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April 2, 2004
Culture
The Donald-Episode 12
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:39 AM
For once, I didn't agree with the Donald. I'm so tired of Kwame riding on everyone else's coattails...and his Harvard degree. If Troy had graduated from Wharton or Harvard, I think Kwame would have been fired last night. Sure, Troy is a loose cannon. Three examples come to mind: the signing of the footballs at Planet Hollywood, the duping of Katrina, and lying to the customers last night. That said, Kwame was just as much to blame for the football deception and the Katrina trick wasn't that bad. But lying to the customers was just wrong.
In fact, the way the guys treated their perspective clients disgusted me. They seemed nervous, shady and unprofessional. I don't blame that one guy for saying he felt like he was being conned. So Troy really blew it there. But at least he does something. What about his great revelation on the bottled water episode? Or his ability to charm people on the charity auction episode? On the other hand, Kwame just flies under the radar every week. Has he done anything spectacular? I'm pretty sure he'll get the ax next week if his team loses. The "H" bomb can only take him so far.
As for Nick and Amy's performance last night, they seemed to win by sheer luck. The whole challenge was pretty lame, considering Trump told them to shoot for the $20,000 range. And I have a hard time believing that Nick and Amy were just sitting around two minutes before the deadline talking about marriage. There's something fishy about that.
Now that the competition's getting down to the wire, the mind games are really heating up. I love that Bill is being so devious, encouraging Nick and Amy to hook up on the airplane. I didn't know he had it in him! It's pretty underhanded, but Amy has it coming. Plus, my co-worker Bobbie mentioned that Bill may have fabricated the ominous horoscope he read to Kwame. If so, he's not the fresh-faced, innocent guy I thought he was. That may be what it takes to beat out the other players.
I feel kind of bad for Nick. Unless he's a great actor, he seems to genuinely like Amy. She's totally messing with him. On the other hand, Nick's dad Moose (whom I absolutely adored!) did mention that Nick is quite a ladies man, and may even have a girl on the West Coast. So maybe Nick isn't so innocent after all. I loved the grimace Amy made during that scene. She needs to work on her poker face! I can't wait to see what happens with those two AFTER the show.
We're really getting down to the wire. My predicition is Kwame will get the boot next, followed by Bill and Amy. If Nick plays his cards right, he may be the next Apprentice...
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Entertainment As Serious Business
Firing Troy and keeping Kwame was the made-for-tv choice, not the true business performance choice.
While Kwame's "credentials" look good on paper, this guy has been pretty boy dead weight in just about all the tasks. The best thing going for the guy are his board-room post-mortems... and we've had *plenty* of opportunities to see him in action there.
While Troy has been in the boardroom alot too, during every opportunity he has had as project manager, unlike Kwame, Troy has actually *led* the team. Troy is a shrewd, shrewd operator whose chameleon-like ability to read a situation on-the-fly in order to close a deal belied his country bumpkin, high school grad exterior.
Who could forget Troy's charming of the Fab-Five or the Designer whose name no one could pronounce? Did any of these guys go to college? I doubt it. While having a college and graduate education is nice, it certainly does not measure business success. Michael Dell? Steve Jobs? Paul Allen? Larry Ellison? Oprah? These people are worth more than Trump and they do not have a college degree. When Urban Music and Fashion Mogul Russell Simmons(who is definitely merely a high school grad) was more interested in doing a deal with Troy than with Kwame during the charity event, we know Trump's reasoning for firing Troy was bogus.
This game is not life, and in a real business situation, Troy is a much, much shrewder and better choice. If Trump put Kwame in charge of failing Trump casinos, a year from now Trump would be listening to Kwame discuss how the defunct casinos were a bad business to be in in the first place. If Trump had kept Troy and put Troy in charge, I bet that Troy the hustler would have found a way to be continuing talking to Trump about how those casinos could be doing better the next year. Or maybe the president position in one of Trump's organization is too low for true moguls. While $250K/yr is nothing to sneeze at, it's certainly not all that.
Of course, Troy's firing was quickly overshadowed by next week's trailer tease that: She's baaaack! I wonder how Omorosa extends her fifteen minutes... Just a reminder that this is entertainment. And I guess at the end of the day, entertainment is serious business. So kudos to The Donald and Mark Burnett for keepin' us watchin'!
