TWoP Forums > 4-11: "To Lead Or Not To Lead" 2005.12.01

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Legalese

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:23 pm

Gun to my head, I couldn't tell you what Alla and Felicia's text blurbs said. Too fast, too wordy. And if that was Alla's fault, then she deserved to go for that alone (kicking Felicia to death in the boardroom when she was already gasping for breath on the floor was just the proverbial icing on the cake).

The Donald's words of wisdom about the importance of family said nothing really about the important of family but did point up the joy of coming home to a skinny, supple model who implausibly craves chicken parmesan (or something with meat sauce).

Did the female Microsoft exec (were these two really execs?) say anything? Granted, she spoke volumes with her facial expressions, but was she the subject of some sort of gag order? Or was it simply a matter of, "I'm speechless when I consider how I got suckered into this crap"?

Watching Trump ceremoniously walk into the suite at the end of this episode with that tried-and-true music playing somehow thrilled me. Oh well.

Songdog

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:22 pm

Yea Trump! Alla was out of her chair so fast- I totally agree she was running.

And a total liar about the direction the ad took. It bothered me that when the professional told them they had too much, he sounded so unhelpful- never encouraged them to cut hard and keep the original script idea, which did have a story line, just said, it's way too long. And neither of the women made the natural comeback, "What can we cut?" If Alla is so hot, she could have done that , but instead she either took it over to put her own spin on it or to sabotage it, take your pick.

The really bad thing about their final ad wasn't so much the Microsoft buttons, but the end message that: This product will be used by incompetents who can't cope and have paper flying through the air. Much better to have nice neatly dressed workers appreciating a product.

YoureSoUrban

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:25 pm

I will be very annoyed if Randall has to share with Rebecca.[/quote]

I will be annoyed too. Somehow to me it feels like a concession, even worse than hiring Randal because of his race. A dual hiring doesn't acknowledge his consistent performance and denies him a fair shot of competing in the final round.

Fukui San

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:27 pm

LadyKenobi

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:30 pm

Geez, can you imagine being Felisha and seeing those Allatine clips tonight? Oh damn. Should make for an interesting reunion.

[Snip.] I would totally hire Randal, and I hope he wins (alone) because he out and out deserves it and has clearly been the best overall candidate, not just because a minority hasn't been hired before. What a class act.

(Did you see his face when The Hair said they were going on a cruise? "Fuck it all, back on the boat." Hee! I hope he and his wife have a wonderful 800 years together :) )

bazicdancer

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:32 pm

I really hate when people ...

[... have opinions? Stay on topic.]

Booklord

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:34 pm

When Trump said "Alla, sit down", I knew she was going. But before then, I didn't see it coming. I figured all the heartless, cruel comments from her was a set-up for a F2 showdown against Randal. Good Randal vs. Evil Alla. The person who brings puppies to live vs. the person who kill puppies to make her clothes. I guess I was wrong.[/quote]

While I thought Kendra was the best possible choice last season, the Apprentice 3 finale proved one thing. It is possible for one candidate in the final two task to screw up so badly that Trump is effectively left with no real choice. Alla was fired because Trump doesn't want to take the chance on Randall having a stroke and getting stuck with her.

Jiminator

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:37 pm

Wow, the show was awesome. Methinks Trump must be getting tired of the whole apprentice thing, with all of these mass firings. He has shortened the season by what, 5 shows? Or maybe he will do three this year. The whole Alla thing was shocking. I thought pretty much that she and Randall were going to be the final two. But then she has been really bitchy and the whole scene before the boardroom was very disrespectful. She really needed a can of STFU. Seems like too many of the Apprentices get so desperate. As for Rebecca and hey boyfriend, I thought that was one of those "mygay" situations. But whatever. It just did not seem authentic. The Alla/Felicia commercial - well the tried to sqeeze too much crap in there. Like hey, if it is two and a half minutes of content, lets just have them zip the stuff in and out of there faster and faster until its 30 seconds.

Also, is it just me or did the cab at the end just brazenly run a red light? Maybe it's an odd camera angle, but it sure looks like they just fly through the light. Not that this is shocking for an NYC cab, I just thought it was funny.[/quote] I would imagine they have the streets closed for filming.

The dressing of Alla & Felisha seemed to be a pale imitation of the candy bar twins on the second season (names escape me).

For the final, I think that Randall will have to screw up to lose. He certainly has a lot of strengths, but I don't think that he has been fantastic. For Rebecca, she has done a good job most of the way, just not a great one. She is certainly more likable than Alla. She has her work cut out for her.

Trader Joe

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:38 pm

Dustin Grosse is the hottest[/quote]

Dustins Eyes popped out of his head whent he gals walked in and you just tell that her was thinking exactly this:

Absurdist
Felicia – you went to a Microsoft executive-level meeting in a fucking tank-top? With your bra strap showing??? The hell? My boss would have snidely commented…“heading out on a cruise, are we?” [/quote]

and this:

I also don't like the way the Microsoft execs looked when Alla and Felecia entered. It just gave me the vibe that they had already made up their minds.

