1) Creating a celebrity auction - and getting celebrities to donate all the prizes.
2) Taking an ordinary location and making it extraordinary - and theming it around a specific charity and Kodak.
3) Creating a brand-appropriate campaign for Kodak - one that underscores their message and helps sell frames. We know how tough Kodak tasks can be; Jeff Hayzlett made this one particularly tough.
4) Selling your charity through integration at the event.
5) Making lots of money by selling tickets to Cirque De Soleil show, and then getting celebrities to show up and buy other celebs' auction items to amass the most money.
In conclusion, the finalists had to be creative, call in all their contacts, pull every rabbit out of the hat and do it all in 24 hours and within a tight budget.
These powerhouses did it, even after losing their event planners.
In the end, as suspected, it seems to be a draw.
Annie- hand's down, won for money ($450,000 collected) and charity integration. Joan won for brand integration, celebs and overall atmosphere - i.e., everything else.
Who would Donald pick?
I was confused until the end. It seemed as though Trump was having trouble too.
I kept thinking, Trump is into money and Annie is a money-making beast!!!! She is tough and even though she seemed unlikable (at least the way she was edited), it's clear that Trump doesn't care about likability (think of Piers).
But Joan is an American icon, formidable and 76 years old. That alone should have gotten her The Celebrity Apprentice Lifetime Achievement Award.
I was there at the LIVE finale and I can tell you first-hand that the tension between these two women and between other members of the cast was palpable. It wasn't just Joan and Annie; it was also Dennis and Jesse (over Dennis' drinking problems), Clint and Donald (over how Clint was edited). There were a lot of issues going on. Definitely heavier vibes in the room than when we were at the finale last year. What happened to Khloe Kardashian, Natalie Gulbis, and T-Boz? They didn't show. I wanted to meet them. Issues or scheduling conflicts?
The show, however, was fabulous! The heated discussion in the live board room between all of the participants and the wild showdown at the end between the two ladies was uncomfortable to watch. And it was great television.
The moment I guessed that Annie was going to be fired and Joan was going to win was when Piers and Trace came out. I assumed Trace would vote for Joan and thought for sure Piers would vote for Annie. When Piers voted for Joan, I thought that's it, that's the ammunition Trump needs to make his decision.
Joan it was!!!! The crowd went crazy!!!!!! I was sitting next to all the people from her charity. They were so nice and so grateful; they couldn't speak more highly of Joan. I felt for them and was happy their charity got the recognition and the money.
It was a great night. Two extraordinary women, fighting as equals, not pussyfooting around and pretending to like each other, but going right at it. Trump got his great TV ratings moment and I am one satisfied viewer.
I felt particularly satisfied because they really both won. Annie took home $450,000 for her cause, she's now a household name, and her charity got a ton of publicity. Joan got the title, $400,000 ($150,000 that she raised in the final task plus $250,000 for the win), her charity is now on the map, and she gets recognized for 75 years of accomplishment. A win for all.
Okay I have to give you a little bit of gossip about the show before I go.
I have to say our party last year was cozier, this year a million people were there and the celebs came and went; they were too bombarded to mingle. Last year, we took pictures with each other and had a glorious time.
I have decided this season's cast looks way better in person. People always tell me I look better in person and that I look thinner. The camera just doesn't love everybody.
Melissa is a thousand times better looking in person and she has quite a cute boyfriend too. Jesse James is unrecognizable in person from TV. In person, you get it - he's very cute and sexy; you go Sandra Bullock! Herschel Walker is a doll on TV and in person but again, much more handsome in person. Claudia is pretty on TV - but in person beautiful!!!!!! Brande is beautiful on TV and in person (the camera loves her) and she really is a nice person. Here's the in-person shocker: Annie! Television really doesn't do her justice. She looks much younger in person; she's really quite pretty with beautiful porcelain skin.
It was great to see Stephen Baldwin, Trace Adkins, and Piers Morgan again. I feel after this season, our group from last season is the loving first family of The Celebrity Apprentice.
Can't wait for next season. Who will superstar casting director, Chuck Labella invite to the next Celebrity Apprentice? (The man deserves a medal for having an uncanny gut about which mix of people you would invite to a dinner party that would create excitement, smart conversation, controversy and fireworks). I can't wait to see who's coming to the next party.
My suggestion for Chuck: next year we need an illicit behind-the-scenes romance.
Any thoughts?
Hasta next year!
Nely
When you watch The Celebrity Apprentice it is often clear and painful to see successful people who are stuck in patterns. They have never had the opportunity to stop and realize that there is time to change. There is time to do things differently and grow into the person you were always meant to be, even if you are a Celebrity. Reinvention is a beautiful thing!
I believe that is the theme of this episode.
The task to write a jingle had Clint Black as the obvious project manager and most likely to win contestant.
I felt sick to my stomach for Annie and Brande, putting myself in their shoes, and understanding the extreme difficulty of this task. Yet they came from behind, (clearly underestimated by themselves and others) and yet they won the race.
Or maybe it is better put that Clint lost the race and they won by default. No matter- they won.
I find that this often happens in life. It has happened to me so many times. Sometimes I am so cocky and sure of success and then I lose. Other times when I feel like I don't deserve to win or I am unsure, I win in spite of myself. Even more complicated is that sometimes when I try hard and win, in the end I lose because the win was bad for my life. I have also sometimes lost and been devastated and in the end it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
When Trump fired Clint Black, he said that he was grateful for the insight the show gave him about working with others, I thought, this guy is going to go home and change. He realized his behavior is no longer working for him, he needs to let it go. He shifted and when he has time to take it all in, I believe it will be extraordinary for him.
In terms of Annie, she is in every way extraordinary. I rooted for her to win and I was thrilled to see it happen. But, like Jesse the week before, she is not a good winner. She is so gifted she doesn't realize she doesn't have to say I ,I, I, I, so many times. She just is great, she doesn't have to remind us every second. It diminishes her greatness.
It is hard to watch that behavior for me. I realize how often I have done that. I think women have to constantly prove themselves in the work place that we learn to "toot our own horn" in order to be recognized. We create this bad habit of constantly telling you how good we are, always justifying why we deserve our seat at the table. Watching it on TV, I realize that it is unnecessary and unattractive. Note to self and to Annie.