The trouble with these last episodes is that Trump and his associates are starting to make value judgments in the boardroom based on whether the candidate would be an asset to the Trump company. The skills that the Apprentice tasks value, like salesmanship, entrepreneurial tasks, etc., are in direct opposition to what the reward for the show will be, which is a position as a middle manager in the Trump empire. If you were hiring a middle manager, of course, you might rather have someone like Kwame, whose business ethics you could trust (I'm not saying that the Donald has these ethics), rather than an entrepreneurial spirit like Troy.
My prediction for the final victors in the Final Four, in order of how they'll be fired: Kwame, Nick, Amy, Bill (Bill with the victory).
I'm hoping that Omarosa just plays an auxiliary role in the next episode. But I can't wait for next week!
I, too, find the last minute agreement for the Nick/Amy team a little fishy. I also find the family visits a little fishy. I mean to have family members ready for the winners at the drop of a hat. And it seamed kind of convenient for the show to have its "romance" team win the task and get the trip. I hope we are not being "duped" and that there is way more entertainment then reality going on.
Wow. I smell a rat on the last-minute deal for Nick/Amy. But, it's plausible that someone who really wanted something but was scared initially by the price and/or lease restrictions would come back later in the day and buy. Plausible, but improbable.
Did not see this one coming. My set-up for the end was Nick and Amy lose, Nick gets canned, and Amy chooses Bill for her team. They then defeat Kwame and Troy and that leaves Bill and Amy as the final competitors.
It can still be an Amy-Bill finale, but it's not looking as likely.
I don't think Troy was fired for not having a degree. I think he was fired for his defensiveness about it - constantly mentioning his lack of a degree and his "aw shucks, Aah'm just country boy" routine. You don't see Steven Jobs, Bill Gates, or even the late Sam Walton constantly bringing up their lack of credentials.
I wish Amy had been canned before Troy, but Katrina was right on this one, they've led Donald to think Amy is some sort of superstar.
I have really begun to loathe Amy. Pity the only qualified woman constestant on this show would turn out to be such an egomaniac. I loved the fact that no one waited for her to come back from the boardroom.
Why couldn't the producers of this show find a woman like Carolyn? She's leaps and bounds better (smarter, classier, and prettier) than the best woman on this show (Amy - who really does not look good sans make-up).
Bill has begun to try to play mind games - and it turns out he sucks at it. Too locker room -ish. Although the best locker room -ish comment title belongs to Kwame with the boardroom cherry remark to Amy.
Kwame must be doing more than we're seeing. Donald is obviously impressed with his Harvard MBA and his job with Goldman Sachs - both say good things about Kwame. I wonder if Donald is a little defensive about his own degree (Wharton) and feels if he gives the job to a less-credentialled candidate, he is diminishing his own degree.
Nick is still toast - he just doesn't know it. His nervous grin in the boardroom everytime they win makes me think he just peed his pants and is afraid someone will find out. I half expect him to start giggling maniacally and flapping his arms like a demented monkey.
I think the Nick-Amy flirtation is nauseating. I also think Nick is over Amy, but won't say anything yet in hopes he can get her into bed for a quick fling.
Bill is the one who should win, but I think Kwame may be a serious competitor.
All three guys deserve massive kudos for handling the boardroom like professionals. Troy made a very classy exit and Kwame was a gracious winner. Their bonhommie the night before was a refreshing change from the tension the women usually generated.
I don't think Troy sold out Kwame. He knew he had a better chance against Kwame than against Bill - and Kwame knew it, too. Besides, if one of you is going down, you might as well go down swinging together. Troy's analysis of Kwame's lack of leadership echoed Carolyn's assessment.
I think Bill's comment aobut Kwame needing a little more experience to round out his education was spot on. Kwame's obviously smart and has impeccable credentials (HBS and G-S), but lacks that little leadership quality that makes people willing to charge a machine gun nest for you.
On the next show it look like the Don will fire two people in the 1st half hour. I think it is Nick and Amy.
First of all, why can't Moose be the Apprentice?! I loved his shoot-from-the-hip style. And those glasses!
I also enjoyed Bill's Cruel Intentions pyschosexual episode last night. Did anyone ever think that Nick was gay? Was Bill trying to get them to hook up in the plane to undermine their chances of winning? Are these the "games" that the Donald blasted in the previews for next week? And does Bill himself have eyes for one of the final 4? His weird little comments raise so many delightful questions! And what killer product placement for both Burberry and Sam Adams.
