each group what they think of their current leaders. Kinetic doesn’t peep a peep. Once they find out they are losers, to the tune of one player whining about having to leave the mansion, they go off.
And Mz. Aimee is iRATE. She does some really nasty head butting of the air action toward two of her now former teammates, who have for some reason escorted her to the bye-bye limo. But she doesn’t mention octopi or how she kind of just strolled around during the challenge, looking all officious but empty-headed.
No lies this week, but no great loss either.
SirLinksAlot Apprentice Links
Tent City Metaphor or Misnomer?
Tent City Metaphor or Misnomer? by Roxanne McDonald
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Contestants are not the only ones who still hate the whole Tent City twist. |
Maybe I am the first and only one to bitch about it, but the first Tent City element I would like to take issue with is the audience contest. Either Mr. Donald or Mz. Ivanka Trump announces during commercial breaks that we have a chance to win $10,000. We just text or lock in online our votes for who should go to Tent City.
Now, first, you get one choice. Well, a whole group—either Kinetic or Arrow—actually gets sent to Tent City, so voting for one person does not seem accurate or fair.
Second, the one person of focus and at the hands of our vengeance or disgust is the one who will hear the words “You’re fired,” not “You are exiled to Tent City.” So again, the voting we do is really inaccurate. Are we voting for anyone to be a part of his or her group when they get demoted to Tent City? Or are we voting for who we think should be fired, who should get the metaphorical eviction from the show altogether—a.k.a. Tent City of life outside “The Apprentice”?
Maybe I am over-thinking this whole segment of “The Apprentice: Los Angeles.” I’m sure, though, I am under-reacting, as this whole concept is not all that “must see”.
And while I may be alone in my splitting of camel hairs, others join me in general disdain for the twist of having and not having being represented by outhouses and ranch hand style dining versus the luxuries of indoor lighting and plumbing, protection from the (oooh) weather, and haute cuisine.
Besides the contestants disdain for what one contestant calls Trump Trailer Park (as cited by Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune), the “Apprentice” audience is losing, if not respect, desire for the show: as Ryan also notes, “Only 11 million viewers tuned in for the most recent finale of the show in June — that’s a far cry from the 28 million who breathlessly watched the end of the first ‘Apprentice’.”
Maybe the “Survivor” angle should be left to “Survivor”.
Update: As I was searching the net for images of Tent City, I came across another writer’s discontent over the misapplication/misrepresentation of the “Get Rich with Trump” contest: You can check out Sarah Kickler Kelber’s points (and agreement with me) in her “Reality Check” column, “The Apprentice Again,” on The Baltimore Sun’s website. I knew I wasn’t completely crazy. Thanks, Sarah!
Boardroom Blurring: The Apprentice Contestant Who Forgot Which Show She was On
Boardroom Blurring: The Apprentice Contestant Who Forgot Which Show She was On by Roxanne McDonald
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Did Michelle, in denial, quit? Or was she justified in her reasons for leaving “The Apprentice”? |
We have to put Michelle’s leaving “The Apprentice” into context. Given the boardroom trickery of “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss”, then considering how Omarosa [hissssss] shows up in a mock boardroom challenge on “I Love New York,” then taking into account the consistent trend of separating groups into A- and B-lists (ala “Surreal Life Fame Games”), and finally, adding how “The
Apprentice” changed format this season, it might be understandable that a competitor would turn a nose up at [unexpected] humiliating experiences. (Though I did note how those tents have electricity and blankets and water, so I question how “rough” the “losers” really have it.)
So Michelle has had to live in Tent City with her fellow losing Arrow teammates. This, because they have lost every challenge thus far to Kinetic, whose members live in luxury, are warm and dry at night, have gourmet foods, and who even have had the opportunities to indulge in the most empowering of all—the saunas, drinks, and massages…which contribute, as you know, to spiritual and hence physical health.
This, she announces, is not what she signed up for.
