The Apprentice 2, Episode 12: On the Edge

In the suite, the candidates set the table for dinner, not knowing that they have one place setting more than they’re going to need since both Maria and Wes have been fired. Jen thinks Wes will be the one to go, but says that the boardroom can be very unpredictable. She learns just how unpredictable when Andy and Sandy return and tell everyone what happened. Andy says he’s still shell-shocked at seeing two people get fired. Sandy says that a whole new game has emerged, and points out that they are the final six. She is determined to break away from the pack to prove herself. In an interview, she says that she is the only candidate left without a college degree, but thinks that her performance is more important than whether or not she has a diploma on her wall. I wouldn’t be so sure about that one, Sandy – just ask Troy.

Apex has a team meeting, and Ivana volunteers to be project manager. Jen says she wants to be the leader, and the two of them argue about who should get the job. Ivana thinks she should get it because she really stepped up and worked hard on the Levi’s task, which is true. Jen counters that just because Ivana wants to be PM doesn’t mean she gets to be, which is also a decent point. Ivana tells the team, “I need a shot,” which is nice for her, but I don’t see why anyone else should be knocking themselves out to give Ivana a chance to impress Trump.

Kelly throws in that he’d like to lead, too – he wants a shot at an exemption. Finally, Kevin (who was project manager in the last task) says he’ll just choose a name at random. Kelly is the lucky winner, and suggests a group hug to ease any tension, which is kind of funny. Ivana is disappointed that she’s not in charge and says that if it weren’t for that pesky Jen, it would be all hers. Err, not necessarily, because Kelly wanted it too, but far be it for me to get in the way of your Jen hate. Ivana says she really wants to be on a different team from Jen. In an interview, she says that Jen has been kept in the game for two reasons, and gestures towards her chest and her face. She thinks Jen has been able to “get away with murder.”

Kelly, Kevin, and Ivana have a talk while Jen works on the computer (reading my recaps, I’m sure). Kelly says he doesn’t like working with Jen – he thinks she’s stupid. Kevin and Ivana, as we already know, are also not Jen fans. Jen says in an interview that she can hear them talking about her. She knows she doesn’t have any allies, but that doesn’t matter, because she’s there to win. That’s right, my friends – it’s another reality TV contestant saying they didn’t come to make friends!

The next morning, the Trump Phone rings, and thankfully, we’re back to having a shirtless boy answer the phone, Kelly in this case. One of my readers pointed out that the person who answers the phone also seems to be the project manager for one or the other of the teams, a fact that I seem to have missed while looking at the topless boys. Shirtless Kelly gets the instructions to meet Trump at Trump Place at 9:00. Andy tells us in an interview that he is the project manager for Mosaic. He says that he’s only 22, and that Kelly, at 37, is old. Yes, it’s a wonder Kelly can get around without a cane. Andy says that he’s ready to prove himself, and that he really wants to win.

The candidates gather at Trump Place, and Trump immediately has Apex even out the teams. Kelly sends Jen to Mosaic without hesitation, and says that eliminating her makes the team stronger. Trump notes that is, “not too complimentary.” He then introduces the challenge. Branding, Trump says, is very important. “People love the name Trump,” he claims. I think we all know who loves the name Trump the most, don’t you? He says that people also love the name Pepsi, and that the candidates will be working on a new bottle and marketing campaign for Pepsi’s latest soda, Pepsi Edge. The team with the best plan will win.

Sandy welcomes Jen to Mosaic. Meanwhile, Ivana is celebrating. In an interview, she says, “I felt lighter… I wasn’t carrying this blonde Barbie anymore.” At this point, I’d like to officially say enough already with the blonde, Barbie, fembot comments about Jen, Ivana. If she’s not as smart as you are, if she’s not creative, if she’s lazy, if she’s a bad performer, then talk about that. Don’t focus all of your energy talking about how pretty she is. It just makes you come across as petty and mean.

Of course, as soon as we finish seeing Ivana complain about pretty Jen always squeaking through, we get a scene of Sandy and Jen vigorously brushing their hair, enthusing about how happy they are to be on the same team. Jen is determined to win and show ‘em all.

And now for the Trump Lesson of the Week: “Form Your Own Opinion.” Trump tells us that he listens to his team, but ultimately forms his own opinion and makes his own decisions. A leader who just wants to be loved ultimately won’t succeed.

Mosaic heads to the Pepsi headquarters to get to work. Jen says that the energy at Mosaic is much better and there’s no attitude there. Sandy talks about Pepsi Edge. She says people like Diet Pepsi because it has fewer calories, but like regular Pepsi because it tastes better. Pepsi Edge gives soda drinkers the best of both worlds. She and Andy start sketching out brainstorming ideas on a white board. Sandy comes up with the idea that consumers could collect bottle caps with different countries on them. As soon as you get a whole continent, you’d get to go there. Andy loves the idea, and points out that if you got Antarctica, you’d be an instant winner. Sandy says in an interview that Andy was drinking tons of soda and was getting rather hyper. We then see a hilarious montage of Andy sucking down Pepsi like there’s no tomorrow, talking a mile a minute. Sandy thinks Andy is showing a slight lack of maturity. I agree, but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.