Despite some moments of excitement, I have to admit that either these team members are a boring bunch or the show itself is losing its lustre. Or maybe I’m just tiring of people behaving badly, on television or anyplace else. Not that the shenanigans on this television show are unknown to me–because I’ve experienced similar things in both my corporate and consulting careers. Which means that even if the show is falling a bit flat, I can still present you with even more Celebrity Apprentice lessons.
Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it
When George Santayana pointed out the benefits of learning from the past, he was right on the money.
“You contestants are dumb as rocks!”
Last week, a team lost because its promotional ideas weren’t appropriate for families. So, tell me, please, why the following week, the same team would come up with a theme that played off the current popularity of large female derrieres? No, I am not kidding. The task was to market Kings Hawaiian sweet buns, and as project manager, Kenya was thrilled to offer her over-sized hind end as the jump-off point for a social media campaign. To make matters worse, Vivica Fox (who starred in the movie, Booty Call) was bent out of shape because HER large butt wasn’t deemed large enough.
“My assets grossed over $1 billion,” groused Vivia.
Seriously?
I know. It seems like I’m always asking that in my Celebrity Apprentice recaps. “Seriously?
Worse, Kenya was high on the slogan “Baby wants buns.”
Incredulous look.
People, people, people. Nothing has changed in a week. Most clients still do not appreciate sexual references and double entendres for family-friendly promotions. What is it you don’t understand about that?
The boss will finally get it. Usually.
Needless to say, the client hated the campaign and Kenya was on the hot seat. But she was ready and immediately threw Vivica under the bus.
“Vivica has limited talent.”
“Mr. Trump, Vivica has not been feeling well and didn’t give 100%. In fact, she tweeted that she was going through menopause!”
I’ll spare you the gory details, but when Vivica’s account showed a tweet on that very topic, Mr. Trump’s son noticed it was quite a different tenor than Vivica’s other sporadic tweets. And that’s because Kenya had stolen Vivica’s phone and forged a tweet.
“See, now, that’s a dirty-ass bitch, a toxic trick,” Vivica fumed in the board room. And finally, finally, Mr. Trump realized that viewers were tiring of Kenya and she was fired.
During her time on the show, Kenya showed herself to be an awful person. I’ve worked with people like that, the kind who “play up the chain of command” but are hell on wheels below the board room. Sometimes it takes a very long time for the boss to get it and move on it. Of course, Mr. Trump got it immediately, but this is a TV show, so he played it out until he’d wrung every ratings point he could out of her. Still, it was great to see that what went around finally did come around.
It’s always a good idea to take a hard look at yourself
This show makes clear that celebrities are just not able to take a good, long, honest look at themselves. Those egos get in the way. One can only hope that watching themselves on this show helped them see that childish, pouty petulance when they don’t get their way is never a good idea.
That’s right. I’m talking to you Ian. Hey, look, it’s true, you got kind of a raw deal. Your jingle for a new Anhauser Busch product was pithier and probably more memorable than Johnny’s. But your bratty, peevish attitude meant you never got a chance to work out the tune with the professionals on your team. When you presented “La Cucaracha” as its melody, of COURSE no one liked it because they knew you couldn’t legally use it. But yes, you were on the right track. It could have worked with different (but related) music. This is a perfect example of how your petulance worked against you.
Geraldo. Oh Geraldo, I’ve got news for you—not every word out of your mouth is a pearl of wisdom. In fact, pearls of wisdom from your mouth are rarer than…wildebeests. Are they rare? No matter. Keep your damn mouth shut some of the time. You might learn something.
And Brandi, you seemed sulky from the start of this task. You should have allowed some time for the musicians to work out a catchy tune for Ian’s lyric. You might have won the task.
Instead, here’s what happened.
Mr. Trump fired Ian.
And then he fired Brandi.
And then he fired Johnny.
He fired the entire team. How exciting was that?
We are now down to the final three: Vivica Fox, Geraldo and Leeza Gibbons.
Leeza’s flown under the radar and has been a class act.
I also accidentally saw a spoiler on line that purports to reveal the winner.
We shall see. And so another Celebrity Apprentice evening ends.
So tell me: have you ever worked with anyone who behaves really badly?
Did I say last week that Kenya is disgusting. Eckk.
I am really liking Leeza because she gets that you are only as good as your team.
Even though she didn’t like Geraldo’s jingle, she didn’t
make him feel bad about it.
I have worked with some horrible people. You know, back on the day,
being a woman in a management position. I will say because of that treatment
I am smarter and tougher but it does suck working in an environment where
everyone wants to stab you in the back.
Although I haven’t watched this show in a few years now, your recaps are fun to read, Carol. 😀 Celebrity egos gone wild! Of the three remaining, I always liked Leeza Gibbons and I hope she wins.
Oh, have definitely worked with my share of Divas, Dirty Players, and Dips**ts. For me, the most difficult are the Dirty Players because it can be very tempting to stoop to their level. Stay above the fray can sometimes be a difficult code of conduct.
Yes, it can. I once worked for a boss who was batshit crazy. We all had his number but he thought we didn’t and that he was a master manipulator. He tried to get me but in the end, I got away clean, mostly because I’m a better player than he is. But oh, his temper tantrums were legion, and over the dumbest stuff. I could write a book. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but he left so many hurt young people in his wake that I can’t. A real asshat.
