'The Celebrity Apprentice' paints a pretty picture

March 06, 10:46 PM

Last week NBC promised it in the promos, and this week they delivered – The Celebrity Apprentice had its final showdown between Piers Morgan and Omarosa. We've all known that the trouble has been brewing for weeks on end between the two and following the Dragon Lady's despicable actions of three weeks ago tonight's episode seemed inevitable. We had to wait entirely too long for this moment, but it finally arrived.

The task tonight was to pick an artist and sell their work at a gallery. It was again a task that has been done before on the show. At the same time Omarosa announced that she would be project manager for Empresario, she also reminded everyone that it was following a loss in this exact task that she was fired the first time around. Piers, wanting to help history repeat itself, decided to be project manager for Hydra.

When it came to choosing an artist, Stephen Baldwin counseled Omarosa that Piers would go for an expensive artist and try to sell fewer pieces at a greater price. Baldwin's logic was at least partially right, Hydra's artist's pieces were expensive, but Piers wasn't solely thinking along those line. Piers and Hydra went with a new media artist who could sell multiple copies of the same work and therefore had more total things that could be sold (she had 20 things that could be sold whereas some other artists had closer to 6).

With the artists chosen, both teams broke out the black books. Omarosa claimed to have a bunch of huge people coming, which was certainly odd being that she's done very poorly with black book tasks this season. Stephen, who has had better luck, was told by the Evil Queen to stop making calls and to research the pieces of art that they would be selling. Omarosa then amended her statement and wanted him to do both at the same time. Baldwin said he couldn't do that, that he could do one or the other, to which Omarosa acted completely shocked, stating that she was managing without any trouble whatsoever. It could be said that she was acting a little snobbish about her multitasking skills, but to be fair, her black book is awfully thin so she didn't have too many calls to make.

When they got to the gallery, Hydra was a little miffed with the setup. They had a back room instead of a front one and were concerned that fewer people would venture into it. Sure enough, when Omarosa saw the space her first thought was that Empresario had to do something to stop people from getting into the back room. Sure enough, once the gallery opened, Omarosa stood at the front door and funneled everyone into her room and away from Hydra's. However, despite Omarosa's efforts, eventually people did make their way from one room to the other.

Earlier in the episode, Piers had complained about Stephen listening in on his phone conversations and snooping around in Hydra's room. The tables were turned during the showing though when Lennox and Carol Alt were able to take one of Stephen's black book contacts and get the man to buy something from Hydra, not Empresario. The holier-than-though Baldwin felt this to be some sort of moral or ethical violation, whereas his listening in was just a by-product of his need to use the restroom. It should also be noted that Hydra had a bunch of their own black book contacts come in and buy things, that snaking Baldwin's contact was just icing on the cake.

In the boardroom, Piers was confident that Hydra had "destroyed" the opposition. In fact, his whole team was quite confident, but the same couldn't be said of Empresario. Omarosa admitted defeat before the final numbers even came out, she also quickly blamed Stephen, stating that he sold nothing during the task. Of course, even if Stephen had sold 10 pieces it would have made little difference. Empresario sold 3 out of 16 pieces for $7,000 whereas Hydra sold 14 out of 20 for $164,000. Not only did Hydra have a higher price point, they sold many more pieces too.

Trump explained that this was the biggest defeat ever on the show and Piers quickly stated his actions this week were entirely personal, that he had gotten angry a couple of weeks ago and now he had gotten even. Piers even went so far as to suggest that due to the magnitude of the loss Trump ought to fire two members of Empresario. He also objected to the defeat being referred to simply as a "loss," which he argued didn't take into account its magnitude. At that point Trump booted Hydra from the boardroom, but he said that they could watch the entire firing from the suite.

Omarosa, who had started down the road of blaming Stephen before Hydra left, continued down it once the other team was gone. Trump asked Stephen a couple of questions about why he wasn't able to sell anything, but soon turned his sites back to the Evil One. Inexplicably, rather than defending herself, Omarosa did her best to try to insult Piers some more (Trump actually allowed Piers to come back into the boardroom to defend himself). It was her third loss this season, her second loss at this particular task (over the course of her Apprentice career), and, let's face it, she's not a good person. Tonight, she heard those two little words I've waited so long to have Trump say to her, "you're fired."

And so, there you have it, the tale of how Piers Morgan slew the Dragon Lady. I guess even Trump knew that he couldn't possibly have that piece of work win the entire thing. The Donald let the Evil Queen do her thing as long as he possibly could before allowing the inevitable to come to pass. All I know for certain is that I will rest easy tonight, for I have seen that good does triumph over evil, that right can win out over wrong, and that prayers can be answered.

