*waves to Mama Tiger* Yeah, the last name thing is weird. Especially when you consider that many of the last names are out already. For examble, isn't Rob's last name part of his company's name that's listed in his bio at the show's website? Though, I may have him confused with someone else. And I thought the plug for Metamorphor was one of the most classiest things I've seen from a fired candidate. Dude showed he still has his head. Good move, that.

MARIA WATCH: The Apprentice. Richmond Times-Dispatch Very short. I gather we can expect this as long as she lasts.

Ratings from Zap2it for last night. Damn football. I bet they're a hella better on Saturday though.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch doesn't know how to spell "yoooooge." Take a look.

I like Maria mainly because she's easy to pick out from the crowd of Trump Tramps.

'Apprentice' Lesson No. 1: Step Up or Step Off. Zap2it. Review.

And ccrean, I like Maria too because she's not cookie-cutter. And she's gorgeous to boot.

goobaletta you forgot to warn about the big, scary Elizabeth Taylor photo one story below.

Motley Fool analyzes the first episode, focusing on the business aspects. Looks like this will be a weekly feature.

Oh dear. So very sorry, Vermicious Knid. It is a rather scary photo of Liz, isn't it? And good on you for getting the sorta snarky Motley Fool review up! I was just coming in to post it along with several other things I just found.

Houston nephew avoids Trump’s ‘You’re fired!’ Murray Ledger & Times Dish about Kelly.

Charisma on Raj's side Vail Daily News. Really. The writer isn't biased at all. *cough choke* PHOTO. Sorta spoilery.

'You Have to Break from the Pack' Bill's in Newsweek. PHOTO. Similar to other interviews he's given about his book, but a few new things.

Marketers win Trump show debut - 18 contestants, including one local woman, are in the mix, but the product mentions prevail. Richmond Times-Dispatch Review and commentary.

Trump does baseball games too. Our Sports Central. And here I thought only failed apprentices did such. My bad.

Just in case this hasn't already been posted in this thread, Editor-in-Chief Alfred Edmond of blackenterprise.com writes a terrific review of each Apprentice episode. Not snarky, but definitely critical and loaded with common sense ---and he invites readers to email him with their opinion of his article.

I'm so glad he's doing this again for season 2. Last season his review appeared on the Friday after each episode.

Yeah. I used to post the links during TA1. Just hadn't gotten around to checking yet this week. Love that man's writing. I subscribe to the magazine largely due to his work. I saved the issue with the big Kwame and O piece. The photos with that article tickle me no end because Kwame clearly brought more than one outfit to wear and O, Miss Pageant Queen, only had one with her. *chortle*

Edmond's last paragraph is just about the best review conclusion I've seen for the epi too. Man is completely on target. I don't know that I agree 100% now, but I did in the first hours immediately after the initial airing, so I totally get his points.

The Angry Asian Man has taken note of Ivana's presence on the show. I'll keep an eye on his site for further commentary.

Donald Trump's Mini-Me. Globe & Mail

Donald Trump and Moonrock Paper Team Up at the US Tennis Open 2004 eMediaWire Best line in the press release, italics are mine:Hee!

THIS ARTICLE from the Palm Beach Post makes me think we won't be seeing Mar-a-Lago in TA3. Especially since Ivan the Terrible is on its way. I wonder what effect all this hurricane action is having on Katrina's business? It surely couldn't bode well.

The grass is always greener . . . playing the Trump card. azcentral.com

Apprentice 2- Fired Up! Elites TV Review.

The Real Thang. The Trades Review.

Inc.com's blog review of Episode 1, TA2. Opening line:And you can write comments in response to this one.

As someone else mentioned elsewhere I wonder how much money Apex made off of this idea and how much Donald gets as a kickback?

Contains the post-prototype picture of the metamorpho.
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/5567.shtml

Excellent linkage, mutantmagnet. Bravo! From the description:

The Donald may get a nice cut of any profits from this toy, but I have NO doubt whatsoever that included in the Encyclopedia Brittanica-sized contracts the candidates signed is a huge section regarding patent rights and their irrevocable unto the ends of the universe ceding of such rights to other parties.

In other words, just like for corporate inventors, they ain't gonna get squat. The Donald probably will, of course, cause his lawyer (George) is better than all Mattel's lawyers put together!

From the Vail Daily article linked above:




Sheeesh! I'd say the women won in spite of the help of their project manager Bradford.

Interesting.....

Tony Danza was interviewed in this week's "InTouch" magazine. His talk shaw launches on Monday and his "side kick" (as she's been touted) is Ereka Vetrini from last season.

