(Continued) Pamela led Mosaic's brainstorming session at Mattel headquarters. John suggested a backpack/water gun; Wes pitched a magnetic fish tank and Andy passionately plugged Crustacean Nation - an oceanic version of Mr. Potato Head - a lobster torso with interchangeable appendages. The others jumped on the crustacean bandwagon. Everyone contributed ideas. But Rob seemed to be unable to get into the conversation. In an interview, Wes said that Rob didn't feel he was part of the creative process. When Rob finally did manage to jump in, he pitched the idea of an electric eel with removable appendages. But that idea was shot down since the others felt it was odd for an eel to have appendages. In an interview, Rob said that he would always do what's best for the team, even if that meant hanging back a little bit. Apex, led by Bradford, had their own brainstorming powwow. At first, the women seemed to be pitching girl toys for boys (like an Easy Bake Oven for boys). In an interview, Bradford said he worried that the women would not be able to understand what little boys want in a toy. Bradford pitched a remote control football head. The women weren't sold on it. Maria raised the issue that not all kids would be into sports. The women pitched another idea: a remote control car with interchangeable parts. But Bradford stuck with his idea. And in opposition to many on his team, he said that he was making "an executive decision" and was going with the football head. Maria was a bit frustrated, to say the least. In an interview, she said, "I thought to myself, if I could just get my hands around his throat... his jugular... I would absolutely take him out right now." When Apex met with the Mattel design team, Bradford pitched his football head toy. The designers said that they had seen something similar before and didn't think the product would be a success. Bradford then backed off his brainchild and pitched a remote control car with interchangeable parts (yes, the idea that the women had come up with). The designers really liked it. They said they'd have to pull an all-nighter, but they would produce a working prototype of the toy. The next day, a group of kids determined the fate of both teams. From behind a two-way mirror, Apex, along with George and a few Mattel executives, watched as the kids were introduced to the Metamorphor - a remote control car with interchangeable parts. The kids immediately liked the toy and all ran up to take a closer look. The kids had fun changing parts and racing (as well as crashing) the vehicle. Crustacean Nation, from the minds of Mosaic, did not generate as much excitement. When the same group of kids saw the action figure, one kid was unimpressed and didn't run up to take a closer look. Behind the two-way mirror, Pamela (standing next to Carolyn and the Mattel executives) commented that one of the children had a "mini Dumb and Dumber" haircut. In an interview, Chris said that the comment was not the thing to say in front of executives whose customers are kids. Later, while Apex was waiting to hear who had won the task, Stacie J. grabbed a Magic 8 Ball and asked if her team was going to win. Everyone played along at first, but Stacie J. didn't stop. She kept asking the 8 Ball questions and announcing the answers, long after the others seemed interested. Then she yelled to some of her team members who didn't seem to be listening. The rest of the group seemed confused and uncomfortable, but Stacie J. kept talking and no one seemed to understand her. In an interview, Stacie J. said that everyone was being distant and even anti-Stacie. In her own interview, Sandy said that Stacie J. completely lost control and brought the team down. Sandy even went so far as to say that without a doubt, the next person to be fired off of their team would be Stacie J. Finally, it was time for the Mattel executives to render their verdict. They said that Crustacean Nation was too similar to some toys already on the market. On the other hand, they thought that the Metamorphor built well on their current line of remote controlled vehicles. But most importantly, the kids really liked playing with it. The clear-cut winner was Apex! For their victory, the team would dine with Donald and his fiancÈe, Melania, in their home atop Trump Tower. As for the losers, Mosaic would get leftovers and a trip to the boardroom - where someone would be fired. Trump also told Bradford that, as Project Manager of the winning team, he could not be fired the following week. Apex spent an evening at Trump's lavish home eating a gourmet meal and Mosaic spent the night in, licking their wounds. Later, the members of Mosaic fretted about the upcoming boardroom. Pamela was worried that she was an outsider among the men. Rob was concerned that Pamela would say he didn't contribute. And Andy worried that his youth would make him a target. But, as a nationally ranked debater, Andy promised to "take out" Pamela in the boardroom, if necessary. The next day, the entire Mosaic team entered the boardroom, where Pamela did not get off to a great start. Carolyn criticized Pamela for trying to place some blame for the team's loss on the Mattel designers. Then Carolyn criticized Pamela for the "offensive" comments she made about the children in the focus group. Trump said he was surprised that the men failed at the task of creating a toy for boys - and George echoed the sentiment. Then Trump asked the candidates who should be fired. Each person said that Rob had done the least. Rob countered by saying that he was underutilized. The next decision was Pamela's. Trump gave her the option of bringing either two or three people back into the boardroom. As Project Manager, she decided to take Rob and Andy to face the firing. Trump sent all of the candidates out so he could talk privately with Carolyn and George. Carolyn thought that Pamela stepped up and managed eight complete strangers pretty well. George felt Rob should have fought to be utilized. Trump called Pamela, Andy and Rob back in. Trump told Pamela that she had a "very, very hard edge" - one that he thought might never go away. He reprimanded Rob for not contributing and told him that you don't have to be asked to contribute to your team's effort. Then Trump said that while Andy was smart, he lacked experience. However, Trump said he was willing to take a chance. So Trump turned to Rob and (as if he wasn't out of practice at all) said, "Rob, you're fired." << Previous