Maybe they were reacting to the twins in their Best Orange T-Shirts. I had a similar reaction. Do these people ever go to meeting with clients? Ponytails + t-shirts = NO. [/quote]

Alla just looked FRUMPY in that horrible camp shirt.

A big "Microsoft WORD" to this:

Funniest part of tonight's episode: An advertisement for Microsoft being edited on an Apple Macintosh computer. [/quote]

deaja

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:39 pm

I would like to start with an apology to all those of you who live in the Metro-Detroit area. At 9:58 p.m., that was not a plane, noise from a passing UFO, or any other mechanical sound. That was a sound of joy coming from my house as we all cheered and screamed in unison. And that was not an earthquake, that was the vibration from my jaw hitting the ground.

I agree with those who don't think Felicia would have been fired if she hadn't screamed.

I'm so glad we don't have to sit through boring interviews that really have no impact on Donald choosing his final two.

Once again, obvious editing. 9:10 "Alla and Felicia definitely lose." "Family" segment "That's going to be the reward." The best part was no one in my family believed me on either one, and then I was right!

SmokeyBear

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:38 pm

Well....so much for the old adage “the hooker with the heart of gold”.

I wonder just who decided to dress for a formal presentation, for a Fortune 500 company, like they were on the way to the beach! ANYONE with any corporate business experience would NEVER dress like they did. When both teams were standing side by side, Felicia and the hooker looked utterly ridiculous.

undisclosedidea

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:41 pm

katiekaye

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:42 pm

It is still driving me crazy that Rebecca looked at her BF like she had no idea who he was.....what was with that?

But I LOVED Randal with his " I got to see my wIfe!" So, so cute!

Look Both Ways

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:43 pm

Reguardless of what ethinicity Randall is, he could had been white or asian or cuban..he is just the right person to win. It is just so happened that the best person out of the 16 is Randall who is a hard worker, a clever business man with a heart of gold and someone who you can trust and motivate you and depend on to be there for you unlike Alla.. All I am saying is please don't say he is getting hired because he is black or that it was set up for him to win..that is so not it. [/quote]

I agree. I had him pegged to win from the beginning. I like Rebecca too, and I think either of them would be a benefit to the company. But, Randall seemed to be the best AND most likable of the bunch. Good for him!

jth213

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:46 pm

I use LiveMeeting every day, and after seeing BOTH commercials, even I couldn't tell what the hell the product was or what problem it solved.

And this is completely random, but is anyone else sick of hearing people in the boardroom insist that they can do something or that they don't have some flaw when ALL evidence points in the opposite direction? Like when The Donald says to someone "You're a terrible leader" after they've completely lost control and they respond with "Mr. Trump, I'm a great leader"? As if they can make something true by saying it out loud.

Bassari99

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:46 pm

My only question is what would have happened if R&R had totally flubbed the task?[/quote]
One or both of them would have been fired.

Alla was a strong player but, clearly, she was not invincible. She screwed up on this task, partially, because the concept she came up with to substitute text graphics for the action shots she directed was a bad one. Also, her passive-aggressive non-support of Felisha at the beginning of the task helped doom Capital Edge to a loss. If Alla could have put her ego aside for bit and not try to be in competition with someone who was still her teammate, Alla might have been on top of her game, like she usually is.

Her poor performance this episode does not take away from Alla's positive attributes, nor does it negate her past successes; it just revealed her Achiles' heel, which is not knowing when to cede control. She fucked up. It happens.

yadayada

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:46 pm

It is still driving me crazy that Rebecca looked at her BF like she had no idea who he was.....what was with that? [/quote]

I think it is because she is not into public displays. There was one shot where she turns to him, her hair completely covering her face, and whispered directly in his ear that she missed him.

ETA: Did anyone else get the feeling that the Microsoft executives were not happy with both commercials but just thought that CE did a much worse job that Excel? The reason why I ask is that scene prior to the Donald's arrival. Usually there is some discussion about how one team clearly hit it out of the park or one team was just a lot more creative, etc etc etc. Whereas in tonight's episode it was "well they did okay based on the tight time frame."

Magsi2

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:48 pm

CarolJude

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:51 pm

I would have loved them to let Alla leave and go back to the suite, then show The D doing the slo-mo walk to the door, enter, and say 'oh, and Alla, you left before I had the chance to tell you.... YOU'RE FIRED, TOO!"

Alla performed well in her tasks but it has to make most people's blood run cold to see someone show such contempt for a person who is trying very hard not to cry (and not succeeding.) I might be in the minority here, but personally I think Trump decided to fire her when Felicia was crying but trying to speak and Alla started in on her once again. Someone else might have either waited for Felicia to finish speaking or at least interrupted in a much kinder & empathetic tone of voice; I think that complete lack of empathy at that particular moment took everyone in the boardroom aback. At least that's how it felt to me.

