The Apprentice 3, Episode 11: Get Me to the Presentation On Time

Previously on The Apprentice: Alex joined Net Worth, so that the teams would each have four members. The teams made pizza (both with meatballs). Craig didn’t listen to Kendra. Tana and Kendra “came up with an out of the box marketing idea” (grrrr) and Stephanie delivered pizzas to Brooklyn. Alex and Chris faced off, leading to the most misleading preview in the show’s history. Net Worth won for the fifth time in a row and Stephanie was fired for being a weak leader. Seven candidates remain.

Alex and Chris return from the boardroom. Interestingly, no one was sitting around, wondering who would come back. Alex tells everyone that Trump reminded him he’s on the losing team. Chris says that Trump called him a mess. He notes that he needs to stay more in control of himself if he wants to stick around.

The next morning, the candidates head to a place called MAG. Wait a second. No Rhona phone call? No speculation about who would be fired? Is this bizarro world? Trump introduces the candidates to Michelle Scarborough, this week’s George substitute. So, for you analogy buffs, Michelle : George :: me : Betsy. Trump tells us that Michelle is an in-house attorney, and though she’s pretty, she’s also tough. Because we were all under the impression that pretty women can’t be tough. Also, that it’s 1910.

Anyway, we’re in the studios of “the Trump collection” of high-end, luxury clothing. I was unaware that clothing could be luxury. The task this week is to create a clothing line for American Eagle. These clothes will be “wearable technology” – clothes combined with that technology the young whippersnappers are into these days. Each team gets a Visa card and $5,000. They will be provided with seamstresses and models. The team whose presentation is the most compelling (as judged by executives) wins.

Bren was the project manager last week, so he’s exempt this week. Trump adds that if the teams had done market research, they would have known that people want cheeseburger pizza, not meatball pizza. Still no criticism for making pizza that Trump suggested. Instead, he advises the candidates to know their customers.

Net Worth meets in the suite, where Alex announces that he’s “feeling this.” Chris says that Alex is a self-proclaimed metrosexual and has volunteered to be the project manager. Chris decides to describe a metrosexual as someone who embraces his feminine side more than other males do. Chris obviously does not feel comfortable discussing this. Alex asks who wants to be the accountant; Angie wants to focus on the presentation, but Chris would like to be in charge of the money.

Magna heads out in cabs. Tana is the project manager, since she’s run a clothing store and an eBay business. Tana and Kendra go to a clothing store and ask some teenagers about technology. As if I needed more items on my list of reasons why I love Kendra and Tana. A boy tells them that the most important piece of technology to people his age is the cell phone. A girl tells them that a belt clip would be good to hold an iPod. Tana wonders if Net Worth is doing this kind of market research. It doesn’t look like they are.

Chris spends $3,936.58 at Best Buy, then picks up dinner for the team. The three meet up at American Eagle, where Chris realizes that he doesn’t have the credit card. Alex is surprised to hear this, but, you know, I’m really not. It’s Chris. Chris tries calling Best Buy, but they’re closed. He says that they’re probably going to automatically lose, since he just lost $5,000.

This week’s Trump Lesson of the Week: “Let Nothing Get In Your Way.” He says that failure is never an option for him. If you have to go through a wall, you go through, or find another way to get past it. In a limo, Trump yells at someone and threatens not to pay him. Ouch. Since Betsy isn’t here, there’s no Betsy Lesson of the Week, but she encouraged me to include a Jenn Lesson of the Week: If you want to cover The Apprentice, infect Betsy’s computer with a virus.

In the morning, Chris heads back to Best Buy. He says that this is a high-pressure situation, and he was craving his dip, but he didn’t indulge. He adds that he’s less aggressive without it. The editors giggle, then put in a scene where Chris tells an employee that he hopes someone finds the credit card, or he’ll be breaking some kneecaps.

At American Eagle, Bren talks about clipping a Game Boy to a belt or pouch so that it’s in front of the person and can be accessed easily. Tana has designed a few possible logos for the line, Wearable Tech. She wants it to be recognizable. Craig says that he and Bren churned out some designs quickly, and when it was Kendra’s turn, he was willing to let her go and move on to something else. However, Kendra pulls an Erin and says that this isn’t her thing. Craig interviews that she should just shut up. Kendra says that Craig being annoying is the last thing she needs. Tana steps into the project manager role and tells everyone to just get to work already.

Sewing montage. Angie says that the design is a lot more detailed than she expected. The team has to make all of the decisions, which is difficult. Alex has made a list for everyone, but Angie has more assignments than anyone. Alex only has one. Angie acknowledges that she’s taken on more responsibility than she should have.

Chris is still at Best Buy. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t look happy. Bren and Craig head to Brooklyn to pick up silk-screened logos. Bren says that his Spidey Sense should have told him that something was wrong, since the place is a little run-down. Craig says that the guys working there are wearing Bob Marley shirts, so this is a “laid-back” environment. Also, a little lazy – some of the logos are backwards, and one of the garments has paint on it. There’s no time to get backups, so Magna is stuck with sub-par clothing.