I can't believe Kwame is going to win, because he has been dead weight. But what recommends him is that he has a silent, low-key style reminiscent of Carolyn and George. Clearly Type A Donald surrounds himself with Type B deputies. Kwame may in fact be perfect for that. If he doesn't it make it, it will be because Carolyn does him in. Her criticism last night was simple, but in its way, withering.
I agree that T-Roy was too loose a cannon—especially given that he was being taped. Everyone now knows he's a bit of a huckster. Yes, he's effective, charming, and entertaining on the show. But for everyone in America, his cover is blown!
I also enjoy that Amy has gotten so full of herself. That may well be her undoing. The only positive is that her competitors have more serious flaws.
Finally, Survivor All-Stars: How much do we love Boston Rob????
Has anyone considered that Omarosa may have been a plant all along? I mean the plaster, the constant mind-games, etc... all for the sake of getting the "best" or the "worst" from the crew. A plant I tell you...
The Donald will fire amy next, Bill, Kwame and Nick will have to fight to the death of one person, then the last two people left will have the duty of helping the donald try to reduce his casino debt.
Did Troy write comment #1?
Early on this blog someone theorized that Omo was a plant. Perhaps they were right.
Troy was not the right pick last night, but at this point it's probably academic (pun intended). Trump likely has a good idea of who'll win. Kwame certanily can't expect to win after the drubbing Trump's team gave him about his leadership abilities. "You've been a project manager, but you've never really led." I'm glad they recognized that.
Nick & Amy looked too collected sitting in the lobby. I think they were expecting that person to return and knew what he was going to bid. I also think they may have strategized to sit in the lobby with long faces so the other team wouldn't be so aggressive about getting a high price, making the other team think that any price would be better than nothing.
Troy's car dealer/real estate agent tactics were not impressive. Good for the guy to recognize the con. I usually walk out in such situations as well. Bill's shown some good stuff, but he is an antagonistic and doesn't .
Amy's a star, but I think her judgements are often inaccurate, like her criticism of Nick's sales approach last night which turned out to be wrong and her underestimation of Nick thinking Bill's her biggest competition. But, I still woudn't be surprised to see Trump put all three to work.
Anybody see the piece in People? There's a lot of this show that doesn't make the air - so it's really tough to tell who's the real favorite. Bill said that some boardroom sessions go on for 2 hours. The show may be edited for a surprise ending.
i think nick and amy went over the time limit. check the clock. that was a bad deal for the fellas.
Conspiracy Theorists Unite. Omarosa a plant? That would be absolutely fantastic. If it is true, I think it may help Kwame. On the "exclusive" video on NBC.com, he definitely spends some quality time with her.
I almost shed a tear for Troy last night. Love the fact that he and Kwame went toe to toe and seemingly still came out as friends.
I am going with Bill and Kwame in the final two. Bill had better stop chewing the inside of his cheek in the boardroom if he expects to win.
I agree. Lets not forget why Mark Burnett and Donald Trump have this show. Entertainment and Business. I feel lot which goes on has some fabrication. Amazing last minute 40k deal by Nick, Amy or Troy's dismissal. With Kwame's leadership qualities questioned, I do not expect him to make it to finale on April 12th. Nick has been too reserved to understand his strengths or strategy. I believe both he and amy have done equally poor in leading the teams as project managers. They have brought nothing to the table. Bill seems only the odd man out. Donald would probably fire Nick and Amy in first 1/2 hour of the show with Kwame and Bill in the finale.
Did anyone notice the 'TAJ' symbol on the computer screen behind Omarosa in the preview? I guess the next challenge may be something to do with the casinos since they are already running in loss.
Wouldn't it be great to see a reunion show months from now to see how all the contestants are doing?
I think Troy would make a great CEO but not for a company like Trumps. That position needs some who has credentials and talent to back them up.
There has got to be more we are not seeing because Troy at this point has out performed Kwame.
I think Nick and Amy were expecting that last gentleman to show than we were led to believe. I think it was edited to make for good television.
My prediction because this is televison and I there is a lot that we are not seeing, the final episode will feature Bill and Kwame.