Baralai

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:54 pm

I think Felisha would have been fired whether she cried or not. She just wasn't as good as Alla.

During the dinner, I thought she was melodramatic and while I did understand her crying there, I did find the general thing rather pathetic because I somehow got a "manipulation" vibe going on. Almost like she would say or do anything in hopes Alla would go easy on her. I don't mind crying, but I sometimes do find myself wondering if the person is trying to manipulate and I certainly prefer not to see it in a setting where professionalism is of the utmost importance. I don't know if Felisha was deliberately trying to manipulate anyone, but it's how she came across to me. Maybe that's why Alla reacted the way he did.

However, Alla was just as pathetic and found her statements awful. I liken it to kicking someone while their down and that's not something I admire. Unless, of course, the depresssed person is a real jerk, which Felisha never really was.

In the boardroom, I didn't think much of it beyond "oh no" and then I thought, "Wait a minute, isn't she a pilot?" I asked myself that because I was always under the impression that maintaining control of one's emotions was of the utmost importance when being a pilot. Then again, these are two different situations and one can be very strong in one thing and not so much in other. I like Felisha just fine, but she was never on my radar much.

At any rate, Felisha's firing was inevitable, so I wasn't surprised to see her go. I was surprised to see Alla go. I don't agree that she can't be led. She was never as disruptive as Maria and Alla knew when to back off. She took charge when bad leaders were involved. Otherwise, she did what was delegated to the best of her ability.

Alla most certainly is arrogant, lacks tact, too rough, and didn't know when to be quiet in the last boardroom, but she was a good competitor. I didn't like Alla at first, but I grew to like her. Just that she's a little too exasperating for me to like her beyond Rebecca and Randal(I adore these two). I personally couldn't see myself working closely with her or being too close to someone like her. I'd be driven crazy.

God I love Randall. I don't care if he's pink with purple polka dots, he's the best there. As for Rebecca, I don't mind her being in the final two(course I didn't care who is was so long as Randall was the other). Who knows? Maybe she'll be great there.

Summa

Dec 1, 2005 @ 11:56 pm

What do you guys think? Was he planning to fire them both at the outset? Eg, move into the final two regardless of the outcome? The cynic in me says yes. But the kid who likes surprises likes to think not.[/quote]

I think he planned it. Notice at MS, he told Randall and Rebecca that they were going to have a relaxing evening, and they needed it before going into the next task (which is/was the final task). As soon as he said that, I knew that something was up.

I loved how Alla practically took off running...she suspected a second firing I bet, or she wouldn't have tried to beat it out of there. Trump's "sit down, Alla" was awesome ...[/quote]

I wondered the same thing myself. She never got up from the boardroom table that quickly before.

I thought the Rebecca/Randal video was hopelessly amateurish. I didn't think either video was particularly good, but I'm pretty sure Trump knew from the outset who he wanted to lose. [/quote]

Alla's & Felicia's was definitely more polished, but Rebecca's and Randall's was far better. They got their point across. Nothing appeared long enough on CE's screen long enough for it to sink it what they were talking about. I found it very frustrating to watch because I'm a reader. If you put words on my screen, I want to be able to read them.

I was surprised to find I thought Rebecca was the better actor. I thought Randall would be with his extensive presentation experience. I also thought it was funny how the hired actor couldn't convey the proper angst. I suppose as an actor he never ran into the problems that this MS product is supposedly circumventing, but as business people, Randall and Rebecca have run into those problems all the time.

Trump's little talk about "Family" didn't really jive with his firings--Alla has 4 kids--or does it? Because she's willing to be away from them for so long?[/quote]

No, but it had to do with the reward.

He knew at MS HQ that Rebecca and Randall were going into the final 2. I wonder if he knew before that. Were the SOs of all 4 candidates on call to see who got to go to NY? I am curious.

I have mixed feelings about the episode. I actually loved it, but I didn't like the firing of Alla. I actually liked her. Maybe I'm just used to working with difficult people, but she didn't seem difficult at all. She was just a take-charge type of person. Additionally, even if she wasn't PM, she was usually instrumental in leading her team to a victory.

With the way Trump & viceroys were laying onto Alla, I suspected that she would be fired, and I was surprised at the time that he actually fired Felicia. I suspect she might have been safer had she not cried in the boardroom, but she might have been gone anyway. I don't see Trumpy moving her to the finals when his left-hand woman calls her one of the weakest of the remaining players the week before.

With regard to my Alla love, I was upset when Felicia started getting emotional at the restaurant and Alla voices over that she just laughs when people get depressed like that. Her exit interview was pretty cold too, especially given her best buddy was next to her. If Troy and Kwame had a double firing, you just know they would have been goofing off and talking about how they had a blast and still acting as BFF.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Randall's cute face when he said how happy he was that his wife was there. I recognized her name wasn't Zathura, but it was so close, I couldn't help but think, no wonder he knew Zathura's name.

