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Browse by Category › The Apprentice
February 1, 2008
"He thinks he's still on the Sopranos..."
Posted by Bobbie Gossage at 6:01 PM
Even after watching his antics for two hours on the Apprentice last night, I'm still not totally sure what Vinny Pastore was up to. On her Celebrity Apprentice blog, former Inc. editor Nadine Heintz theorizes that Pastore felt guilty because the women were nice to him. She also offers a hilarious list of her favorite moments from the episode. My favorite moment was Piers Morgan's revelation that he was raised by nuns. They must have been some very interesting nuns.
January 18, 2008
Farewell, Gene Simmons
Posted by Bobbie Gossage at 1:39 PM
I've watched every season of the Apprentice (yes, I'm publicly admitting to that), and this one is by far the best. Gene Simmons was cracking me up last night. I was excited to discover that former Inc. editor Nadine Heintz is offering her witty take on the episodes. You can read her Celebrity Apprentice blog here, including a recap of Gene's downfall.
January 8, 2007
The Apprentice Season Premiere
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:43 AM
I reluctantly tuned in to the new season of the Apprentice last night. The Donald's recent desperate attempts to drum up publicity for the show have been nothing short of embarrassing. First the hullabaloo over the "shocking" antics of Miss USA. And then the ugly, ridiculous battle with Rosie. I guess it's just further proof that you can't buy class.
That said, I must confess that the Donald's sheer tackiness is part of the show's appeal. And tackiness is in no short supply this season. First of all, Trump seems to have died his hair bleach blond to blend in to sunny L.A. Then there was that opening scene that featured the Donald zipping up to his L.A. mansion to greet Melania and Baron. Gag! The contestants are no less artificial, which NBC seems to embrace by giving them one-dimensional labels. There's Heidi the Hottie, for example, and Surya the Hair. So are they basically admitting that the best thing Surya has going for him is his Gotti-esque hairdo? Not surprisingly, the women's labels are demeaning. Besides Heidi the Hottie, there's Jenn the Blonde and Nicole the Dreamer. But I guess Aimee the Thinker balances it all out. The fact that there's only one Thinker in the bunch doesn't bode well for the caliber of this season's candidates!
I will admit that I like the change of venue and it is pretty fun to watch the losing team camp out behind the winners' mansion. Not like the mansion is that great anyway. Are you telling me there's only one bedroom in that whole place? The bunkroom style sleep quarters are pretty bad. Still, it must be awful to watch the other players' relax in the pool while you sweat it out on a tree stump and brush your teeth over sinks of stagnant water. Despite those new twists, what's really going to make or break this season are the tasks. One reason why the New York show started to slump is that it seemed to be repeating the same lame challenges season after season, most of which were blatant promotions for advertisers. I'm hoping that the show will break out of that mode now that it's in L.A.
Last night's carwash challenge wasn't exactly thrilling, but at least it didn't involve a big box retailer or a car company. And it was pretty telling. Martin the Philosopher is clearly too timid to be a good salesperson and Frank totally blew it by spending an hour at the copy shop printing up those tiny black and white signs. That was a huge blunder. Sure, the other team looked like hitchhikers and hobos with their cardboard signs, but they did attract plenty of customers--too many, in fact. I would have been pretty annoyed if I had to wait an hour for a car wash. But Heidi and everyone else really rolled up their sleeves and got the job done. I was pretty impressed, especially when Heidi was kneeling on her bare knees on the pavement scrubbing hubcaps.
In the end, Heidi's high volume strategy trumped Frank's up selling approach. The latter strategy seemed particularly risky considering that Frank had no way of knowing whether his team members were good salespeople. Also, the $10 price point did seem pretty low. I like Frank's go getter attitude, but it would have been smart to hold a 10 or 15 minute strategy session at the start of the task. Frank's other problem is that he doesn't listen. He talks over everyone and can't take any second-guessing or criticism. I wouldn't want him on my team.
I seriously needed an aspirin during the boardroom scene. Frank and Martin were both irritating in their own special ways. I think Ivanka got it right when she said that Martin would never fit in at the Trump Organization. He's too full of himself, and we all know there's room for only one person like that at Trump Inc. Heidi was almost as smug and annoying as Martin. Considering her team won by a slim margin and hit some pretty serious rough patches, a bit more humbleness was in order. Though I agree with the Donald's decision to can Martin, I'm not a fan of Heidi or Frank.
So far, my favorite contestant is Angela the Olympian, just because she's the only one who actually seems to have any substance. Plus, she looks like a hockey player (which she is), not a Barbie doll. I'm looking forward to watching her in action. At this point, it's hard to form an opinion on many of the characters, but I will say that a couple of them, including James the Webhead, seem to have some potential to shine and entertain. That said, I have serious doubts that natty Ivanka will be a sufficient replacement for icy Caroline and wise old George. I guess we'll find out.
August 31, 2006
Room for only one diva at Trump Org?
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 1:12 PM
Carolyn neglected to follow what I always assumed to be an unspoken rule at the Trump Organization: Don't outshine the boss. I guess Carolyn was becoming a bit too popular for the Donald's tastes. According to a story in the New York Post, Trump's left-hand woman was spending too much time in the limelight, and not enough time memorizing the prices of goods in the pro shop of the Briarcliff, New York golf course she managed. So she's being replaced by Trump's daughter, Ivanka. I know a lot of people are Ivanka fans, and I thought she was better than, say, Alexis Stewart, but she's no Carolyn.
From a business owner's perspective, it sounds like Carolyn might have deserved to be fired. But from a TV watcher's perspective, it was just another one of Trump's bad HR decisions. Carolyn's witchy straight talk has always added a lot of spice to the Apprentice. Not only does she give her opinion, she doesn't bother to sugar coat it. She was a nice counterbalance to George, who's honest in a crusty but lovable grandpa way. I'll also miss the uncomfortable tension between Carolyn and Bill Rancic. I wonder if Bill is upset...or relieved. As for Carolyn's future, I wonder if people will continue to take her business advice. If past celebrity scandals are any indication, she'll be more popular than ever.
Even worse news: the Post article hinted that George might be replaced by the Donald's son. The Apprentice has been hanging by a thread ratings-wise for two seasons now. The elimination of both George and Carolyn would surely guarantee that this upcoming season will be the Donald's last. Perhaps that's his plan?
June 6, 2006
The Apprentice - Finale
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:25 AM
I'm not surprised that Sean won last night. The Donald was being generous when he said that Lee did a "good" job. In the end, the hockey fundraiser was a success, but Gold Rush's performance was terrible.
Lee was in way over his head. Even worse, he didn't seem to take the task, or the sponsors, seriously. His biggest mistake was putting so much trust in Lenny. Why the heck did Lee put him in charge of handling the celebrity hockey players, especially after he made that stupid comment about Jamie Fox in front of the woman from the Leary Firefighters Fund? Jaime Pressley and Michale J. Fox, not Jamie Fox, were coming to the event, you fool! As Caroline pointed out, Lenny made everyone uncomfortable. I felt especially bad for Jason Priestley when the woman at the Chelsea Piers sign-up desk asked him for his name. That was unbelievable. And then Lenny abandoned Jaime Pressley in the men's locker room. I loved when she told Lenny to "Get your *&^! together, apprentice boy." That was priceless. Thank goodness the celebs had a good sense of humor.
Overall, it didn't seem like Gold Rush did much of anything. The women from the Leary foundation shot down most of their ideas. Lee couldn't even figure out how to introduce the players, or how Jaime Pressly would get on the ice without slipping. The pre-party looked like a snooze fest, the auction was slapdash, and Lee capped off his terrible performance by failing to greet the Donald at the front door. Unbelievable. By the end of the challenge, it was clear that Lee could not handle a huge real estate project.
Sean had his own set of problems. I almost died when he suggested that the Donald drive on stage with a giant panda bear in the passenger seat. The Pontiac executive was clearly appalled by the idea, but Sean kept pushing it. He should have been able to read the executive better. Then he went ahead and rented the panda suit anyway! Having the panda greeting people really dumbed down the whole event. It would have been classier to emphasize the wildlife aspect by, say, filling the pre-party room and the stage with big potted plants. Of course, the other huge mistake was not putting any Pontiac signage in the pre-party room. Maybe if Sean had met with the sponsor initially, instead of cooing over Tammy during the meeting with the caterer, he would have had a better idea of Pontiac's expectations.