I don’t know if the celebrity apprentices were acting badly because ever since he began his stint as a “birther”, I cannot tolerate seeing or listening to anything The Donald has to say. I have worked with people who behaved really badly. When I was a worker bee, I was usually able to stay out of the way. When I became a boss, that became impossible. The silver lining: I got to say, “You’re fired.”
I love the intrigue of shows like The Apprentice, Carol. However, I haven’t had a chance to watch The Celebrity Apprentice! To think that people would stoop so low -but then I’ve seen it in real life too, as you’ve mentioned.
PS: I haven’t watched television in 6 months – nothing against it – just not missing it though!
I usually like Celebrity Apprentice, but I really couldn’t even get started watching it this round. I loved the season that Lil’ Jon and John Rich were in. It was a fun season.
Now that I have finished binge-watching *almost* the entire season (the finale is yet to come), I feel I am educated enough to comment.
I think you make a great point, which, I turn back on myself: how large IS my blind spot???
I think we *all* have them. Not just celebrities, and it really *does* behoove each of us to take a long, hard look, fairly often! Maybe daily!
What is so glaringly obvious about me to others, that I myself am missing?
And the second comment I want to make concerns Leeza Gibbons, and it is that “Plays Well With Others” doesn’t mean that you’re a wimp, or a weakling. In her case, she strikes me as super-sharp, strong, determined, caring, and kind.
That’s my kind of woman!
Isn’t it exhilarating to see someone exhibit those kinds of qualities, and STILL rise to the top?
Love it!
I saw Kenya Moore on RHOA and she wasn’t even good enough for that show. She is one of the most annoying humans I have ever heard open their mouths the other is Geraldo!
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Did I say last week that Kenya is disgusting. Eckk.
I am really liking Leeza because she gets that you are only as good as your team.
Even though she didn’t like Geraldo’s jingle, she didn’t
make him feel bad about it.
I have worked with some horrible people. You know, back on the day,
being a woman in a management position. I will say because of that treatment
I am smarter and tougher but it does suck working in an environment where
everyone wants to stab you in the back.
Kenya did herself no favors. Horrible person. I hear you about the work environment, D.
Although I haven’t watched this show in a few years now, your recaps are fun to read, Carol. 😀 Celebrity egos gone wild! Of the three remaining, I always liked Leeza Gibbons and I hope she wins.
I hope so, too.
Woman, you lost me at hello. I know nothing about this!!!! My hubby watches shark tank…..they can be mean at times.W
Mean. And crazy!
Oh, have definitely worked with my share of Divas, Dirty Players, and Dips**ts. For me, the most difficult are the Dirty Players because it can be very tempting to stoop to their level. Stay above the fray can sometimes be a difficult code of conduct.
Yes, it can. I once worked for a boss who was batshit crazy. We all had his number but he thought we didn’t and that he was a master manipulator. He tried to get me but in the end, I got away clean, mostly because I’m a better player than he is. But oh, his temper tantrums were legion, and over the dumbest stuff. I could write a book. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but he left so many hurt young people in his wake that I can’t. A real asshat.
I don’t know if the celebrity apprentices were acting badly because ever since he began his stint as a “birther”, I cannot tolerate seeing or listening to anything The Donald has to say. I have worked with people who behaved really badly. When I was a worker bee, I was usually able to stay out of the way. When I became a boss, that became impossible. The silver lining: I got to say, “You’re fired.”
Yes, it really is a silver lining. Unfortunately, when the bad behavior is above you in the org chart, you are simply out of luck!
Please, Please, Please let it be Leeza. The rest have been embarrassing. So glad the Vivica/Kenya party is finished. Hated that.
I hope, too, but you never do know…
I worked on the launch of Leeza Gibbons’ book and can say she’s a class act. Even though I don’t watch the show, I hope she wins.
Believe it or not, I’ve never watched the show. But I totally agree—when it comes to celebrities, egos always get in the way!
I have never seen the show, but have caught news of it on blogs like yours. Sounds like it provides up and down entertainment.
As a non-watcher, it still sounds intriguing! I guess I’m going to have to roll up my sleeves and start watching this soon!
I love the intrigue of shows like The Apprentice, Carol. However, I haven’t had a chance to watch The Celebrity Apprentice! To think that people would stoop so low -but then I’ve seen it in real life too, as you’ve mentioned.
PS: I haven’t watched television in 6 months – nothing against it – just not missing it though!
I usually like Celebrity Apprentice, but I really couldn’t even get started watching it this round. I loved the season that Lil’ Jon and John Rich were in. It was a fun season.
Thanks for this season’s update.
Now that I have finished binge-watching *almost* the entire season (the finale is yet to come), I feel I am educated enough to comment.
I think you make a great point, which, I turn back on myself: how large IS my blind spot???
I think we *all* have them. Not just celebrities, and it really *does* behoove each of us to take a long, hard look, fairly often! Maybe daily!
What is so glaringly obvious about me to others, that I myself am missing?
And the second comment I want to make concerns Leeza Gibbons, and it is that “Plays Well With Others” doesn’t mean that you’re a wimp, or a weakling. In her case, she strikes me as super-sharp, strong, determined, caring, and kind.
That’s my kind of woman!
Isn’t it exhilarating to see someone exhibit those kinds of qualities, and STILL rise to the top?
Love it!
I saw Kenya Moore on RHOA and she wasn’t even good enough for that show. She is one of the most annoying humans I have ever heard open their mouths the other is Geraldo!