LAUGHED, LAUGHED, LAUGHED when Trumpy was telling Melania how lucky she is to have him.

I've never written this lengthy of a post before, but the episode was good. I'm glad that it's gone back to the first season caliber. I do hope that next season is as good, although I agree that now the double-firings are getting old.

Trader Joe

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:01 am

ETA: Did anyone else get the feeling that the Microsoft executives were not happy with both commercials but just thought that CE did a much worse job that Excel? The reason why I ask is that scene prior to the Donald's arrival. Usually there is some discussion about how one team clearly hit it out of the park or one team was just a lot more creative, etc etc etc. Whereas in tonight's episode it was "well they did okay based on the tight time frame."
[/quote]

Totally!!!They were all like "They worked really hard" and "They didnt have much time" it was all a bunch of two-fisted compliments. They seemed underwhelmed. The woman looked like she absolutely HATED both the ads and Dustin (ooooooo baby) was just all smiling and "I get to be on TV".

blackwing

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:08 am

Alla should not have been fired. I was very disappointed with Trump. He did it just to make sure that his BFF Reblecha makes it into the finals.

Felicia looked like she was smirking in the cab when Alla was talking about how she's not not able to be led. I hope they stayed friends.

On the flip side, my Thursdays for the next two weeks are likely free. The only reason why I'd tune in is to see others sabotage these two.

Ellegado

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:08 am

I should clarify something. I did know about Alla's past and I don't really care. What I didn't know was her total lack of compassion for other human beings. I knew she was manipulative, it was one of the things I loved about her on this show. Her story of her getting Clay to make her breakfast every day made me positively giddy. What I don't like is how she kicked her supposed friend when she was down, especially when all she had to do was shut up and she probably would have stayed in my opinion. I don't even think TD could do that and we know how low TD can go.

Now that we have the final 2, I just hope it's not the your both hired too. Hire one or hire none and give the $250,000(because that way you probably can't get sued) to the best overall player without giving them an executive job in your company. That would be more interesting to me. If they hire both it will just demean everything Randall has done in this game and that would be beyond wrong to do to a cool mofo like him.

heebiejeebie

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:12 am

ETA: Did anyone else get the feeling that the Microsoft executives were not happy with both commercials but just thought that CE did a much worse job that Excel? The reason why I ask is that scene prior to the Donald's arrival. Usually there is some discussion about how one team clearly hit it out of the park or one team was just a lot more creative, etc etc etc. Whereas in tonight's episode it was "well they did okay based on the tight time frame."[/quote]

Definitely. Dustin sort of looked a little sympathetic. In a "well we know why I work for Microsoft and you are on a reality show, now don't we?" kind of way. The blonde whose name I did not catch (okay I was watching Dustin pull off some great scruff) looked at Rebecca and Randall like they both had spinach caught in their teeth and wasn't sure if it was better to pretend it was not there or tell them. With Felisha and Alla she just had a huge "what asshats" look on her face when Dustin was trying to play good cop.

Hida_Tomoe

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:13 am

I have to disagree with the opinion that hiring both would be demeaning to both. That's like saying that TD hiring Andy in S2 somehow took away from Kelly's win. This isn't a zero sum game. Since the ultimate aim of it is to land a job with TD, R&R's double hiring would be a win for both. Plus, Randal, especially, seems nice enough that sharing the win wouldn't be a problem for him.

mistahtrump

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:16 am

I have to thank Burnett and Trump for reversing the decline of my interest in this show. That was a photo finish, even without text flying in in microscopic font indicating why it was such a satisfying episode (God, I hope I never have to endure a PowerPoint presentation crafted by those two harpies).

Trump is staying to his words of wisdom to TA2's Ivana Tinkle – "You stripped, I'm not hiring a stripper." It was ludicrous that a former adult entertainer once implicated in the murder of two lesbians was even up for consideration to be Trump's professional food-taster. While Toral was a runner-up to Omarosa as the most detestable prospective Apprentice (no small feat) , Alla was definitely this season's ratings stunt. I submit that she was the non-Trump plant; you mean to tell me that someone who tossed aside one stellar candidate for having limited formal education (TA1's Troy, who I still think kicks the caps out of Bobblehead Bill), and another for having too many degrees (TA2's Sweaty Kevin) would hand over one of his businesses to someone who traded in their pasties and g-strings for a Chanel suit?

TPTB had to finally put the kibosh on this improbability, a prospect was more unpalatable than the Chicken Parmesan with Meat Sauce that Trump was ostensibly going to pick up for Melania (by the way, that scene trumps the sexual education of Adam as the most surreal scene of the season). Hence, this episode amounted to little more than a white-collar witch hunt; Alla had been the most dynamic of the final four, more of a firebrand than Ran-dull, Chewbecca McCrutches, and FeraughtwithFoundationlishia.

