The Apprentice 5, Episode 14: Love and Loyalty

Previously, on The Apprentice, Roxanne and Allie hugged it out before the Boardroom, but then attacked each other once they got there. Of course, to be fair, what else are you supposed to do in the Boardroom? Regardless of that logic, Trump fires both of them. That means that we’ve got a final two- Sean and Lee. The two of them don’t know it yet, though. They’re in the suite, waiting and wondering. Sean decides to go ahead and have dinner without waiting for the women. Of course, Lee didn’t mind waiting, and seems to be eating some pie. Sean says he really doesn’t care which of them comes back at this point. Boy is he going to be in for a pleasant surprise!

As Sean is attacking his salad, the phone rings. It’s Robin, and he wants the two men to head to the Boardroom immediately. The two hastily put on suits.. Lee thinks that they’ll be asked who should be fired. Sean is in a panic- why do they need to go? Maybe it’s to say who should be fired, is their best guess. Trump says that usually the Boardroom isn’t the place to be, but tonight, he has good news for them- they are in the final two. He says that Allie and Roxanne were disloyal to each other, and he didn’t like it. Trump directs them to go back to the suite to choose three candidates each to form teams. The next morning, they’ll learn their tasks, which he says will be their hardest yet. Lee says, “I’m up for the competition,” as he leaves. Trump tells him to just get out of there, and calls after him, “Frickin’ politician, Lee!”

The two shake hands in the lobby, then hug as the elevator doors close. Sean says these will be the most important days in his life, and he feels ready. If everything goes according to plan, he’ll win. They return to the suite, and all of the former candidates are there, cheering for them. Sean says he felt elated and surprised. He was especially pleased, of course, to see his girl Tammy. Lenny gives Lee some love. Lee says in an interview that a lot of people doubted him because of his age, but he’s proven himself. He tells everyone how much he appreciates them. He’s determined to choose a good team. Sean toasts Lee and says he’s a worthy opponent. In an interview, he says he likes and respects Lee, but is ready to fight to win. I love that they brought out all of the other candidates- it’s cool to see everybody. Except Brent. And Andrea.

Sean says he’d like Tammy and Andrea on his team. He clarifies that he doesn’t want Tammy just because he lurves her, but because she’s smart. Tammy says he chose well. Sean says he’s determined to surround himself with the best people. Brent says that he will give 110. Tarek says he’s Sean’s biggest fan. Dan, who is looking hotter than I remember, says he’d be a kingmaker. Allie says she’d like to work with him. Sean says he wants to pick strong people who will get along well. Andrea says she really wants Sean to win. Tarek says he worked at McDonald’s, then at a sewage treatment plant. He has no problem at all with getting his hands dirty. Andrea says she likes Tarek and thinks that the two of them are the most intelligent people there. I love that she worked in a compliment for herself in there. Tarek says Sean’s never worked with him, so it’s a risk for him. Andrea says that her opinion will help him decide. Sean says he admires Tarek’s “cheeky charm” and invites him on board.

Allie compliments Lee’s tie in an impressively blatant bit of sucking up. Michael says that he should probably start interviewing. Not surprisingly, he wants to talk to Lenny first. He, of course, asks Lenny to join him, and Lenny is on board. Lenny says they need people who are willing to work for them. Lenny thinks Pepi would be good and is ready to work. Lenny says he loves Lee like a son. Brent skulks in the background. They ask Pepi to join them. Lenny says loyalty is paramount to him. Roxanne says she genuinely cares about him. Theresa says she has his back. Lenny, Lee says, is fine with him. Turns out she’s wrong - Lenny thinks Theresa would be hard to work with. What about Allie or Roxanne? Lenny thinks Allie is fake and weak. Roxanne is week. No Charmaine, no Leslie, no Dan. Lee says Lenny cares about him, and no one cares about Sean the way Lenny feels about him. Lenny talks to Theresa and Brent tries to interrupt. Lenny completely ignores him- it’s impressive. Brent tells Dan he’s made his pleas and is hoping for the best. Sean says that his team will be Andrea, Tammy, and Tarek. Lee says he wants to choose everyone, but of course that’s not possible. He picks Lenny, Pepi, and Roxanne. Lee thinks that the three of them want to see him win. Tammy and Sean can’t believe it- it’s a weak choice. Sean thinks he has the dream team and has no idea why Lee chose the people he did. “Pepi! Great, okay… I don’t know what that’s about. Pepi lost in the second week. I’m surprised that Lee even knows Pepi’s name,” Sean says. Hee! I’m with you, Sean. I actually had to look up whether he spelled his name Pepe, like the Muppet, or Pepi, like Homer Simpson’s charity kid.

The next morning, Sean gets the phone. Rhona congratulates him and says for the teams to meet at 9:00 in the Boardroom. Everyone pretties up and Sean sets the table for breakfast. Sean brings Tammy coffee and says he’s determined not to let his lurve get in the way. He hopes in the end to get the job and the girl. Tammy wonders where her earrings are. Sean says they’re in his bed, and she laughs at him. I think they’re cute together.

Trump says good morning to everyone. He congratulates Lee and Sean once more and reminds them of how far they’ve gone. He says that there were no losers. Lee says he chose his team because they’re friends. Lenny says he wants Lee to win with all his heart and intends to “bury them so deeply that no one will find them for the next 20 years.” Sean chose his team because they cover sales, marketing, and operations. That makes sense. He thinks they’re very talented. Each will manage two huge charity events. One will head up the Pontiac Barenaked Ladies concert at the Trump Taj Mahal to benefit the World Wildlife fund. The other will manage the Pontiac celebrity hockey game to benefit America’s Bravest for the Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation. Who will run the event better? Lee chooses the concert, leaving Trump, of course, to says that “Barenaked Ladies sounds good to me.” Sean says he’d like that event as well. How will they solve the problem? Lee offers to take the hockey match. Trump flings their dossiers at them. Who will do better?

The door closes, and Carolyn, fighting back laughter, asks, “Who was the guy on the far right?” meaning Pepi. Trump has to look it up. They have no idea who he was. Trump didn’t even recognize him. “Pepi, you’re fired. Did I say that?” He wonders if Lee knows what he’s doing. Interestingly, the audience poll thinks that Lee has the better team. I think people really hate Andrea. I sure don’t love her, but I think Sean’s choosing her makes sense. She is very smart and organized. Her main flaw is that she doesn’t have a whole lot of respect for most people- and of course, that’s a big flaw. But she does seem to respect Sean, especially after he defended her in the boardroom the week she was fired. I think she’ll work for him.