Overall, though, Synergy's pre-party seemed fun and lively, the auction went well, and everything looked great. I also liked the Donald's splashy entrance onto the stage. Importantly, the band seemed to be well cared for and Sean was on the helipad to greet the Donald as soon as he landed. The difference between Sean and Lee was night and day. The one thing they did have in common was excessive hair gel. I can't believe that Sean actually ran into the hotel salon for some good luck hair product!
I must admit that I skipped over some of that "live audience" nonsense during last night's show. I can't believe that Donnie Jr., Ivanka, and George didn't have anything interesting to say. Sure, Lee is a good guy and he has potential, but it was clear after the final task that Sean was the better candidate, thanks, in large part, to his ten years of business experience. And then, just as Caroline was about to give her pick, the Donald cut her off. How boring!
The one surprise of the night was Sean's confession that he and Tammy were going to get married. Did I hear that right? Too bad Tammy was in the dark, literally, at that point. I would have loved to see the expression on her face. I never got the feeling that she liked Sean as much as he obviously likes her. Be careful, Sean! It should be interesting to see if next season's move to L.A. revives this show. I have no idea how the Donald is going to handle the commute. I guess we'll find out in January.
May 30, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 14
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:34 AM
Has Sean lost his mind? He seems more focused on winning Tammy than on becoming the next apprentice. I'm surprised by his immature behavior. If he acted like that with an actual employee, he'd be in big trouble. Tarek should take him aside and attempt to re-focus him on the event.
Sean wasn't the only one screwing up last night. Lee is in way over his head. First of all, I can't believe he chose Pepi to be on his team. Pepi got canned in week two after the disastrous Gillette/bathrobe incident. Caroline didn't even remember his name! Surely that choice won't reflect well on Lee if the task does wind up being a disaster. Lee's other big mistakes are his cocky attitude and his lack of respect for the woman from the Leary foundation. I don't blame her for being annoyed when Lee asked her, "What's up?" That's not very professional behavior. He's treating her like a pest...and right in front of Carolyn! I'd like to see him try that with Denis Leary.
As Carolyn pointed out, Lee doesn't seem to be taking the task seriously at all. I can't tell if Lee and his team have accomplished anything so far. They really botched the negotiation with the Pontiac sponsors by aiming too low. The fact that they didn't press for matching funds after Pepi brought up that possibility made them seem disorganized and sloppy. They really should have discussed their strategy beforehand!
It's hard to say how well Sean's team is doing at this point. They weren't very creative with their fundraising ideas. The thought of asking Pontiac for a matching donation didn't even occur to them. The fact that Sean chose to join Tammy at a meeting with the caterer instead of talking to the event sponsor shows how bad his judgement is right now. I couldn't believe it when he kissed Tammy on the head! He really needs to table that nonsense for later. It's not even clear whether Tammy is interested, or if she's just playing along for now. The whole situation is very bizarre.
Maybe Andrea's illness will snap Sean back into reality. I've never liked Andrea, but I can see why Sean hired her. What she lacks in personality and sales prowess she makes up for in organizational skills. I hope she's not seriously ill. A quick Google search of her symptoms turned up a wide array of possible reasons for coughing up blood, from a common cold to lung cancer. Yikes. And yet Tammy had the audacity to ask Andrea to stop off at the store on her way back from the doctor's office. I realize they have a job to do, but that wasn't right. A colleague's health should trump all else.
It should be interesting to see which one of these buffoons wins the apprenticeship. Will Sean snap out of his lovesick puppy routine? Will Andrea bounce back? Will Lee get it together at the eleventh hour? I guess we'll find out next week.
May 23, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 13
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 9:59 AM
Last night's episode was delicious. As Tammy predicted, Allie and Roxanne couldn't handle a non-sales task. Allie broke every rule in the book. She ignored the needs of the customer (the hotel employees), she dismissed her teammate's ideas, and she pretended to know more than the design expert. Plus, she was just plain rude and obnoxious.
The weird dynamic between Allie and Roxanne was fascinating. Roxanne knew Allie was wrong to go with skirts instead of pants for the front desk workers, but the friendship prevented her from putting up a fight. Roxanne seemed shocked by the way Allie treated the designer, but she kept her mouth shut once again. Meanwhile, Allie treated Roxanne like she wasn't even part of the team. Some friend. I wrote a story about being friends with your employees a couple of years ago, and the general rule of thumb seemed to be that if you can compartmentalize the different facets of your relationship, it can work out. But that's incredibly hard to do. Obviously, Allie and Roxanne are not mature enough to handle a complex relationship.
Lee and Sean, on the other hand, struck the perfect balance between having fun, being pals, and getting the job done. They have a good relationship, but there's a healthy amount of distance...they weren't hugging and kissing every five seconds like phony Allie and Roxanne.
Relationship dynamics aside, Gold Rush had the clear advantage. Sean obviously has good taste, and Lee didn't do so badly either. Even though Sean was the style guru on the team, he had no problem taking Lee's suggestions regarding design and fabric. That's a sign of a good leader. Lee's biggest contribution was listening to the hotel workers and realizing that they didn't want a drastic change or trendy uniforms. They just wanted to be comfortable and look nice. Sure, Gold Rush's designs weren't exactly cutting edge, but the fabric was breathable and the clothes were well suited for all different body types.
The same cannot be said for Synergy's ridiculous designs. As Ivanka pointed out, not many women would look good in Synergy's puffy-sleeved get-ups. I was getting uncomfortable just looking at the material. I can't imagine changing sheets and vacuuming in such a tight-fitting, synthetic fabric. And why did Allie decide to break the mold by putting the cooks in khaki? Didn't she stop to ask why cooks always wear white? She clearly missed the whole point of the task, which was to win over the staffers. The outfits belonged in a B movie about hotel workers, not real life.
Needless to say, I was very happy that Sean and Lee won. (I felt terrible for Sean when the women returned from the boardroom and proceeded to tear apart Tammy. I don't know if it's just an act, but Sean really seems to have a thing for Tammy. I'll have to keep an eye on them at the finale party.) The reward was pretty great, the next best thing to having dinner with the Donald himself. Ivanka and Don Jr. seem like nice people.
The same cannot be said for evil Allie and Roxanne, especially after the boardroom massacre. I wasn't surprised at all by the fact that they ripped each other apart. Allie clearly deserved more of the blame, but two nicer people might have figured out a way to get around the slugfest. Remember when Lee helped prep Lenny for the boardroom, and defended him vehemently? If the women had any sense, they would have figured out that the Donald admires loyalty (most of the time, at least). When he tried to pit them against each other, they should have stood their ground and shared the blame. That was their only chance at survival. Instead, they attacked each other like two angry dogs. In the end, the Donald made the right choice by firing them both. I'm only shocked they made it this far. I was also surprised by the taxi cab confession. The fact that Allie and Roxanne could switch from attacking one another back to the best friends routine shows how phony they really are. Good riddance!
Even though this season's contestants have been the worst yet, Sean and Lee aren't bad. I could see either one of them turning into the next Bill Rancic. I guess we'll find out in the next couple of weeks!
May 16, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 12
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:55 AM
Last night was really painful. I couldn't bear to watch Allie and Roxanne. Their performances proved once and for all that they are way too petty and immature to run a Trump company, or any company, for that matter. Tammy was no star, either. Her red carpet idea was lame. I didn't really see a clear connection between that and the X-box. I didn't think the lounge looked as bad as Trump made it out to be, but it was a huge mistake not to feature prices and other signage explaining the product. As the executives pointed out, it was a cool place to hang out, but it didn't promote buying anything.
That wasn't Tammy's only blunder. I can't figure out why she told Allie and Roxanne that she wanted the task to be about her. Why on earth would she say that, especially to two self-centered brats like Roxanne and Allie? Tammy's next big mistake was her whiny leadership style. Maybe if she had shown some more backbone, she would have inspired her team to offer suggestions and put more effort into the task. In the end, I'm not sure it would have mattered. Allie and Roxanne should be embarrassed by their grade-schoolish behavior.
In contrast, Lee and Sean worked together very well. It was obvious from the beginning, however, that something was going to go terribly wrong with the floor and roof. I was very leary when the contractor said he could have the floor done in a few hours. That seemed overly optimistic. But Sean seemed to be quite pleased with himself for outsourcing the bulk of the task. In the end, relying on someone else was his downfall. If it had worked, though, the display would have been spot-on.
Unfortunately for Sean, that didn't happen. The fact that he and Lee won the competition despite their flabby, unfinished display underscores how lame this season has been. Sean's concept was excellent, and I liked the way he and Lee integrated various products that could be used with the X-box, but the execution was miserable. In past seasons, execution has always been weighed as heavily, or almost as heavily, as concept. I don't blame the executives for seeming underwhelmed.