Sure, she was the director of a sucky commercial that evoked images of cucumber porn and bodywash-soaked joggers from TA3. However, even more nauseating was Felishduh's passive-aggressive leadership. I half expected the editing wizards to splice in Alla's winning Lamborghini tagline "do you need permission?" in response to Felisha's namby-pamby "I'm gonna be a total hardass on this, if, um, you know, it's okay with you" bullshit. Felisha was definitely the weakest remaining player of the bunch, but her comparatively immaculate past put her way ahead of the Spa Queen.

Once the Don opened the doors, it was clear that he and Bobblehead were out to put the smackdown on Princess Stripikov's delusions of grandeur. In one way he contradicted his rationale for firing of Clay -- "you have to rely on history" – by handing the Déjà vu Diva her walking papers. In another way, he stayed true to this sentiment (focusing on her past), no matter how he tried to cloak it with his 'you are tough to manage' rhetoric. People have attested that Alla's past is not grounds for dismissing her from consideration, but I strongly disagree. The idea of a stripper leading a company is ludicrous (Larry Ellison may beg to differ), and we had to get past this in order to anoint the next overpaid lackey.

On that note, it's nice that they've returned some class to this show with the selection of the final two candidates. I hated Chewbecca's elitism and repeated fobbing off of responsibilities for her losses as PM (being celebrated on XM Café Channel 65: The Sounds of Tethno). However, now I see her as worthy heir to Kwame Jackson -- a well-spoken, professional candidate able to make it to the 'short strokes' (Markus we hardly knew ye) despite a craptastic record as PM.

And Randall, my God; education, charisma, achievement, family values, the ability to use the word 'illin' in a sentence after the year 1985 and still sound cool…what does brother not have??? The Don pretty much told us his pick with that tired tripe about family – Randall's reaction on seeing his wife was truly touching, especially when contrasted with half-ass 'Fuck -- everyone's going to see what a douchebag I've been doing, and think me less sexy and cool, but I gotta not look bitchy' hug Rebecca gave to her s.o., Mullet Von Hardon.

Randall and Rebecca treat each other with respect, in a manner unseen since that of Bill and Kwame from TA1. In the end it's going to go to Rebecca, because Randall is just too darn good and accomplished to follow in the footsteps of Bobblehead Bill (who used to be a cool guy), Kelly the Robot (whose ability to hide his disdain for his current station in life is fading fast), and Matthew Calimari (duh,…I don't like…duh…what was the question?). Rebecca, on the other hand is relatively green, and can benefit more from the soul-crushing, brainwashing, and separation from reality available within the morally and financially bankrupt kingdom of Trump. Go Becky!

Absurdist

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:17 am

As if they can make something true by saying it out loud.[/quote]
But that's the fundamental principle of American marketing!

Well, with one team named Excel, I'm sure the MicroSofters were very disapproving that the other team wasn't named Word.[/quote]
Bwah![/quote]
I was thinking Power Point, myself. Word sounds a little too… je ne sais quoi for Bill Gates

Funniest part of tonight's episode: An advertisement for Microsoft being edited on an Apple Macintosh computer.[/quote]
HA-ha! Irony, thy name is Trump…

I high-five Akai for this. And, like it or not, the race card is very much alive in reality television. Even Tyra(nt) made a big deal about having two black girls in the top two on ANTM last year. And people are still talking about the way blacks are portrayed on this show (Hi, Omarosa and Stacie J!), relative levels of competency aside. When reality producers feel it necessary to cast for diversity, you can't say that race/gender/sexual orientation aren't factors.

ajesquire

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:19 am

[Snipped weird lecture about the soul-killing nature of stripping.]

All in all, tonight gave us two entertaining eliminations of two bitter and ugly people.

Fukui San

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:27 am

Ah, the cut from 4 to 2. Where Trump flimsily fabricates a reason to jettison the people who are strong or have advanced to this late stage, but who Trump knows he does not want to hire for one reason or another. Hi Alla! You can sit on the bench next to Amy, Craig, Kevin, and Sandy.[/quote]

Craig?! Are you kidding?! However, I do think Amy, Kevin and Sandy did well. I think Alla was stronger than Sandy though.[/quote]

Craig was the reason I added "or have advanced to this late stage" to that statement. He might have went to the Markus School of Getting Your Point Across, but he did win some tasks as PM and could have conceivably have won if the last tasks weren't the usual totally arbitrary flimsy excuses for Trump to hire the person he wanted to hire anyway.

As much as I think the Apprentice endgame is rigged, Alla did not do herself any favors in the board room. She tried to use a bazooka when a flyswatter would do, given her impressive record. Say what you need to say, then get out. Even Tana knew this last year, when she calmly said "...and my record is better than Alex's." That is why Rebecca is still alive: boardroom Ju-Jitsu. Alla particularly needed to calmly point out that she contributed greatly to several tasks when she was not the PM, especially in Clay's win, and always works hard no matter who is PM.

