Hey Apprentice Fans. Hope you all had a great weekend. As we ended last week's Boardroom and La Toya was sent down the elevator I knew that we were going to be in for some fireworks between NeNe and Star. Little did we know it would turn into a full-on explosion...
My father, Ivanka and Eric arrived in style to deliver the task for this week. Farouk Shami from CHI and BioSilk was on hand to help explain this week's task, which was to create a hair show using his company's products. Initially the winning team would receive a check for $20,000 but Farouk upped the ante to $40,000. When it came time to pick the project managers, who knew that it would cause NeNe to literally fly off the handle? I was traveling for business during this task but heard that the fight went on for at least 45 minutes! That couldn't have been fun for Star. I am sure she is looking back on the fights had on The View and thinking those were a walk in the park. Nothing like letting the opposing team know you are having issues?! This seemed to be a big confidence boost for an already very confident men's team and as Lil Jon stepped up as PM I think he was feeling good about the task ahead.
As the fighting/yelling continued, I was curious how the team dynamics would be once they sat down and actually had to execute this task. Whether NeNe liked it or not, she would need Star's help. During the fireworks NeNe also managed to slip in an insult or two at Hope. Team morale was at an absolute low and it would be interesting to see how NeNe would perform as PM. She certainly would have to change her attitude if she wanted these ladies to help her bring home a win.
Team Backbone, feeling good, was busy trying to come up with their theme. As Farouk came and met with then, he provided a few key elements that should be incorporated into the presentation. The executive meeting is always very important and the teams should always listen hard for the hints dropped, as they are usually vital. The men decided on "Feeling Good in America" as their theme. Week after week I continue to be impressed by the men's team and their camaraderie. They also pulled a power play by calling Niki Taylor in to help. It was both a good idea and one that would certainly warrant a reaction from the women.
During the time that the ladies seemed to have "shaken out" their issues, my father had a visitor arrive in his office, La Toya Jackson. La Toya came to plead her case as to why she should be given a second chance. I liked how La Toya was confident in her abilities and felt that she still had a lot more to offer. I was impressed by her focus and was curious to see if my father would break the rules and allow her to come back into the race.
The teams had finished their shopping and had arrived in the salon to prep for their presentation. The men's and ladies' teams are not usually in such close proximity to each other so I am sure they were watching every word making sure not to divulge anything to their opposing team. The ladies were a little more than shocked to see Niki Taylor arrive. They felt she had "betrayed" their team, I am sure that they were just probably mad they hadn't thought of calling her in first.
When Eric visited the teams NeNe told him that if they should lose that the Boardroom will be on fire. I am not sure how much worse it could get from that morning but on this show anything is possible. Ivanka also stopped by the salon and was surprised to see just how calm the teams were. Lil Jon was sitting back having a glass of wine. I wondered if the men's team was a little too overconfident and comfortable. Even NeNe seemed relaxed or perhaps was just preoccupied as to how she would "light up the Boardroom" if they lost.
It was presentation day and the men's team seemed ready to rock. Niki brought along three top models, which is never a bad thing. Team A.S.A.P. showed up late which didn't make their stylists very happy. They were supposed to arrive at 8:00 a.m. and were 30 minutes late. I didn't agree with NeNe's comment, "Can't a girl be late." I think they knew the answer to this question is "no," especially not on the day of a presentation. It wasn't a great sign that the stylist was more concerned about the timing and preparation than the actual project manager. The presentation went very well, although I agreed that it would have been better and would have provided more energy to have NeNe stay on stage rather than handing the reigns over to the stylist. As the project manager, that was a risky move considering the majority of this task was being judged on presentation.
Lil Jon in usual fashion commanded attention very quickly on stage. As the presentation proceeded there were a few holes that probably could have been patched up had the men's team rehearsed. Once Niki's country energy arrived on stage followed by the audience celebrating the products along with Mardi Gras, it seemed that the men had pulled this one off.
It was time for the Boardroom. The issues were raised almost instantly, which was not surprising. NeNe said that she felt alone on this task and that her team wasn't working up to their potential. As Ivanka pointed out, it's hard to be a flamethrower and then expect camaraderie. I couldn't agree more and that's a clear example of how NeNe should have thought before she acted. She probably should have approached the issues she had with Star in a different manner, one that wouldn't have set such a negative tone. Aside from the clear problems between Star and NeNe, Hope was also included in the discussions, being called Star's "puppet on a string." Hope's inability to defend herself made her come off as a weak player, which is never good. I would have liked Hope to stand up for herself on her own and not only after my father prompted her to do so.
Ivanka and Eric delivered the results from Farouk. Farouk thought that the men's team had great brand messaging and loved their theme. Farouk didn't like how they left out the safety aspect of the BioSilk and CHI Products. When it came time to discuss Team A.S.A.P.'s performance, Eric explained that the women's team did a good job on emphasizing safety and their stylists were very informative. The negatives were that NeNe did not perform well as the MC and they also thought that Hope looked very awkward on stage. The men had won this task, for the second week in a row. Before leaving the Boardroom they received a surprise: new teammate La Toya. My father really liked that La Toya refused to give up and I too think this is such an important quality in business and in life.
For those of who you may have missed it on the East Coast, the women's team was left to battle it out and it was no surprise that NeNe had elected for Hope and Star to stay in the Boardroom with her. After quite a lot of arguing back and forth it was Hope that was fired this week. My father felt that she is young and has an amazing career ahead of her but was not tough enough and it would be very hard for her to stay in this competition. We wish Hope the best of luck, although I think all of the ladies at this point need some luck.
I hope you enjoyed this week's Celebrity Apprentice. I am looking forward to next week already. Please continue to send me your comments via the blog and my twitter page. (www.twitter.com/donaldjtrumpjr)