Celebrity Apprentice 2: It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Rivers
Commentary and Rankings by RTVC Staff Writer Donna Emery
As of April 13, 2009
This week on the Celebrity Apprentice, Joan Rivers got over her feud with Clint Black. Not to worry; she was soon locked in combat with new rival Annie Duke; once again vowing not to be in the same room with the object of her disaffection.
This episode gave us one entire task and the beginning of another task. The Lifelock task was interesting more for the team interaction than for the task itself. It was clear to me why KOTU’s presentation won: it was much better than Athena’s. What was less clear is why Brian gave up his leadership and gave up Athena’s ship before it even sailed.
It was interesting to see Joan Rivers, who swore she wouldn’t work with Clint Black, work side by side with him and show little resistance to doing so. Last year, when Celebrity Apprentice-to-be Piers Morgan clashed with Omarosa, they were allowed to work on different teams. Is Joan’s temper that facile? Or was she not allowed the same opportunity to switch teams?
Although KOTU hailed Natalie as a good project manager in the Boardroom, (contrary to Joan’s comments during the task about Natalie’s lack of prowess in that role) I didn’t see any evidence that she was responsible for their détente. I think Joan just decided to make the best of the situation and bit her tongue –then, learned to accept him to a certain degree.
What was much more interesting was her fierce reaction to Annie’s words in the Boardroom. Joan thought she and Annie had an understanding: Annie was supposed to “thrown Brande under the bus”, as far as leading Donald Trump to place the blame on her. When Joan didn’t think Annie made a strong enough case against Brande, and didn’t speak out strongly enough for daughter Melissa, Joan targeted Annie for her next hateful tirade.
In the beginning of the season, we were all treated to the spectacle of Joan Rivers throwing and breaking a glass. This was the episode where she did it, and, in my opinion, it was over the top. Although Annie may not have said the words Joan wanted her to say, I think Annie made it clear that Brande was weak, as a leader.
I also think it helped Donald Trump come to the conclusion that he did: to see Brian Mc Knight as a weak leader; so preoccupied with whatever distracted him from the task that he was unable to see that Brande’s weak handling of the design team (necessitated by Jesse’s sudden illness) was a red flag. Brian also failed to inspire the team to any fresh direction in promoting the project. Even the Lifelock executives saw him as a pale imitation of a leader; they seemed very impressed by Annie’s energy.
Annie seems to be in her element, leading the jewelry task. It seems her under-the-radar performances in past tasks – if you can call them that, considering the amount of money she has raised – were leading up to this week. She said she wanted to lead a fund raising task, and she also said it was a strategic decision. Any Apprentice fan knows that the Final Task will be a big fundraiser, and, if Trump is going to see any of these contestants as a prospective Apprentice, they have to show they can lead a fundraiser.
I have to say, that, as much as last seasons’ hopefuls were mostly all about promoting themselves and less about showing themselves to be good business managers, this season takes that concept to the max. Based on their performances in these tasks, I wouldn’t think the majority of these “celebrities” could manage a lemonade stand.
This jewelry task is personally important to.....
Donna is a nurse and teacher, and a mother of 5. She lives in Pennsylvania and is admittedly addicted to many reality shows. You can reach her at mrsed4ever@yahoo.com.
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