As to the control issue, if Felisha needed to have that control she should have worked behind the camera, not in front of it. The cliche "but what I really want to do is direct" is what it is for a reason. Because directing is where the power is. When Felisha decided she needed to act (and neither team could find OK actors? In NEW YORK CITY?! Next you're gonna tell me there are no Bedazzlers, either.), she needed to abdicate control to Alla. This task was not decided on acting skills.

EDIT: Could it be possible that Rebecca's facial expression when seeing her boyfriend was an "Oh my God, this isn't my boyfriend. This is the guy I had a fling with that my boyfriend doesn't know about!" expression?

canuck31003

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:28 am

My random thoughts:

I loved how Trump told Alla to sit back down in the boardroom :o)

Trump talking to someone who I sincerely hope is his wife in the limo--cringe worthy in the extreme, IMO.

I'm glad Rebecca has at least one win. My two favourite candidates are in the final two... yay!

kinestx

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:46 am

This was a satisfying firing. I enjoyed watching Alla, and have no problem with a former stripper running one of Trumps's comanies, or any company really, but it was great to see her smacked down like that.

I think Felisha deserved to be fired just for having such a poor ability to read people. Alla is a ruthless core wrapped in cold-hearted flesh. The only way she could be warm on the outside is if she was wearing a coat made from the fur of 101 dalmations.

I agree with everyone that said they both deserved to be fired for wearing pirate costumes to the presentation with the MS execs. Horrid!

Lastly, did anyone else get the feeling when Trump said the key to be content was to have a good family, he meant that if your family sucked you needed to trade them in and get a new one?

Randall, a word of advice - let Rebecca win. You are far too good for The Hair.

iarockstar

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:46 am

If they hire both it will just demean everything Randall has done in this game and that would be beyond wrong to do to a cool mofo like him.[/quote]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Randall lover myself, but it's totally because of his personality. He hasn't really done anything terrific. He hasn't cut any deals that landed his team exclusive rights to things or came up with anything that's overly creative. What I like about him is his personality and character. He has probably carried himself (or else the editors edited him) better than any previous cast member and he has great leadership skills, but he hasn't done anything groundbreaking. Randall is definitely level headed, polite, and would be an excellent fit for Trump.

kwantasy

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:46 am

Alla deserved to get fired, even putting aside her merciless personality. Even if she didn't exactly direct the editing, she was still responsible for all that text, which was the most glaring mistake in their video. And as for it looking like a PowerPoint presentation, well, I sort of agree - it looked like a PP presentation, but a particularly bad one. In school I went through several lectures on how to create PP slides and nearly all of them pointed out not to have so much text. Certainly not if it's going to be shown for all of two seconds, and certainly not with such a small font. Anyway, after the Lamborghini video, I expected a lot better from Alla.

And while I think Felisha was too wishy-washy about taking control or not taking control, well, so was Alla, ironically. She was supposed to be the shoot director, but she let Felicia interfere with that. The whole time, I was thinking, I understand Felicia is PM and that this is a collaborative, but she specifically picked you for your video skills - stop wasting time with all of the polite passive-aggressive deferrence! If she wasn't going to give up control, which obviously wasn't going to happen, she should've pulled Felisha aside and told her that it was she who was directing. What happened to her great confrontation/people-management skills (i.e. with Clay)? Carolyn was right, in the end, no one was the director. They wasted far too much time politely bickering and not-so-politely complaining to the camera.

I was really hoping Felisha wasn't going to get fired after Alla's latent evil was awakened, but even if she hadn't cried, I still don't think she would've gone through. She had a much MUCH better Boardroom this time around, but she was not going to talk her way out of the fact that she couldn't lead. Again, she and Alla spent all episode basically bickering. That, and the fact that her planning sucked - otherwise, they wouldn't have ended up with, what, two whole minutes of extra footage?

I liked, "Sit down, Alla" but that gleeful, Pillsbury doughboy laugh from Randall was priceless. And I'm also glad that Rebecca got a PM win and is in the final 2. I was thinking that the big surprise is not necessarily that they'll both be the Apprentice, but that Trump will pick one Apprentice and then hire the other person to work just under the Apprentice. Maybe?

nanasez

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:48 am

It's not that Excel's video was so great, but Capital Edge's was bad. Technically it looked nice and sounded nice but it was way too wordy. People like images, not a lot of text. Plus the text went by so fast you couldnt read it. Plus you could tell by the look on the executives faces they weren't impressed.[/quote]
ITA. In fact, I thought that the non-talking video parts of Felicia were better than the poorly acted scenes Randall did (sorry, R - I love you but you're never getting your SAG card). I liked that I didn't have to uncomfortably watch a poorly acted commercial. But the text, the rapid fire movement, the choppiness, not being able to read things because there was too much and went by too fast - that killed them.

Batrochides

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:49 am

Farewell, Alla and Felisha. Trump saved his BS firings for the very end.