At the same time, she likely did sign up for whatever the Trumpire [yep, you read the newest coined term here first] would subject contestants to (read that contract again, Michelle). She was an intrusive, disruptive team player, according to other contestants. And she did make for a weak PM.
Pink Too Tight, Pink Too Plain on Episode 2 of Apprentice: Los Angeles
Pink Too Tight, Pink Too Plain on Episode 2 of Apprentice: Los Angeles by Roxanne McDonald
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So pink is “the new black.” But it doesn’t work, says The Donald, for men’s swimwear! |
In episode 2 of “The Apprentice: Los Angeles,” Tina Turk hosted a Santa Monica Beach boardwalk fashion show, featuring the swimwear designed by the two teams, Kinetic, with the ongoing PM Heidi and Arrow, with the new PM, Nicole.
Showing her gutsy side (which is reinforced by her gravelly, leftover laryngitis voice), Nicole confirms for her team how the next 30 hours of tasking will be what she promises them to be: 30 hours of pain…but worth it.
And she keeps her promise…. Maybe too well. The pain comes (again) for Arrow when well-intended and enthusiastic about designing Carey creates a pink paisley bathing suit for [gay] men. His teammates, mortified, cannot convince him that the piece is too tight, too pink, and too unmanly (or TOO manly, what with all the “information” it reveals).
The dinky pinky does not fit in with the rest of the collection, which is of a “retro reminiscent” style and other adjectival hip-ness; it does not go over well with buyers (who spend only 350 bucks total on Arrow’s men’s swimwear, anyway); and is, according to judges of the fashion show and their little judge cards, “unwearable”.
Martin the Philospher get’s Fired by Trump in the Apprentice 6
Well, it’s the 6th season of the Apprentice and to make sure his show is fresh and popular, the Trumpster has set up shop in Los Angeles.
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How were the ratings??? The Apprentice crew is back and in fine form, minus Carolyn, but replaced with daughter Ivanka. It will be interesting to see how the ratings go this season. Does America still care enough to watch??? |
At first gander it seems hokey and special with the L.A. backdrop but once the tent is up and the boardroom is ablaze our show the Apprentice is back in it’s finest form ever!
Yes, it seems they did some polling and found the boardroom should be longer and more cut throat. It was!
Martin the Philosopher was a cartoon character for sure and while he certainly deserved to get fired just for being a nimrod, his project leader wasn’t exactly far from getting the boot himself.
While you could see Donald Trump had some affection for Martin, he also had fun at his expense by pounding on him. Ivanka Trump chipped in as did the project leader from the opposing team (the winner of the challenge). Nice twist with the opposing team’s leader sitting in! (read more…)
Send Him to Tent City! The Apprentice: Los Angeles Premiere
Send Him to Tent City! The Apprentice: Los Angeles Premiere by Roxanne McDonald
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Already pegging themselves for exile to the collapsible quarters, Frank and others are bossy, bullying, and exceptionally boisterous. |
Did I have too much caffeine before sitting down to watch “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” premiere, or are a number of the new candidates wired, amped, whacked, and wigging already? It seems that the fast talkers, the loud talkers, the control freaks, and the blame-makers are stepping forward or making themselves known right from the very first episode.
Sure, we expect aggression. We expect the token know-it-all, the representative scapegoat, the sycophant. We expect the control freak to step in (or bust in), take
over, then displace responsibility when the strategic overthrow doesn’t work, or backfires.
But these guys are antsy, agitated, out-of-control talkative. While Trump is hugging the superheroes (as he should have, calling out and celebrating the successes of Angela, the three-time Olympian gold medalist who also graduated Harvard cum laude), I am wishing he would tell some of the others to shut the *&^# up! (I mean, he likely doesn’t want to fire the most “entertaining” candidate on the very first show, for it gives us viewers a lot less to get as excited about.)
Anyway, here is the status of the “game” in the first and as of the end of the first episode:
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