Later when Trump took the final four (Jesse, Joan, Annie and Brande) and had Piers interview them for their eligibility for the final two spots, his insights were profound and exactly what we all have been thinking.
Do Brits just have a knack for this because they are not from the US and they don't care what we think? Both Simon Cowell and Piers have an innate ability of hitting the nail on the head. Piers was right about all.
He thought Brande was lucky and not winner material (although likable and smart).
He felt Jesse was smart and a good leader, but something is off. I agree. While I admire him for keeping his private life private, you can't go on the Celebrity Apprentice, clearly to get publicity for yourself and your charity, and not expect people to want you to pull out your "Celebrity Trump card"- Sandra Bullock. It's was missed opportunity- he had to go! Trump did the right thing!
I am beyond excited that it is between Joan and Annie. How great to see two formidable women going for gold. It is a true horse race. I believe Joan will bring out all her tricks and will do her best to beat Annie. The more I observe Joan the more I think she has been playing poker with Annie. I think she will surprise us all. Annie could win easily unless she gets cocky and underestimates her opponent.
I love them both and will be happy if either one of them win. But for today I am voting for the 75 year old. I think she gets the life achievement award. Yes she has weird quirks and inappropriate comments but in the race of life in every way she is a winner and a phoenix that always rises from the ashes. Joan Rivers has Celebrity Apprentice winner written all over her.
Can't wait hasta next week!
Nely
First of all: everybody is now acting crazy. Even the most normal among them (Jesse) is off his rocker. Clearly the sleep deprivation and hunger have them all at their breaking point.
The task at hand was a fun and creative one. When you are at home chilling out and watching the show, you think "NO SWEAT" figuring out a campaign for deodorant. However, when you are there in Trump's boot camp, your brain just doesn't function properly.
Clint, once again, did a mediocre job. Surprisingly though, Jesse was the one that was out of line. He acted just as narcissistically as Clint, and maybe even worse. He was so obnoxious that I began to see the chinks in his "great guy" armor. Jesse definitely has ego issues too - he just tends to cover them up better than the others. I was actually happy to see Clint win - just to spite Jesse's behavior. Then when Clint won, Jesse wasn't even gracious. I guess he's not such a mensch after all.
Jesse really missed the boat on something that Donald Trump taught me last year that I will never forget: "Don't over deliver." He's right. We all forget that oftentimes the clients that you are working for are not pioneering geniuses. They're mainly employees caught up in the giant cogs of a corporation, which means that they are usually not great risk takers. And they don't need brilliance - they just need "good enough."
That was the case in this episode. Yes, KOTU's campaign was bad (Athena's was better conceptually, but wasn't executed as well) but KOTU's project was just "good enough" to win. Jesse needs to learn that lesson, too. The client is not an owner; they are a mid-level employee. Jesse should have chilled.
The girls' team displayed a very interesting dynamic: the "player," Annie, who is clearly only concerned with winning; Brande, who has wisely aligned herself with the winner; and Melissa, who is unbearably spoiled and entitled. (By the way, just for the record, I have heard that one-on-one Melissa is delightful, so who knows?) But in this game, I'll have to say that I'm very glad that Trump finally fired her.
Did you notice the note exchange between Trump and Cramer? I think Trump had a change of heart mid-boardroom and guess why? Money. Who would bring in the most money? He was right again.
But then how about that uncomfortable ending with Melissa storming out? And Joan insulting Brande and calling her a manipulated dumb blonde, and calling Annie a white trash poker player? And then running to Melissa's side saying that she's quitting the show! What a whole bag of crazy - you couldn't have asked for anything more delicious. Beyond great TV! I replayed this scene several times in a row. Whew!!! I can't believe the whole exchange!
Okay, so here's my latest prediction - Joan will return. I know that sounds crazy, but in the end she's a consummate professional and isn't a quitter. I believe/hope that she will come back to win, and leave her opponents in the dust. I'm savoring the possibility, and her competitors better not underestimate her. I have said it from the very beginning - I believe that Joan Rivers will take home the crown.
In a way, I can see why she and Melissa are so protective of each other. In Hollywood, you really can't trust anyone or anything - sometimes even your own family. The two of them have formed a life-long alliance and created a protective shield around each other. Trump has to respect that, as he is also very protective of his own children. I have to say, Ivanka shone again this week. She is one smart and poised cookie. The difference between her and other "kids of" is that she doesn't behave spoiled or entitled. Ivana did a good job with those kids.
I predict that Brande will be the next to go. Remember Carol Alt from last season? Often beauties are kept in the game for ratings (if they are good) but Brande doesn't appear to be a true leader. Don't get me wrong though - she is clearly very smart and not to be underestimated. However, I think it's her time to be on the chopping block.
On a side note - I hated it when Brande compared her looks to Ivanka's in order to make a point about her intelligence. It was "brown nosy" and discounted the other women in the room. They aren't Playmates, but they are attractive, too. It's that beautiful girl entitlement/attitude that the rest of us can't stand.
I believe that the "Final 4" will be Clint, the little engine that could; Jesse, the quiet force to be reckoned with (even though he is showing signs of cracking, and if he's to have a remote shot, he better pull his secret weapon, Sandra Bullock, out of his bag of tricks); Annie, the player; and Joan, whom I believe will win.
The one thing I have learned in life is to bet on experience and wisdom every time. It seems that these traits are no longer valued in our country; however, I believe that they make getting older all worthwhile.
Hasta next week,
Nely
He said she had tried one of the greatest strategies in Apprentice history - calling the enemy of her opponent, Annie Duke, to try to raise money against her.
Jim, you were right! It was potentially a great strategy. Only, however, if it had worked. Not only did it not work, but she wasted all of her time putting all of her eggs in that basket versus going after her own money. As predicted Natalie went bye bye... Big lesson - great ideas are important but execution is where it counts. I have had a million great ideas and strategies in my life that I haven't always been able to execute. That is the difference sometimes between good and great!
Natalie is out and we now know that Annie Duke is extraordinary - no matter who likes her or not. The lady can execute. She's the Piers Morgan of this season. Did you see her auction and raise money? I was impressed - made me want to go take poker lessons from her and I don't even gamble. Did you see all those men just throwing money at her? She's obviously made them all a lot of money. Wow! Impressive!