I'm off to TV and Film Guy's Reviews to spread the cheer. I suggest you do the same.

in NBC , Reality TV , The Celebrity Apprentice

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Yeah, Piers!

Was anyone else but of by Trace Atkins' response to Piers' little pick on the cheek (a joke in response to Ponderosa's claim he was gay)? Wow! Trace is apparently slow and humourless or deeply, deeply homophobic. Yuck.

Piers all the way!

Isembard | Mar 7, 2008 2:11:57 AM | #

Yeah, Piers!

Piers all the way!

Isembard | Mar 7, 2008 2:11:59 AM | #

Sorry, that should be "put off" not "but of".

Isembard | Mar 7, 2008 2:12:49 AM | #

Ding Dong the witch is dead. Now, please, can this be the lAST time we ever are subjected to Omaroso on our tv??

pam | Mar 7, 2008 5:28:25 AM | #

Yea for Piers! I am from Omarosa's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, and let me tell you...she acts all high and mighty now, you should see where she came from! She'd learn a good deal of life and people skills by reconnecting with her "former self" and instead of belittling, backstabbing, and being just plain "evil", learn to bring her arrogance down a few notches. She definitely not "all that", and Piers proved that he could chew her up and spit her out...indeed, at the very core of it all, she's a coward. Only cowards blame others for their mistakes and wrongdoings. Glad she's GONE! Get lost "Dragon Lady"!

Amy | Mar 7, 2008 6:36:53 AM | #

This is possibly the best episode of The Apprentice in years!! I've been a big supporter of Trace in this thing. I'm not a fan of his or country music for that matter, but he's always kept himself above the fray, has a great attitude and has been a key player in alot of his teams victories. However, I was a bit disappointed in his homophobic reaction. He didn't help the "cowboy" stereotype at all. But that being said, I'm still rooting for him.

I LOVED the promos for next weeks episode the way they labled it as Omorosa Free! Good stuff.

Piers has annoyed me at times. He's obviously an intelligent guy. He knows how to work people. Sometimes he pushes a bit to hard in my opinion, but I was proud of him last night. He put it to her good, did it the right way. Wasn't petty. Maybe the most impressive performance of any Apprentice contestant on a task in years. Kudos Piers. And Kudos for getting Gordan Ramsey on the phone. I love that guy. It was hilarious to know he swears like that even when he doesn't know he's on TV, lol.

Kudos to Lennox and Carol Alt. I still have no idea who Carol Alt is (I know she's a model, but that means nothing to me) but she's been great. I don't know how old she is, but she looks great too. And watching Lennox deal with Omorosa was funny. He realized something was wrong, but tried to be a gentleman about it. He was a bit conflicted, but it was funny.
Again one of the best episodes ever!

realgenius | Mar 7, 2008 7:04:53 AM | #

Ridiculous show... just pick up the phone and call your rich friends and you win.

dumbshow | Mar 7, 2008 8:51:03 AM | #

I was worried that the NBC promos were lying about Omarosa being fired. Thank goodness she is finally gone! I really can't believe she would resort to calling Piers "a closet case" just so she could see him react to it (and hoping that Piers would be fired instead of her). I loved how Donald laughed at her accusation and wanted Piers to come back to the boardroom. Good riddance to Omarosa!

I have to say that I was much more impressed with the strategy that Hydra used, depsite the fact that they didn't even know much about fine art in the beginning. I thought that Hydra's artist had more eye-catching pieces, not to mention she had more pieces in her collection anyway. The artwork that Empresario selected just seemed too mundane to impress any of the gallery shoppers.

**NO SPOILERS** Now that it's down to the final 5 contestants, I'm thinking that Carol and Piers might be in the finale. Stephen looks like he's already on thin ice with Trump.

Paige | Mar 7, 2008 9:46:33 AM | #

Why the name calling because Trace didn't like Piers kissing him? I would'nt like it either and I'm a woman. He has the right to his feelings, everything's not always about being a Homophobe.

Is there a phobia for people who think everything is related to homophobia!!!??

Annie | Mar 7, 2008 11:16:11 AM | #

When my mother and I saw Omarosa in her go-go outfit, my mother asked, "How old is she?"

Omarosa should have not entered the task with a defeated attitude. She should have gotten some pieces the team could move, that could move people and get the team motivated to sell them. Piers was really motivated to outdo her and those multimedia pieces were eye-catching, in a screen-saver way.

At least Omarosa did not resort to the traditional female tactic of crying, which she did the first time and it worked so well for Hillary Clinton. Piers kissing Trace was something that shut everyone up.