When asked if he would have Omaorsa on his show as a guest, Danza replied "I'd love to! It would be fun to watch Ereka squirm."
Hmmm...not feeling the love on THAT set.

While interviewed on Howard Stern this week, Danza never offered any info about Ereka being on the show until Stern asked him if he was goign to have a Kelly Ripa Type co-host. Danze stammered a bit before saying that he had TWO women who would assist him...the piano player (whom he ewaxed poetic about for a few lines) and Ereka, whom he described as "very street."

However Danza describes it, it doesn't sound too promising for Ereka Vetrini.

Corporate inventors get squat? Maybe I'm thinking of something else but I thought they do (and it would be illegal to prevent them from earning from their creations.) GE has all their employees sign a contract basically stating that GE gets a cut of the earnings for anything they invent as long as they do it utilizing Gen. Electric's laboratories.

Or is it simply a case where GE is being a good corporation instead of being a more sinister one?

GE is definitely being a good corporation. Every other big corporation I've ever heard of, the inventor may get a small cut, but usually it's a flat up-front fee, if that, and their work product belongs to the corporation.

I cannot for a moment imagine a big company like Mattel letting the idea people get a very big cut of the profits. Because that's basically their whole business.

There's a photo spread in the latest Fortune magazine (Sept. 20, 2004) of the apprentices dressed for success. Click here for more.

I don't know if the link will work. I have a subscription to the print magazine, so I have online access as well. Just in case, here's a short synopsis:

• Bradford and Pamela are posed together in one photo in business casual wear. Bradford looks good in a cream cashmere sweater and tweed pants; he'd look even better if he were smiling instead of standing with arms crossed and a stone face. Pamela, on the other hand, is positively lovely; it's a very flattering photo. She has a huge smile on her face, and she just glows.
• Andy and Stacy R. (the short one) appear on the final photo of the spread in clothes deemed suitable for an office picnic: pink silk shell and brown miniskirt with embroidered ponies for Stacy, red plaid shirt and corduroys for Andy. I laughed out loud when I saw this; it's a good photo of both of them, but could they look any younger? It's a decided constrast to the pinstripes and tailored suits preceding them -- almost as if the photo spread editors were saying, "yeah, these are definitely youngsters!"
• There are two photos of apprentices in evening wear. Stacy J. (crazy Stacy) wears a gorgeous long red gown with fitted bodice, and is posed next to Kevin in a Dolce and Gabbana tux (kind of meh). Ivana wears an ivory satin dress (beautiful!) with a chinchilla stole (not so beautiful), and poses with John in a Calvin Klein tux and tie and Maria in a fugly Diane von Furstenburg that should be burnt. It was black with bright yellow stripes over the hips, and worn with a black fox "shrug" (a stole). The ensemble made Maria look like the queen of the bumblebees.
• Kelly and Sandy posed in pinstripes, Kelly's from Banana Republic, Sandy's from Anne Klein. The caption said, "Flash an unflashy label," and the photo had a superimposed legend: "Justifying your vast pay package to the board? Leave your Armani at home." Was it any coincidence that the two "models" wearing the cheapest clothing also looked the most professional?
• The rest of the apprentices looked okay -- business appropriate, anyways. No real standouts, except for Chris in a grey Hugo Boss suit, looking positively hunky. Raj wore a suit that was described as "pinstripe" but was more like pinstripe with tiny dots next to the stripe; strange, but not too flashy, and on him, appropriate.

Someone let me know if the article loads okay. If not, it must be a subscription-only article.

It's working great for me, pocha. Thanks for sharing!

It worked great for me, too. I noticed they put Raj in a regular tie! I'm surprised he was willing to forego the bow tie, even for the photo shoot -- perhaps he figured the pinstripe suit was eccentric enough to cover for it?

I did e-mail Alfred Edmond my comments on his article. He sent a very nice reply back within a few hours. I didn't expect that at all. Anyway, he has great insights and I will continue to read his reviews.

By the way, does anyone know what the story is with not using the Apprentices' last names this year?

It's Sunday. Time for catching up on your reading. At my house we began the day with cinnamon toast, cantaloupe, and strong hot black tea with a splash of skim milk. The cat is now attacking the cantaloupe rind. Odd animal.

The Donald is going to be on The Conan O'Brien Show Tuesday night.

Trumpologies NY Times Free registration.

NY Daily News review. Scroll down. See if you can find where the reviewer screwed up.

PSYCH WARFARE PLAYS OUT IN BOARDROOM GAME NY Post

Trump Masterclass Sunday Herald, UK Mostly stuff we know, but different perspectives on some aspects of TD.

