The Apprentice 2, Episode 4: Eating Their Words

Back in the suite, Jennifer C. brags about her own leadership abilities. Sandy says that Jennifer C. was the best project manager yet. That’s not saying much. Jennifer C. says that Stacy “kills me,” and she wants to get rid of her. Sandy says that since the last task, Elizabeth has been really weak. Elizabeth, meanwhile, is worried that Jennifer C. will support Sandy over her in the boardroom. Ivana tells her that she has her back.

Jennifer C. then goes on to blame “two old Jewish fat ladies” for the loss referring to the two women who didn’t like their décor. Jennifer C. says that there was nothing wrong with the décor, but that those two women were the wrong kind of people for the restaurant. Lil Stacy can’t believe the way Jennifer is going on about those two women, mentioning always that the women were Jewish. Lil Stacy says that she’s Jewish, and is offended by the way Jennifer C. is talking about them. Jennifer C. talks to pretty much everyone and her sister about the “two old Jewish women,” including that they were cheap. RNO Editor David Bloomberg sent me an email wondering just how many votes Jennifer C. thought those two women had.

Lil Stacy tells some of the other women how offended she is by the way Jennifer C. is talking. Trouble is, Jennifer C. is standing right behind her. Seriously, Lil Stacy should probably feel Jennifer’s breath on her neck. Jennifer C. gives Lil Stacy the finger behind her back, which is a very adult way to handle conflict. Jennifer C. then tells Lil Stacy to stop spreading controversy. Lil Stacy starts to deny it, but Jennifer says she heard everything. Stacy says she doesn’t want to talk to Jennifer. Jennifer says, “Want to know why we lose? It’s the havoc wreakers.” Yes, that’s why! Funny, I thought all of Apex’s problems were supposed to have been solved since they got rid of that crazy distraction that was Stacie. Funny how they still lost, isn’t it? In an interview, Lil Stacy says that she’s prepared for Jennifer C. to take her to the boardroom, and she’s ready to put up a fight.

The women file into the boardroom, and Trump asks how the leadership was in the task. Ivana says that it was lacking, and gives their lack of sleep as an example. Jennifer C. says that her father always used to say that if you slept the night before, you had more time to work. Right, because people whose bodies require them to sleep? Totally lazy.

Carolyn says she knows why they failed. They had 7 women in chic black outfits in what was not a chic neighborhood (a fact backed up by RNO’s resident New Yorker C. Brian Devinney). It’s a blue jeans kind of neighborhood, so their restaurant just didn’t fit. Sandy admits that she was in charge of the décor, and Jennifer C. immediately chimes in that it was beautiful. Carolyn says it may have been beautiful, but it was wrong. That’s an interesting point, actually. Maybe the “two old Jewish women” were the kind of people who lived in the neighborhood and would be likely to go to that restaurant. Maybe Jennifer C. was wrong, and those two women weren’t wrong for the restaurant so much as the restaurant was wrong for them.

Bill says that the service was tense and too attentive – that would be the hovering Jennifer C, I’d bet. Jennifer C. says that the team lacked camaraderie. Ivana says that should come from a leader, and starts to cite Jennifer’s grandfather’s saying about sleep. Jennifer C. leaps down her throat and says it was her father, not her grandfather, “get it straight.” Wow, way to miss the point. Stacy says that Jennifer C. likes to point fingers, but never blames herself.

Carolyn starts to give her opinion, and Jennifer C. interrupts her. Remember at the end of the boardroom in episode 2 when Jennifer C. said she’d never speak up again? I guess that didn’t last, and Carolyn berates Jennifer C. for interrupting her. Carolyn says that the women of Apex seem incapable of working together, and they make her embarrassed to be a businesswoman. Jennifer C. interrupts her again to agree, and Carolyn says, “Can’t you be quiet for one second?” Laws, do I love Carolyn!

Trump asks Sandy who she would fire. After a few moments of waffling, she says Jennifer. Ooh, burn! Maria says that Jennifer’s leadership was all talk, no action. Jennifer C. insists that she made decisions and they stuck to them, no wavering. Trump has heard enough and asks who she wants to bring to the boardroom. To the surprise of absolutely no one, she picks Lil Stacy and Elizabeth. Carolyn says, “Sounds personal.” Bill asks her to reconsider, and says, “This is not a game,” and warns against choosing based on personal alliances. Jennifer, of course, interrupts him, which irritates Bill. He tells her she better be certain of her reasons for choosing those two.

The three women leave the boardroom. Carolyn says that since they got their lowest score on décor, Jennifer should have chosen Sandy, but obviously didn’t for personal reasons. Bill says that Jennifer needs to lead by example.

Trump sends the women back into the room. He asks Jennifer why she chose Lil Stacy. Jennifer says that she is “a living thorn in my side.” Lil Stacy calmly says that Jennifer picked her for personal reasons. Jennifer claims that Lil Stacy “wreaked havoc” on the team. Havoc wreaker! Stacy says that she would not choose to work with Jennifer C. Jennifer C. says again that her choice of Stacy is “nothing personal,” but of course has no examples at all of anything Lil Stacy did wrong.

Elizabeth says that Jennifer is just looking for people to blame for the loss. Jennifer says that since the last task, Elizabeth has been “on the verge of a breakdown.” Yes, the craziness attack! It worked in the last boardroom! Jennifer says she had to take Elizabeth by the shoulders and motivate her to focus on the task. Elizabeth practially snorts and says, “You never did that!”

Lil Stacy asks why Sandy isn’t there. Jennifer talks again about how beautiful the restaurant was, but Carolyn says she obviously doesn’t get it: “You failed.” Jennifer says she’ll take responsibility for Sandy’s decisions because she approved them. Lil Stacy adds, “because you’re friends.”

Trump tells Jennifer that her team hated her, and that she made a mistake not choosing Sandy for the boardroom. Jennifer says she regrets it. Trump says, “Jennifer, this is really easy. You’re fired.”

Awesome!

The three women leave the boardroom. Trump, Carolyn, and Bill agree that it was an easy choice to make. Trump says that it feels good. It felt good to watch it too, let me tell you.

In her cab ride home, Jennifer says that she’s happy knowing that she played honestly. Unlike Sandy, who betrayed her. Wow, Jennifer learned absolutely nothing, didn’t she? She says that she’ll still trust people, but that she’ll be more careful who she trusts. Or, she could take a tip from the freaking opening credits of the show and learn, “It’s not personal. It’s business.”

Next week, can anything save Apex? Maybe having Pamela join their team will be the major twist that they need. The teams will pitch products live on QVC, pinup girl/tennis player Anna Kournikova guest stars. And we’re promised another “great boardroom.” See you there, next Thursday night!

Betsy is the Associate Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached with any comments at betsyw42@hotmail.com.

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