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'The Celebrity Apprentice' gets toasted
Ever since Gene Simmons left the show oh so many weeks ago, The Celebrity Apprentice has become the Piers Morgan show. I can't quite tell whether he's destined to become the winner or to ignominiously lose his head, but whatever happens I'm sure it won't be pretty. I'm pulling for him to win, but he may be just a little too mean to come out on top.
Tonight's task was for the teams to design a sandwich for Quiznos, sell it for two bucks a pop, and make more than the other team. No black books were allowed and the teams only had two hours to create a sandwich and two hours to sell it. It was a good, old-fashioned task, the only question was whether the teams would be able to do a decent job at it (not that there was a real criteria for judging a good versus bad job). Trace Adkins and Stephen Baldwin were still on one side, with Trace running the show, and Lennox Lewis took the reigns (with Piers cracking the whip) of Hydra.
Trace wanted to make a "Cowboy Club" sandwich, and they were convinced that the other team would be doing a "Lennox Lewis Knockout Sandwich." Trace and Stephen weren't quite right as Piers came up with the "Lennox Lewis Champ Sandwich." Hydra's idea with their Champ Sandwich was to take the most popular sandwich their Quiznos store sold, change the cheese on it and sell it as a new item, whereas Empresario's club was more or less a club sandwich on flat bread (with prime rib as the main meat).
Hydra's main issue tonight was that they ran into a problem with the fliers they were supposed to have showing up very late. Carol was in charge of the fliers, but it didn't appear to be her fault that they didn't show up on time. Piers didn't buy the excuses Carol gave at all, but I don't think Carol was lying. However, if they lost the task it wouldn't really make a difference whether it was her fault or not. Piers wouldn't even have to push the problem in the boardroom, that's just how the show works – if your area falls apart, it doesn't make a difference if it was your fault or not, you're gone. Empresario, didn't seem to have such difficulties with their fliers, they went to a nearby copy place rather than relying on a delivery service like Hydra.
Carol did do a far better job selling sandwiches than she did with the fliers (which did eventually arrive). Lennox, for his part, stood outside, smiling, signing autographs, and taking pictures. The line at the counter in their store was huge, but that didn't mean much, Stephen and Trace were seemed to be pumping out sandwiches at a high rate as well. Empresario's line may not have been as long, but they did have at least one bulk order.
Back in the boardroom, we were told that Empresario sold 253 sandwiches to Hydra's 313. Lennox was, once again, the champ, and even if Piers is to lose in the competition, it wouldn't be tonight. Instead, it was to be Trace or Stephen heading out. Trace, as the strong silent type, represented a completely different sort of leadership than we had seen with Stephen. Trace would be my pick in a head-to-head competition with Stephen, but Trump and I don't always see things the same way.
Today, however, Trump and I were completely in sync. We both acknowledged that Stephen had done a great job, but that Trace was just better overall. Both Stephen and Trace believed that, quite possibly, the loss belonged to the team named Empresario, not to them. They felt like the team was a loser from the beginning of the season and that they were both trying to fix a sinking ship that they had been thrown onto. Trump seemed to agree with them, not that it was going to save their skins tonight.
When it came down to it, Stephen suggested that due to how the game is played it was Trace that ought to be fired. While that was an accurate sentiment (and not said in a competitive way), Trump ended up getting rid of Stephen because Stephen didn't make any decisions in tonight's task and because Stephen hasn't raised that much money in the past couple of weeks. He also asked Ivanka who she would fire prior to rendering his decision. Earlier she had said that Trace ought to go, but she switched her vote the second time around, suggesting Stephen ought to be the one to leave. Trump agreed and rendered his verdict, but I got the sense that he gave his daughter another chance to make the right call so that he wouldn't be seen as going against her. It's good to be the boss's daughter.
But, after the firing, things weren't yet finished for the night. A few minutes after Trace returned to the suite, Trump called the final four back to the boardroom. He announced that before that night was over, two more people would be fired. We wouldn't find out who those folks would be this week however, for that we have to wait until the next episode.