But can we talk about the craziness of this episode? I have been worried every week about Joan Rivers' well being. My worry was that she would start cracking with the lack of food and sleep.
By now you all know I utterly respect Joan and expect her to win - but the comments about Annie being like Hitler were completely out of line and unbelievable. The whole exchange was offensive.
As a Latina - I know the power of words and am always careful of how I use them.
How would Joan have reacted if Annie had compared her to Hitler? It would have been in every newspaper and Annie's career would be marred. It is not fair that in a "politically correct" environment, there is a double standard. No one should be compared to Hitler - and certainly not in the context of a TV game.
I can really understand why Annie never wants to speak to Joan again.
Joan, please calm down. This is yours to win - but go get some sleep and let Melissa be her own person - she can do it!
Melissa and Joan have a symbiotic relationship that probably works in the context of their family but isn't pleasant to watch and must be a nightmare to work with...
Wasn't that exchange in the board room, with Melissa defending Joan and the "inside" comments about how they had gone to mutual friends of Joan and Donald for money but had been rejected, weird? This episode had a lot of uncomfortable, weird moments.
Piers Morgan's appearance was great I wish he was on with Trump all the time. I appreciate him even more this season. When I was there, I liked him at first but then I thought he was too cutthroat.
I was wrong - he is clear, direct, focused and while it is not my style, I almost wish it could be. Everything he says in this episode about Joan, Melissa, Clint and the Trumps was right on the money and exactly what I was feeling and thinking.
He's The Apprentice's Simon Cowell.
When he cornered Jesse James about why, if he was married to Sandra Bullock, could he not raise more money? It was a very uncomfortable moment but it was what I had been thinking all season. Great TV moment!
Piers - right on!!!! Can you tell he was a tabloid publisher in England? He goes for the jugular.
The second hour of the show where they had to create a recipe was predictable and in the end fair. Herschel Walker should have gone, under the circumstances (although it is hard to watch Clint Black stay over that sweet Herschel just because he took responsibility and became the project manager - again). Herschel is, as Joan would say, "a mensch."
Ok here's my prediction - next to go... either Clint Black or Brande Roderick. Brande appears weaker and is acting more like a "fair weather friend" as the season continues. Did you notice how in the second half of the show, she was now trashing Annie? However, I would actually rather Clint go next - it's long overdue.
One last thing I have been wanting to mention for weeks but especially in this episode; Ivanka Trump is exceptional. I really think she is the star of the family. She is poised, intelligent, beautiful and talented, but as demonstrated in this episode she has strong boundaries and knows how to speak her mind - respectfully. I was very impressed with her when I was on the show, and my respect has only grown with time. She is a good seed.
GREAT episode! The show only gets better.
Hasta next week,
Nely
]]>Frankly, KOTU was the superior team from the beginning of this episode, although I predict Natalie is the next to go. Their task was well executed - period! It also incorporated the Trump CELEBRITY APPRENTICE Lesson 101 - "USE YOUR TEAM'S CELEBRITY STATUS".
Athena was off in the clouds with Brian McKnight calling it in, and ultimately suffering the consequences. Their execution of the task was just plain bad.
Here's what I got out of this episode - a foreshadowing of things to come. Joan is becoming so cranky due to the lack of food and sleep creeping in, Melissa feels betrayed by Annie and Brande (who previously never liked each other) and is coming unglued, and Annie (as predicted) is playing good poker.
In the second hour of this episode, Trump announced a second task that required fundraising. This is very difficult in the current economy, even for celebrities. Annie appears to be the frontrunner, but the women's claws are out! Joan hates Annie, Melissa hates Annie and Brande, and Annie acting as though she likes them all... NOT! Annie is playing poker again - unlikable, but a winning strategy.
The episode ended with a cliffhanger. The task has not been executed yet, and Piers Morgan (last year's winner) comes back to help Trump. I guarantee you he will make hamburger meat out of the contestants. Piers doesn't have the need to be liked, so he will be refreshingly honest.
I can't wait to see his "inside" report to Trump.
Too bad we had to endure Brian McKnight wasting our time to get to next week. But, it will be worth it.
Hasta next week,
Nely
In my case he fired me in the Vera Wang episode, where I did nothing wrong, because he was still upset that Gene Simmons had spared me in a previous task (the Kodak ink and printer) where I should have gone. Trump practically forced Omarosa to bring me into the boardroom, where he and I exchanged a few heated words, and then I was sent packing.
In last night's episode, both teams did a horrible job of the task at hand. The client hated both of the viral videos, and therefore no one won the task and it was decided that one person had to go from each team. Double firings are a Trump specialty!
Of the two teams, Athena did a much better job (of a poor job) and it was difficult to decide who to fire. Wow, poor T-Boz. Trump fired her for volunteering to come into the boardroom and support Melissa. This was a "call back" firing. He reminded T-Boz of Bradford (one of the contestants from a previous season) who had volunteered to come into the boardroom and whom he promptly fired. Trump despises quitters and sacrificial lambs. She must have felt horrible - you could just see it in her eyes.
On the other team there was no question that Clint Black should have gone. He was a dictator - not a leader, not a team player, and not very creative. However, Trump had it out for Khloe when he found out that she skipped a day in the previous episode to deal with her DUI issue, which no one had bothered to tell him about. He really let her have it and then fired her. Donald was much tougher on Khloe than he was on his former Miss USA's fall from grace.
You have to understand what it is like when you are there and not eating or sleeping - you are totally sequestered and away from reality. At home you are watching a heavily edited version of all that transpires. When you are in the boardroom for literally 3 hours, and Trump is raking you over the coals, you find yourself reverting to child-like behavior where you will do anything to make the pain go away - you act out, you "tattletale" on your teammates, you often use poor judgment, and you end up feeling really bad! Then if you get fired, it's as if you just got dropped from the coolest team at school. You feel like you let your coach (Trump) down and that you just wanted him to really like you. I know, it's bizarre - and worthy of a psychology paper or two. We are all grown, successful people but for the weeks you are competing, it's like you are living in the altered reality of "THE MATRIX." Once you are home and have eaten and slept, you start to come back to your senses. You stop taking the experience personally (Trump really does love all of the TV children that appear on his hit franchise) and realize that it was an incredible opportunity to learn about yourself amidst the rarified air of your peers.
