The Celebrity Apprentice Starts to Reek of Desperation
Published February 08, 2008
There is a basic contract that exists between reality TV show watchers and reality TV show producers - we, the watchers, will accept the rules as you set them forth, ludicrous though they may be, provided that you (and the cast) do, too. Sure, a couple of tricks and surprises are fair, but if we're given the criteria by which people will be booted from the island, house, boardroom, or whatever it is, we expect it to be upheld.
Look at last night's Celebrity Apprentice and the ever-growing embarrassment that is Donald Trump. A few weeks ago Gene Simmons was fired because he brought two people back into the boardroom who did nothing wrong during that task. Trump explained to Gene that he was making a mistake, that Nely Galán ought to be brought back, and that Trump couldn't fire the people Gene wanted to bring in because he wouldn't base his decision on past transgressions. Okay, fair enough, Trump will only fire based upon the task at hand. Good to know.
Last night, Trump decided to fire poor Nely solely because he had the opportunity to do so; she had done nothing at all wrong in the current task (outside of not being able to convince the PM, Omarosa, that she was wrong, and we all know Omarosa takes advice from no one anyway). Trump made it clear that Nely had gotten lucky earlier in the season and that he was going to rectify that tonight. He fired Nely, despite Omarosa's concept being the sole reason the women lost.
Why, exactly, did he do this? What possessed him to fire her when he so clearly ought to have fired the person who was actually at fault?
Ratings. In The Donald's mind, Omarosa must mean ratings. If Omarosa is there more controversy will exist and the ratings will be higher. Though Trump, like Omarosa, listens to no counsel but his own, I have a few words advice for the Hairpieced One - by firing undeserving candidates you are undermining the very notion of the game you have everyone playing. The audience will not stand by you through this. We all know why you did what you did and it is wholly unacceptable. We've put up with a lot from you, from your condescension to every woman who has ever appeared on the show, to your getting rid of George Ross so that your kids could sit in the boardroom mutely, to your bluster about having the top-rated show on television despite what the actual ratings were. Your getting all vindictive on Nely last night and saving your pet project Omarosa may have been the last straw though. Right up until that point a number of us were actually looking forward to the rest of this season and the already ordered second edition of Celebrity Apprentice.
- The Celebrity Apprentice Starts to Reek of Desperation
- Published: February 08, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Reality TV, Video: Television
- Part of a feature: TV Nights
- Writer: Josh Lasser
- Josh Lasser's BC Writer page
- Josh Lasser's personal site
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Comments
I agree she should have been fired. However, just because she wasn't, is not a reason to stop watching the show.
M
You must be kidding. No way should Omarosa have been fired. She took the lead and turned to her team for feedback and support. Nely, absolutely as a TV mogul, should have at least voice her opinion about the concept. Whether Omarosa would have listened to her or not is beside the point. Omarosa took the concept, organized the term and they worked together like a well-oiled machine. She took the bull by the horns and ran with it well. What is it about guys that when faced with a strong, determined woman they want her fired? If she were a guy, you'd be singing her praises from the rooftops. This week, when Piers and Omarosa face off, it promises to be quite something to see. And I know I for one will be tuned in. Go Lady O!!!
I was a committed viewer of Apprentice, but tonight was the LAST time I will watch.
I could not believe that TRUMP allowed Amorosa to continue to let out her venomous lies.
I am not a fan of PIERS (spelled correctly) but he is absoluetely right when he said that Amorosa sank WAY BELOW acceptable standards when she attacked his personal life. Business is business, and personal attacks have no place in business or in a show for charity.
I really expected Trump to stand by Piers and his own family and tell Amorosa exactly what she needed to hear "You're fired".
Piers is absolutely right, Omarosa is not a celebrity, in fact she's barely human. The term lady should never be used in the same sentence as Omarosa. She is despicable and a liar.
It was painful to watch her destroy someone's chance the first time around, I can not even find the words to describe a person who would sabotage raising money for charity. PLEASE someone... anyone, make it stop.
Piers is absolutely right, Omarosa is not a celebrity, in fact she's barely human. The term lady should never be used in the same sentence as Omarosa. She is despicable and a liar.
It was painful to watch her destroy someone's chance the first time around, I can not even find the words to describe a person who would sabotage raising money for charity. PLEASE someone... anyone, make it stop.
Like the above comments I cannot believe that Mr Trump wouldn't stand behind Piers after the horrible thngs AMAROSA said to Piers re children and family.....GET HER OFF THE SHOW BEFORE SHE COMPLETELY DESTROYS IT....I was really disappointed that it didn't remain....girls against boys....it was unfair to put that low life AMAROSA with PIERS...I mean...let sparks fly....but this was filth coming out of AMAROSA'S mouth....she's shown her true colours and is certainly NO WOMAN
I saw 3 unthinkable things in this last show: how the worst behavior gets out freely in the open, how Piers worked under tremendous pressure, and how Donald Trump failed to react. Instead of a celebrity apprentice quest, in this episode we had to watch a display of an atmosphere common to cheap reality show, where everything is permitted and quality is sacrificed in the hope of high rating. I think Omarosa disqualified herself from the beginning, and she gave her worst in this last episode because she was permitted to. I remember that a few weeks ago Carol Alt would openly complain about Omarosa...yet she was she so quiet in the boardroom this time. I'm sure a bit of unity would have served better in these moments. Disappointing...and uninteresting; if I want to hear bad language I can do that without watching The Celebrity Apprentice.