I considered pressing Mute several times during the boardroom scene. Tammy's whiny voice was really getting to me. I loved when Ivanka pointed out that Allie was rolling her eyes. I'm glad Bill spoke up and mentioned how Allie was doing the same early on. Bill obviously thinks Allie is unprofessional. However, it was smart of her to stay relatively mum as Roxanne and Tammy screamed at each other. What an embarrassment! All three of them should have gotten the ax.
As Tammy pointed out in her taxi cab confessional, it should be interesting to see how Allie and Roxanne perform without her on another non-sales task. They're great salespeople, but that's about all. I'm sure they'll both have wonderful careers in that capacity, but it takes more than sales acumen to run a company. I can't imagine either one of them managing a team well. So I guess I was totally wrong about Tammy and Sean being in the final two. Unless Synergy peforms a miracle next week, it may be a male-dominated final showdown. And rightly so.
May 9, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 11
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:38 AM
I really wanted Allie to lose last night. I can't believe that her team did so well, considering that they did very little marketing beforehand and had no concept planned. In fact, I can't figure out exactly what Synergy did the night before the tailgate party. They just seemed to be driving around in the van talking about cheerleading.
At the end of the day, however, the task came down to selling, not marketing. The guys had hundreds of people at their event, but they didn't think big. I was surprised that Lee didn't come up with the idea of delivering large orders to people at their cars. That seemed like a classic Lee move. Maybe he was too overwhelmed to step back and think. Plus, the price points were really low. I think the guys were charging just $3 or $4 for one of those giant blooming onions, which go for at least $5 at restaurants. As George pointed out, college kids go to football games with enough cash to buy lots of beer and food. That's especially true with homecoming games, I would imagine.
I hate to admit it, but I was impressed by Allie's sales prowess. It seemed like she was the first one to sell a large order and deliver it. She really saved the day, even though she wasn't even the project manager. That said, I still can't stand her personality. I think she's too petty and vindictive to be a well-respected leader. Instead of working out her problems with Sean, she held a huge grudge. That's not professional. I loved when Sean put the ear plugs in last night! Roxanne and Allie need to give it a rest.
Obviously, it was no shock that Michael was fired. It's about time! I can't believe he made it this long. I could see pretending to consider the head cheerleader's request, but I don't think he was pretending. I think he was fibbing in the boardroom when he said that he never intended to loan out a couple of cheerleaders to Synergy. On top of that, he didn't sell anything and he did a bad job of emceeing the events. Also, his cocky statement about how Gold Rush was bound to win since the party was a man's event made me laugh. A college guy would buy way more from Allie in a cheerleader outfit than he would from Michael! That shows how little he knew about the target audience.
I'm really disappointed in Sean and Lee. It seems like Allie, Tammy and Roxanne are the only real contenders left. At this point, I'm rooting for Tammy. She has just as much moxie as Allie and Roxanne, without the petty attitude. I guess we'll find out soon enough!
May 2, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 10
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:37 AM
I was shocked by Charmaine's awful leadership last night. I almost collapsed when Bill walked into the salon to find her getting her hair done. That was absurd. But that was just the icing on the cake. She was horrible from the very beginning. It was a complete waste to spend hours arranging hair products on shelves. As Lenny pointed out, marketing should have been Gold Rush's first priority. When they did finally get around to marketing, they wasted hours putting those cheap flyers on windshields in far-flung parking lots. I get really annoyed when I find one of those on my car, so I definitely would not have attended the so-called grand opening.
Charmaine was mostly responsible for the loss, but Tarek's bad attitude didn't help. He acted like a petulant child. At least Lee tried to talk Charmaine into focusing on marketing. Tarek spent most of the task whining like a baby and poking fun at Charmaine, which didn't really help the situation. That said, if Tarek had been less argumentative in the boardroom, the Donald might have spared him. He did do a great job on last week's Statue of Liberty brochure.
I was relieved that Synergy won, simply because I couldn't bear to see Sean raked over the coals by witchy Allie. I didn't blame Sean for not ganging up against Andrea in the last episode. Even though I couldn't stand Andrea, I thought it was honorable for him to help her out a bit while the ladies attacked her. I can't figure out why he told Allie that he did that to be strategic. Why didn't he just admit that he felt bad for Andrea? I don't get it.
I'll admit that Allie did a good job on the task. She's a great salesperson. But she's not a nice person overall. She reminds me of the schoolyard bully who alienates anyone who doesn't adore her and do her bidding. I hope she doesn't make it to the final two. I'm very disappointed in Roxanne as well. Thank goodness Tammy rose above the pettiness. I'm starting to like her more and more. I can't quite figure out if she and Sean really like each other in a romantic way, or if they're just flirting. It would be interesting to see them pitted against each other in the finale.
Right now, Tammy and Sean are leading the pack. I have no idea how Michael has lasted this long. He's always seemed clueless, which was confirmed last night when he said that Charmaine had done a good job. The Donald said that Michael's speech was great, but I thought it was comical. Give me a break! I'm not sure how long Lee the politician will last either. His non-strategy strategy seemed to fall apart last night when Caroline told him his argument didn't make sense. That said, I do like Lee's big ideas and he's definitely in my top three for now. It's too bad he didn't come up with a smart strategy for last night's task. Maybe going to a local office park and offering a great deal for lunchtime haircuts?
By the end of the episode, I was fed up with both Charmaine and Tarek, so I'm glad they're both gone. The taxi cab scene was priceless. I expected a little bickering, but the dead silence and Charmaine's crazy facial expressions were even more entertaining. Apparently the gang is heading to college next week to run an Outback Steakhouse tailgate party. I wonder if Tammy and Sean will be canoodling under the bleachers? I guess we'll find out.
April 25, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 9
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:58 AM
I'm glad that Andrea finally got canned last night. She hit the nail on the head when she said it's a good thing that she works for herself. It sounds like she might not have any employees, either, which is probably for the best. She's definitely not a people person and she basically admitted that her strongest talent is delegating. Of course, that's a key skill that any leader must have, and it's not easy to trust other people with important assignments. But in order to make it on this show, you must have other skills to contribute. How else can you win the respect of your teammates?
At the end of the day, Andrea was a bad salesperson, a bad team member, and a horrible designer. The Ellis Island booklet was ugly and amateurish. And who can forget the cheesy cereal ad that she created? That said, I wound up feeling bad for her by the end of the episode. I really didn't like the way things went down. But more on that later.
It was very refreshing to see Gold Rush win for a change. I have to hand it to Tarek for being creative and having a great eye. Andrea could learn a thing or two about graphic design and photography from him. Charmaine was also a star. She really hustled on the phone and stuck with it, despite rude responses from many of the hotels. I'm glad that one hotel sale came through in the end, even though the $85 deal wasn't a huge score.
I give Lee credit for thinking big, but he didn't seem to contribute much else to last night's task. Charmaine obviously has an ax to grind with him. I can't believe she was so shocked when inept Leslie was fired instead of Lee. That said, I do agree with Charmaine's assessment of Lee's performance last night. It definitely seemed like Tarek was project manager. And while Charmaine was busting her hump to make some bulk sales over the phone, Lee was merely feeding her leads. How hard is it to round up a bunch of hotel phone numbers? Lee did rally the troops early to stake out the best spot in Battery Park, and he's a good face-to-face salesperson. But he didn't pull as much weight as Tarek and Charmaine. And what about Michael? I thought he had been fired until I looked on the NBC site this morning. He's been virtually non-existent in the past couple of weeks.
For every good move that Gold Rush made, Synergy made a mistake. Andrea was right to criticize Allie and Tammy for wasting too much time on the tour scribbling down information. Pictures make a glossy booklet great; the words are secondary. Mistake numbers two, three, and four: Running back with Tammy to get the notebook, missing the boat, and handing over the design job to Tammy, knowing what a horrible job she did on the cereal billboard. I wish we had seen more of the brochures. All I know is that the "drastic changes" made by Allie didn't help the cover much.
