Reality TV

In last week’s power rankings I predicted that Piers and Carol would be in the final two.  I don’t say this terribly often, but I’m glad I was proven wrong. 

This week’s show picked up where the last one left off, namely with the final four facing Trump in the boardroom with that deer in the headlights look in their eyes.  It turns out that Jim Cramer from Money Talks and Erin Burnett (any relation to Mark?) from MSNBC would be interviewing the four of them.  After the interview, 2 would be fired and the others will move on to the final task.

The interviewers revealed to Trump what America already knew-Piers gets the job done but doesn’t play well with others.  Trace and Carol are just wonderful.  Lennox is an intelligent guy but a little too laid back for this environment.  Jim and Erin tell Trump that if it was up to them, Carol and Trace would be in the final two.  Trump felt otherwise, and went for ratings ahead of merit.  He fired Lennox and Carol, and it’s now down to Piers and Trace.

Carol has a case for being in the final two, but quite frankly I don’t care.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-a good show needs a good villain.  Just look at this year’s Super Bowl.  The “evil” New England Patriots lost to the “good” New York Giants.  Even my wife had some interest in the game, which is like me having interest in an Oprah marathon.  Would that have been the highest rated Super Bowl ever had the San Diego Chargers played instead of the “evil” Patriots?  I think not.  Trump is a businessman, and knows that Piers=ratings.   

We hadn’t heard the last from Lennox and Carol, however.  Those two, along with Marilu and Stephen, returned to help Piers and Trace with their final task.  Trace won the toss and picked first, taking….Lennox?  Okay, he has star power, but what about the woman he narrowly beat to get into the final two?  Piers is up next and takes….Stephen?  Those two get along like Trump and Rosie, and Carol is still there.  Trace is up again and he takes…Marilu?  She’s talented, and gets along with Trace, but I’m still surprised that the woman who perhaps should be in the final two was the last one picked.    

The rest of the show concentrated on the two teams running their task, which was to host a huge charity auction.  They would be judged on three parts-money raised through tickets and the auction, entertainment and the décor.  Trace assumed that Piers would win the money department (a wise move, given that scene with Piers talking with Sarah Ferguson-is there a famous Brit he doesn’t know?) and he would concentrate on beating him on entertainment and décor. 

The show is “to be continued”, but I do have to mention one scene in which Lennox became a favourite of every man who has ever gone shopping with his wife.  He and Marilu went out to finalize the décor.  While Marilu fussed and agonized over every detail, Lennox would just yell “DONE!” once the decision was made to get Marilu to move on with the other 2 million things they had to do that day.  I LOVED that segment, but I’m afraid to try it on my wife, as I’m not the ex-heavyweight champion of the world.  I’d be kissing the floor at Macy’s inside of 10 seconds. 

So sadly we’re down to the final show.  Will good triumph over evil?  Will the city boy beat the country cowboy?  Tune in later in the week for the last preview and my (probably incorrect) prediction on who will become The Celebrity Apprentice!  Enjoy!