Trump selected all but one of the candidates for TA4. Can it be any worse to have the public select one candidate for TA6? Contestants for reality shows get selected in many different ways. I just heard Jamie from Survivor interviewed and he said he never sent in an audition tape. Apparently a producer noticed him and asked him if he wanted to be on the show. Sometimes people who apply for the Amazing Race end up on Survivor and vice versa. This is just another way to select a candidate.

It's true, it's another way to select a candidate, but if Trump's ratings weren't sagging, I doubt he'd allow the public to choose who is going to be on HIS show. The only reason why he's doing this is because he hopes people will be on a post-Olympic high and tune in for Season 5, during which I'm sure we're going to be repeatedly hit on the head with weekly announcements that "[Olympian] will be on Season 6!!!!"

The thing that most sucks is that the athlete is probably going to last very far into the game even if he or she doesn't deserve it. I mean, why go all blustery to promote this if Trump's just going to cut the athlete within the first few episodes?

I bet he's disappointed that he can't get the athlete on Season 5, because of taping. No doubt that's why they already announced plans for Season 6, to try and maintain interest.

NBC paid big bucks for the Olympics so they are going to use that forum to promote as many of their programs as they can. Moving TA6 to LA is another gimmick to create interest and try to keep the show fresh. The same as the TA3 book smarts/street smarts idea. I can't fault the producers for trying different things. Look at what Survivor has done. Bringing back Steph and Bobby Jon, Exile Island, four tribes, etc. I didn't see a great deal of criticism on those changes. They're doing the same thing the Apprentice is, trying something different. A different way to select one candidate is not a major change.

moved to appropriate thread . . . keep going folks, nothing to see here . . .

Posting to bump this thread. Please use it instead of starting a bunch of pointless new threads. Thanks.

SHOCKING NEW TWISTS ROCK THE NEW SEASON OF NBC'S "APPRENTICE," WHEN 18 NEW CANDIDATES COME TO LOS ANGELES FOR THE TOUGHEST COMPETITION YET IN THE SHOW'S HISTORY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 (9:30-11 P.M. ET)

Winning Team Will Live Like Trump Each Week in Luxurious Mansion, While Losing Team Sleeps in the Back Yard in Tents

BURBANK December 6, 2006 Dramatic new twists and turns and a cross-country move to Los Angeles make NBC's new season of "The Apprentice" more compelling than ever when 18 new contestants engage in the series' fiercest competition yet on Sunday, January 7 (9:30-11 p.m. ET). "The Apprentice" will return to its regular timeslot of 9-10 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 21 following the first two special 90-minute episodes airing January 7 and January 14.

In a compelling social experiment of haves and have nots, contestants this season will have to earn the right to live like Trump. Each week, the contestants on the winning team will get to live in a luxurious mansion. But contestants on the losing team will have to sleep outside in tents in the back yard of the mansion with outdoor showers and port-a-potties, giving contestants more incentive than ever to win their tasks each week.

In another engaging new twist, the winning project manager each week will remain project manager until they lose, plus they will also sit in the boardroom and help advise Trump on who he should fire each week from their opposing team. Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. will return for several episodes, along with previous "Apprentice" winners, as boardroom advisors to their father.

The new "Apprentice" cast ranges in age from 24-37 and includes an Olympic Gold medalist, an internet entrepreneur, a construction firm owner and the vice president of business and legal affairs for a movie studio. All will have to navigate the new twists and turns while vying for the coveted title of "The Apprentice" and the career opportunity of a lifetime working for the legendary business tycoon.

They've got so many attorneys this season - it's not even funny...

I read a comment somewhere about how they're doing it on purpose to make sure the people act crazy and entitled. I hope that works out!

...Because it's so difficult to get the contestants to act that way otherwise?

Yeah, I really don't think I'll be watching this season, and the whole camping thing is giving me less reason to tune in. I just really wanted to see if this forum was still alive.

That really seems like a lot of gimmicks for 1 season, its like the whole thing is turning into the Joe Shmo Show. Obviously desperation is setting in.


It wouldn't surprise me if Trump actually thinks that people who don't own gold bidets sleep in tents.

Another reality show already did it: the forgotten "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss," which parodied the Apprentice after season 1, had the losing team sleep outside. Or eating baloney sandwiches under a viaduct. Or something similarly goofy.

It would be funny to see a bunch of lawyers trying to set up tents and fail, but maybe just for five minutes.

well you know, my first reaction is to roll my eyes and think 'well, at least they're no longer pretending to have any sort of business credibility?', my second reaction is 'actually, it's somewhat amusing in a watch-a-train-wreck kind of way', my third reaction is 'it's ridiculous and I'm too smart to watch this crap!' and my fourth is 'who am I kidding? No I'm not. I'm so not.'