Is she that repellent that after all the different entertainment venues - movie premieres and award shows and charity events -that she appeared at with lots of celebrities, she could not get one who was willing to put in some face time on the show?

anlette | Mar 7, 2008 12:27:57 PM | #

I wasn't calling Trace any names, I was just describing his reaction. Which was very telling, I thought. He looked downright angry about it.

realgenius | Mar 7, 2008 1:49:13 PM | #

So? Trace, like everyone else on this planet, has a right not to have his personal space invaded just so 2 other nincompoops can snipe at eachother. I'd be a little irritated, I think. And who knows? Maybe deep down, like most everyone else, Trace doesn't like Piers anyway--then he DEFINITELY would object to being kissed by him.

shadapayumouf | Mar 7, 2008 1:55:22 PM | #

I'm the type of person who doesn't like being pawed, patted, grabbed, smacked on the back or otherwise subjected to bodily contact by people other than those with whom I'm very close (or kids, who are just too cute to get mad at most of the time). If any guy were to grab me and try to kiss me on the cheek, even if he were just joking, he'd likely end up with a fat lip, especially if he were some annoying cad like Piers. Now if Denzel Washington were to do that...*ahem. Straight man's gay fantasy, all over now. Anyway, Omarosa is nothing more than trash who has had more than her fifteen minutes of faux-fame. She is the epitome of a graceless, talentless moron who just happens to be "interesting" (and I use the term loosely) enough that she keeps getting invited onto shindigs like The Apprentice. I'm sure there are many people, including those in her hometown, who would like nothing more than to throw her from the roof of the Trump Tower. However, since she does make good TV for this type of show, I doubt this is the last we've seen of her. She is like athlete's foot that way. Or herpes. And now I'd like to propose a moritorium on the faux-word "homophobia." It's long since lost its meaning, its power and its definition. Now it's like a semantical version of a whoopee cushion: little more than a rude noise that causes a chuckle now and then, rather than the politically-charged finger-wagging word it once was. Trace very well may not like homosexuals, but that's his problem. And calling him names is so third-graderish. Unless Denzel Washington wants to call me names...I could deal with that. Mwa-ha-ha-ha.

Dark Disciple | Mar 7, 2008 7:43:52 PM | #

You can be sure that if piers had kissed omarosa in the same joking way, she would've filed assault charges against him! Trace's reaction was simply shock - he's there to raise money and awareness for his charity, not to be dragged into the whole piers/omarosa drama.

tvfan | Mar 8, 2008 5:21:46 AM | #

As funny as it was to see Piers kiss Trace, it would have been 100 times funnier had he kissed Omorosa. And settle down people about Trace. No need to get all defensive, obviously a few people had the same observation, no one was calling anyone names. Like I said, I'm rooting for the man. It was just very odd to see him come unglued like that. I mean Donald even had to try and calm him down. So it's all good.

realgenius | Mar 8, 2008 6:37:44 AM | #

Oh, I agree one hundred percent. Piers kissing Omorosa (or however she spells her idiotic name) would have made the entire season. Especially if he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and went, "Ew!" afterwards. Ah, well, guess that'll never happen now. The rest of the season will probably be quite boring by comparison with the first part with her gone.

Dark Disciple | Mar 8, 2008 12:03:47 PM | #

I am glad Omorosa is gone. The only reason I figured she was there was Trump needed something to spice up the show. Lets face it most of the episodes is who can get their contacts to write the biggest checks. With who is left Piers will probably be the winner.

Andy | Mar 8, 2008 2:30:00 PM | #

to real genius carol was a top model back in the day i'm assuming you are very young i'm 38 and remember her very well she is absolutely georgous and has kept herself in impeccable shape!! go carol. i sincerely hope trace is not a homophobe get w/ the times dude love is love!!michael jackson is the one people should hate he's a child molester and got away w/ it!!! and people still idolize him i loved his music but can't stomach his behavior!! he is just creepy.

mechelle | Mar 9, 2008 11:24:44 AM | #

GOOD RIDDANCE OMOROSA!!!!!

ME | Mar 9, 2008 11:28:19 AM | #

Omorosa is not a celebrity she is a piece of s#*t!! glad to see her gone.

GIRLY GIRL | Mar 9, 2008 11:31:38 AM | #

i think that omorosa can play the game very good. she should play dirty if someone else does. but just as a person, she is a person without morals!!

Serena | Mar 9, 2008 6:26:36 PM | #

I am so glad Omarosa is gone! As a black woman I have always been rather embarrased by her whenever she is onscreen. She isn't even a celebrity. How does being a losing contestant on the first Apprentice make one a celebrity for a subsequent one? She's just a person with bad character, and I'm glad she was finally judged on the content of her character. Please let this be the end of her media "career." Please, God.

JC | Mar 21, 2008 7:45:22 PM | #