Ordinary Gweilo

I am trying to resist the temptation to write about ‘The Apprentice’, but I did enjoy this week’s episode so I’ll indulge myself.  This week Trump actually did something that appeared to be spontaneous and also made sense, which must be a first.  Many is the time when I’ve sat there thinking that he should fire most of the damn stupid contestants, and after seemingly coming close last week he really did fire two people this week.  They both deserved it, I have to say.

What puzzles me most of all is that so many of the contests just don’t seem to get it.  I still think Bradford was treated unfairly, but it was his own damn fault for speaking out when he should have kept quiet.  You’d think the rest of them might have learned from that, but two weeks ago Chris made himself a marked man by speaking out of turn, and so Trump made him the project manager.  The task was managing a bridal salon.  He failed.  He was fired.  Well, there’s a surprise.

Plenty of unintended laughs in the show as well.  It seems to be in Trump’s contract that each week he deliveries a little homily about something – this week’s was about not getting angry unless (1) you are putting it on to intimidate your staff, or (2) you have reason to be upset.  Er, thanks.  Another standby is that Trump calls his secretary to cancel all his appointments so that he can attend the meeting where he finds out which team has won.  Because obviously the last thing he would be expecting is to have to go and take part in the show for which he is the star and the Executive Producer.

Bill was around this week in place of George, taking a few days off from building that new building in Chicago that was his reward for winning the first series (but given that he was last seen jetting off to the “Miss Universe” contest for no apparent reason I’m getting kinda worried about that building).  His expert advice was that managers should stop team members fighting with each other – thanks for that, Bill.  One thing he has learned (possibly from the odious Carolyn) is how to agree with everything that Trump says, in true Phil Thompson “Yes boss” style. Still, it’s probably good for his career prospects. 

However, the funniest part of the show has to be the set.  There’s the door to the boardroom that we see being opened dramatically as the losing team come to face Trump, and the totally unconvincing lift doors.  I think it’s supposed to add some drama to the weekly firing, as we see the unlucky contestant walk into the lift before going down to the street to get into a taxi, but that’s not a real lift, is it?