Celebrity Apprentice, Episode 11: Almost An Omarosa-Free Zone

Finally, Hydra gets their flyers, just 20 minutes before they can start selling. Piers and Lennox head out to pass them around, but they are getting few takers as well. Piers is impressed at how rude everyone is.

Trace is finally getting some results. He is recognized by a couple of young ladies who take his picture on their phone. Hopefully he told them the cost was that they had to buy a sandwich! And over at Hydra, foot traffic and business has picked up as well.

Lennox is working the crowd a little more actively now. He tells us, “I’m the ultimate marketing machine. All you have to do is have a product, put my face on it, and make me smile!” Folks, Piers has created a monster!

Ivanka shows up at Hydra to see how it’s going. She likes the taste, if not the originality of their sandwich. They aren’t selling side-by-side and no feedback ratings are in play, so I don’t think taste actually matters much… this is about celebrities pushing a volume of one-time sales.

Baldwin rings up a nice bulk sale of 25 Cowboy Clubs for a nearby office. That’s what both teams should have been doing before their flyers arrived, arranging some bulk purchases. Baldwin tells us that they’re doing so well, they sold out. We next see him making more Clubs himself.

Piers tells us that Lennox is the greatest marketing tool he’s ever seen. He says it’s comparable to having The Pope and Nelson Mandela search for Elvis, and putting them all on a horse. That’s some image! I wonder if he could work a little girl with curls and a puppy in there?

As the challenge winds down, it seems like both teams are doing well.

Later that night, the teams have been assembled in the Boardroom to hear the results of their labors. The teams report how much fun they had and how much they respect their teammates.

Broadway producer Daryl tells Trump that Trace is respectful and gracious with people, and Steven has great New York energy. Ivanka admires the Hydra member’s sense of purpose.

That propels us right to the results. Ivanka reports that Hydra sold 313 sandwiches, and Daryl tells us Empresario only sold 253. Alt-F12! I mean, Hydra wins!

Trump tells Lennox he wins another $20,000 for The Muhammad Ali Center. I can report that Hydra has now won nine of eleven challenges.

Trump sends Hydra back to the suite, where they can watch the ensuing events. Carol is pleased that she has made it to the final four.

Trump turns to the Empresario duo to find out what went wrong. Trump wants Trace to name the weaker performer, and he can’t. That won’t fly this time!

Trump asks Baldwin if he’s lost his drive. He says he has not. I don’t think he’s been nearly as enthusiastic since Trump wouldn’t let him quit. Trace says, “Empresario is… a disease.” Trump says he hates saying the name “Empresario.”

Ivanka wonders if they lost because of their choice of sandwich. Trace says he never heard anyone say anything bad about the sandwich. Perhaps that’s because no one’s going to tell seven feet of cowboy his product stinks?

Trump asks if people recognized Trace, and he admits, few did. Trace says that if this show were being filmed in Nashville, he’d already be the winner.

Trump asks who should be fired. Trace says that ultimately, he’s responsible. Ivanka asks who can bring in more money in upcoming tasks, and Trace says that’s him, too.

Asked the same question, Baldwin says the responsibility falls to the PM. Ivanka agrees, but says she’s consistently seen Trace bring in more money. I disagree that this is a valid criteria, as it implies that least half the original fourteen never had a chance to win.

Trump sends Empresario out so he can discuss things with Ivanka and Daryl in private. In the anteroom, Baldwin whispers to Trace, “I think they like you more than me.”

In the Boardroom, both ladies are reluctant to make a call as to who ought to be fired. Ivanka says that overall, she’s been more impressed with Trace.

Outside, Trace says to a pacing Baldwin, “You have to be one of the most nervous human beings I’ve ever met in my life.” Baldwin says, “I ain’t nervous. I got ants in my pants.” Trace suggests it’s more like crabs, and Baldwin replies, “No, those days are over.” Ew-ww! Luckily, the endangered duo is called back into the Boardroom before it can degenerate any farther.

Trump tells them he loves the work they do and the professional manner in which they do it. However, having one person less was a big handicap. Trump asks Baldwin if he made any decisions, and Steven responds that he chimed in to support Trace’s decisions.

Trump asks if that’s enough. Baldwin says that when there were decisions that he didn’t agree with, he raised the question and let Trace decide. That’s proper procedure in my book.

Trump asks who “wants it” more. Trace speaks first and starts to mention his daughter’s food allergy. Baldwin jokes, “I have a food allergy.” Yeah, you eat too much, including your own foot. Classy!

Trump notes that Trace doesn’t speak a lot, but when he does, he says something that matters.

Trump asks Ivanka whom she would fire. She exhales heavily, and then names Baldwin, because Trace can generate more money in the next tasks. Trump notes Trace has raised the most money on this team over the last several weeks, while Baldwin has raised little. I think that Piers has raised the most, though, by a wide margin.

Eventually, Trump decides that Trace has more to offer, and Baldwin is fired.

Trace and Baldwin share a manly hug as a coatless and luggageless Baldwin takes the elevator to the street. In the taxi, he says he couldn’t be cutthroat enough to win. Trace returns to the suite and is greeted warmly by all. Trace admits he expected to be fired and is surprised it didn’t happen.

But we’re not done! Curtly, Trump has the four recalled to the Boardroom. When they arrive, he congratulates them for their accomplishments, but tells them two more will be fired before the night is done.

Now we’re done!

Next week: What kind of task will they be performing overnight? Who will be gone?

It’s final four time… join me here next week to relive the excitement!

Brian lives in Toronto. He spent a couple of decades working in middle management at The Prudential, primarily hiding behind the coffee machines in generally unsuccessful attempts to avoid his pointy-haired bosses. He can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email.

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