I can not even find the words to describe a person who would sabotage raising money for charity.
Well said,
Omarosa is one of the lowest forms of life on TV.
They Beeped-Out all the cuss words she said about Piers Children. It was Ugly.
Piers should Sue Omarosa for the pocket-change she is worth.
With an issue like this trump should have reviewed all the tapes and not only fire her, but sue her also.
I don't think Omarosa will ever get a real job, a good paying job in the corporate world. Even flipp'in burgers would be too good for her.
I pitty the man that joins-up with her.
Her Stock Just Crashed, Bigtime.
Who would even want to be seen with her now?
Can you say "Smelly Box"?
You never know whats inside until you open it up.
I just watch the 2/14 show tonight and it was the most disgusting thing I've ever had to watch. Donald Trump owes all of his viewers an apology for this show. It should never have been shown - regardless of how much that may have complicated their schedule. I always thought Trump had some integrity, but even thinking that airing this episode makes me wonder about his judgement. Did he or the producers decide to air this because it would raise their ratings and make money? They must have and that makes it even worse - - not firing her on the spot was a BIG MISTAKE. Omarosa really stepped over the line and I hope she never gets put on another show. She is the most disgusting person on the face of the earth. I will not watch this show again until Donald Trump makes an apology to all of his viewers. He really has ruined his reputation with this. I hope someone from NBC or Trump's organization reads some of these blogs and gets the message - I have not been able to find an actual street address to send a letter to them.
I've watched this show for many seasons and enjoyed it. But I walked out of the room near the end of this last episode (Amorosa). The show just went cheap! When you'll do anything for ratings, you lose the respect of the non-Jerry Springer crowd.
I don't plan to watch this show during this season again. I'll reconsider after I hear Amorosa is gone. But what's really gone is my respect of how Trump is handling things. So the run may be over for me.
I've watched the Apprentice every season faithfully since day one. What I saw last night turned my stomach. I turned to my wife during one of Amorosa's diatribes and said "I am never watching this show again." What a disgusting display of arrogance and stupidity. As a parent, I can identify with how Piers must have felt listening to Amorosa insult his family. For a woman who is supposed to be so intelligent, is that all she could come up with? "Your bleeping kids don't respect you?" Thats it? This is all you have?
Ding Dong the witch is dead...
Piers deserves a standing ovation for the straight up, steller way he slaughtered Amorosa. I've always liked the guy for his grit and honesty but I have to admit, I have a bit of a crush now actually! Well done Piers, well done.
I'm sooo glad that finally she is gone. I know Trump kept her around because he knew that I personally only watched to see her final demise. She could never be a role model for any female in the business world. If she was in the REAL world she would have been fired long ago. Carol has done well for her self and has kept her self respect and dignity. I hope that in the future Trump never makes this mistake again.
Greeting from Norway (yes , we actually get this show here now =)
What annoyes me is how most tasks is all about advertising. He brings in elite people with doctor degrees ,mensa members etc, then he makes em sell cotton candy to prove their excellence.
If he keeps it up he might as well be composing teams of used cars sellers vs vacuum cleaners of the month salesmen.. results would probably blow him away,
sorry for my bad english ( this being my 2. language)





Oh come on. I agree that Omarosa needs to go. No one wants to be subjected to her level of rudenes. Let's take, for example, pouring wine on someone. Two year olds can't do that and there is nothing entertaining about watching an adult do it. Omorosa may make for conversation around the water cooler but no sane business person would risk hiring her even to deliver coffee in the morning. The Apprentice is otherwise a show worth watching. It provides insight into the psychology of survival and insight into the business world. Piers Morgan? Like him or not, he is smart and a survivor. Donald Trump? Well, he's the one with millions; not all those writing in about his shows. Steven Baldwin can claim to be a born again christian but I don't believe there's any biblical references where Jesus tells God he just can't work with some people so quits and joins another population. Or I don't think there's any biblical references where Jesus laughs at something and then says "O never mind. I don't think I should be doing that." Steven Baldwin needs to go back and play Follow the Leader for awhile so he will become a little more adept at following his chosen leader, Jesus.
So let's all stop posturing in the blog circuit and admit that this show is still picked up every season, is certain to get picked up another year, and people who choose to be on the show have to do some serious thinking about who they are -- and the rest of us get to watch it for free. It's better than any psychology book I had to read in courses. Omorosa is another story: she is ill-mannered, unskilled, has a poor work ethic, lacks creativity and vision, and a bully (who like all bullies survives by name-calling and ridicule). She is probably better suited for shows like "Who's Smarter than a 5th Grader" or other such game shows (although I would be surprised to see her get very far on "Who's Smarter than a 5th Grader." Others on The Apprentice come with more skills, better manners, a stronger sense of self, and can separate the task at hand from bullying those around them. We don't need to see anymore of Omorosa. I would like to see a lot more of The Apprentice.