As a matter of fact, I'm not quite sure who deserved to be fired more, Allie or Andrea. Allie seemed pretty clueless during the whole task. I can't believe that her team arrived downtown so late, essentially handing Gold Rush a captive audience and a victory. Sure, Andrea should have come forward with her bulk sales suggestion a day earlier, but why didn't Allie think of that? Then, after blowing the entire task, Allie launched a nasty campaign against Andrea. I understand that a little covert planning might be necessary in this game, but I was shocked when Allie made references to "blood on the boardroom walls" several times! That was pretty creepy. And then she sat in the boardroom all innocent looking as Roxanne extolled her virtues, saying that she's such a good person. I disagree. I'm surprised that Roxanne took part in the witch hunt, and I felt bad for Andrea. I'm glad Sean declined to get involved with Allie's scheme. Good for you, Sean.
I agree with the Donald's decision to fire Andrea last night, but I hope he realizes that Allie isn't much better. Don't be fooled by the perky smile and the perfect updo, Donald! After last night, I'm guessing that Charmaine, Tarek, and Sean will make it to the final three. At least I hope so.
April 11, 2006
The Apprentice - Weeks 7 and 8
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 2:13 PM
Lenny really blew it last night. I know he's never been a people person, but I didn't expect him to choke that badly with the Ace Hardware execs. The silence during that meeting was painful. Lenny's inane comment about Ace being a small town store was even worse than his silence. I understand what he meant, but it came out all wrong. Way to insult the judges, Lenny.
Charmaine was right when she suggested that Gold Rush prep for the Ace meeting, but she's clearly not assertive enough. A few episodes ago, she set up that ill-fated meeting that led to Bryce's downfall. Instead of insisting that they leave the loft, she waited for Bryce to take the lead...and the fall. That seems to be part of Charmaine's strategy. She makes a suggestion for the record, then sits back and watches as her project leader blows it. Maybe she doesn't have 15,000 faces, as Lenny proclaimed, but she definitely has two. And maybe if she whined less, people would actually listen to her when she makes a good point. Needless to say, I'm not a big Charmaine fan, even though she does have some good qualities.
As Bill aptly pointed out, the challenge was over when Gold Rush blew the initial meeting. If someone had asked the execs what they were looking for, they might have realized that the all-music room didn't encourage team work, which should have been the main objective. The room did look nice, and I'm sure some of the kids will enjoy it, but the judges' desires should have come first.
As for Synergy, Michael drove me crazy throughout the entire episode. He performs well when he's being managed by someone else, but he's obviously a terrible leader. He was unwilling to delegate tasks, yet it took hiim forever to make a simple decision. He needs a lot more confidence. In the end, though, the concept wound up working, thanks mostly to Michael's hard-working underlings. His presentation was pretty good as well.
Lenny's presentation, on the other hand, was a disaster. He blamed the language barrier and tiredness, but I think he just choked. He's been in the U.S. for 14 years, and he's perfectly clear when he's telling off his teammates, so the language excuse is pretty lame. That said, I felt bad for him and I thought it was nice, though bizarre, that Lee was trying to help. I'm surprised that those two wound up being friends after the whole religious holiday debate. It was very risky for Lee to be so loyal to Lenny, especially in the boardroom. Sometimes Trump slams contestants for putting friendship above business. This time, however, the Donald was clearly impressed by Lenny's loyalty. It made for one of the strangest boardroom scenes ever. I loved when Lenny said that he painted the room red to give props to his native country. It's too bad that, in the end, the Donald had no choice but to fire "the Russian." I will miss Lenny a lot, though I know he deserved the boot.
I like how the "Lee is a rebel" theme continued into the second episode last night. I thought Lee had an excellent point about the sandwich prices. I also liked his idea to sell a huge amount of P'Eatzzas to one person. That said, his negotiating skills leave a lot to be desired. George would have been appalled when Lee offered the potential customer $3, the rock bottom price, on the second go around. Hello? He should have cut the price from $7.99 to $5, then worked down from there. Even though the negotiation was a bust, Lee earned a lot of points from the Donald for thinking big. He's becoming a real contender.
Leslie, on the other hand, was clueless most of the time. Sure, the cooler was a good idea, but it all came down to price.Why didn't she listen to Lee when he said that the store managers thought $7.99 was too much? That's more than a fancy Cosi sandwich! As George pointed later on, Leslie clearly doesn't have what it takes to be the next Apprentice.
I really wanted Synergy to lose last night, just to see Andrea pummelled in the boardroom. I can't stand her smug, self-satisfied attitude for one more week. I couldn't believe her when she insisted on handing out those cheesy hats. Who the heck wants a 7-11 cap? And how do hats relate to sandwiches? In addition to being a dictator, she's a terrible salesperson. She's more offputting than the nasty-looking P'Eattzza sandwich.
I'm getting tired of Gold Rush losing every week. Hopefully the Donald will shake up the teams again in the next episode. It would be great if Michael landed back on Synergy's side. Right now, my money's on Lee and Charmaine for the final two.
April 4, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 6
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:04 AM
I'm still dumbfounded by Gold Rush's inept performance on the last task. They had a 10:15 meeting with the Arby's executives and they were still in the suite at 10:10. Even when they were clearly running late, they didn't seem the least bit upset. And they didn't even apologize when they walked into the room! The Arby's guy had to solicit an apology. Then Bryce lied and said that he didn't realize they were late. Charmaine clearly told him that the appointment was at 10:15. I don't get it. For a team that blew the last task in a big way, Gold Rush didn't seem too worried about screwing up. Where did the Donald find these people?
I didn't care for Gold Rush's jingle either. Charmaine and Leslie's lyrics were okay, except for the obvious omission, but the tune was way off. It sounded more like a folk song than a jingle...meat sandwiches aren't exactly folksy. That was Tarek's fault. Clearly, he and Charmaine should have gone to the boardroom instead of Lee. I can't believe that Charmaine thought the Donald might spare them all. What a joke! Bryce was a terrible leader, Lenny was useless, and the people who did contribute did a poor job. The team work just wasn't there.
Synergy's performance, on the other hand, was excellent from the get go. Roxanne kicked things off in the very beginning with her idea and everything flowed from there. The group dynamic was very positive; everyone seemed to contribute something. The jingle itself was a little edgy and very current. I was impressed. I was also happy that Sean made a good presentation after joking two weeks ago. He had something to prove and he did it. Good for you, Sean.
Back to the boardroom: I was shocked when Bryce picked on Lee for observing a religious holiday. What a mistake! The Donald made it clear a couple of weeks ago that missing a task to observe a holiday was acceptable. Even Lenny learned his lesson and kept his mouth shut this time. But Bryce is too cocky. I was amazed when he kept interrupting the Donald. And he also made a snarky comment! What an idiot. He definitely doesn't have the tact to run a big company. I'm so glad he was fired.
I was also disappointed in Lenny last night. His excuses seemed pretty lame...as Bill aptly pointed out, Lenny has lived in the US for 14 years, so he should be familiar with jingles. Maybe the lyrics would have been tricky for someone whose first language isn't English, but he could have helped in some other way. Instead, he just skulked in the shadows for the most part. He should probably offer to be project manager next week to prove himself to the Donald.
Speaking of project managers, Sean's lady killer routine is pretty amusing. All the women on his team seem to have a huge crush on him. It's rather entertaining. Maybe Sean and Roxanne will be this season's Nick and Amy?
For now, my money's on Roxanne and Sean to make it to the final two. Roxanne seems a little less seasoned than the others, but that could actually be an advantage. After all, Kendra was chosen, in part, because she was young enough to be molded into a proper Trump employee. Tammy's a contender as well, but I don't care for her witchy personality. Roxanne and Sean have a lot more heart.
I tried to get the inside scoop from George Ross at the Inc. 500 conference in Savannah last week. He spoke about negotiating strategies and he also talked a bit about the Apprentice. When I asked him who the next Apprentice would be, he said NBC would dock him $5 million if he leaked any secret information. He did mention how appalled he was by some contestants' behavior in the boardroom. He said one fight went on for two hours. No wonder he's going on so many "business trips" these days! The negotiation talk itself was excellent. George is as Frank in person as he is on TV. In fact, he surprised some audience members by saying that it's okay to lie during negotiations. I wonder if Bryce's fib about the appointment time was a wise move after all?
March 28, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 5
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:03 AM
I must admit that I liked Lenny's castaway idea at first. I thought ads that told some sort of story were usually a hit, but maybe that was a fad. Or maybe the commercial was just badly executed. I was picturing a Tom Hanks-type castaway on a nice wooden raft in the middle of a big ocean. Instead, Gold Rush gave us a guy covered in seaweed on a raft right next to a dock. That made no sense! The commercial looked amateurish compared to Synergy's polished footage. And Tarek's refusal to use a voice over instead of text was the final blow. Lenny was right to put up a fight over that decision.