Well, the dead weight is almost all gone and it's going to get really juicy! I predict that Clint or Natalie will be the next to go. Round Two I'm betting on Melissa getting the pink slip. (I'm concerned how Joan will do if Melissa goes, even though they are on different teams now, and vice versa.) And Brian has got to go next.
The real fun begins when (hopefully) the remaining players are Joan, Annie, Brande, Herschel and Jesse.
Hasta next week,
Nely
P.S. I loved Perez Hilton's cameo. He made the show hipper and was a welcome burst of fresh air, and needless to say - color! In all blue from head to toe, Perez is the new Small & Mighty.
The biggest surprise of all was my feelings for Dennis Rodman. When the episode ended I found myself tearing up, as I was truly saddened to see the downward spiral of a great talent who is in denial.
In the beginning, we saw the power that is Dennis - people are drawn to him like a magnet. He has it within himself to win at everything, but he can't sustain it for very long, and his false grandiosity becomes his enemy. It's evident that his Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personality is fueled by his addiction. Dennis is a lovable guy until he has had too much to drink and goes to a very dark place. At 6'-8", it takes a lot of alcohol to get him to that state, but when he does it's ugly, uncomfortable and scary.
It was pretty difficult watching that very public intervention in the boardroom. I was very impressed that Trump didn't pussyfoot around the subject, and "tough loved" Dennis by firing him. In fact, all the celeb apprentices proved to be remarkably healthy displaying true concern and compassion. The most amazing of all was Jesse James, a self described, recovering alcoholic, who proved to be vulnerable, honest, loving and profound.
I can only hope that this confrontation helped Dennis bottom out, and pray that he went straight to rehab after the show. He would be a truly remarkable man if he could get sober.
As for the task at hand:
Tionne (T-Boz) - I was impressed with her quiet and powerful leadership. I had written her off in the past and I was wrong.
She's not a Type A personality (like myself) but in fact, an extremely organized Type B. I have to admit that I think that this type of personality works better in harnessing this crowd of high-strung Type A women. She's non-threatening, yet direct and organized.
The women's team was extraordinary, with Joan Rivers stealing the show in the role of the "can do" concierge. She did an outstanding job, but I thought it funny that her only potential undoing in the task was the fact that she kept forgetting to tell the hotel guests how much everything cost. (That's the only time where she gave away her star status. When do you think was the last time that Joan worried about paying for anything?) Joan has remarkable energy and an incredible work ethic, attitude, and insight. She's a talented artist and a savvy businesswoman. I aspire to be her. She is both right-brain and left-brain smart - with a healthy dash of NYC street smarts thrown in for good measure. Joan has to win Celebrity Apprentice - she deserves it and no one else on the show is in her league.
Once again, Annie Duke was a standout. While Natalie Gulbis barely contained her disdain of the "keep the wait staff hopping" shenanigans of the revelers, Annie played her cards right and accommodated every ridiculous whim of the guests with a smile on her face, despite how humbling some of the requests must have been.
Natalie has proven that she's good at getting free planes and free gift baskets, but it appears that she's not used to getting her hands dirty. Can she lead? That remains to be seen.
Thankfully Melissa remained in the background for most of the show - choosing to be a true team player and following T-Boz's instructions, without all the histrionics of last week's ugly feud with Claudia.
Khloe Kardashian was lazy and put little-to-no effort into the task... no surprise there. Please, put us all out of our misery and just leave the show.
As for the men, the core foursome of Jesse, Herschel, Clint and Brian did a spectacular job. They formed a cohesive unit that was strong, hard working and focused. Unfortunately we all know what happened and why the men lost. Dennis, please get help, and please get better!!! We are all rooting for you.
I love Celebrity Apprentice. I truly love it. I loved being on it and learned a lot about myself and others, and I'm learning even more this season.
Hasta next week,
Nely
Claudia Jordan was fired; however, there were far worse people on her team that should have gone first. It's a shame, as she really grew on me and I think she is talented.
After winning three weeks in a row it appeared that the women were unstoppable, but all it took was this one task where chaos ruled (as witnessed by their ill-conceived and ill-executed cheesy vignettes) for the team to quickly unravel and for the fingerpointing to start. All those women turned on Claudia in the boardroom, in my opinion, to make nice with Joan Rivers - who is clearly the strongest member of the team. No one wanted to risk the wrath of Joan and therefore, by association, no one dared to mess with Joan's daughter, Melissa. Joan is a force to be reckoned with and deserving of all the respect in the world; however she is not doing Melissa any favors by keeping her under her wing. Melissa would be more likable (and respected) if she stood on her own two feet and didn't turn to her mommy to defend her in the boardroom. She strikes me as entitled and spoiled.
If Claudia had been more Machiavellian she would have focused her energy on eliminating the weakest links on the team, so she could have lived to do battle with Melissa another day. How could Claudia go when lazy Khloe, mousy T Boz, and inconspicuous Nancy Gulbis (although she did come through with a private plane in this episode) are still on the team? But it's difficult to think that way - Claudia spoke the truth and didn't play the game right. She didn't take into consideration the possibility of failure, and within that scenario, who the best candidates were to take into the boardroom so that she could have kept her spot. Her bad decision (more so than anything she did on the task) was her undoing - as a result, she's gone.
In this episode I loved watching my wild card player, Annie Duke. You can tell that she can't stand Joan and Melissa; they have trashed her in every episode. She knows that they are her biggest rivals and so she aligned with her enemy, this time. Annie is playing good poker. She was able to play them - for now.
I'll be curious to see what the women do in the weeks to come. How will they get around "the Melissa factor"?
The men's team (minus Dennis Rodman and his crazymaking victimized dramas) was tight. Brian McKnight finally emerged from his shell and proved that he is a superstar both onstage and off. He took firm control of the team, knew exactly what he wanted, and was ready to take the bullet if his team failed. Brian was also the only project manager to date able to reign in Clint Black, and that's no small feat. Jesse James and Herschel Walker hit the perfect note with the West Point video - giving a slick presentation with just the right amount of heart. The entire product launch was like a well-orchestrated symphony. And I finally got the concert I wanted - Brian was amazing!