And with that, I bid TA4 farewell.

Unlike last season's Tana fiasco, it won't even be entertaining to watch Rebecca's monumentally overrated abilities take a hit in the final task, and I can't countenance the idea of a possible tie (in the event of some inadvertent disaster affecting Randal's task).

Congratulations, Randal.

gryphon

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:50 am

I'm thinking the prediction of the double hiring will be the giant "surprise" next week, however, I would truly love it if they would bring back former team members from past seasons to work with R & R. Can anyone see Danny and Markus getting along?

tres francaise

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:54 am

Wonder how things would have turned out if Alla had been PM instead of Felisha...what happened to those two? They'd worked together so well in the past.

Rebecca? Send Randal a yooge bouquet - baby, he saved you tonight. And I still think you're just as cold as Alla, just younger, prettier, & smarter, 'cause you keep your thoughts to yourself.

Matinee

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:57 am

Trump is staying to his words of wisdom to TA2's Ivana Tinkle – "You stripped, I'm not hiring a stripper." It was ludicrous that a former adult entertainer once implicated in the murder of two lesbians was even up for consideration to be Trump's professional food-taster.[/quote]

Ok, so people dislike Alla, but I think it's a little much to imply that she is at fault for what a man obsessed with her did. It's not as if she was involved beyond maintaining a worker-client relationship.

She did hurt herself in the boardroom tonight. Why is it that people on this show can't learn to read the room and shut-up when others are obviously going down is beyond me

FutonPotato

Dec 2, 2005 @ 12:57 am

I saw it more as her "Al Haig" moment (dating myself); "I'm in charge here."[/quote]
Isn't it "I am in control?" I reference that moment from time to time since it was so damn funny. (That and my most recent job happened to overlook the site where Pres. Reagan was shot, so I may have that bit of history more on the brain than most people.)

Re crying in the boardroom: I was hoping she wouldn't do it, but count me in with the others who've said that they react to anger or frustration by crying. I wish that in our culture we didn't equate crying with weakness, which I think is ridiculous and often quite the opposite. We basically insist that everyone turn off their emotions at work. I don't want to see everyone balling at their desks, but if it happens in a tense situation, then roll with it. Even Carolyn, a tough-as-nails broad, saw the crying as a reaction to a bad situation.

dllnw

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:00 am

OMG... I didn't see that coming. i thought Alla and Randal would be F2. Well, Randal is going to win.

Knots Landing

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:16 am

This was definitely the most shocking firing of the entire season! Even after Trump told Alla to sit down I had no idea she was being fired! That boardroom was intense! I think the editors did a great job building to it as well. We had Felisha talking about how kind Alla is then cut to Alla talking like she's going to rip Felisha's tits off--and she did!

For a long time I liked Alla, but last week she rubbed me the wrong way. I hated that Trump let her go up to the suite when she'd done such a shitty job. Glad she got called on some of her mistakes FINALLY! As for Felisha, she's shit and has been extremely annoying to watch. She firing her damn self this week!

Randal and Rebecca are a dynamite team. I LOVE watching these two together. They just look good together and I'd LOVE for the big surprise to be that Trump hires them both. I know Rebecca is unpopular here, but I've liked her from the beginning and still do.

I thought their presentation was very direct and to the point. I knew exactly what they were selling and it was easy to sit through. The other team confused the hell out of me. I completely forget everything I'd learned from Excel's presentation and had even forgotten what they were selling.

My only problem with this episode and season as a whole is the lack of George. He's great, especially during these tense boardrooms and I miss him. :( He's definitely making me hate Bill...

Jaded Cat

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:15 am

Sorry, Felisha, business is a tough world, your're a softie. You needed an iron foot to keep Alla down, not a high heel. You also needed to pay attention in the suite when you were talking to Alla, her hair was a fabulous veil, keeping you from seeing her face. Your demise was probably written all over it.

Bye, Alla! Don't let the door hitcha where the good Lord split ya! You're a mean one, Mrs. Grinch. Best you run your own companies and never again consider working for anyone else. Even with her record, I thought it was obvious DT didn't really like her.

Rebecca... what can I say, here you are. While not spectacular, you held your own in the boardroom. You dressed professionaly, a rarity on any season so far. You had some good ideas, were willing to admit when horses needed to be changed in mid-stream and in the last couple tasks, you shined.

I think if Rebecca is still on crutches, it's because her doctor wants it that way. How much easier would it have been for her the last few weeks if she'd had a walking cast? There isn't enough sympathy in the world to make up for having to use crutches, in my experience with them. That's the only bad thing about her she isn't responsible for.

Randal? Nothin' but love for ya, man. You've been so-so, good, great and totally awesome. You make mistakes, you take your hits for them and push forward. Your wife? Lovely and very sweet, from what we saw.

Next week will be interesting. I don't think it will be as close as some think.

This may be the best final task yet!

Bernoulli

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:15 am

I'm torn.....

