Reducing The Apprentice to the lowest common denominator
With the premiere of the latest season of The Apprentice – set in LA – and his latest public spats with Rosie O’Donnell and Barbara Walters - not to mention his dubious decision to fire Carolyn Kepcher - Trump has managed to alienate many of us who had once enjoyed his show. Despite the overt product placement that seemed to increase with each new season, many of the candidates were quite impressive – particularly in the first season. And some of us even thought he made clever - even self-deprecating – quips now and then. Trump seemed to have a personality beyond his skyscraper-sized ego.
But with the success of The Apprentice came a return of Trump’s unattractive cockiness. Some of the candidates on the later seasons seemed marginally qualified, especially compared to those of the first season. Some seemed as if they’d been chosen purely for the purpose of creating conflict – such as Brent, pictured at left from last season. The product placement was no longer subtle. Trump wasn’t funny or inspirational, but full of snide comments – many of which backfired and made him look ridiculous to viewers.
When it was announced that this season’s show would be set in LA, I lost hope that The Apprentice would ever regain the impressiveness of the first season. Even though I make no secret of my love for New York, I truly have no disdain for LA. It’s simply a different world – and it’s not Trump’s world. It’s an entertainment town, not a playground for real estate moguls. Why would Trump conduct a fifteen-week job interview somewhere other than his home turf? Even Trump said, “When I think of Los Angeles, I think of movies…I think of sex…I think of cars.” None of those – not even the second one – makes ME think of Trump, no matter how many of his adorable progeny he parades before the camera.
This season has interesting twists – such as the extremely disparate living conditions of the winning and losing teams – and overall, the candidates seem more uniformly qualified. But the potential to stray from the business of a job interview to the attractiveness of candidates (male or female) lounging poolside is hard to ignore, especially when ratings are top priority. Previous seasons have featured flirtatiousness and skirt-lifting (Ivana, you hussy), but for the most part the candidates were bundled up, not stripped down. In short, it’s a job interview – not skin-to-win.
If this season – with the same candidates and similar twists in the living conditions – took place in New York, I’d be more inclined to give Trump the benefit of the doubt one more time. But the progressive decline of the show and Trump’s off-camera posturing and insult-trading have been too disillusioning. With the show’s move to LA, I think there’s no doubt that he’s jumped the shark…and it just might catch up to him this time.
January 11th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Jumped the shark – you got it.
I watched the first season intently with my husband. This year, we haven’t seen it yet, and I really don’t care to.
The picture of them, by the pool, bothers me. How many times do you wear a bikini to a job interview?
January 11th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I always had a hard time with the show, I dislike Trump’s ego and the people he picks for the show are picked for their looks and ability to make tv drama rather than their real-life skills (how many people do you know who really look and act like that?? And certainly the people I do know who are that attractive aren’t usually in those kinds of positions). So I guess it’s a beef with the “reality” t.v. tag. It’s so unrealistic it’s ludicrous. Who would put up with people like that unless you were paid to? A LOT of money. But my husband loves the show so I keep rather quiet on my dislike of it for his sake
January 11th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
we finally watched the premiere last night. i could not believe it. what is with all the cheese? where his wife and baby come out to greet him when he pulls up? it all seems so fake! i do kinda like the sleeping outdoors as punishment, but i just don’t think this season will be that great. not that i won’t keep watching!
January 11th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I think I’ve only seen one Trump series. Then the UK developed it’s own version, which, of course, we watched (it’s done two series). Kind of like an accident you can’t look away from.
Hmmm. I wonder if we’ll be getting it back now that I think about it.
January 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
2 words.
Mark Burnett.
Oy. Totally overplayed. And the tent thing? c’mon…
January 11th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Not like I had a whole lot of respect for him before, but the whole Rosie thing is out of control. I have no desire to watch him anymore and this season seems like a joke.
January 11th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I totally agree.
I’ve been a big fan since the beginning, but I’m not even TIVOing this time. We watched one episode, and eh…
January 11th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Well, i have to admit, no matter how cheesy, how stupid, I am a reality show junkie…and I will watch…..and enjoy… tee hee!
January 11th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I think that is a very good synopsys. You can catch mine at http://www.mvbarer.blogspot.com It was Donald Trump who said “if anyone says anything bad about me, I hate them for the rest of their life.”
January 11th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Yeah. Feh. TOTALLY over the shark.
January 11th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Jeff had it on and I could not BEAR the boardroom scene. Bleaacccch. Not going back.
January 11th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Man, you should be writing tv crticism. I thought the SAME THING (but not as articulately) watching that episode. I realize they want to change up the show but what made it work — Trump = NYC– is now lost. Plus, it used to feel like a real job interview in a way. Now it’s just survivor with suits. Or something.
January 11th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Totally. I couldn’t have said it better.
January 13th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
I watched the first couple of seasons of the Apprentice, enjoyed and even learned a bit from the business scenarios. The product placement has never really bothered me, it is a business show after all. But I’ve always found it a little creepy the way some of the contestants, particularly the men worshipped Trump. The whole LA thing does seem a bit off, and the tent thing is sooo wrong. Business may be a game in a lot of ways, but humiliation is just not sporting.
January 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
We used to watch the show the first and second seasons, but it went down hill ever since. And this thing between him and Rosie is just ridiculous. Both look so ugly in public, I don’t care if it gives them publicity. Grow up people!!