I'm surprised Trump hasn't mentioned this season how he wants the teams to use their star power. As he told us last year, clients love star power, and star power wins every time. This task was the perfect example - the guys placed less emphasis on the product, and more on putting on a big show. The audience was star struck and that's all they remember, and rightfully so. Brian is a star!
Looking forward to the weeks ahead when all the dead weight is gone and the remaining competitors aren't afraid to show their fierce and brutal nature. I predict that this is going to continue to be a very exciting and cutthroat season.
Hasta next week,
Nely
]]>Last week he was so on target with "ZZZZ" for the Zappos campaign, which unfortunately fell on deaf ears. This week all eyes were on him, but it was so obvious he missed the mark. He could have won this one easily. If the task was to sell wedding gowns, and it's not your area of expertise, then hire an expert (like the women did when they brought onboard a professional wedding planner). Or, better yet, how about making use of the amazing resources at hand and in-house! Tom had two of the country's top balladeers (in two different music genres) working for him, and a man married to one of the top-box-office romantic-comedy stars in the world.
What better way to sell wedding gowns than to throw a "love songs" concert with Brian McKnight and Clint Black? Brian McKnight has a greatest hits album with love songs like Wedding, Love of My Life, Still In Love, Every Beat Of My Heart, Must Be Love and Crazy Love.
Then there's Clint Black's greatest love song album including, Our Kind of Love, When I Say I Do and I Have To Say I Love You In A Song. What a missed opportunity! A concert at the bridal store would have broken all records - more than what the women's team could have pulled off.
If that wasn't enough, there's Jesse James' "Trump" card - what kind of draw would Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice) have pulled in a gown? How could you not make use of Miss Romantic Comedy?
Tom had all of the ingredients for a victory. Surprisingly, none of the team members brought any creative thinking to the table either! Did these guys forget why they are on the show - to promote themselves for their day jobs?!! I'm annoyed - they not only could have won by doing what they do best - it would have made for a much better episode. I would have killed to see that concert.
As for the women, they rocked without even having to break much of a sweat. They took a lesson from the Gene Simmons school of working smarter, not harder. Melissa Rivers redeemed herself from last week's faux pas by bringing in Preston Bailey - Mr. Wedding Planner. That was a great use of resources. (Last year I brought in the amazing home designer Vicente Wolfe to design our window in a similar Celebrity Apprentice task, but unfortunately he was edited out of the episode.)
Question? Where were Nancy Gulbis, T Boz and Claudia Jordan in the episode? Was it the way the show was edited, or did they just not participate in the task to the extent that their teammates did?
Now as for Tom, who I have been supportive of, all I have to say is "Dude, I'm really disappointed at your lack of creativity and worse yet, your failure to show up (and step up) for your team. Why would you EVER want to behave like Dennis Rodman - who is just a complete waste. You deserved to be fired. How could you go out partying the night before your big day and blow your shot?" Another case of self sabotage.
As for Dennis, if he's on the show for publicity he's getting plenty of it - bad publicity that is. Unfortunately it appears that a leopard does not change its spots. Dennis should have been sent packing as well. (In rare cases, Trump does double-firings, and I thought this would be one of those instances.) Dennis will be fired soon - he can't help but bring it upon himself.
This show is unbelievably entertaining- and so far Donald and his team have been right on the money in their firings!
Here's my prediction for the winner of Celebrity Apprentice 2 as of this week - Joan Rivers, Brande Roderick (with Annie Duke very close behind) from the women's team; and Jesse James from the men's team.
Hasta next week! Can't wait!
Nely
Episode 2 was also the same episode that I was Project Manager on during my season. The tasks were both very similar - to create a marketing piece for a big corporation. Last year our project was to produce a campaign for Pedigree Dog Food. In this instance, it was for ZAPPOS - the fabulous on-line apparel, shoe and accessories store.
In the briefing it was apparent that what the client wanted was simple: a brand extension utilizing a comic book character emphasizing Zappos' dedication to customer service, while staying true to their corporate culture. The task required clear focus - nothing too difficult. Again, the projects assigned in both seasons were keep-it-simple tasks. However, it all comes down to handling your team and handling the pressure. My stomach hurt watching both Khloe's and Scott's teams over think the whole process and miss the boat. You could also see the signs of sleep depravation, no food, psycho behavior and illness creeping in.
And, like last year, I believe that the team with the better overall campaign lost. The men had a much better concept, but lost due to one small, but very crucial, component - naming their superhero EEE instead of coming up with a character whose name started with a "Z"! Come on, how obvious Zappos - Z! Hello! Branding 101. They would have won if they had just named their character EZZZZZEEE!
I think that Tom Green was poised to be the MVP of the men's team, but his teammates pretty much threw him under the bus. He kept yelling "ZZZZZ" trying to steer the team in that direction - but no one listened. The infighting and poor time management only added fuel to the fire. Tom was clearly so exhausted in the boardroom that he did not defend himself properly. The truth is that Scott Hamilton is no Gene Simmons when it comes to branding. He's not a "creative" and refused to listen to his team about alternate names, and therefore the greatest decision in the task ultimately fell on him, and he failed. (I, like Scott "over thunk" my task last season. The difference is that on our task we over delivered - overwhelming the client with much more than what they had requested. Luckily Trump did not fire me over my mistake which he could have, and probably should have. However, he axed me in a later episode where I did nothing wrong, but had to take the bullet for past transgressions anyway.
Thankfully the Trump family and Erin Burnett (the even-keeled voice of reason in the episode) were able to ascertain the truth, get to the core of the matter, and once again, justice was served... Scott Hamilton had to go. I'll be curious to see what happens next week if Tom Green takes on the role of Project Manager. Hopefully Tom will get his proper due and his efforts and creativity will be rewarded, as I strongly believe that if his team had listened to him, they would have won this week's challenge.