"Sit Alla..."[/quote]

or

...the hug Rebecca gave to her s.o., Mullet Von Hardon.[/quote]

as to which is the funniest Apprentice moment, ever.

Best edit of the season;
Felisha, "Alla really cares about people... She's not a cold-hearted Bitch."
Cut to Alla being a total cold-hearted Bitch.

Very nice job with the edit, boys.

davidcalgary29

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:23 am

She did hurt herself in the boardroom tonight. Why is it that people on this show can't learn to read the room and shut-up when others are obviously going down is beyond me [/quote]

I think it's because she actually thought she had a fighting chance of making it to the final two, and this stratagem would certainly have worked last week, but interfered with DT's plans. Can you imagine what would have happened if Alla whupped Randal's ass in the final challenge? I can't imagine that The Donald would have hired Alla in any capacity, what with Carolyn's bare hatred (read: threat) of her.

"Alla, you are strong enough to make it in New York. You're Fired". Total, total, BS.

Still, though, I do have to admit that Alla's firing was the best moment of the season. Ha, ha!

legaleagle44

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:23 am

When Felisha came back to the suite and she and Alla hugged each other and wouldn't let go, was I the only person who said, "All right, you two--get a room, already!"?

And "Sit, Alla"? Perfect. Alla, like so many before her, just doesn't know when to quit, even though it's already repeatedly been pointed out to her that she's ahead.

I can't wait for Jacob's recap; I wonder if he'll set a new record for doing it the way he did the last one. Ah, so much to snark on, so little time... .

Finally, I also loved Randal's cute case of the giggles when he was talking about seeing his wife--I swear, he was almost blushing! I don't know whether he and Zahara have any kids, but he'd be a really cool dad to them, don't you think?

Hoola

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:37 am

Yep, I did. What was weird is how long she kept looking at said boyfriend as if she didn't know him...[/quote]

It is still driving me crazy that Rebecca looked at her BF like she had no idea who he was.....what was with that?[/quote]

I went back and watched it and either she really did not want to see him or she didn't recognize him. It was strange. She's more fembot-y than Jenn M. ever was. I don't think she got the chip for hu-man emotions yet.

Trump talking to Melania about dinner almost made me lose mine.

I heart Randall and I think he deserves to win over Rebecca but how funny would it be if Rebecca just totally puts it together and makes it impossible (even in the incredibly bizzarre Trump world) for Donald to pick the more politically correct candidate? [/quote]

Why is he the politically correct candidate? He has the best record, carried Crutches to her sole victory and is a very accomplished person outside of the show.

SmedIndy

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:37 am

Dear Boyfriend,

Glad you could make it on the boat. Now, can you please take your sweaty palms off of me? Thanks.

Rebecca

PS - Alexis sends her regards.

2ys4me

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:42 am

Besides writing I agree over and over, suffice it say, I've toasted this thread, all 13 pages. Hopefully, you will still be able to read my typing.

Yes, Randal is the man, one other reason: his simple statement to calm a freaked Rebecca down after Carolyn asked how much time did the video take to produce?

"Just let it fly off your shoulder" or something like that, so peaceful, and authoratative.

He should NOT have to share the prize.

The point raised above is interesting, the possiblity of both being hired, but Rebecca working for Randal...that would be a new twist.

I confess. I heart me some Donald tonight with "Sit Down"

P.S. Alexis sends her best

atlantis81

Dec 2, 2005 @ 1:44 am

Randall is definitely level headed, polite, and would be an excellent fit for Trump.[/quote]

Ummm.... call me crazy, but isn't that exactly why Randal isn't a good fit for Trump? Or are we saying that he's the perfect counter-part?

Just saying.

I loved the double firing. Alla did not do a good job on this task, and while she did deserve to stay based on past experience, if Trump didn't want to hire her for whatever reason, then he should fire her. I never saw the point of the interviews anyway -- him asking other CEOs who he should hire for HIS company. Bah.

Word to the "sit, Alla" -- Awesome (and I'm actually a big Alla fan). Alla was just cruel during her interviews.

I'm pretty happy about the Randal/ Rebecca finale. There's a clear underdog here, but still a likeable winner. I know some people think Rebecca is overrated, but I just think she wasn't given the best or most complete of edits. I am sure she has done more than we've seen. Her first loss was by, what, 6.98 to 7.01? And that was on a task where she was against Randal and it was something that Randal had tons of experience with. The second task she PMed was a music task, totally subjective, and totally unrelated to anything an Apprentice would be doing. There's a good argument that Randal is just too qualified to be an Apprentice... I'm thinking that Trump could hire Randal to run one of his companies, and Rebecca to be his Apprentice. And, you know, I'd be OK with that.

Dear Boyfriend,

Glad you could make it on the boat. Now, can you please take your sweaty palms off of me? Thanks.

Rebecca

PS - Alexis sends her regards.[/quote]

Hehe.

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