The Apprentice 5, Episode 10: Cutting It Close

As they prepare some kind of lobster dish, Tarek and Lee note that the other team has been in the boardroom for quite a while. Lee likes that- he figures they’re having a vicious battle. Synergy returns, minus Andrea. Allie says that her team fought for her. Sean tells everyone that he supported Andrea, then shrugs sheepishly. Allie says he’s “kind of a fence sitter,” but “went over to the dark side.” Sean says he thought differently, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Allie hugs Roxanne and Tammy, which worries Sean- he may be the scapegoat. Allie tells him that she’s surprised that he was “strategic like that.” Sean says that he might have been fired and was protecting himself Roxanne says she, Allie, and Tammy are straight shooters, that Sean doesn’t have anything to worry about. Allie says that just because the women are “super tight” doesn’t mean anything. She thinks Sean is playing strategically. I really don’t see where she gets that. Sean maintains that he was just trying to save himself. In an interview, Allie says that she doesn’t trust him. “He sold me out, and I’m not going to let that happen again.”

Candidates arrive outside boardroom. Trump banters with the sponsor while Bill and Carolyn watch with frozen smiles. They join the candidates, and for the millionth time, Trump swears that his hair is real. He asks for volunteers to examine his hair. Charmaine looks up close, but she doesn’t actually touch it. Trump says that the world should know, “It may not be pretty, but it’s me.” I’ve always thought his hair was real. If you’re as rich as Donald Trump, you don’t buy fake hair that looks like that. All of this segues to an introduction of Dennis, CEO, founder, and stylist of the Hair Cuttery. Each team will throw a grand opening event at new salons. The team that brings in the most money wins.

Synergy is on the way to the task, and Allie is still talking about the boardroom. Tammy thinks Sean will have trouble recovering from the damage he did with Allie and Roxanne. As Project Manager, she is determined that her team will be able to continue to function. They arrive at the salon, and immediately start work with the staff to shelves of products. Allie figures out how to arrange the shelves. She tells the staff to “tumble on top of” Sean if he’s in the way. Sean thinks that the women are going to be looking for him to fail so they can get him fired. He plans to “not screw up.” Now there’s strategy!

Charmaine is Project Manager of Gold Rush- she knows a little bit about salons, more than the guys do, at least. The message, she says, is grand opening. Clever! Tarek asks for the theme. Charmaine says that is the theme. She is annoyed and asks what he has in mind. He doesn’t have an idea either. Charmaine maintains that “grand opening” is as good a theme as any. Charmaine thinks Tarek is being condescending. He seems to think, according to Charmaine, that she doesn’t understand what he’s saying. Considering that she thinks “grand opening” is a theme, I tend to think Tarek is right on this one.

After all of that discussion, they decide to have a theme after all. Tarek asks Charmaine if, as PM, she is uncomfortable leading the team in a direction that she disagrees with. Charmaine says she’s not leading by consensus, but if they feel so strongly… then she will lead by consensus. In an interview, Tarek says that she goes back and forth too much. Considering that she flip-flopped in the course of one sentence, I can see where he’s coming from. Michael suggests the theme “Making You Happy.” The guys like it, and Charmaine thinks it’s acceptable. Tarek is frustrated because his PC is out of power, but that’s the last we hear of that, so I guess the crisis was averted.

And now for the Trump Lesson of the Week: “Watch Your Back.” Everybody wants Trumps job, so everybody is competition. Trump says you should fight back and win. It’s hard to have the top spot, so don’t give it up. Of course, with the Trump Lesson of the Week comes the Betsy Lesson of the Week. This week’s lesson: when you take your child for their first haircut, don’t just bring a camera- also bring tissues. I’ll explain more later. I’m sure you’re all on the edge of your seats, waiting to hear what I’m going to say, aren’t you?

Synergy offers 50% off of children’s haircuts, and Tammy and Sean talk it up to random people on the street. They enjoy working together. The two of them pass out flyers. Tammy calls the others and says that she and Sean are going to stop for pizza. She asks Allie and Roxanne to join them. Roxanne thinks Sean has flown under the radar and is “a crafty Brit.” Allie thinks that he “sold his soul” because he thought he’d get fired. They don’t think Tammy will be interested in him now. Silly Allie and Roxanne.

Tammy and Sean flirt over slices of pizza, which makes Tammy feel like she’s in high school again. Tammy says that the others think Sean is weak in character, but she doesn’t. For the record, I think Allie is being a gigantic baby about the whole thing. Just because Sean didn’t go after Andrea doesn’t suddenly make him evil. Tammy says that they have good chemistry. Sean says he’s happy that they got to go on a date. In an interview, Sean makes it perfectly clear that he totally lurves Tammy and even makes a growly noise. She’s beautiful and smart and “business-y.” He is “a young strapping chap from London” and anything could happen. Maybe they’ll have “lots and lots of babies” after this is all over. Sean then gets a dreamy look on his face that is adorable.

Charmaine directs Lee to stock the shelves. After that’s done, they’ll get the food set up. Lee asks Charmaine how she likes the shelf that he worked so hard on. She tells him that he did it all wrong. Lee wonders why they’re unpacking now while people are still awake. Wouldn’t it be better for them to do some marketing now and just stay up late setting up? He tells Charmaine this much, and she really doesn’t seem to be interested in what he has to say. She doesn’t feel like the team is respecting her. She then corrects Tarek, who also set up the shelf wrong. In case you’re wondering how you can set up a shelf of styling products incorrectly, the gist of it is that the guys should be setting up the shampoo next to its matching conditioner and so forth. Tarek jokes about how wrong they did things. Tarek says that Charmaine and Michael love paying attention to “idiotic crap” intead of what matters. Lee laments, “Three guys taking orders from a lady.” It’s such a stupid thing to say that I can’t even be bothered to hate him for it.

For the record, I’m with Lee and Tarek on this one. If they had more time to get ready for the task, then the small things that Charmaine is focusing on would make a big difference. But they only have one day to set up and one day of actual task, so their focus should be more on getting people in the door and less on minor details. I know salons make good money selling product, but considering how well staffed the place is going to be, I think they can spare the time for someone to help a customer find the right kind of mousse.