Now, on to the other players:
ATHENA (The Women's Team)--
The most dislikable person in this episode was Melissa Rivers. I was surprised to see that she tried to take credit for something she had not done, and I know Joan raised her baby girl better than that. Maybe the pressure affected her judgment? I know it's just a show and I know that it may sound weird; but when you are there and sequestered from all that you know and love, you tend to do things that you wouldn't normally do for fear of getting fired and looking like a loser. Regardless, it was a bad move that could create bad blood!!
Joan Rivers is holding up like a trooper. She is solid as a rock - still my #1 pick.
Claudia Jordan is getting more air time (good for her) but she's pushing herself too hard. She's already getting sick, which tells you that she's taking it way too seriously. (I can relate - been there!) Slow it down, Claudia, otherwise you will burn out quickly.
Annie Duke clearly isn't liked by her team, but I love her no-nonsense approach, and think that she's smart. Initially I thought she was going to make it to the end; however, now that I've seen the dynamics of the team at work, I'm betting that her teammates will bring her down and that she's not high profile enough to warrant Donald saving her. I personally think that she's one of the top three players, but I also think that she's not long for this show.
Khloe Kardasian - performed okay as this week's Project Manager for the women. I just don't see her taking it to the next level. However, I do believe that she'll hang in there for awhile as there is so much dead weight that will be kicked off the team before her.
T Boz - speaking of dead weight, I really wouldn't miss her if she's gone, as she's not contributing at all.
Natalie Gulbis - has got to go, and I am sure she will soon. She's playing her cards all wrong - acting aloof and undermining her team's work in front of the client. Giant no-no! Luckily for her, her team keeps winning.
Brande Roderick I like her - she's very intelligent. I think she also bought herself a hall pass when Trump admitted to having a past crush on her. A Playmate with a brain could be Donald Trump's cup of tea. What I'm really looking forward to is seeing Brande and Joan go toe-to-toe. Joan is the only one I think who can bring her down.
KOTU (The Men's Team)--
Clint Black - was unexpectedly mean and nasty. Wow! He's got some issues. Good thing he doesn't work in a real corporation - Human Resources would probably have him on speed dial. He very easily could have gone this week.
Dennis Rodman and Brian McKnight - waste of space and waste of talent. Why are you there? What are you contributing? I don't like people who stay out of the fire in order to not get burned!
Herschel Walker I like him. He's "alpha-strong" with no BS. However, I think he was unfair to Tom Green in this episode. He too, like Scott, is not a "creative" and didn't get "it". (This happens to creatives in corporations all the time - their contribution is dismissed, when in fact they hold the key to the puzzle.) At least Herschel threw Tom a bone in the boardroom and took some of the heat off of him, when Herschel mentioned Clint's bad behavior.
Jesse James - saved the day. He was the one who initially brought to Trump's attention Clint Black's culpability in the task; thereby taking the emphasis off of Tom Green and forcing Trump to take a second look at Scott Hamilton's issues. Bravo!! I can relate the most to Jesse on the show, and am really rooting for him. His strategic thinking and quiet brilliance could win it.
Hasta next week. I can't wait!
]]>First of all, let me just say that the show has assembled a great cast. From what I saw, this season is set to be way crazier than ours! We had Piers and Omarosa, but Celeb Apprentice 2 has them in spades. Having seen this first episode, and armed with a little more information, I've had to revise my opinion on how I rank some of the players. But before getting to that, I have to mention that I'm puzzled by the fact that so many of the contestants made some of the same mistakes that we did on last season's Celebrity Apprentice. Didn't they watch the show? Didn't they see what drives Trump crazy? Perhaps it's what happens in a lot of corporations -- a failure to do their due diligence and research, and not learning from (and/or caring about) the lessons of their predecessors.
So let's cut to the chase:
THE PINK SLIP --
Andrew Dice Clay - I am so happy that Trump fired the right celebrity. So often the show, as in life, is not fair; but this time, justice was served. Andrew was so busy trying to entertain his teammates, and so busy trying to avoid doing any work that he quickly became the team liability. He was grandiose, a quitter and just plain lazy. And while I will miss his antics, you can't get away with being lazy on the Apprentice without paying the price. Say what you will about him, but "The Donald" respects a good work ethic, a never-give-up attitude, fighting for your life, and knowing how to be resourceful. I don't understand -- Dice, why would you mention quitting? Don't you know Trump hates quitters?
You also missed a great opportunity to get some publicity for your charity. Once you got canned and packed off to the limo, you should have made mention of them in your final exit interview -- instead you came across as a defeated, bitter whiner. I wouldn't be surprised if you made the limo driver stop off for some bagels on the way home and stiffed "Donnie" with the bill.
ATHENA (The Women's Team) --
Joan Rivers - As I predicted, Joan is a force to be reckoned with. She volunteered to be the team leader for this first challenge -- a risky move that could have been disastrous if her team had lost. I'm still concerned about her stamina though. If Andrew thought it was bad not having bagels waiting for him on Day 1, just wait a few more challenges when everyone is starved and sleep deprived. Although she's still my number one pick, I do worry that she might snap under these circumstances. However, if Joan is smart, and she is one smart cookie, she'll delegate more to her Mini-Me, Melissa Rivers.
Annie Duke - is a proving herself to be a major player. I'm impressed! She is smart, tough, and hard working -- she's the Mary Lou Henner of this season. The difference -- Mary Lou is lovable, while Annie is perceived to be bossy and abrasive. She's not liked by all her teammates, but who cares -- Annie came to win. (I'll have to say that the women's team last year fell into the trap of being too nice -- minus Omarosa of course.) Also, like the good poker player that she is, it appears that Annie has done her homework -- watching past episodes of the show and studying up on her opponents. I'm thinking she and Joan are both right up there.
Brande Roderick - I called it -- this Playmate rules! This is one smart lady. She proved to be quite the savvy businesswoman, making the most of her assets in every sense of the word. She picked the perfect location for the cupcake sales (in front of the Playboy building), knew the power of providing some eye candy (having one of her fellow Playmates dress up in the traditional Bunny outfit), and did not hesitate to crack open her Rolodex. She brought in some big spenders, and unlike Tiffany Fallon last year, she did not hesitate in calling on Hef and hitting him up for some major coin. I like that she is a scrappy fighter and doesn't take crap from anyone. She's also a top contender.