Danny was a terrible leader. I wanted to smack some sense into him in the beginning of the episode. There was no reason for his obnoxious, high-strung behavior. That set a bad tone for the rest of the task. Danny was a complete control freak who couldn't trust his teammates with anything. The only person he listened to was Tarek, and that wound up being a huge mistake. Tarek is just as much of a control freak as Danny. He seemed insulted when Lenny suggested doing away with the text on the commercial. Get over yourself! In a previous season, the same thing...too much text on an ad...led to another team's downfall. I guess Mr. Mensa didn't do his homework before coming on the show.
Andrea's behavior during last night's episode made me like her even less. She was clearly looking to make Roxanne a scapegoat to pay her back for her negative comments in the last boardroom. How manipulative and petty. I'm glad Andrea's evil plan didn't work. I'll admit that Roxanne did seem shaky at first, but she eventually came into her own, despite Andrea's domineering behavior. I'm glad Roxanne stood up to Andrea and stuck with the opening black and white scene, which really grabbed the attention of the cruise line executives. Maybe that will teach Andrea some humility, but I doubt it.
I was disappointed in Lee last night. I like him, but I'm starting to think Danny and Tarek have a point. I can't remember Lee making any great contributions in the past few weeks. He should probably volunteer to be project manager next week to prove that he's not merely a politician. That said, I don't think Lee deserved to be in the boardroom. Danny should have brought in Tarek and Lenny. He totally bungled that decision. Then he tried to cover his tracks when Caroline and the Donald called him on it, which only made him seem like a liar. Even though Lenny should have been in the boardroom since he came up with the castaway idea, I don't think he deserved to be fired. The idea could have worked if it was executed properly. A voice over, which Lenny suggested, would have helped out a lot. At least Lenny has big ideas. And he's also toned down his personality. I didn't hear him utter one curse word last night.
I was very interested to see how Synergy would perform without Brent. Although they won, the chemistry was still pretty terrible. I blame Andrea. She's a very negative person who always seems to have it out for somebody. She's just as disruptive as Brent. I'm curious to see how Synergy will do next week. Apparently the task involves creating a jingle for a chicken joint. That will require a lot of collaboration, which is not one of Andrea's strong points. Maybe the task will finally push her over the edge. I can only hope!
March 21, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 4
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:52 AM
I don't blame the Donald for firing Brent last night. But I do blame him for having Brent on the show at all. I'm convinced that Brent was chosen as a contestant for pure comic relief, and that's not fair. I feel bad for the guy. He never had a chance. He definitely blew it in the boardroom. If he had just kept his mouth shut, he wouldn't have been fired. That was his problem all along...he said too much, and people began to ignore even his good ideas.
I was secretly hoping that Andrea would get the boot last night. I can't stand her attitude. Sure, her sticker business is successful, but I think she's out of her league. And last night's lame graphic design job proves it. At least she wound up taking out the cutesy heart in the end. Hearts and curlicues may sell stickers, but come on.
Not that Andrea is entirely to blame for Synergy's loss. I liked the "next generation" concept, but it was way too complicated for a billboard. I blame Allie for that. And that guy they hired to play the dad was way too young. The Donald was right on when he said that the father/daughter duo looked more like booyfriend/girlfriend. What were they thinking? Tammy and Andrea were too busy high-fiving each other to take a critical look at the idea and the execution. The presentation was awful, too. I was really disappointed in Sean's bumbling presentation. But it was Andrea's dumb idea to use power point slides. Boring!
I didn't have high hopes for Gold Rush either. Their idea seemed overly simple at first, but I guess that's what billboard ads are all about. I thought the picture of the lady chugging the cereal was a little creepy, but it would definitely get my attention. I still can't figure out how they got the cereal to hang in the air. I also thought the baby carriage was pretty hokey. I could have done without it. That said, I do think Charmaine was a good leader. She kept the team on track, made decisions fast, and never second guessed the idea. She really turned it around after the crying jag in the beginning of the show. That was a tad dramatic.
Overall, things seemed to go pretty well with Gold Rush, except for Bryce's last-minute wimp-out. I'm glad Charmaine called him on that. Hopefully he learned a lesson about sticking to your guns. Also, I can't figure out why everyone was so shocked when Lenny added his own touch to the dish during his reward. Loosen up, people! With Brent gone, it should be very interesting to see how Synergy performs. Now, they won't have anyone to blame their failures on but themselves.
March 14, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 3
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:16 AM
Last night's episode was fabulous. It had everything viewers could ask for: Religious conflict, fighting, dumb models, and a foulmouthed comedian. Plus, of course, Donald Trump.
The Donald definitely made the right decision when he fired Theresa. For some reason, that woman really creeps me out. Maybe it's her beady eyes. I loved when Lenny suggested that Trump fire both Tarek and Theresa, but I'm glad Mr. Mensa didn't get canned. He seems to have toned down the whole brainiac thing in the past two weeks. And he kept emphasizing the importance of developing a theme to tie Gold Rush's event together. Theresa just kept yelling and talking over him. Her behavior in the planning session was really abrasive. It seemed like her whole strategy was to delegate all the important stuff, then blame everyone else when her team lost. That didn't work very well!
As Tarek pointed out, the problems started in the planning phase, when Theresa refused to develop a theme. I knew right away that the idea of hiring models, a comedian, and a horsedrawn carriage was going to be a total bust. Synergy, on the other hand, focused on their theme right away. Then everything else fell into place. Their event was perfect. I'm still not sure how I feel about Andrea, but I was impressed with her management style. She's no-nonsense, but she's not a control freak or a tyrant. I was particularly impressed with the way she handled Brent. Giving him busy work that he couldn't screw up was smart. I doubt that poor Brent will last much longer. That was really pathetic when he left the meeting to have lunch. I'm beginning to wonder why he was even picked to be on this show. Was it only for comic relief?
Gold Rush's event was laughable. I can't believe Theresa thought a horse and carriage would teach car dealers about horse power. How lame! And the putting green looked terrible. Sure, that was Tarek's task, but I did hear him tell Bill that Theresa wouldn't let him spend money on astro turf. Needless to say, the comedian was ridiculous. Where did Charmaine find that woman? Not only was the comedian inappropriate, but she wasn't funny at all. I can't believe Charmaine paid her the full $1,700! The models were embarrassing as well, but the deck was stacked against them. Basically, they had 20 minutes to learn everything about the Tahoe. I can't believe Theresa didn't take Charmaine into the boardroom instead of Lenny.
That said, I can understand why Theresa was annoyed with Lenny. I love his brash attitude, but I was really disappointed when he told Theresa that it wasn't his problem that the speakers were missing. Anyone who says "That's not my problem" or "That's not my job" is very questionable, in my book. Also, he should have stopped complaining about the fact that Lee and Dan took two days off to observe a religious holiday. I kind of see how he might feel justified, since he's also Jewish and didn't take the day off, but the Donald clearly thought it was okay. I really liked the way he diffused that whole discussion in the boardroom by simply telling Lenny, "That's life." Then he changed the subject. People may make fun of the Donald, but he does seem like a good manager.
By the end of the show, I had forgiven Lenny. As Bill pointed out, he was a workehorse during the task. He should probably tone down his yelling and cursing, though I did love it when he said that he wished Theresa's brain was as big as her other endowments. He just can't keep his thoughts to himself!
The shark "reward" was pretty scary. I'd much rather have dinner at some fancy restaurant than get into a tank with those 12-foot-long man-eaters. I give Brent a lot of credit for taking the plunge. According to the preview for next week, it looks like Brent's about to go "over the line" and act crazier than ever. That should be interesting! So far, I'm not sure who will win this season. Andrea's definitely a contender, and maybe good old Lee. I guess we'll find out.
March 7, 2006
The Apprentice - Week 2
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:21 AM
I was really shocked by Stacy's bad behavior last night. She was clearly manipulating the truth so Brent would be fired. She changed her "threat" story so many times that nobody seemed to believe her in the end. I guess she hasn't learned much as a criminal defense lawyer. If you're going to fabricate stories, at least get your facts straight. Anyone who watches Law and Order knows that.
Needless to say, I was happy with the outcome of the show. The Donald definitely made the right decision in the boardroom. Brent is pretty absurd, but he wasn't the reason for the loss. He's clearly the type of person who just wants to be heard. As long as he's not rambling on endlessly, I don't see the harm in listening to his ideas. After all, his contributions to last week's brainstorming session helped his team win the big box challenge. Stacy was rude and only escalated the problem. And Pepi failed to nip things in the bud. I guess he only knows how to manage cooperative people. As we've learned in past seasons, that's not going to cut it.
