"The Apprentice" Premier: The Recession Season

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Tonight was the premier of the “The Apprentice” on NBC. Donald Trump decided to bring it back to the original format after several seasons of “Celebrity Apprentice”. With the focus being on out of work professionals and the weak economy, it was definitely the right choice.

The contestants:
Alex, Anand, Brandy, Clint, David,  Gene,  James, Kelly, Liza, Mahsa, Nicole, Poppy,  Stephanie, Steuart, Tyana and Wade.

In this recession themed season of “The Apprentice”, all are unemployed once successful business people. David, an out of work sales rep and father of five, is seen making his weekly call to the unemployment office. It was hard to watch and obvious that David was once proud and now ashamed. (Not sure how it works with him getting paid the extra wage for filming “The Apprentice” and getting unemployment. I’m positive Trump has worked out all the legalities though.)


Again they were split into two teams; men vs. women. I have to assume Trump continues with this split since it causes the most drama. It lived up to expectations in that respect.  Right on cue, the men soon began fighting loudly, while the women chose to stab each other in the back.

The task:
To design a modern work space with multiple offices. Make it inviting to clients and most of all, Donal Trump.

The men nominated Gene to be the first project manager position. No one volunteered,  and Gene almost reluctantly took the role.

Nicole spoke right up on the other team, volunteering eagerly for the first PM opening. Usually not a wise choice on the first week of competition, unless you are really that good.

Though both teams seemed completely unorganized, they managed to pull things together in time tor the Donald to inspect the office space. The men had taken the term modern literally and incorporated many open group work spaces. They also seemed to use the natural lighting better. The ladies split up offices with different wall forms. It was different, but did not look nearly as modern as the other.

Trump was not impressed with either. The men forgot to tape down their rugs, nearly taking out the production staff in a fall. All Donald Trump saw was “litigation”. That was really their biggest error. The Donald also was under impressed with their version of a boardroom.

In the end, Trump chose the men’s team (though he reiterated his distaste for both themes). The women were at each other’s throats before the final decision was even made. You could almost hear the bus in the background waiting for Nicole to be thrown under.

After a true cat fight scene, Nicole chose the loudest aggressors back into the boardroom with her: Mahsa and Tyana. The entire team was ready to throw Nicole under the bus, and maybe rightfully so. It’s hard to tell with the editing. Nicole admitted to trying to lead through pure delegation. She must not know about the follow up involved with delegation.

Mahsa showed her true colors in the boardroom. The former prosecutor decided that if she were the loudest, she would be the most heard. That did not play well with Ivanka Trump at all. Ivanka suggested to her father that Mahsa’s attitude in the boardroom was worth a firing.

In the end, Nicole could not defend herself or her lack of decision making on the first Apprentice task. Tonight Donald Trump told Nicole, “You’re fired!”.... it means so much more when it’s not a celebrity!

Catch up on everything else here: "The Apprentice"


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