As of tonight, Donald Trump has a new employee in his organization after a grueling, yet entertaining, 15-week long interview. Yep, tonight was the hour and a half live finale coming to us from the Orpheum in Hollywood, California. I found that rather unusual as all of the other seasons ended right here in the New York City area. Not that I was ever invited, mind you. (Sniffle.)
However, Trump had a card up his sleeve. The Apprentice 6 will take place in California. Dang, it just won't be the same, at least, not for me. I'm used to the NYC setting, know the areas, and often see familiar sights. Yes, I lived for a few years outside of Los Angeles, but we're talking first grade. I think it's changed since then. Ah, well...on with the show...
The finalists — Lee Bienstock and Sean Yazbeck — were still amidst their final tasks as I wrote in last week's article. Lee was in charge of a celebrity hockey game fundraiser at Chelsea Piers (NYC), while Sean was in charge of a Bare Naked Ladies rock concert fundraiser at Trump's Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Both had woes. In my opinion, Lee chose a horrible team. No matter how much loyalty he feels with Lenny, the man is not good for business. Pepi? He chose Pepi, fired in Week Two. Roxanne had some strong points, better than Lenny and Pepi, but...! And, then Sean had a strong team — Tarek, Andrea, and Tammy — but Andrea had a health crisis and went running off to a doctor. Eep.
As we watched them complete their tasks this week, both still had woes. Yes, Andrea returned (which is great as she's a very strong team member). Her health crisis turned out to be a burst blood vessel in her sinuses. But Sean delegated too much responsibility to Tarek, in particular. Tarek actually did well, but even Trump's representative George commented on it, so it wasn't just me.
Article comments
1 - Joan Hunt
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
Just finished watching the show myself. Not impressed with either of the finalists, but what can I say? They let Roxanne go and everyone else who should have been a contender.
Let's see what happens next season!
2 - Mark Saleski
for a great final twist, they should have fired them both and given the job to last year's runner-up Rebecca. she was stronger than at least half of this year's crop.
3 - BL Johnson
Who actually WON the fundraising contest?
Did I miss that detail? Or was it never made clear?
AND I agree that Rebecca is stronger that this year's finalists. Does anyone know where Rebecca is now?
4 - Suyog
Comapared to last season's finalists in Rebecca and Randall, or even Kendra before, or even Kelly before that - these two looked like absolute nincompoops. This season was very disappointing in its casting - there was nobody you wanted to root for - and this Sean who's got his metrosexual word confused... was jarring with his twiching of his mouth to produce that brit accent - arrrrrgh!
I agree, trump could have fired both of 'em and got Rebecca back!
Suyog
5 - ANN HALL
WHO EXACTLY DID A BETTER JOB FUNDRAISING???
NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW AND WE'RE ALL
ASKING THE SAME QUESTION THIS MORNING.......IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS AS WE WATCHED PEOPLE MILL AROUND FOR A GOOD 3 MINUTES AT THE END. HORRIBLE END TO THE SEASON.
PERSONALLY, WE THINK LEE MADE A AWFUL CHOICE WITH HIS TEAM--- BUT WAS THE STRONGER CANDIDATE,
NONETHELESS. THE GUY WILL GO FAR, BUT FIRST HE HAS TO GAIN BACK THE 22 POUNDS HE LOST----THE FIRST THING HE SHOULD LEARN IS SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTH FOR A JOB SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE DONE......
***Hopefully, some fabulous company will recognize his potential and offer him a real job.***
6 - Stephen V Funk
Thanks for the recap. I missed the finale. I also missed several other episodes of Apprentice this season. I don't feel like I missed much of anything, though. This from a guy who's been watching this series religiously from the very beginning.
I thought this season was a real klunker. I really hope the new California locale spices things up a bit, or this show is on borrowed time.
Please -- lose the Trump kids next season. Gag. Terrible move. It's always bad whenever George and/or Carolyn aren't there, but the kids were the WORST.
Both Lee and Sean (and most of the other apprentii) were unlikable and unlikely to have actually been hired for an important position with any real company. And I'm certain that Sean's British accent is fake.
Anyway... yawn. Trump -- you better whip this show back into shape next time... or -- it must be said -- YOU'RE FIRED!
7 - Dynamo of Eternia
I watched the finale last night. And of the two remaining candidates, I am glad that Sean won. Of the two of them, I felt he was the much stronger candidate overall, and just much more likable. He deserved this much more than Lee, in my opinion.
As far as who actually raised more money, they never gave the final numbers, but based on the footage being shown from each of the fundraisers, I believe that Sean's team won. I could be wrong and it could be just simply the way things were edited, but it seemed like they were showing several more cars and things being auctioned off at Sean's fund raiser than at Lee's.
I do agree that this season's candidates were not as strong as those from previous seasons. But, if someone from this group was going to win, I am glad it was Sean.
8 - Eric Berlin
I actually liked both finalists. While I agree with the outcome, I was very impressed by the young Lee, who handled himself brilliantly in the final boardroom and during the live finale.
His downfall may have been in his personnel skills -- totally agree that Lenny and Pepi were poor choices. Clearly Tarek and Andrea created an environment where very little was left to go wrong.
What was very disappointing, though, was the bare attention given to the final task by Trump. Further, Trump said very little about what he actually felt about either finalist. What I really liked about the ill fated Martha Stewart version of The Apprentice was that she really went into her decision-making process.
All in all, I think The Apprentice still has legs and I'm looking forward to the LA installment.