Speaking of bad managers, Lee really went off the rails for a while. I was disappointed. But I liked the fact that he gave in to Lenny's demands later on and admitted that he was wrong to spend so much time coming up with the right keyword. This task was all about pounding the pavement. The teasers for last night's show made it seem like Lenny was being crazy, but he saved Gold Rush from disaster. I kind of like his brash attitude. I can definitely see him running a Trump organization.
Other than Lenny, nobody else stood out in a good way this week. Allie and Tarek seemed to make minimal contributions. Admittedly, the task didn't involve much creativity or business know-how. It was all about location, which is why Stacy deserved to be fired. Michael's robe idea was also terrible, but the Donald was right to give him another shot.
There weren't many standouts, but Synergy did work well together as a team. I couldn't believe that they were already in Times Square while Gold Rush was still eating breakfast. As for Brent, I'll admit that his dance moves were ridiculous and embarrassing, but at least he tried. His teammates just seemed to flounder. Instead of switching to plan B when they realized the location was poor, they simply froze.
I liked the Donald's daughter. Unlike Alexis Stewart, Ivanka was sharp as a tack and had plenty to say in the boardroom. She's a welcome addition to the cast. I also liked this week's reward. It's nice to see reality TV contestants doing something selfless for a change. I was kind of disappointed that the Donald didn't give the three unemployed guys jobs, though. At least they received snazzy interview suits.
It looks like next week's challenge is going to be much more interesting, in a Fear Factor sort of way. I can't wait to see the wimpy wanna-bes swimming with sharks. And they think Brent is scary?
February 28, 2006
The Apprentice - Season Premiere
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:50 AM
I didn't have very high hopes for the new season, especially after that weird publicity stunt that the Donald pulled last week. His letter to Martha was absolutely bizarre. It was also genius...it generated more attention for the show than any ad campaign NBC could come up with. It's almost like the Donald is trying to singlehandedly turn around the ratings for the show. In last night's episode, he let us know right off the bat that he's bringing out the big guns this season. The opening scene was deliciously absurd. I loved when he sped up to his private jet in a sports car. Ridiculous!
That over-the-top opening set the tone for the rest of the episode. This may be the most cut-throat, self-centered group of Donald wanna-bes to date. All of the candidates seem to have good credentials, but their personalities leave a lot to be desired. Allie, for one, seemed promising at first, but I lost a lot of respect for her when she mocked Brent in front of her team. Sure, he's an oddball. But, as project manager, Allie should have kept the eye rolling to herself. Brent isn't as polished as the rest of the crew, and he has some bad ideas. That said, he did suggest that the team offer beauty treatments to the Sam's Club customers. He should have received more credit.
Tarek bothered me from the get-go. I'll admit that he's rather handsome. But my crush ended as soon as he opened his pompous mouth. I just read on his bio that he grew up in the "public housing projects and tenements of New Bedford, MA." Apparently he's forgotten his humble roots. He seems to think his MENSA membership will earn him instant respect. I beg to differ.
So far, Lee is my favorite contestant. He was right on when he criticized Tarek for not having a big, creative idea that would bring people into the store. The "gift bag" giveaway was embarrassing. Who wants some crummy duffle bag covered in store logos? I loved how Lee spoke up when everyone was trashing Summer on the patio. I also loved the fact that he criticized Tarek's leadership in the boardroom, even though Tarek threatened to retaliate against him. Good for you, Lee!
The boardroom scene was pretty exciting all around. Summer really blew it by interrupting the Donald while he was berating Tarek. I kind of agreed with her decision not to call restaurants during the dinner rush. Also, it was Tarek's fault that there was no real hook for enticing people to come in. But she should have called the restaurants in the morning to make up for it. Instead of pointing out a problem and devising a solution, she simply gave up. That's never a good sign. Obviously, Lee shouldn't have been in the boardroom at all. And what about poor Lenny? It made sense that he would be directing the blimp since he lived in that area. So who can blame him for not selling memberships? Tarek's arguments against Lenny and Lee were limp. Instead of offering specifics, he just said they didn't "step up." That phrase should be banned from this show! I also thought that the Donald was disrespectful towards Lenny. Hopefully he'll learn the poor guy's name and stop calling him "the Russian" and making jokes about Siberia.
In the end, I knew Tarek wasn't going to be fired...he's far too attractive. I'm pretty sure I caught Carolyn making goo-goo eyes at him in the boardroom. Then she attacked Summer to ensure that she'd be the one to go. Summer seemed to give up at that point...besides "product knowledge," she couldn't name one contribution she made to the task. How hard is it to figure out how a Sam's Club membership works?
Hopefully evil Tarek and Allie will take a backseat in next week's episode so we can get to know some of the other contestants. It seems like NBC is setting up Brent and Lenny as this season's wacky weirdos. I feel bad for poor Brent. I love the fact that he designed his own diet. I sense a book deal! He's definitely strange, but I think most offices can benefit from at least one person like that. I'm not sure if he's polished enough to run one of the Donald's companies, though. I guess we'll find out.
December 22, 2005
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Finale
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:48 AM
I was pretty disappointed in last night's finale. It was rather anticlimactic, especially after the Donald's exciting conclusion last week. A big part of the problem was that neither of the final two contestants was all that great. I liked Dawna, but she's no Randal. I've never even heard of her magazine. And Bethenny doesn't know the first thing about leading. Judging from her bio and website, it seems like she's accustomed to working along...and it shows.
I chuckled every time Bethenny talked about her management "style." What style? She was thoughtless and rude to her employees, and just about everyone else, throughout the entire task. You can't just leave your workers hanging, wondering if there's a gameplan. By the end of the event, even Jim was exasperated with his former pal. Sure, the circus wound up being a success, and far more put together than the fashion show, but Bethenny still looked like a loser due to her bad attitude.
Dawna, for her part, performed poorly as well. She shouldn't have given Amanda so much responsibility. Putting together the clothes and dealing with that mean Claiborne executive should have been Dawna's responsibility. My guess is that Dawna doubted her own ability to choose the right outfits, so she dumped the job on Amanda. That was a big mistake. Amanda tried her best, but she's no fashionista, and she doesn't have much tact. I still can't believe she insulted the Claiborne execs last week by calling one of the outfits dowdy. Then she mispronounced the company's name! I guess I can't blame Linda for being so nasty.
In the end, the fashion show was fine, but it wasn't amazing. First of all, the brochures were awful! Too bad Dawna didn't have Jim on her team...he did a great job on the circus brochure. And, the Claiborne execs pointed out, Dawna didn't have a vision for the event. She's just not that creative. I can't believe she's had so many marketing jobs. That said, Dawna's task was way more challenging than Bethenny's. All Bethenny had to do was make the room look nice, which it did. She didn't have to decide what the performers would wear or do. In the end, I agree with Martha's decision to hire Dawna. She is a pretty good leader, and she'll probably do well in a corporate position that doesn't involve too much creativity.
Clearly, NBC didn't put much into the finale. The audience was so tiny, compared to the one in Lincoln Center for the Donald's last show. And the whole mood was just blah. (I bet the Donald was pretty pleased with himself.) I was expecting more of a showdown, since Bethenny's teammates clearly despised her. I did love when Jim kept reminding Martha that Bethenny had very good taste in employees. But I expected Carrie to lash out more. Too bad she didn't. That would have spiced things up a bit. At any rate, I couldn't even go to the finale due to the transit strike. Hopefully I can make it to the Donald's party in Los Angeles next season!
December 16, 2005
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Finale!
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 12:31 PM
I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to the whole live finale thing last night. What's so great about live television, anyway? At any rate, I was pleasantly surprised. That was definitely one of the most shocking finales I've seen. But more on that later.
I was totally underwhelmed by both events. First of all, Randal blew it by not having a back-up plan. I went to a concert at Keyspan Park a couple of months ago, and the field was covered in black playground-type material, so that's obviously something they do on a regular basis. Randal should have planned to cover the field and put up a big tent with side flaps. Even if it was raining, that would have been better than that nasty locker room. That said, Randal did rise to the occasion. His opening remarks were heartfelt and eloquent, and everyone did seem to be having a good time. Even that dour lady from the non-profit seemed happy in the end. And, of course, the event raised $11,000.
