# "Apprentice" finale -- 12/15/05 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721 "2005-12-15T14:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/1 "2005-12-15T14:57:53Z")
Tonight’s the night (gonna be all right…) I’m psyched. For my money, this has been the best season since the first, and I’m totally okay with either of these people winning. (Though of course I _like_ Randal better – you’ve got to prefer someone who gets all goopy about the opportunity to hold hands with his wife for a couple of hours.) So – was the Party City thing a red herring, or the beginning of the end for Randal? I’m guessing it’s editing misdirection – but we’ll find out tonight. (And, BTW, since **Johnny L.A.** ain’t an “Apprentice” fan 😛 – no need to box spoilers for tonight’s running commentary. Someone will note **Spoilers Ahead** when the show begins on the East Coast, but we’ll stick with tradition and post openly.) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/2 "2005-12-15T15:10:35Z")
I hope Robin wins. Rowrr ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/3 "2005-12-15T15:50:57Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I hope Robin wins. Rowrr I’m having a Raj flashback. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/4 "2005-12-15T16:02:15Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Tonight’s the night (gonna be all right…) > > I’m psyched. For my money, this has been the best season since the first Agreed… the unpredictable multiple firings, and Donald shooting off with comments like “some prefer chicken, some prefer steak” have made for good viewing! ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/5 "2005-12-15T18:12:34Z")
On the face of things it sure looked like Rebecca had the advantage at the end of last weeks show. But as **twickster** said, it’s could well be editing misdirection. I’m pulling for Randal, however. There is some speculation that Trump might hire them both. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/6 "2005-12-15T18:39:44Z")
I love RTV situations like this because they’re so rare. You see, I will be happy with either outcome. So I intened to enjoy tonight’s show. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/7 "2005-12-15T19:04:14Z")
Trump’s candidates make Martha’s look like kindergartners. Dawna and Bethenny are also doing charity events for their final tasks, and the editing makes them both look lost and incompetent, especially Bethenny. Martha’s gonna have to do some good acting, to make it look like she’ll be happy with one of them. I’m rooting for Randal too, but Rebecca looks like the better choice, so far. Can hardly wait!! ---
**Author:** ![BigDummy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BigDummy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDummy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/8 "2005-12-15T19:22:06Z")
Wait, you mean Jim got fired? NOOOOOOOO!!! 🙂 I know they give misleading edits during the regular tasks, but has there ever been a misleading edit during the final ones? My impression is that the person with the better edit, however marginally, has won each time. But is that correct? If so, things look pretty bad for Randel. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/9 "2005-12-15T19:37:35Z")
> [@BigDummy](#): > > Wait, you mean Jim got fired? NOOOOOOOO!!! > 🙂 Yeah – I gave up on “A:MS” a couple of weeks ago – in what way did he finally go too far? ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/10 "2005-12-15T19:41:04Z")
> [@BigDummy](#): > > Wait, you mean Jim got fired? NOOOOOOOO!!! > 🙂 Nope, but he may have received a nice letter on pastel stationary politely stating that he simlply and regretably did not fit in. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/11 "2005-12-15T19:45:50Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Yeah – I gave up on “A:MS” a couple of weeks ago – in what way did he finally go too far? Nothing specific. He was basically weeded out during the interview process for being a loose cannon. That, and for stating that he was treating this whole shebang as a “game.” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/12 "2005-12-15T20:02:18Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Nothing specific. He was basically weeded out during the interview process for being a loose cannon. That, and for stating that he was treating this whole shebang as a “game.” Damn. I would’ve liked to see him go out with a bang. (Loose cannon, bang – god, I slay me.) Like reciting feeeelthy French limericks to Alex or something. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/13 "2005-12-15T20:18:12Z")
Randal’s who I’m pulling for but I also think we might see a double hiring here with one of them getting preference over what they want to run. But I’m in the same house as everyone else where I’ll be happy no matter the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/14 "2005-12-15T21:22:15Z")
I think Jim’s interview with the Senior Vice-President did him in, combined with the dinner he’d previously had with the President/CEO. He (the latter) said that Jim described himself as “a sappling in need of nurture” and framed his relations with people in terms of “truth and beauty”, while she (the former) said that his strategic gameplay was not only ill-conceived but disturbing on a psychological level. The CCO (Chief Creative Officer) summed it all up for me. “People like that,” she said, “consume an incredible amount of time”. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/15 "2005-12-15T21:24:07Z")
Sorry, I got the Senior Veep (man) and CEO/Pres reversed (woman). ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/16 "2005-12-15T21:36:04Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Nothing specific. He was basically weeded out during the interview process for being a loose cannon. That, and for stating that he was treating this whole shebang as a “game.” Really? That’s kind of silly. The whole shebang _is_ a game. The rules are different than they would be in real life. Of course, one of the “rules” is “don’t let us catch you acting like you think this whole shebang is a game, even if it really is necessary to approach it as a game” so I suppose it’s a fair cop. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/17 "2005-12-15T22:44:00Z")
I still believe that both Randal and Rebecca will get hired. I also believe that the less-than-perfect Randal we were shown last week was mostly editing misdirection – the producers are smart enough to want there to be at least a _bit_ of suspense. The edit he gets this time will be the dead giveaway – if he starts off strong, with the skies clearing and the Outback guy happy, that will pretty much feel like vindication to me. I was sorry to see Jim go on A:MS. He was a one-man freak show, but a _fun_ freak show. The good news is, of course, that we see him “working” for Bethenny on her final task. So he’s still not gone from our screens. Which is good, because if he was, I’d turn off the show immediately; he’s the only entertaining thing on the stupid show. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/18 "2005-12-15T23:27:54Z")
> [@zut](#): > > Really? That’s kind of silly. The whole shebang _is_ a game. The rules are different than they would be in real life. Not entirely. For example, you can “win” each challenge, yet act like a complete jackass in the process. Such behavior would not endear you to Martha Stewart Omnimedia. Yes, it’s a game, but it’s also an extended job interview. Jim was playing the game at the expense of the image he projected. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/19 "2005-12-16T02:02:57Z")
Live from Lincoln Center! Spoilers ahead! The show just started on the East Coast. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721/20 "2005-12-16T02:24:37Z")
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ… Just kidding. I’m a watcher by force. The Bus Wife will NOT miss this show. So since I’m stuck watching, I thought I might as well hang out here and see what you all think. Me? I’m the Donald, I’m, just hiring the best looking chick. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apprentice-finale-12-15-05/335721.md?page=2)