The Apprentice: Steuart Is the First One Fired in the Final Four

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Brandy, Clint, Liza and Steuart faced off in the final four of The Apprentice for a spot in the final two of the season. Donald Trump restored the teams back to men vs. women for the final task, and Liza and Clint stepped up to lead. After a tough QVC selling task, the men lost and had to face each other in the boardroom. Clint’s education and business savvy won Trump over and Steuart was the first fired from the final four.. The final three were called back into the boardroom for Trump to fire another... first thing next week we find out who the final two will be for The Apprentice 2010.

Here is the play-by-play for the night’s events:

After the teams were restored to men (Octane) vs. women (Fortitude), Clint stepped up quickly to claim the PM spot. Liza wasted no time raising her hand for PM as well. The men looked extremely confident, Steuart was nearly cocky. The women looked a little overwhelmed and Brandy seemed happy to let Liza fail.


Each team met with QVC sales teams to choose products from the Isaac Mizrahi fashion line, and to opt for their time slots. The men came up with a plan, the women were winging it (with Liza asking Brandy’s opinions and Brandy replying, “...you decide, you’re the Project Manager.”)

The men acted like they wanted the watch, when they really wanted the handbag. The bigger issue was the time slot. The men wanted the later time slot for more time to prepare. The women still seemed to be flying by the seat of their pants. When the teams met, both appeared to want the watch. Clint magnanamously volunteered to give up the watch for the later time slot. The women agreed. The men walked away with the time slot they wanted and the product they wanted. It seemed to be a lock for Clint.

Teams then met with QVC reps to go over the presentations. Liza opted for Brandy to do the on-air presentation since over 80% of the QVC buying demographic is caucasion. Her point was that viewers may be more apt to buy with a “familiar” looking face on screen. I think she was right to some extent. The QVC rep seemed a little put off by that point from Liza, but said nothing. Trump knows Brandy has excellent public speaking skills, so it was the right choice. The ladies decided for a lower price point on the watch ($69.95), knowing they may have to sell 3-1 to the men’s purse.

The men sat down and hammered out a plan with QVC. Clint appointed Steuart, rightfully so, to be the on-air personality. Steuart got a case of the giggles listening to Clint point out woman-friendly keywords for the handbag. It was funny, but Steuart was giggling like a second grader in a sex ed class. The QVC rep looked a little worried.

Liza and Brandy went on air first, again with little or no plan. Liza was given a crash course on how to produce a QVC segment from the control room. She began feeding Brandy keywords in her ear, and it appeared to be going smoothly. Brandy said later she was ignoring Liza completely but they seemed to be using every keyword Liza fed them. Time became an issue and the segment ended clunky when the wrap up ran long.

Clint took over for the men in the control room as Steuart managed to gather himself and for the on-air presentation. Steuart performed well with Clint throwing keywords in his ear during the production and the timing for the ending was smooth. The control booth applauded Clint’s use of time management. It all seemed to be going the way of team Octane. Or that’s what they’d have us think.

Isaac Mizrahi and Donald Trump watched the presentations together. They both liked Brandy and Steuart on screen. The cut ending on the women’s sales pitch seemed to surprise them, as did the price point of the handbag the men chose.

In the boardroom Liza had to defend her choice of Brandy for presentation. Had she left it that Brandy had the experience from The Apprentice this season, she’d have had less trouble explaining her stance. She seemed to really have chosen Brandy based on her research of the QVC viewers. I think she was right, but it was hard for her to explain. Trump just though it was a sad state of affairs if there were still predjudice in sales. Like he really doesn’t know it. Steuart pointed out that he was on air with an African-American woman and didn’t see an issue with it.

The numbers came down this way:
Octane (men): sold 25 handbags for total profit of $2174.23
Fortitude (female): sold 37 watches for total profit of $2998.38

Yep, Liza and Brandy stomped a Texas size mud hole in Clint and Steuart. It was time for the men to face each other in the boardroom with the loser being fired in 4th place on The Apprentice. No Trump children were present for this task. Instead two top head hunters sat in with observations.

Clint represented himself very well, as expected. When questioned if he’d fit the Trump mold as far as professionalism and culture, Clint pointed out his educational background and past business experience. He also stated that Steuart had made a remark that Clint reminded him of his father. A point Clint took pride in and said as a 40 year old man against a 27 year old, he had more life experience. It was obvious Clint would win this battle.

With neither candidate having had to face each other in the boardroom, it was difficult for Steuart to find a flaw with Clint. Try as he might, Steuart fell short in making a dent in Clint’s resume. Donald Trump had to put aside the fact that Fortitude lost under Clint’s leadership for this task. In relatively short time Donald Trump declared, “Steuart, you’re fired.” It was the toughest call this season, but it was the right one.

As Steuart boarded the elevator of shame, Donald Trump calls in the remaining three to fire another. Next week will start with that elimination. The final two will then face off for the winner of The Apprentice 2010. I’m on team Clint to the end. Who is your favorite this season?


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