Raj denies being Mr. Peanut. Denver Post

Trump's $250,000 bill U.S.News & World Report

Amy interview. Lexington Herald-Leader

For the Second Year Buzz Bags Creates Goodie Bags for “The Donald’s” US Open Guests eMediaWire All about the swag.

Katrina likes animals. Miami Herald Free registration. 3rd item in column.

Seth Jayson at the Motley Fool does not like Donald Trump.

Apprentice to a Hoax

My favorite quote (oh, so snarkalicious) is this one:



That's an SAT question I would love to see. Hee, I love "The Apprentice," but hee.

The latest People magazine (the one with the best and worst dressed on the cover) is loaded with Apprentice-related goodness. There's an article on the show's first episode, along with a sidebar on People's choice for standouts this season: Bradford, Pamela, Crazy Stacy, Raj, Andy (huh?), and Jennifer C. Trump weighs in with short comments on each of the six; he really likes Pamela, from the looks of it: "An absolute killer. Really tall, too, by the way."

Also in this week's People: Assorama made the worst-dressed list twice, once for the heinous white cat's-tails dress (caption: "Worst pelts"), and once for a heinous side-part asymmetrical coif (in the section "Hairdon'ts"). Hee! Bill and Heidi are both featured in a section called, "What TV Taught Me About My Look;" Heidi is much softened and improved.

The article on the show's first ep has a photo of all of this season's contestants; no real standouts except for Raj in a camel jacket, light blue shirt, navy blue-with-polkadots bow tie and white pants with a blue pinstripe. What was it Andy said? "P-I-M-P." The rest of the contestants are more or less business appropriate, except for Sandy in a white miniskirt, white jacket with serious decolletage and white stiletto sandals with ankle straps, looking like the stenographer from the typing pool that the boss would most like to boff, and Jennifer C. in a striped halter top. Short Stacy is standing next to Maria, who is seated; the sad thing is that Maria is almost as tall seated as Short Stacy is standing. Whoever said (in this thread or another) that Short Stacy looks sad in all her shots was dead-on. She looks positively depressed, and woefully out of place.

Another Motley Fool article: Click here

Well, it's certainly clear TWOP isn't the only home of snark -- what a delightful article, Algae!

ETA I must have missed it the first time -- but there's so many articles being written about this show, it's hard to keep up with them all!

Vermicious Knid posted that article on page 219. Just wanted to make sure VK got credit for it.
***********************************************************
Happy Monday! Not much so far, so keep checking if you're so inclined.

Gah. I've been wading through reviews of The Benefactor as I look for articles about TA. I have yet to see a positive one. Really. I wouldn't lie about that. You just know the ABC execs who turned down TA will be pounding the pavement soon if they haven't been already. All because they were unable to comprehend how powerful a mojo The Hair is for its human. Fools. As an example, here's the closing sentiment of the reviewer at the Boston Globe.
Don't forget that the Tony Danza Show begins today. Check the listings for your local ABC affiliate if you want to watch as I think it's pretty much on ABC stations. Now we'll have a chance to see Ereka Vetrini in her new gig. Ain't we lucky?

I saw a promo saying that Marla Maples is going to be on Primetime this Thursday night on ABC as part of a story about The Donald. There isn't confirmation on their website as yet, but I'll keep an eye out. And yes, it is opposite TA2. I find it terribly funny they're counter-programming TA2 with TD dish.

So wait. That's three items concerning TA related shows in one form or another. All on ABC or affiliated with ABC. That's just sad.

Babson takes lessons from Trump Daily News Transcript
Where Maria Shops. Richmond Times-Dispatch Scroll down for Maria's bit in the growing clientele section.

***NEW ARTICLES***

Fans line up to meet 'Apprentice'. Chicago Daily Herald PHOTO. All about Bill at Wal-Mart. Bit of a spoiler regarding when he makes his first appearance this season.

Bill interviewed in new magazine about TV PR Newswire

Column commenting on reality TV - Compares Cuban's show with TA. The Oregonian

The Apprentice: Marketing 101 – Assert Your Assets. Elites TV

I watched the beginning of the first Tony Danza Show. Danza refers to Ereka by her last name. She did surprisingly well. She was composed, well-spoken, and looked pretty good. He interacted with her a fair amount at the start of the show. No idea if that will continue. I don't think the show's going to last very long for a number of reasons, but it isn't going to be Ereka's fault so far as I can see. She did okay. I wonder if O was watching? Heh.

