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.
James is finding his getting to “help” Mr. Trump fire someone “interesting”.
Kristine, who has been strangely introverted until now, in the boardroom responds to Trump’s asking whether Angela is a good leader by saying, “if you want a vocal, micromanage leader, then no.” She also responds that yes, she herself is a good leader. [Wha? Wasn’t she dissing Muna just a few days ago for being all micromanagey?]
And notice, though, that the ones with the most bragging rights are the ones who get the flack or the boot: Nicole is nervous but humble when the whole “is Tim in love with you?” thing is brought up; and Angela, who is to this point Trump’s “Olympian,” his “star”, leaves with respectability, dignity, and admitted and accepted responsibility.
It was one of the quietest and sanest and least blaming and displacing of culpability boardroom nights, ever…in the midst of some of the boldest, most blatant, and most unjustifiable exaggerated egomania, as well.
The best show on TV. The biggest helicopter. Yak Yak Yak. While the biggest stars are muffled and snuffed.
What a shame.
Maybe Nicole can still pull off winning, despite the Draconian and dramatics around her.
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