Rewind: The Apprentice, Martha Stewart, Week 8
2005-11-15 / 10:47 p.m.
So the task last week was kind of boring, pick an item from QVC's warehouse and sell as much as you can for 10 minutes. They mostly focused on Dawna's disgust of Jim (I think I have noted in the past that if you're not disgusted or disturbed by Jim that you're likely a flaming idiot) and everyone's annoyance with interfering Amanda.
There is not much to be said on Dawna's disgust other than that, she's right. He behaves extremely unprofessionally 99% of the time, which you would think that a person would avoid if they are being constantly video-taped for a job interview for several months. He has done practically everything, including passing gas in enclosed spaces and swearing in front of small children, and just short of calling his co-applicants cunts and dicks (oh, actually I think it's a fairly safe bet that these words crossed his lips at least once in the duration). Even if he were the last one left, I think if I were Martha I'd relegate him to the janitorial/stableboy department. That would certainly befit his potty mouth.
Amanda just reeks of desperation, and the effect is extremely negative. I didn't think she made a good project manager the first time around (when they had to decorate a luxury hotel suite), even though she got the job done the suite was pretty blah. The concept of "game room" is by no means a unique one (see: most garages and basements in middle America) but they were saved by the fact that the other team didn't even get their furniture delivered before the judges arrived. Yes, I am glad that she steered poor, tasteless Sarah away from the faux library wallpaper (you know, the kind made to look like you have floor-to-ceiling books all bound in red leather with gilt lettering) but the puky bathroom and the lack of originality was really telling. I predict she will be the next to leave, if again on a losing team.
Matchstick won by selling fewer units at a higher price point, they also did a great job of selling, mainly by not flubbing things like turning their backs to the camera (the other team's main flaw), and by minimizing Amanda-exposure on-screen. A self-retracting garden hose is definitely something people buy from someone like Leslie, who appeals to older, home-owning people, as opposed to Amanda who would probably be great at selling overpriced cosmetics to women who secretly hate themselves.
Primarius was led by Bethenny, who I never liked in the first place: she is disorganized and frenetic, and what they refer to in my country as "ma-arts" or "O.A." (Over-Acting)--these are not the marks of a leader. My mother pointed this out to me when I was twelve, that I was behaving in real life as if I were starring in my own movie or sit-com, not quite in a painful Mary Katherine Gallegher way but certainly annoying to her and others, so I toned it down, and I'm very glad I did. I think Bethenny's friends and family are doing her a great disservice by not pointing this out to her, or if they have pointed it out and she simply has not listened, I think she is doomed to a life of dissatisfaction. You can already see it in her face, a kind of Cruella-De-Ville gauntness. All she needs is a mink, a British accent, and a super-long ciggie in a holder; let's just say she'll give Glenn Close a run for her money in 103 Dalmatians.
The kick-off last week ended up being Howie, who just seemed a bit too thugly and dim to make it as an Omnimedia exec (he couldn't even pronounce the name of the Bonaire air compressor he was supposed to be selling). I do think he looks terrific in a suit and he should just go right on selling high-end fashion. I was pretty amused that Bethenny pre-conference room was adamant that she was kicking Dawna off, but ended up actually sending her back to the loft instead of Jim or Howie, then freaking out about it in the lobby. What a spazz.
Too close to call yet--I'm thinking now, Dawna or Ryan; I would feel seriously sorry for Martha Stewart if any of the others won, even Marcela who is nice enough but I don't think she could handle the pressure. I know that's what they're building up in the teasers for tomorrow night's episode, and those are usually cleverly misleading, but I think at some point soon she'll be out of the race.