The Apprentice
The second episode of THE APPRENTICE, the Donald Trump-centered show, aired last night. Produced by Mark Burnett, this one follows around a group of eager business wannabes competing in a series of challenges to prove that they have the business skills to be a leader in one of Trump’s organizations. Maybe if the winner is single, Trump’ll set him or her up with a modelling agency so that they, too, can find a date like Trump’s.
The show is well cast. Both the men and the woman have their itch to scratch. The women have their political consultant type (working in a Democrat’s office, no doubt) who thinks the phrase “the pot calling the kettle black” is racially motivated, and thinks that everyone who disagrees with her has a personal issue with her. They don’t. She just likes to come up with ideas and tell everyone else that it’s what they’re doing. Not what they SHOULD do, but what they ARE doing. Discussion inevitably follows and she’s denied her whim. The men have the snide little kiss-ass (”Yes, Mr. Trump. You’re the man, Mr. Trump.”) who can’t do anything succinctly and gets on all their nerves. He’s already ostracized, but Trump likes his moxy.
And here’s where the series wins: It has Donald Trump controlling it. Trump is godawful reading lines fed to him. Acting out bits for the sake of the games or trying to be dramatic rarely work for him. You feel like you’re reading the cue card right along with him for the first time, every time. But when he steps away from that and has a conversation or discusses business, you believe him. You enjoy him.
In the end of each episode, the losing team (it’s men versus women) appear in front of Trump. The team leader from the given task chooses two people and then The Donald chooses who to fire from those three people. Get that? Trump chooses who to fire. It isn’t a voting mechanism. It isn’t some scoring system. It’s Donald Trump. He’s the one who evaluates the contestants and chooses — based on his gut feeling, the performance of the people in front of him, and the suggestions of his assistants who follow the contestants around through their challenge — who is fired.
Alliances won’t help you. Politics might have your team perform, but The Donald has the final say. Everyone is responsible for their decisions and must explain themselves to Trump.
Finally, this is a reality show with the chance that the Best Person might win. Hallelujah for that. Burnett is finally getting around to correcting the systems he put into place with the first SURVIVOR, where the surprise ending is considered the gold standard and everything revolves around that. THE APPRENTICE is a meritocracy, not a popularity contest.
That’s why I love this show. It’s on NBC Wednesday nights from now on, and I’m recommending it.
February 5th, 2004 at 10:56 pm
well, the women on your show are definately stuck up.it seems like a bunch of cats hissing and fighting working in the same area.they singled out Omerosa just because she is a strong black woman and she isnt trying to suck their big toes trying to go where shes trying to get.i commend her.shes got to be really strong to keep her head up given the situation that she in.none of the girls have a logical reason why they dont want her there,they just dont.being on the outside looking in they clearly have a hiden agenda to get her out and its not right.they are clearly not used to working around black people or should i say black successful people.they need to be taught a lesson in this.thanks
February 15th, 2004 at 10:59 am
Donai
Donald! u once said , u watched the Millionaire, I am Michael Anthony! He was a lawyer, who gave a million dollars, from a unknowned millionaire, just to promise not to tell anyone! just unknown person, who deserved to have a better life, one person! maybe u can do this, for one person a year, maybe make your money worth, more to one person, and save a life, a year! u wouldnt miss it, and that person, would have a better life, and always remember, a millionaire, changed there life, maybe bring back the tv show too! I sure loved that show , when I was little! my name is Michael Anthony! and we would see, who got the million dollars, regular people!