OK, so I'm kind of just hoping the trials of living in 'the wild' will induce an actual fist fight. Or someone will at least threaten to sue for tort damages if a tent falls on him/her.

Wow, that's gonna be...in-tents! (groan)

Well, they're definitely trying something they couldn't do in NYC, but this is getting out of hand. I have a feeling "Apprentice" has become one of those reality series, like "The Real World" and "Survivor", where the contestants seem to get more train-wreck-ish every year, almost certainly prompted by producer stunts like these.

Imagine if they'd lived in tents all along. Think of all the fun. Assorama would have gotten stung by a bee and tried to skip a task.

"
Word. Mr. Burnett must've run out of ideas. Or other people, who are still creative, protect their ideas so well that MB is unable to steal them.
Overall, I am not really sure if there is any correlation between a camp life and business acumen.
So far, Trump's idea does not impress me. It actually smells of bad taste. But I could be wrong. We'll see...

I wonder if we're actually going to see the losers in the tents. Up until now, once a contestant lost, (s)he was never heard from again, unless they were brought back for the final task.

"
Word. Mr. Burnett must've run out of ideas. Or other people, who are still creative, protect their ideas so well that MB is unable to steal them.
Overall, I am not really sure if there is any correlation between a camp life and business acumen.
So far, Trump's idea does not impress me. It actually smells of bad taste. But I could be wrong. We'll see...

I wonder if we're actually going to see the losers in the tents. Up until now, once a contestant lost, (s)he was never heard from again, unless they were brought back for the final task.

My guess is that we will not see the fired person, but will be treated to the drama of the "sufferings" of the remaining members of the losing team.

Gimmicks galore, and no viceroys, just 3 Trumps--I'm so over this show. Trump is ever so crass, but he's himself and I kind of like how he infuriates me--I'm not tuning in to see a show that regularly features his two kids. Their vapid, slack, characterless, unlined, blank faces creep me out a bit, actually. Tents--lord help us, that completely destroys any integrity the show might have had--but to ax the viceroys and add the two kids--I'm done, done, done.

Though a bit "Survivor-ish", the winning PM getting to sit in the losing board room is an interesting concept. Wonder how many winning PMs will actually evaluate the task and how many will use it for personal attacks.

Also, barring an unlikely late winning streak, "PM until you lose" will likely lead to the first winner with a PM loss.

Mufasa, the fired apprentices dont live in the tents... it's just the losing team for the week. So, yes, we'll see lots of footage from the tents. And then, if the losing team comes back and wins, the two teams swap.

I read your capsule descriptions of the new group, Jacob. Which one is the Olympic Gold medalist?

There are so many of them it's hard to keep track! You're speaking of Angela, whose thread you might have missed in the other forum.

While I dislike all 3 new twists, I'll probably watch all episodes religiously anyway. But I have to say, when ratings slide downhill, Mark Burnett and co. really have no one to blame but themselves. And Trump, of course.

Damn! They are really preparing a nice recipe for the batshit crazy!

I say, bring it on. I am hoping for another season 3.

Hmm...I don't know why but it jsut seems like this season isn't goign tobe as good. But I hadn't heard of all these new gimmicks that they were doing. All I had seen was the romotion that they are airing, which is NOT clever at all. Don't get me wrong, I will still tune in to see what will happen!

The gimmicks are making me very twitchy. I just don't know if I can stand to watch this season. Although... watch it turn out to be as good as this season of Survivor despite a bunch of stupid gimmicks.

Jacob, are you talking about the part where they have to sleep in tents or about the part about having six attorneys?

Yes, I am.

Heh. I see.

Well, I'm willing to put up with people acting crazy and entitled as long as Trump promises to beat them down with illogical criticism and dismissive handwaving.

Just have to say this: Is it me, or does Trump seem to favor his daughter a little bit over his son? I mean, aren't they both going to be assisting him? Ivanka's plastered everyone on the site, and Don...isn't.

Have you looked at them? I don't know if Trump favors one, but the camera certainly does.

Most of the audition tapes are up on the Yahoo! Apprentice website. I've watched a few of them already, and let's just say that you all may or may not be surprised at what you see.

Also, Ivanka's doing the Apprentice blog this season. Don will take over the blog for weeks that she's not there.

And that's the harsh truth of the situation.

No George, no Carolyn and all these bizarre twists? Methinks The Apprentice might have jumped the shark!

The have vs havenots angle along with the winning PM being brought into the boardroom to assist with the losing team's review and eventual member elimination just smells of too much drama and much less of the goodness of previous seasons.

Tents? Meh. I agree with those who think the show is going all out for gimmicks now. Having said that, of course I'll tune in.