The Apprentice has been one of the great business and marketing teaching shows in the past decade (NBC, Thursdays, 10 p.m.). Almost every season has hit the mark in what it takes in business to succeed. This season’s show has a great premise, let 16 people who have been laid off or downsized from their jobs apply.
Unfortunately, the applicants can’t stop fighting and continue to call each other names like “jealous cow.” This season has plenty of drama but no real substance. Hopefully, it will turn around in future shows.
The Remaining Apprentice Applicants
Sixteen contestants were introduced in the first episode. After week three finished, 13 remain including:
- Anad was a real estate investment manager, moved to New York and began his own business
- Brandy was a corporate attorney, then co-founded a mobile cupcake business.
- Clint was a successful CPA and real estate attorney and developer who had to sell off his home and now his family is living at friends’ homes.
- David, an unemployed account manager, has five children, used to have two homes and is now living off unemployment checks.
- Gene, was a financial advisor, is ex-military, and is trying to get an assisted living facility started.
- Kelly worked in public relations and once worked for the Governor of Georgia. She was recently named one Altanta’s “Power 30 Under 30.” She is now living with her parents after getting laid off.
- Liza, started an educational technology business that fell due to the economy.
- Mahsa works as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, NY. According to her bio on the nbc.com, she “is obsessed with beauty, hair and style secrets.”
- Poppy, a recent graduate of Stanford, has not been able to find a job since graduating. She lives with her parents and helps take care of her grandmother.
- Stephanie was ranked among the top commercial lenders in the country but has been impacted by the recession.
- Steuart owned four businesses and because of the recession had to shut down two of them.
- Tyana was a real estate agent with a six-figure salary. She has been laid off for over a year.
- Wade is a self-taught real estate mogul and is sure he will bounce back from the bad economy.
The three fired apprentices include:
- Week 1: Nicole
- Week 2: Alex
- Week 3: James
Apprentice Season Lacks Passion and Purpose
The first three projects of the season include designing an office space, selling ice cream on the streets of New York City, and this week it was helping boost sales at a doggy spa. Cesar, the Dog Whisperer, made a guest appearance and helped decide which team won the task.
Neither the men’s team or the women’s team have put much passion, creativity, or real business savvy into any of the projects. Both teams seem to be so disorganized and spend so much time calling each other names and fighting over everything, they lack any real cohesion.
The two people receiving the most attention, David and Mahsa, are unprofessional and insubordinate, not to mention lou- mouthed and rude. For those who watch the show for the business and marketing aspects using real world exercises, with just the right amount of tension and drama thrown in, this season is just painful to watch.
Fighting in the Apprentice Boardroom
The in-fighting continued this week in the boardroom from both teams with the women once again throwing someone under the bus before they were told if they won or lost. This week it was Liza taking the heat.
The women’s project manager was Tyana and she did have a strong showing in completing and winning this week’s task. She may have redeemed herself a bit after a nasty showing in the first show where she led the charge to take out the project manager before knowing if the team lost.
Gene and Clint continue to be the strong members on the men’s team. David just has to go soon. He seems to be the drama maker for the season but he is acting like a child. He decided to try to make nails out of binder clips this week thinking he was going to become some sort of hero for his team. Mr. Trump, where did you get these applicants?
Click here to see a review of week 1 of The Apprentice.