Rebecca's event was just as bad, and she didn't raise a dime! George clearly liked the Yahooification of just about everything at the venue, but I thought the place looked tacky. Blinking ice cubes? Those cheap banners? Ugh. Worst of all, you could barely tell that the event was an aids fundraiser. Shame on Rebecca. As George pointed out, she should have come up with some kind of compromise with the Yahoo execs. They balked when she suggested that she ask people for checks as they walked out. I can't blame them. But that doesn't mean she couldn't encourage people to donate by mentioning the cause throughout the event, as Randal did. Then, she could have placed envelopes and brochures on each chair downstairs, so people could make out checks during the comedy show. She really blew it.
In the end, Randal deserved to win, even though his last performance was less than stellar. I really enjoyed the comments from the fired candidates. I think Toral did Rebecca more harm than good. She looked like she was about to attack someone...she scares me. I loved how the Donald just made fun of her the whole time. That was great. I also loved it when Toral said Rebecca was a diamond in a haystack. What's that supposed to mean? Alla was equally amusing. I admire her candor, even though it gets her into trouble. It was pretty clear that most people wanted Randal to win. I also thought it was hysterical when the Donald asked Rebecca if she thought Randal could handle life in New York City. Hello? He's from Newark. Of course he can handle it. And what about when Rebecca said she would choose the New Jersey job, over the Atlantic City job? Atlantic City is in New Jersey, dear. I think a geography lesson is in order.
Of course, the best part of the night was when the Donald asked Randal if he should hire Rebecca as well. I was sure Randal would say yes. After all, he's developed a reputation as Mr. Nice Guy. But I'm glad he said no. Something about Rebecca rubs me the wrong way, aside from the crazy hairdo she was sporting last night. She seems pretty full of herself. Randal, on the other hand, is confident, without being cocky. At any rate, the look on Rebecca's face was priceless. Good for Randal!
I heard that the next season is going to be taped in Los Angeles. I'm not quite sure how the Donald will pull that off, since he lives in NYC, but a change of location might be nice. Oh, by the way, I skipped out on the finale party last night. I'm saving my energy for Martha's big bash next week...after all, the food is likely to be a lot better!
December 15, 2005
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Week 12
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 12:19 PM
Well, I guess Jim did turn out to be insane in the end. He did such an awful job during the interview process. It was embarrassing...all that nonsense about truth and beauty and the sapling needing to be nurtured. Give me a break, Jim. The Martha execs saw right through his act. And, of course, that crazy dinner conversation came back to haunt him. He's lucky he made it this far.
Not like Bethenny, or anyone else on this show, is that great. That was made abundantly clear last night. At first, it seemed like Dawna had chosen a far superior team. Then Amanda blew it. I can't believe she insulted Liz Claiborne's creative director by calling one of the outfits frumpy. What an idiot! To make matters worse, neither Amanda nor Howie seemed to know the first thing about what looks good on a runway. Dawna seemed totally out of her league as well, with her nose buried in her clipboard. As Martha aptly pointed out, she's not all that creative, so it should be interesting to see how the fashion show turns out.
Bethenny seems equally clueless, and she has the added disadvantage of having two employees who are less than loyal. I can't believe she chose Carrie after lambasting her in the conference room. What a mistake! Carrie really needs to get over it, though. She's only making herself look bad by holding a grudge and not giving her all. But Bethenny's not doing anything to win the team over. So far, her leadership skills have been nonexistent. She pretty much sealed her fate when she jumped right into her Maybach instead of saying hello to her team and filling them in on the task. Jim might actually be Bethenny's saving grace. Sure, he's a loose cannon, but he does care about winning, and he seems to care about Bethenny in his own bizarre way. Jim could wind up smelling like a rose if he helps pull the event together.
I don't have much hope that either event will come off well. Bethenny is way too focused on raising money. That's nice, but pulling off a fabulous event should be her first priority. If the event is a success, the money will come later. She really needs to refocus and take the reins. Dawna, for her part, needs to do some major damage control with the Liz Claiborne execs. She should get more input from the creative director to make sure the right clothes are worn on the runway. She also needs to get her nose out of her clipboard and come up with some creative ideas for the show...a theme would be nice, for starters. In the end, I don't think Martha wants either of these people working at her company. She's probably relieved that the show isn't being picked up for another season!
December 9, 2005
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 12
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:01 AM
Randal was really disappointing last night! He seemed almost paralyzed by the task...and it seems like the worst is yet to come. If it rains on Randal's event, he's sunk. I can't believe he didn't come up with some kind of plan B. I guess the only option would be a rain date. That wouldn't be ideal, but it's something Randal should have discussed with the Outback Steakhouse guys. Now he just seems unprepared.
Rebecca seems much calmer, but that may be sheer exhaustion. Maybe she should have laid off the white wine at Megu! Luckily, her team has a lot more energy. Chris and James have been great. That scene with Chris getting excited about the shimmery fabric was priceless. I'm not quite sure how useful Toral has been, though. I think it was a big mistake for Rebecca to choose her. She gave her one chance early on in the season, and Toral blew it. Why take another risk on her? I guess we'll find out if it was a good call. So far, I'm still not convinced. I liked the fact that Randal and Rebecca were allowed to pick their teams. It's silly to dump them with the biggest losers at the end of the season. Now, if the "employees" don't peform, Rebecca and Randal will have nobody to blame but themselves.
I'm not too worried about Rebecca's problem with Joe Piscopo. I have a feeling the union will let him MC the benefit. However, I am concerned that those tough Yahoo execs won't like the event. They didn't seem very keen on the cutesy purple theme. Or maybe they just have something against purple food. They seem to want something subtle, and the things Rebecca has planned seem anything but: The keypad steps and the giant computer screen stage, for example. I also thought it was ridiculous to think you should ask people for donations as they're walking out. So tacky. People know why they're there...no need to bully them. Also, why did Rebecca hire a marketing team to plan and organzie the event? Isn't she supposed to be doing that? And isn't that part of the reason why Martha fired Leslie?
At any rate, I don't blame the Yahoo execs for being nervous. I don't blame the Outback exec for threatening Randal, either. It was ridiculous for Josh, Marshawn, and Randal to spend all day in the suite as Mark attempted to set up the entire field. Why didn't they hire temps to do that? Mark was justifiably annoyed when Randal forced the entire team to go to the party store. Once again, he seemed too paralyzed to delegate tasks and make quick decisions. I really think Randal is crumbling under the pressure. In a way, the deck is stacked against him, since his event is outdoors and Rebecca's is not. She can scramble to get a new MC, but Randal can't make the rain stop...
December 8, 2005
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Week 11
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 12:58 PM
What was Ryan thinking? I can't believe how drunk he got during the latest task. That was crazily unprofessional. But his problems didn't start there. The whole baseball player idea was totally off base...too bad Marcela didn't insist on changing it after she talked to the Song execs. That was further proof of her spinelessness. The video was a complete embarrassment and didn't reflect the "high class, low fare" concept at all. Marcela seemed to think that Ryan was sabotaging the task because he felt comfortable. I disagree. I think he's a bafoon. First the dumb dinner table idea, now this. He really does need to go back to school, as Martha suggested. And Marcela deserved to be fired, too. Good for you, Martha.
The other team did a good job. Their concept wasn't wildly original, but that doesn't seem to be what Martha (or most execs on this show) are looking for. Basically, they want something that appeals to the target audience and looks good. That dovetails very well with Bethenny's skills...she's not all that innovative, but she has a lot of class and style. In that way, she's a great fit for Martha. Something about her still rubs me the wrong way, though. I just can't put my finger on it.
Jim handled himself surprisingly well. Sure, he was kooky and might have wasted some time, but he did a good job as the video's artistic director, and he wasn't so wacky that it distracted Bethenny and Dawna. As Bethenny pointed out, Dawna did a fine job on this task, but her performance didn't really stand out. I'm convinced that she completely blew her chances during the reward at Martha's house. If she didn't know how to play scrabble, she should have done a little research beforehand! Martha gave her plenty of warning...she specifically said they were going horseback riding and then playing scrabble. Dawna came off as a real dunce. First, she didn't know how to play; second, instead of bluffing, she spazzed out. It's too bad, really...I like her a lot. To be fair, if I had to ride a horse during a job interview I'd never get the job...I'd be desperately clinging to the horse's neck the entire time. At any rate, that scrabble scene was pretty shocking and I'm convinced there's no way Dawna will win now.
