If ever there was a neck and neck finish on The Apprentice, it was this season (Season 4) between Randal, the uber-educated, calm and kind business owner and Rebecca, the cool as a cucumber, broken ankle trooper and business journalist.
When it came down to the final moments, I honestly didn't know who Trump was going to select, and I almost thought it was going to be Rebecca, when he suddenly made his decision and selected Randal. I'd been pulling for Randal and have thought that he would win for weeks now, so I was pleased with the decision. I was impressed with the fact that someone could actually go through the process with their integrity intact and with no one holding a grudge against them and still win. This, as opposed to the animosity always generated against the finalists by the end of any season of Survivor.
It's obvious that Trump values exceptional people in his organization, so I was kind of prepared for the possibility that he might actually hire both finalists to manage different projects. So when Trump actually floated the idea of hiring both of the two finalists to manage different projects I wasn't surprised. The shocker was when he decided to ask Randal whether he thought Rebecca worthy of managing the project that Randal had not selected.
I believe that Trump took for granted that, considering the mutual respect between the candidates, Randal would say "Hey, great idea!". However Randal stunned everyone (including Trump, I'll wager) when he said instead:
"This isn't The Apprentii, it's The Apprentice."
Considering his personality and history to date, I was completely and utterly floored...
The only possible explanation I could think of off the top of my head is that saying "yes" would have invalidated every thing he said about her not being the one for the job. That, and the fact that it would have detracted from his own victory... but I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
Quite an ending to Season 4 of The Apprentice!
Article comments
1 - david r. mark
He didn't want to finish in a tie.
2 - Chantal Stone
Who would? That was HIS moment and he didn't want to share it....I'm not sure I would either.
3 - Screen Rant
Well I certainly can't even begin to imagine what my emotions would be at a moment like that, which is why I stated that I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
I have a feeling that Trump will hire her anyway.
Vic
4 - Brent McKee
If I were Trump I'd certainly be slipping her a job offer even if I saw Felisha and Alla shaking their heads so vigorously that you could hear them rattle. For the first time the show actually produced two really deserving candidates for the top position - as opposed to the third season which produced none. Hire Rebecca just to make up for that.
5 - Screen Rant
I think that Trump had every intention of hiring her as well but even HE got caught flatfooted by Randal's comment.
BTW, Randal issued an apology on his website (which is currently down). Click on my URL on the left to read it. :-)
Vic
6 - Nancy
Wow, was I disappointed in Randal. You just know that Rebecca would have said that she would be honored to have Randal as an Apprentice too. Trump will make a BIG mistake if he doesn't offer her a job-you know someone will! I guess we'll see who will be the bigger success!
7 - Erica Blair
Let's look at the video tape shall we people?
1) Rebecca = 1-2 record with win largely supported by Randall
2) Randall = 3-0 record-having been traded numerous times between teams as a "winner"
3) Rebecca = showed disloyalty when she and Brian bashed Randall behind his back during the Learning Annex project (for those of you who think Randall treated his "friend" badly)
4) Randall took the high road "even" when Rebecca "frontstabbed" not backstabbed him in the boardroom after her loss with XM Radio (what a great friend she was)
5) Rebecca defended a renegade teammate (Toral) whom everyone despised and against Trumps advice
6) Randall had no combative issues with any of his team mates each clammoring for the opportunity to work with him
7) Rebecca had an over inflated opinion of herself --in that she truly believed that she was on the same level as this man with clearly more experience--perhaps this is why her charity made no $$ at all?? who knows (shrug)
There was clearly no choice to be made in this case in that Rebecca would be a stellar candidate for the position of Project Assistant to Randall's Project Manager -- but not as a leader and certainly not as his equal.
Does this all boil down to racism? I'm not really sure--but what I am learning from reading the comments posted here, is that the sympathetic view lies within our own comfort zone.
No one here is saying Randall was undeserving, just that he was not nice enough. How nice does he need to be to be accepted as viable-and was your level of respect or his "place" really his goal?
Seems he was respectful enough for all the weeks he carried Miss Rebecca's bags--even after being stabbed in the "front" --
Just a thought--