Until that time, you can find me over at The TV and Film Guy's Reviews. But, I will say that I firmly believe the final two to be Trace and Piers.
What do you think, who are the last two standing?
Very good episode in an above-average season. I really like the final group and don't really see any weak links at all. That said, I think Piers is a shoo-in for the final 2 next week.
Who knew these C-list celebrities could be so energetic and entertaining?
Cornelius | Mar 14, 2008 6:55:59 AM | #Since the first episode, I had a feeling that Piers would be one of the finalists. He is intelligent, has business savvy and sometimes is cutthroat. Piers had more business experience overall, being the editor of a large British newspaper for years.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised by Trace's performance. I knew of him only as an popular singer, but over the weeks he has proven himself to be smart AND WELL-LIKED by everyone (especially Trump and Ivanka). Piers's main shortcomings are his abrasive attitude and his insulting his fellow competitors (he was badmouthing Carol when she couldn't deliver the fliers on time).
I would be really satisfied if Piers and Trace ended up being the final two, and I hope that Trace finally wins some money for his charity. I would definitely watch another season of The Celebrity Apprentice, but Omarosa better not show up. She used up her 15 minutes of fame long ago!
I too think that the showdown will be Piers vs Trace. They are so completely different in leadership technique but both are very effective.
Although, I think it would be amusing to see Lennox vs Piers. They have always been on the same team so we have not seen them really go against each other.
Carol has been great. Especially when in the beginning all the girls were ganging up on her. I guess we'll see.
From the comments from Ivanka, I am guessing the final task will have to do with raising money again. Both Piers and Trace seem to have very good contacts for that thing. I hope the final 2 get to choose and barter for which contestants to help them in the final task. It would be unfair if Piers was subjected to working with Stephen, Omarosa, or Vinnie.
Joan | Mar 14, 2008 9:43:16 AM | #Trace is not a C-list celebrity. In country music, he's A-list.
mary | Mar 14, 2008 12:04:50 PM | #I'm thinking it will be Piers versus Lennox.
Glad to see Marilu back next week.
I like Piers, and I think he will win it all.
Stephen is such a weasel and a hypocrite. I just knew (after saying he and Trace wouldn't say anything negative against the other, or something to that effect) that, when asked who should be fired, he would say Trace. Such a weasel. He should have resigned weeks ago when he was given the chance, only to say he wanted to stay when he wanted to go the week before.
He is still entertaining though, but I don't respect him.
Chris | Mar 14, 2008 12:13:57 PM | #I wholeheartedly agree with The Donald's decision. The ending surprised me, just like it did them. I think, Piers is a tough competitor. I feel that if two more had to be fired, it would come down to Piers v. Lennox. Carol will be the last female standing, and definitely worth it, but also Trace is your Mr. Nice Guy that'll probably lose in the long run.
Jimmy G | Mar 14, 2008 12:59:45 PM | #I'd really like to see Trace be the last man standing. All season he has consistently come through. This episode showed more of his work than any of the previous episodes. He HAS kept a low profile. Of those remaining, I personally like Trace the best, though Carol is STILL, one HOT babe!
xyzzy | Mar 15, 2008 2:18:55 PM | #Trace vs. Piers, but I will go further. I predict that Trump will try to even that competition by giving Trace the first pick of eliminated contestants as support people. That should play out something like this:
Trace picks Marilu
Piers picks Carol
Trace picks Lennox
Piers picks Stephen
Trace picks Tito or whoever,
leaving Piers with, you guessed it, Omarosa
What fun that will be to watch!
apskip | Mar 15, 2008 2:27:36 PM | #apskip you are wrong the teams will shape up like this
Trace picks Stephen
Piers picks Lennox
Trace picks Carrol
Peirs gets Mariu
Trump decides that Piers and Omerosa can not be on Piers' team and by default
Trace gets Omarosa
Piers gets Tito
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