The NY Times misspells Ereka's name in its review of "Danza":

Because Ereka (or Erica) doesn't end in a vowel? There are times I'm very, very glad that I have a job during the day and am not subjected to daytime TV.

Mornin' y'all. Good thoughts headed to any of you in Florida or the Gulf Coast. Pretty busy for a Tuesday. Let's go!

***The Donald will be on The Conan O'Brien Show tonight.***

“APPRENTI” CHILL OUT ON EPISODE TWO WHEN TRUMP’S TASK HAS THEM CREATING AND SELLING NEW FLAVOR OF GELATO FOR CIAO BELLA NBCUMV **SPOILERY**

'You're Fired!' Leads List of Popular TV Phrases Reuters

Deconstructing the Trump-ster: Business lessons learned from Episode One of "The Apprentice" Richmond.com

Students apathetic about 'Apprentice' NCSU's Technician. I'm so disappointed in the kids at State back home. I bet the students at UNC are more involved. There's at least one alum on the show again this year as last with Kwame.

Trump fights back before Primetime piece airs. Lloyd Grove's Lowdown, NY Daily News. Remember I told you yesterday that Marla's talking in this story to be aired on Thursday? The s*** is hitting the fan over it. A gold star to the reader who finds the misspelling in the article.

How TD is spending October 13. PR Newswire

Trump's water makes local debut Detroit Free Press

‘Apprentice’ in Vogue at Whiskey Park Boston Herald

Trump bondholders balking NY Daily News For you business types.

should be "nickel"

DING DING DING!!! And djmama gets the Trumpalicious gold star for the middle of her forehead. Yay!

Thank you, thank you! And I owe all my success to goobaletta!

edited because grammar is my friend

Layla823 posted THIS LINK in Nick's thread. It takes you to a weekly column Nick's writing about this season.

Trump-Wannabe Lawyer Scores on "The Apprentice" New York Lawyer All about Baldford (™Tashanir).

Surreality TV Mercury News Opinion piece. A bit o' snarkiness.

I really like Tony Danza, but his talk show is just HORRIBLE. Ereka basically just sits in the front row and offers a botu 2 minutes worth of banter with Danza...and of course they ahve her all "Italianed" out (and I'm saying this as an Italian) with the big earrings and the "eehhh/ohhhh" crap. Show's not gonna last more than two months and will most definitely be re-tooled with Ereka getting the big 'ol Italian Boot.

As a side note, I don't think Omarosa is really goign to care one way or another about this supposed "coup" of Omarosa. Say what you will about O but she at least seems to choose her projects wisely. The stint on the NBC soap Passions, a spot on UPN's Girlfriends's etc. At least she's doing things that will actually be viewed by a wide audience.

Dressing down ‘The Apprentice’: Meet Sandy McTubeDress and Bow Tie Man All about the fashion. MSNBC Penned by one of TWoP's founders. Yay Wing Chun!

Playing Trumps Village Voice All about TD's new magazine.

CNN/Money article about the winning toy.

Re: CNN/Money article

If Mattel can have the Morph Machines available by January 2005, why wouldn't they pull out all the stops to press for them being ready by December 15, 2004, and start taking orders now for Christmas?

People will be in consumer-fatigue mode by January and may by then be unreceptive to any merchandizing buzz even Apprentice-related buzz.

Not to mention that soon enough even newer delights will be coming into the marketplace.

Thanks for the back up yesterday goobaletta. Too busy at work today to check the thread (But not for long, 3 more working days and then I'm free! And unemployed.).

Scottish newspaper The Herald analyzes Trump.

This is interesting. There will be a German version of the Apprentice

Yay! It's Hump Day. Only 40 hours until the second epi of TA2. Get your secondary windows ready, those of you at work. Lots to read today.

ABC's 'Primetime' Ploy - Trump Vs. Trump Reuters/Hollywood Reporter It's so nice that the mainstream media is catching up on what I pointed out in this thread three days ago. Variations on this article can be found a number of other places too, such as HERE and HERE.

America loves to hate dastardly CEOs. USA Today. Of course, there's a whole chunk about TD.

Mattel Takes Car Idea, Leaves 'Apprentice' Team in the Dust LA Times Free registration.

The Science of Trumpology: Harvard grad joins cast of business whiz kids Harvard Crimson All about Andy Litinsky. It even has the seemingly obligatory snooty comment by one of his professors at the end of the article.

Ereka: No objection to lawyer as Apprentice Boston Herald.com Ereka comments about TA2 and the contestants. I'm disappointed they didn't get any quotes from Heidi. You know she has opinions about the new crew.