Okay, what's up Natalie Gulbis, Khloe Kardasian and T-Boz? They were so under the radar they didn't even generate a blip. All three were too low-key. Natalie, you're a great golfer but on this show it appears that you've fallen into a sand trap and you can't get up. Grab your best sand wedge and get out of that bunker! You guys need to step it up or you won't be long for life! If the women's team hadn't won, one of you certainly would have been sent home.
Claudia Jordan - remains the big question mark. She's a tough one to read. In her newfound feistiness is she trying to be controversial, or is she really clever and playing a good game? I can't tell yet, but at least she is making her presence known. Could she be inching into Omarosa territory? Don't do it Claudia -- I don't think that you can pull it off.
All in all, the women deserve kudos for winning their first task (I only wish that my team would have done as well at their first time at bat.) My hat is off to Joan! It's still early in the competition, but it appears that Athena has figured out how best to play the game.
KOTU (The Men's Team) --
Herschel Walker - is a true gentleman and I love him. Like a good leader, he was willing to take responsibility for both the good and the bad decisions. For a minute though I thought that he was going to be the one getting the ax, but thankfully he stood up for himself and fought. I think he has the potential to go pretty far in this race. He's a winner.
Jesse James - I'm rooting for him. But enough with the "I'm just a blue collar guy" routine. Clearly Jesse is very talented and creative, and has to be a good businessman to have gotten to where he is in his life. I'm surprised that no one mentioned the fact that the men's cupcake van looked amazing -- a task he pretty much did singlehandedly. I can definitely see what Sandra Bullock sees in him.
Tom Green - I'm eating my words -- big time. Tom is smart, impressive and strategic. On the men's team he definitely did the most homework -- I think I have a crush. I also think he is poised to be the mens' secret weapon.
Scott Hamilton and Clint Black need to make their presence better known. In a team with such big personalities, it's too easy to get lost in the shuffle.
And in the Big Disappointment Category --
Brian McKnight - has an odd strategy of "when you stay out of the mix, the bull's-eye can't be on you and no way to be in harm's way." What? This logic is seriously flawed -- surely he must realize that taking "no action" in business can be as deadly as the worst misstep. I hated the way he played the game this week!!! Brian, you are one of my favorite love song balladeers -- please try to stay true to your "brand" and to who your fans think you are -- it's a far more valuable commodity. Don't blow it.
Dennis Rodman - what is wrong with this guy? Did he think that this first task was just a scrimmage game that he couldn't be bothered to warm up for? How could someone with such natural ability and talent have such a huge chip on his shoulders? And why was he avoiding the public by hiding out in the van during the challenge? It was agreed by all that he was potentially the biggest draw on the team. And yet, there he sat in the van doing nothing, hiding behind those sunglasses undoubtedly contemplating the location of his next piercing or tattoo.
It's a shame that Dennis was the one most responsible for the loss of his team. If he followed in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis or Tito Ortiz or Gene Simmons from last season, he would have left the women in the dust with his sales potential. He's the biggest star on the show and one big missed opportunity. He's going down -- he can't help himself. Yes, Dennis may have won five professional NBA titles, but he's also a professional victim. Can you believe his antics in the boardroom? I love how Trump wasn't having any of it and shut him down. He's lucky Dice's laziness and quitter mentality are Trump's pet peeves. I do hope that Dennis stays around longer though, just because he is such a train wreck and a load of fun to watch. Perhaps he's trying to be Omarosa on steroids? All I know is that Dennis could be throwing away a wonderful chance to prove his teammates, Trump, and his critics (including me) wrong.
MVP of Episode One --
Annie Duke and Brande Roderick. Congrats ladies! Even if you don't like each other, it doesn't matter -- go win it!!!!
Behind The Scenes --
Here's what you didn't see on the show. These people had to learn how to bake, fashion their cupcake truck from scratch, create a marketing plan, call friends and solicit funds, and go out on the street and sell -- all within the course of about 12 hours time with little to no sleep and very little food. It's a lot harder than it looks. It's hard... really hard. (Side note: one interesting difference is that last season we weren't allowed to mention Celebrity Apprentice when we were trying to raise money -- making it that much more difficult.)
And of course, then there's the boardroom -- two to three hours (edited down) of continually throwing people under the bus and those who choose to throw themselves in front of it of their own volition. I suffer post-traumatic stress just thinking about these sessions! The celebs need to realize that it just gets worse with every passing week; although I'll have to say that this bunch doesn't seem to mind that much... yet.
Now that I can watch objectively from afar, I realize that the task and the lesson at hand are easy -- make a decent product and sell the smallest amount of product for the greatest sum of money. It's about keeping it simple and staying focused. But when you are there in the thick of it, it is often difficult to see clearly.
Can't wait till next week -- I'm already hooked.
I am so excited to watch Season Two of THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE. I think the cast is phenomenal and I can already see the dynamics coming into play.
I have to say being on Season One turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. In the aftermath of the show I've been kept pretty busy, including a nationwide speaking tour on empowerment and entrepreneurship that reached over 75,000 people; and started a web site for women entrepreneurs called MsMogul.com. In addition to my day job as a television producer, I've gone back to school to get a doctorate in psychology (something I always wanted to do). The Celebrity Apprentice experience inspired me to do more, be more, and to examine my flaws and re-address them -- in a word, it inspired me to GROW.
One of the
amazing aspects of the show is that you get to spend quality time with an
accomplished group of people from a wide variety of fields such as sports,
entertainment, and business -- what a gift! We have all watched television and
seen someone win a gold medal at the Olympics, a singer win a Grammy, an actor
win an Oscar, and witnessed an entrepreneur making a million; but don't we all
wonder "How did they do it? Could I ever do it, too?" We love to
examine these people up close and try to "crack the code" of their
success, see what drives them, and see what is their Achilles heel -- made all
the more relevant and fascinating given these crazy economic times we are
living through.
The
Celebrity Apprentice (besides being a whole lot of fun) is an incredible
microcosm that shows the inner workings of success and the personality traits
that can either elevate or ultimately derail someone. It's my belief that the winning combination is a liberal dose
of intelligence + stamina + life experience + great contacts (for fundraising)
+ strategy and oh yeah, make sure to develop a thick skin for when "The
Donalds" of the world yell at you, and trust me, they will yell at you at
some point in your career.