It will be pretty interesting if the final showdown is between Bethenny and Jim, given their weird relationship. I'm beginning to think that Bethenny is a lot more sly than she seems. It was surprised when she turned to Dawna and whispered that she was going to act like Jim wasn't even on the team. Hmmm. I can't wait to see which sneak wins in the end. I bet that Martha's CEO will kill Jim's chances by telling her about that crazy dinner conversation with Jim. I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.
December 2, 2005
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 11
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:03 AM
Felisha's lucky she wasn't in Martha's conference room last night...Martha would have skewered her for crying. The Donald, however, was very sympathetic. His decision to fire her was also fair. Felisha doesn't act like she's tough enough for the corporate world. This isn't the first time she's cried...I recall her having a breakdown after at least one other boardroom showdown. The whole thing is pretty confusing considering she's a licensed pilot and a successful businessperson. I guess she's not into being cutthroat, which is totally fine.
But weepiness isn't Felisha's only failing. She simply crumbled under the pressure of having to prove herself last night. I was appalled by her behavior during the task...all she cared about was looking better than Alla. If she had focused all of her efforts on winning, it wouldn't have mattered who took the leadership role. She did a terrible job as PM. She obviously wanted Alla to take charge, but then fought her every step of the way. What was all that nonsense about Felisha being a better actress? Unless she's actually taken acting lessons, I can't see how that would make a big difference.
Of course, Alla is just as much to blame for the lame concept. The video didn't give a feel for how the software works, and the words were flying around way too fast. I think Alla just threw something slapdash together figuring that Felisha would get fired. And was it me, or were there pink and white outfits totally inappropriate for a presentation to Microsoft executives? That seemed really unprofessional, especially compared to Randal and Rebecca's spiffy suits.
Still, I think Alla could have made it to the final three if she had toned down her bulldog attitude in the boardroom. She really misjudged that situation. Normally, a take no prisoners approach wins points with the Donald. In this case, as the Donald pointed out, it would have been wiser for Alla to sit back and let Felicia hang herself. Instead, she continued berating Felicia even after she broke into tears. That was a terrible move.
Rebecca and Randal were a great team. I liked how they told a story, and Randal's acting was pretty hilarious. I'm still not quite sure how the software works, though. Once again, Randal was nice and supportive. Unlike Alla, he's comfortable being led even though he's a strong, assertive person. I'm really rooting for him to win the apprenticeship. Rebecca is okay, but she's definitely not on the same level as Randal. At age 23, she's not as seasoned as Randal, despite the insane amount of activities on her NBC bio. She would be a great lower-level employee, but I just can't see the Donald choosing her over Randal for a top job. I guess a lot of it comes down to how they perform on the final task. That should be really interesting...this is the strongest final two in a long time.
December 1, 2005
Martha Stewart's Apprentice - Week 10
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 11:11 AM
Wow. I'll be really shocked if Jim wins a job at Martha's company after that crazy rant last night. It's one thing to scheme behind closed doors. But to brag about it to the chairman and president of the company? That was suicide. I'm still trying to figure out if Jim has a screw loose, or if his hubris prompts him to make bad decisions. He certainly seems to think he's invincible.
Speaking of delusions of grandeur, what is up with Leslie? I can't believe she thought she did a "slam dunk" job on the task. Her presentation was awful and the showroom looked absolutely ridiculous. Ryan's idea to have the car sitting at a dinner table was bizarre...has he been watching reruns of Knight Rider? Still, it may have seemed less absurd if the execution was better. Having a video tie-in and a table that didn't look like a bed would have been a good start. If the showroom looked nice and the concept was presented clearly, the team may have won simply because their idea was more original.
Primarius was anything but. The showroom looked beautiful, but the whole "Driven by Elegance" theme was too safe. Luckily, Bethenny did a good job on the presentation. Comparing the display to an art gallery was a wise idea. I just wasn't impressed. I was also appalled by Bethenny and Jim's behavior in front of the display builders. Dawna handled the situation pretty well, although she should have nipped the problem in the bud right away. Bethenny and Jim have such a weird relationship: one minute they're fighting, then they're best friends. When it comes down to it, Bethenny knows that Jim's encouraging her because he thinks she's weak. The whole situation is very twisted. I'd never want to work with someone like Jim...he's way too manipulative. I wonder if he's always like that, or if he's just playing the villain for the show?
Martha really got tough in the conference room last night, and I agreed with everything she said. Leslie is definitely full of hot air, Marcela doesn't have a spine, and Ryan isn't assertive enough. He obviously wasn't confident in his idea or he would have been more insistent. Instead of presenting a convincing argument about why his idea would work, he acted like a petulant child. No wonder nobody listened to him. Marcela's too whiny for my taste as well. I'm tired of her slouching in her chair...she didn't even sit up straight after Martha told her to!
So it seems like Jim's going to overimbibe and go "crazy" again in the next episode. I'm really curious to see how far he can make it...I guess we'll find out soon enough.
November 28, 2005
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 10
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:52 AM
I had high hopes for Adam, but he really blew it in the last episode. He and Alla both seemed way too sure of themselves in the beginning. Instead of thinking things through, they simply plowed half of their budget into those lame carriage ads. That idea is so three seasons ago! I'm not sure who designed the ads, but the background was so dark that you couldn't even read the entire phone number. Even if you could read the numbers, people are so used to seeing signs all over the place that they were bound to be ineffective.
Randal, on the other hand, made the right move by focusing on salespeople. The people from the temp agency were great. And I loved how Randal and Rebecca swiped the other team's bullhorns. I'm not sure I would have done the same, though. It seemed a bit too slimey. Not surprisingly, the Donald loved it. I think Bill hit the nail on the head when he said that Randal thought big. Instead of hiring 30 temps and giving them double-sided sandwich boards, he switched gears and hired 60 temps, giving them single-sided boards. He's really quick on his feet and isn't afraid to readjust his plans when necessary.
I don't know what Alla and Adam were thinking with those ridiculous carriages. I loved that scene when Adam was saying how great the carriages looked, while the camera focused on an ad with Shania's head ripped off. I felt bad for Felisha...she really had her hands tied. I can't figure out why she didn't point that out right away in the boardroom. Instead, when the Donald asked her why she didn't hire more temps, she just shrugged and said, "It's not something we considered." That was bizarre. I do, however, fault Felisha for landing just 15 workers. I find it hard to believe that, with all the temp agencies in Manhattan, she couldn't round up five more people. And that whole situation in the stable seemed out of control. Felisha seemed more confused than the people she hired, many of whom weren't cut out for this specific task, since they didn't speak English. Alla really lost control of the team at that point. It was chaos.
Still, I really think Adam was to blame for the loss. I couldn't believe how indignant he was in the boardroom when Felisha criticized his carriage idea. Is he living in fantasy land? I do think that Alla and Felisha will make a stronger team, but I doubt they'll be able to beat Randal and Rebecca next week. Everyone seems to think that those two are at a disadvantage because they're not "creative." What does that even mean? Randal and Rebecca may not wear furry sweaters, but they think creatively, as they proved during the latest challenge.If they don't make it to the final showdown, I'll be very surprised.
November 18, 2005
Donald Trump's Apprentice - Week 9
Posted by Nadine Heintz at 10:15 AM
Thank goodness Clay is gone. I couldn't take another minute of his whiny, immature behavior. I have no idea why Rebecca and Randall seemed so excited to have him on their team. I guess they were desperate.
I'm not sure why everyone thinks Clay is so creative. I can't recall him having any particularly good ideas. On his bio, it says that he's a real estate agent who specializes in new construction. Apparently he has a knack for helping people envision and design homes. But, judging from the show, he doesn't have a collaborative bone in his body. I can imagine him arguing with clients about whether they should have three bedrooms or four. He's such a pain, as Rebecca and Randal quickly discovered. "What About Me?" was Clay's theme song, not Jide's. That was obvious. I'm glad Rebecca vetoed that idea. What I can't figure out is why Rebecca decided to "challenge" the radio station's listeners with a different type of music. That made no sense. I'm starting to wonder whether Rebecca and Randal are so smart after all. Maybe they were just in over their heads with this task. Just because you like listening to music doesn't mean you know how to produce it.
Felisha, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly what she was doing. The song she, Alla, and David came up with wasn't my cup of tea, but it definitely appealed to the radio execs and the listeners. Plus, the team seemed to be having a great time, which says a lot about Felisha's leadership skills. I also liked the fact that she stepped in when she realized the song was too jazzy. Weaker PMs would have just panicked and gone into a downward spiral. Alla and Adam were great as well. They definitely deserved to win. I have to admit that I teared up when Adam told that story about his immigrant Dad while