The Apprentice Season 2

[Keebler Elf]

I think the show lost a lot of credibility when Trump fired Bradford. I barely saw most of that episode, but my impression was that Trump simply fired him to shock the viewers and show them he could. That's kinda cheesy, IMO. I agree with the above poster that it makes Trump out to look like he makes his decisions on a whim - not sound business sense.

 

[canucklehead]

Why is this show a hit - it is completely unreal and stupid. This is the group that represents the best young minds of Corporate America??
Damn business is going to suffer.


bbk

ditto ..... i have grade 12 economics students that would due better then any of these so called "best".
Anyone that is truly great and young is already making mid 6 figures.

 

[homonger]

You know I really don't get this attitude - not that I didn't see it but usually I would smoke those people. I thought the purpose of ones employment was to improve the Company - make it more profitable and in the end you make more money.

It's called a joke, bbk, I really didn't do that. Honest! If anything, I had a reputation for being a cynic. While I certainly would never advocate any outright apple polishing, I certainly do believe that getting on your boss' good side is never a bad idea. I also believe that if you think something is a bad idea, you should most certainly voice your opinion. However, if you are outvoted, or overruled, you should then support that decision to the best of your ability. Personally, I find the passive-aggressive types to be the most damaging and difficult to deal with.

 

[Keebler Elf]

This is Corporate America folks; it's not working at some Canadian bank (for example).

In the fast paced world of stock trading, high end real estate, and investment banking, it's like swimming with sharks. Survival of the fittest. So, yeah, I can see where a lot of the contestants' attitudes come from. They don't want YOUR job; they want TRUMP's job! And that requires a heck of a lot of balls and attitude that the average manager just doesn't have.

My 2 cents...

 

[Keebler Elf]

I'm glad they got rid of that psycho last week. Nip the ol' Amarosa situation in the bud...

 

[Keebler Elf]

Here is another person who has a poor vision of Corporate life. Most people who behave like you described end up out the door most of the time - because all they have to bring to the dance is aggressive ball dangling.

And here is another person contradicting themself. So exactly the people I described do exist. That was my point. Sure, the vast majority may burn out quickly but it's that kind of risk taking that ends up creating billionaires. Not joe average like yourself who takes the safe route.

My two cents.

 

[mediaguy]

Repeat....but better

It's on Global on Saturday nights as well, but with a big difference.
It's not a repeat of the weekday show. It's re-edited and the boardroom action is much extended.
Last night the boardroom action filled 40-45 minutes versus the regular broadcast where it seems like only 5-10 minutes.
If you are into this program, watch both; but the extended Saturday night show is a barnburner.

 

[Sick My Duck]

Ivana is ugly just like Tammy was from Season 1. It's almost as if Trumpy is selecting strange Asian women to make a point that Asians are weird.

The best looker in Season 2 is brunette Jennifer C. who needs to keep her mouth shut when The Donald is talking. Elizabeth and Stacy R. are nice too.

The best from Season 1 are Katrina and Amy. For some strange reason I really liked Heidi too.

http://nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/candidates/index.shtml

 

[Shades]

Ivana works for me...but I think her days are numbered. Elizabeth and Jennifer M are doing a good job of flying below the radar...think they will last well into the season.

 

[RogerRabbit]

Ivana works for me...but I think her days are numbered.

I think Trump, doesn't like her name or her, "oh my gawd" speak, very unbecoming of an apprentice...

 

[homonger]

Ivana is ugly just like Tammy was from Season 1. It's almost as if Trumpy is selecting strange Asian women to make a point that Asians are weird.

The best looker in Season 2 is brunette Jennifer C. who needs to keep her mouth shut when The Donald is talking. Elizabeth and Stacy R. are nice too.

The best from Season 1 are Katrina and Amy. For some strange reason I really liked Heidi too.

http://nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/candidates/index.shtml

I wouldn't go as far as to say Ivana is ugly, or the ugliest woman on the face of the earth, but she is not terribly attractive. That some guys like her, well, I just chalk that up to the asian obsession syndrome so many guys seem to have. Tammy from season 1 was no looker either, but I thought she was better looking that Ivana. I agree with your other choices however, except for Heidi. Heidi? Eek is right.

 

[RogerRabbit]

Trump misfires in the boardroom:

This article from the OpEd page of the star speaks volumes, of the type of prejudice and misunderstanding there still is, in corp. circles, etcetera:

www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...le&cid=1096324214475&call_pageid=968256290204

 

[homonger]

Oh brother! Thanks for the posting the link, RR. I think it is a well written, well meaning piece, but imo, a bit reactionary and a bit on the clueless side.

Yes, it was unfortunate that a lot of the language used surrounding Stacie J's firing had to to with mental health. Colloquially, it is unfortunate that people toss around terms like "crazy" and 'schizophrenic" so cavalierly. But the bottom line is, people don't like to work around people who are unstable, who act irrationally, and/or who make them feel uncomfortable. In my mind, that is what the firing was about--I don't think anyone honestly thought Stacie J was clinically insane.

It could have been worse... someone could have made a big deal about the fact that Stacie J was black.

 

[danmand]

I agree with BBKING that it was shameful to pin mental instability on Stacie and use that to fire her.

But really, it had nothing to do with mental problems. Stacie was remarkably calm during two sessions where she was attacked and pushed at every turn. It was simply that the other girls saw a chance to save their own asses by ganging up on her. It was really stupid of Trump and coattails to go along with it.

The producer Mark Burnett got confused, this is what is supposed to happen on Survivor, not on the apprentice. That is what happens when you have too many irons in the fire.