A note to "milo mindbender" re: finding someone like carolyn:
"Why couldn't the producers of this show find a woman like Carolyn? She's leaps and bounds better (smarter, classier, and prettier) than the best woman on this show (Amy - who really does not look good sans make-up)."
The producers may find plenty of smart, classy, attractive, and capable (even stellar) people -- convincing such people to agree to an "apprentice-style" job interview may be a tough sell.
The show may discover some true talent and gems, but in the end it is really nothing more than new revenue streams and publicity for Trump and Barnett, and entertainment for the rest of us...
I heard a rumor that Richard Branson will be putting together a similar show...
My guess is that Omarosa is going to threaten to sue Trump over the plaster incident. In the preview, she said something like, "we have a problem." Hmmm. Should be interesting.
Did anyone see Trump on Saturday Night Live this weekend? He was so great. Much funnier than most of the guest hosts. There were a lot of great Apprentice spoofs...like when George, the Donald, and Carolyn were in the "boardroom" with three SNL cast members grilling them about how they thought rehearsals went. There was another great skit in which Trump played a janitor with a funny mustache and a one-piece jumpsuit. He wound up trading places with the rich building owner he worked for. Pure comic genius. I loved it!
Has anyone bought Trump's new book?
Somebody who is ready to spend 40k for a night doesnt have even basic negotiation skills to know that amy and nick were desperate and he could have got the deal done in less than 30k. It was really fishy that with no skills or strategy nick/amy win the challenge whereas the guys who did give it a try end up losers. but guess thats TV for you. It sucks to see troy go cause he was the only with great people skills and to run an organization you need to understand people and be innovative. I think the donald needs probably a 'yes' man.
this is a place i will surely visit again sometime.
Though this is a reality show, they are also playing a game.
The apparent last minute deal may be a plant as well as one or 2 of the customers from Troy's team. What if both teams faced a plant and how well they did their negotiating affected their price. This also applies to the Appartment episode weeks ago.
Omarosa thinks highly of herself. It is almost obvious who gets fired each week because of the amount of airtime that person gets during that show. If I were Donald and had Omarosa as a plant she would get fired for real. She made a poor decision to have her makeup "Touched-up" on a sales call (IMHO).
I see that there is a book on the way, but I would like to see a behind the scenes DVD with Donald providing tips and pointing out the good and bad from each project.
I think there is some string pulling going on behind the strings. The apartment contest was won by Katrina & Bill's team, until a last second prospective tenant miraculously appeared to rent Troy's apartment for a nice, high, price. I guess it could be a coincidence, like the last episode, but I really doubt it.
Last night Dennis Miller (CNBC) was joined by F'in Heidi, Omarosa "I was in the White House" Manningault-Stallzasfwerorekgtth and Evil-eye Sam.
Guess who did all the talking.
Dennis was very polite in trying to make Omarosa see that the "pot calling the kettle black" comment wasn't racist. And he was a little more straight-forward in trying to make Sam see that most employers think of work-time and nap-time as being mutually exclusive. Heidi's mom is in remission.
The biggest news was that Omarosa has a "tell-all" book in the works. She mentioned it three times. I guess if she's working on her book then she won't have to change the subject when asked why no one has hired her
Trump's new book is good if you like reading about common practical proverbs applied to business. Things like, "sometimes you have to hold a grudge", "take the good with the bad", etc. I don't think following his advice will make you rich, but then again, you never know.
Bill is my favorite to win the position with Trump. He has been steadfast in his thinking, behavior, commitment, and willingness to comply when necessary. Nick is too busy pushing himself in your face and just wants to score - as with Amy. Although she does it more passively. They may be a cutie couple - but cute doesn't get you to the top. Kwamie lacks leadership and hasn't shown apprentice attributes in any situation. I thought Troy a strong contender but got sick and tired of his yammering about being 'just a good 'ol country boy' ways and silver tongue.
I dread the thought of Omarosa!! Can you imagine her being your boss? Pleeeeze - lets nip this hoity-toity omarosa in the bud!
I grew to really like Heidi and miss her on the show. But my vote still goes to BILL for his dedication, understanding, and willingness to adapt and get the job done, for Trump and the coveted position.
Regretfully, the resolution is typically an estimation that is so straightforward it would just necessitate a short period of time to get into position, but is typically overlooked.
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