'Apprentice' vet sizes up new season. Boston Globe. Well this explains why Heidi wasn't quoted in the above article. It's not as detailed as Ereka's interview, but it's definitely all Heidi.

St. Louis Carolyn fans, save this date: February 12, 2005. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Scroll down.

‘Apprentice' winner plans KU appearance Lawrence Journal-World. Bill goes to Kansas. Scroll down to last item on the page.

Another of Katty's projects. eMediaWire.

Local Distributor Is Fired Up by Trump's Latest Endeavor Richard Leiby's Reliable Source column in the Washington Post. Scroll down.

Donald, Jr. hunts antelopes. Billings Gazette Scroll down to the headline: 61st One Shot Hunt this week. If I believed he was going to have anything he kills shipped back to NYC and cut up for his freezer to eat it wouldn't bug me so much. Not that he needs to hunt for his food. *sigh* Why yes, I am somewhat of a bleeding heart when it comes to killing animals just for the hell of it. Perhaps he'll miss his one shot. /preachiness

That link is in the previous post; please read the thread carefully before adding your thoughts. Thanks.

To clarify, is this thread only for media sightings to be reported, or can we comment on them here as well?

A few pieces for your Thursday morning. Enjoy!

'APPRENTICE' GAL BROKERS TRUMP APTS. NY Post. About Jennifer C.

TV 'Apprentice' contestant has roots in Longmeadow The Republican. All about Baldford's youth. That sound you hear is me laughing. One of Baldford's oldest friends used to be a -- wait for it -- TOY DESIGNER. Bwah! I wonder what he thought of the football guy idea?

'Apprentice' update, courtesy the 8 Ball Arizona Republic

Kwame will be speaking on October 5th at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Vanguard

Blinded by the light. Boston Herald. Scroll down. Why Katrina missed the fashion show in Boston. Gah. I'm so weary of this witch. To borrow from Sars: HATE!

These are great, thanks so much goobaletta!

NYCynthia: You can feel free to comment, but if you're getting more into it than a passing remark, please move the discussion to the appropriate contestant thread. Thanks.

Can someone clear up this mystery?

Today there was a small blurb in my local paper saying that the new issue of Star magazine is reporting that a Stacy Ferreira from the new season of The Apprentice was at a party in the Hamptons. One of Victoria Gotti's sons was also at the party and Stacy (or was it Stacie?) supposedly made a scene by yelling at him that she was going to be a bigger star. She said something like "Your show only gets 3 million viewers, my show gets 40 million. I'm going to be the biggest thing on The Apprentice!"

Problem is, we've been told that the contestants' names are Stacie J. and Stacy R. And this story definitely sounds like something Stacie would do. I checked the Star website and the story isn't up there. Maybe it'll be posted later.

So if anyone can get to the bottom of this, please post what you find out.

I read somewhere that she's using J. instead of F. for some reason, so I'm pretty sure that the person quoted in your paper is SideShowStacie. (™ someone smarter than me.)

Tortolia, HEE!

Well, we know it couldn't be Lil' Stacy. You can't really express "I'm going to be a bigger star, so nyah nyah!" with a surprised facial expression.

Apprentice scoops ice cream, can you? CNN/Money

Lawsuit Filed by Mark Bethea Charges NBC-TV's Hit ``The Apprentice'' Was Ripped Off Business Wire

'Apprentice' hopeful a puzzle to employer. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Free registration required. All about Wes. Awww, he took his mama to a premiere party. PHOTO.

Our 'Apprentice 2' panel predicts: Who'll be the next to go? Cincinnati Enquirer.

Who Gets Fired Tonight? Play & Win! WOAI.com

AnneH, no it usually doesn't. Or it didn't. For more discussion on the time, you really need to go to the Trump owns us all: Ratings & Scheduling thread.

The NBC schedule says the show starts at 9:19 tonight. Does it always start at weird times? This is my first season.

Thanks for the answer, Sars.

Someone way upthread posted a link to her Ford Models website where she is identified as Stacie Upchurch....the plot thickens.

In today's NY Post, page 10, there is a full page picture of Jennifer C, aka Jennifer Crisafulli, courtesy of her employer Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
It says underneath the full page picture (which includes her stupid bangs) "Congratulations Jennifer. We always knew you were one in a million. We are proud of our agent Jennifer Crisafulli, who was selected from over a million applicants to be a contestant on the Apprentice.

The company then invites you to learn more about her AND about the city's finest properties at their website.

Self-pimp: I wrote a story for MSNBC about why last night's firing was absolutely deserved.