 

[Mr. K]

bbking and danmand,

While I agree that the choice of language and characterizations of Stacie J. were not PC, I've got to tell you on three ocassions in the past 20 years I worked with people whose behaviour could only be described as "bizarre" or "unstable" (some would say "Crazy').

All three caused a considerable amount of stress to those who were working with them. One of those finally accepted that she had a problem and sought medical help - she eventually overcame her problems with the aid of therapy, medication and the support of her co-workers.

The other two individuals refused to acknowledge they were a problem, and in one case was pushed to the wall before he was forced to retire.

He was a Sgt in the Canadian Forces whose increasingly bizarre behaviour made those who both worked for him, with him and his superiors concerned for their own well-being. He was eventually ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment. He chose to immediately retire rather than undergo such an assessment. This guy gave new meaning to words 'going postal!'

The other woman used to terrorize her co-workers, supervisors and even the directors of the company. Many people within the company categorically refused to work with her. The company's initial solution to the problem was to put her in an area where she had as little contact with others as possible. When she was finally accused of harrassment by several of her co-workers she took a retirement package and left 18 months prior to her compulsory retirement date.

The stress and tension these three individuals caused was unreal. It took me almost a year to learn the best method of dealing with the Sgt. The last woman mentioned above gave me a ulcer, but I had the last laugh with her. And the first woman mentioned managed to get herself together and is now considered a valuable member of the team.

As Donald Trump pointed out in the show, if someone is having that kind of affect on those around them, you need to get rid of the person. Since the whole nature of the show is about getting fired and entertaining those of watching, it made a lot of sense. Too bad they didn't can Omarosa early on in the first season.

 

[albertp]

What room is Donald Trump coming from when he enters the boardroom? Every time he enters, I always imagine hearing a toilet flush. Trump should walk in with a newspaper or something.

 

[danmand]

bbking and danmand,

While I agree that the choice of language and characterizations of Stacie J. were not PC, I've got to tell you on three ocassions in the past 20 years I worked with people whose behaviour could only be described as "bizarre" or "unstable" (some would say "Crazy').

All three caused a considerable amount of stress to those who were working with them. One of those finally accepted that she had a problem and sought medical help - she eventually overcame her problems with the aid of therapy, medication and the support of her co-workers.

The other two individuals refused to acknowledge they were a problem, and in one case was pushed to the wall before he was forced to retire.

He was a Sgt in the Canadian Forces whose increasingly bizarre behaviour made those who both worked for him, with him and his superiors concerned for their own well-being. He was eventually ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment. He chose to immediately retire rather than undergo such an assessment. This guy gave new meaning to words 'going postal!'

The other woman used to terrorize her co-workers, supervisors and even the directors of the company. Many people within the company categorically refused to work with her. The company's initial solution to the problem was to put her in an area where she had as little contact with others as possible. When she was finally accused of harrassment by several of her co-workers she took a retirement package and left 18 months prior to her compulsory retirement date.

The stress and tension these three individuals caused was unreal. It took me almost a year to learn the best method of dealing with the Sgt. The last woman mentioned above gave me a ulcer, but I had the last laugh with her. And the first woman mentioned managed to get herself together and is now considered a valuable member of the team.

As Donald Trump pointed out in the show, if someone is having that kind of affect on those around them, you need to get rid of the person. Since the whole nature of the show is about getting fired and entertaining those of watching, it made a lot of sense. Too bad they didn't can Omarosa early on in the first season.

Actually, continuing my defense of Stacie, she actually did not cause any stress in the other girls, on the contrary, the other girls put immense pressure on Stacie. They ganged up on her in order to save their own bacon.

I also wonder, if the socalled outburst could have something to do with cultural differences. Stacie runs a restaurant in Harlem, where I have been told people are a bit more animated than at the Harvard business school.

 

[Mr. K]

From NBC's Website - Stacie J's Profile
Stacie, 35, grew up in Colorado. She has a BA from Emory University and an MBA from Mercer University, both of which are located in Atlanta, Georgia.

She is a professional model with Ford Model Management based in New York City and Elite Model Management with offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Chicago. She currently owns a successful Subway Sandwich Shop Franchise in Harlem, New York.

Owning a successful Subway franchise is not the same as "running" one. Stacie may not have gone to Harvard, but I'm sure the Mercer University isn't just handing out their MBA's.

None of this addresses the key issue of the stress that outbursts like Stacie J's causes to those around them.

And finally, let's remember this is an editted TV show. They can dramatize any damn thing they please. Remember when it was revealed during Survivor 3 or 4 that many scenes were staged or taped with stand-ins because it made for more dramatic TV?

 

[homonger]

I really can't stand the Trump show - but after reading this I will not being viewing this crap any longer. Homonger your comments only reflect the discrimination of those people that have mental illness - in fact the word schizophrenic is not appropated here since as I understand it this girl had a temper tantrum - schizophrenic is a thought disorder not a mood disorder. And while you say that no one thought Stacie j was clincally insane - Trumps actions just pushed this idiotic sterotype further into the general publics mind. It was just shamefull bullshit.

You don't like the show. Fine. Why do you keep on coming back to this thread then?

How in the world do my comments "reflect the discrimination of those people who have mental illness"? I said it was unfortunate that the contestants spoke of Stacie J so indiscriminately, and that it is unfortunate people in general throw words like "crazy" and "schizophrenic" around so easily. I only used the word "schizophrenic" myself because Ivana called Stacie J. schizophrenic. I never said it was appropriate.

 

[rama putri]

Seems like we have some schizos here! And some MDs (manic depressives) probably some bi's (bipolars) and MPs too (multiple personalities). Just some crazy ass people.