So let's
jump in and talk about this new season -- I'm excited because I see a lot of
people I admire and respect. Here are my initial impressions of the new
Celebrity Apprentices:
Joan
Rivers - age,
experience, and fierceness are on her side to win it. I'm a big fan of hers --
to be in the piranha-infested waters of entertainment this long; she has to
have some business acumen. I like that she is honest, direct and doesn't care
what people think of her. Plus I'm sure that she has a pretty extensive Rolodex
of contacts -- an important component in raising money for the charity
challenges. I'll have to say that I think she is one of the people I look
forward to learning the most from. She is my # 1 pick to win this. The one
thing that could bring about Joan's downfall is that while you are on the show,
you barely have any time to sleep and it's also very difficult to grab a bite
while in the middle of the tasks. I lost eight pounds and was psycho-sleep
deprived. In Season One, we had a lot of the Apprentices who fell apart --
think of it as a physical and fiscal boot camp. I'm not sure if she has the
stamina for this -- but I am rooting for her.
Melissa
Rivers - of course,
we all know she's the daughter of Joan. Let's see if the apple falls far from
the tree. She's my # 1-A pick to win this. She may carry mama's torch should
mom not have the stamina.
Jesse
James - (in my
opinion) is a close second. Jesse is a great entrepreneur. He's managed to
sustain both a very successful business and a successful marriage to actress
Sandra Bullock. Plus having a relative who is a big celeb is a big bonus for
some of the tasks -- remember Stephen Baldwin bringing in his brother Alec for
a cameo? Let's face it -- Jesse is one smart (and tough) dude. He will survive,
and probably thrive on, the physical challenges. My only concern is that he
might be one of those tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside guys who may not
want go "there" when it gets ugly, and it always gets ugly.
Annie
Duke - I don't know
very much about Annie at this point, but I'm going to give her a wild card
vote. I'm just putting two and two together -- she's a poker champion, and
poker is one of the ultimate mind games. I think she's literally worth betting
on and will definitely give Donald Trump a run for his poker chips.
Andrew
Dice Clay - I'm
predicting he'll be this year's Omarosa. He is tough when need be and I'm
suspecting he'll go pretty far. As for his egomaniacal antics -- I learned from
Gene Simmons and Omarosa that's all that they are -- just antics. Behind the
façade, all these people tend to be extremely smart and good at heart.
Brande
Roderick - I never
underestimate a Playmate. People stereotype them as dumb, but I have found that
they are far from it. They know how to use all of their gifts and assets to the
best of their abilities -- and I think they have a lot to teach the rest of us
gals. Hopefully Brande will have learned the lesson from last season's
Playmate, Tiffany Fallon, and realize that she needs to be calling on her
contacts on Day 1 in order to start raising money.
Herschel
Walker - Athletes
rock! Their stamina, drive and competitiveness leave most of us in the dust.
And don't forget the advantage of a fervent fan base -- famous athletes can
raise money in a fraction of the time that it takes most people. This former
NFL running back could be quite a contender for the title of Celebrity
Apprentice. Hopefully he studied the playbooks of Season One's Lennox Lewis,
Tito Ortiz and Nadia Comaneci and has developed a strategy that will work.
Tom
Green - I just love
him. Tom makes me laugh. I have met him on several occasions and he's an
absolute doll. Regardless of what happens, he will be entertaining to watch and
I'm just happy he's going to be on the show. (I can't wait to see his initial
introduction to Trump!) However Tom, I love you madly, but you don't have a
chance. Then again maybe Tom is crazy -- crazy like a fox.
Natalie
Gulbis - I don't
know much about this professional golfer -- but again, athletes are not to be
discounted. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about her on the show.
Scott
Hamilton - Yet
another great athlete. However, I don't think Scott will make it past one of
Trumps' tirades. What many of you may not know is that it takes 2-3 hours to
shoot the boardroom sessions. It's very hot in the room, and after several
hours of interrogations, you find that you are forced to throw your friends
under the bus or end up under the tires yourself -- it's a truly brutal
procedure. Very few people have the stomach for this. I found these sessions to
be very difficult, and I consider myself a tough cookie.
Brian
McKnight -
LOOOOOOVE him! I hope they let him sing on the show. Once again, I think he
might be too sweet to handle everything. I almost hope he gets fired right
away. I don't want to see one of my favorite ballad singers yelling at people
in the boardroom -- it will ruin my fantasy of what a wonderful guy I think he
is.
Tionne
"T-Boz" Watkins - Big-time wild card. T-Boz, don't go chasing waterfalls and keep your
eyes on the prize. I love her music, but I think she'll get the ax pretty early
on unless she's got more life experience under her belt than I imagine. I wish
her well though.
Khloe
Kardasian - Love
her reality show but I think The Apprentice will be a lot more than she
bargained for. She's got her own shop and she knows business, but this is a
totally different league -- it's way tough!!!!
Clint
Black - This year's
Trace Adkins for the country fans. I think of Clint Black as mild-mannered and
sweet, and not really Apprentice winner material; but then again, look how
close Trace's quiet brilliance almost won him the title. I would love to be
surprised by Clint!
Claudia
Jordan - Wow, I
have no idea on this one! She's one of the beautiful and sweet models from
"Deal or No Deal." Unless she has a split personality and there's a
completely different person inside, I can't imagine that this will bode well.
Happily for her, she'll be getting the exposure, and don't underestimate the
power of that... all of us have been touched by the Trump brand.
Dennis
Rodman - Ex-NBA
star. Everything I have ever seen about Dennis implies that he's extremely
gifted, but that he tends to sabotage himself. He could be a total disaster
(although fun to watch) or he could come from behind and win the race.
Stay tuned...
after every Celebrity Apprentice episode I'll be blogging about the show and
giving you my perspective on what transpires. Along the way I will give you the
inside scoop that will help you understand what goes on behind the scenes, and
why normal people appear to be losing it. I'll also express some of the lessons
I carried away from the experience, in the hopes that you can use the advice to
conquer whatever it is that is important to you.
Let the
games begin!