The Apprentice 2 Weekly Performance Review, Episode 13: Candy from Strangers

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As for this week's episode, I'm not fond of conspiracy theories in reality shows, but there have been a couple of weeks where I've wondered about if the placement of the tasks. The week after Chris shot his mouth off in the boardroom, Trump throws a wedding planner task at them, as task that Chris is not only totally unsuited for, but one that Sandy, on the opposite team, would naturally excel at. More recently, we have Ivana and her rabid jealousy of Jennifer. So this week, they get a street task, which, as a reader pointed out, was virtually unwinnable by the non-hot blonde team. What better way to make Ivana flip out than engineer a task to be won using exactly the attributes she despises?

As I said, I don't want to sound like I'm throwing around conspiracies. It just all seems so… coincidental. I would like to think it's just good editing - building Ivana's jealousy steadily over the weeks until it reaches its peak with her, shall we say, absurd and extreme behavior.

Mosaic Corporation: There was a lot of slapstick wackiness in your assembly line, but you ended up producing only 40 fewer bars with one less person. As for your sales technique, regular readers should know that I don't approve. But it worked, so I suppose I can't argue too much, and besides, the outfits weren't outrageous. I DID like the idea of matching outfits, although if you were going with the M&M's theme, one of you should have worn red, the other yellow. Finally, I am impressed that the two of you worked together so well. You're almost always going to have to work, sometimes closely, with someone you don't like. The way you act goes a long way to showing the kind of manager you are.

Jennifer: And you came up with the idea of the matching outfits. While I did single that out as a good idea, I remain unimpressed. It's flat-out embarrassing that you're in the final four of a show like this, where intelligence and business skills are supposed to be emphasized.

Sandy: I admit it. I am still not impressed with you as a business person, and I don't think you belong in the final four. But you have a good business sense, and are a fantastic saleswoman. I believe this is a result of being able to relate to people, which is a skill I believe people like Jen and Ivana lack.

Apex Corporation:

Kevin: Unlike Ivana, I liked the fact that you took the initiative and looked for areas to improve. Yes, you should have checked them out with your Project Manager first, but come on, it was Ivana! I do disagree with you panicking and slashing the prices so early. Do your price slashing in the afternoon, when the choice is between getting a dollar and getting nothing. In the extras, you claimed to get Ivana's permission before selling the bars at the lower price, and she didn't argue with that statement.

Kelly: So you disapproved of Ivana's sales techniques? Can you explain why, every time the camera was on you, you were standing around doing nothing? I'm sure you did something, but coming up with an idea to increase sales wasn't it.

Ivana: Tell me, after all the complaining you did about Kevin going on his own and making his own decisions without approval, did you once call him on it? To him, I mean, not the camera? Wes can tell you that you have to keep control of your teammates. You are the leader. Act like it.

You knew I was going to comment - you complained that Sandy and Jen looked like hookers, so you ACTED like a stripper? And you actually didn't think you'd get fired for this? I actually saw steam coming out of Carolyn's ears at one point. You go to the gym in less clothing? That's not the point. Leotards and bathing suits are supposed to be worn on the outside. It's a societal standard, for good or ill. People respect a woman in a short skirt and plunging neckline a hell of a lot more than a woman who shows her panties.

To top it all off, you recommended that Trump fire Kelly (who was immune) and then, inexplicably, tore into JEN! What in the blue hell did you hope to gain from that strategy? Your incredible jealousy twisted your mind to where you could not function as yourself. You defined yourself by what Jen did.

LOOK. You should have been fired in episode two, and you were saved by Bradford, who you shouldn't have brought into the boardroom anyway. You were on borrowed time for over ten weeks, and the axe finally caught up with you. Good riddance.

Mike DeGeorge has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, and has almost ten years of management experience. He is also Associate Editor of RNO. Email Mike at mikmaria@charter.net.

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