# The Apprentice -- 1/27 (Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901 "2005-01-27T12:23:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/81 "2005-01-28T19:27:22Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I just looked at her web site and discovered that this skank is selling autographed 8x10s on there. > > I think that tells you right there that she doesn’t get anywhere near the final four. > > . [This is her](http://us.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1116/Mptv/1116/7809-0004.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Starr,%20Ringo) in her other life. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/82 "2005-01-28T21:29:41Z")
I was watching Access Hollywood, and according to Brian he was fired by Trump right after he said he said he ought to be fired. But then there was an extended discussion, because a ten second boardroom is not good TV. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/83 "2005-01-28T21:41:42Z")
What a maroon! ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/84 "2005-01-28T21:45:33Z")
On MSNBC just now, Brian says he can’t work in a group atmosphere. Thinks the show will win an Emmy because of the Street Smarts v. Book Smarts team division. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/85 "2005-01-28T22:31:29Z")
C’mon guys, I think you’re being way too hard on Verna. Is she a contender? Hell no. She cracked under pressure. There were mitigating circumstances, however. First of all, it was ridiculous to be in charge of both customer service and the accounting, and by the way, how 'bout painting since you’ve got nothing else to do? The customer service aspect is primarily what will determine the yahoo ratings. It should have been either one person dedicated entirely to the task, or a committee with assigned duties to each. I’ve worked in reservations for a five star hotel chain and the little touches make a big difference (greeting guests by name, having a personalized welcome card in the room, newspaper delivered to your room, deluxe breakfast, etc). None of this cost much, but it does require organization and time. My issue with Verna isn’t really about her breaking down. I understand that the stress of being on camera, up for 48 hours and having no one relieve you at the desk the entire day could drive a person batty. The problem is, someone could have easily assisted her on arrival day but it appears she didn’t even ask. How was her team supposed to know she needed a break? Most everyone seemed truly puzzled that she walked out because she never let them know there was a problem. That was her big mistake. Comments about Net Worth: \*Obviously, Brian had some issues. No need to say anything further there. \*After the rooms are sanitized, recarpeted, etc., spend your money on the bed. I never forget a crappy night’s sleep caused by a substandard mattress at a hotel. And for gawd’s sake, remove the plastic. What the hell were they thinking?? \*Tana, honey, never refer to a guest by his first name unless he has specifically requested you do so. And I understand that given the limitations of the task and their management, there was little they could do to rectify the situation with the guest that complained about the bed, but the offering of the already complimentary breakfast was insulting. And both teams: Would it have been so difficulty to have some sort of identification (name tag, similar clothing, etc.) that would have made it clear you were staff? Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/86 "2005-01-28T22:59:02Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > And for gawd’s sake, remove the plastic. What the hell were they thinking?? Carolyn even tried to give them a few hints. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/87 "2005-01-28T23:09:21Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > Carolyn even tried to give them a few hints. No kidding! Didn’t she say it was “crunchy”? ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/88 "2005-01-28T23:30:53Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > No kidding! Didn’t she say it was “crunchy”? She did! I’m sure she’s barred from interfering, even at the risk of something horrible going down. Which leads to her great expressions during the Sandy/Jen M&Mthon, and her just…bouncing…repeatedly. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/89 "2005-01-29T00:53:36Z")
That reminds me of George asking Brian how things are going and he tells EVERYTHING! ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/90 "2005-01-29T01:39:59Z")
Didn’t the previews make it look like somebody else threatens to quit? Any guesses as to who it is? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/91 "2005-01-29T01:51:24Z")
Maybe Chris? He doesn’t come off as very stable. You guys were talking about people who get time in the edit. I never thought of that – you guys are so smart – I just figured they show us the best/worst stuff each week. So maybe the reason we saw Chris blow up in the board room this week, but not much else up to that point, is because it helps set up what happens next week. If he quit without getting any screen time, we’d be sitting here going WTF. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/92 "2005-01-29T02:04:14Z")
Brian looks like Jason Giambi. But dumber. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/93 "2005-01-29T02:42:04Z")
Did the subsequent footage give any indication who was missing? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/94 "2005-01-29T02:47:41Z")
> [@kka](#): > > Didn’t the previews make it look like somebody else threatens to quit? Any guesses as to who it is? I’m pretty sure they confirmed that somebody quits next episode, in the first 5 minutes. They said, “Don’t jump to any conclusions”, but my money is still on Verna. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/95 "2005-01-29T02:47:49Z")
> [@Mullinator](#): > > If I could throw her in a level of fetus school and keep her there I would. Maybe I need to come up with a special Lamaze level for this quitter. She needs reform school. She’s a Loser all round. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/96 "2005-01-29T14:08:04Z")
> [@Mullinator](#): > > **Middle School** - A group that might be growing up but still prone to wild swings based on playground fights, name calling, and puberty. **Audrey** (SS) (High School) – See Angie. You are much more salvageable, but until you show something positive, all we have seen is someone a bit biting. But, just a bit. > > **High School** - Not quite a child, not quite an adult. Frankly, I still don’t know what to make of these folks… > **Michael** (BS) (High School) – You were a task leader? Really? I’ll have to disagree with these assessments slightly. I think that both Audrey and Michael (but especially Audrey) displayed some people skills that make them rank higher in my book. This may not seem like much, but good people skills are often undervalued in the corporate world. In fact, the vast majority of the conflicts that we’ve seen in seasons past could have been defused with the proper application of interpersonal skills. (Note how Kelly defused his team’s tensions during the season two finale, for example.) ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/97 "2005-01-29T20:42:09Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > \*After the rooms are sanitized, recarpeted, etc., spend your money on the bed. I never forget a crappy night’s sleep caused by a substandard mattress at a hotel. And for gawd’s sake, remove the plastic. What the hell were they thinking?? Maybe they were thinking they could return the mattresses for money if they left the plastic on. After all this whole project was a one night stand. And on another topic, why do these “executives” end up doing the grunt work, like making sandwiches and manning cash registers? In the Burger King project it would seem a lot easier to use the staff that’s in place and knows how to operate the machines and make the sandwiches. They should be using whatever assets they are given, especially when they’re essentially free. They shouldn’t be trying to do it all; they should be showing their prowess at organizing, planning, staffing, marketing, and _managing_. I suppose it just makes better TV to see these people getting down and dirty. . ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/98 "2005-01-29T21:47:26Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > And on another topic, why do these “executives” end up doing the grunt work, like making sandwiches and manning cash registers? In the Burger King project it would seem a lot easier to use the staff that’s in place and knows how to operate the machines and make the sandwiches. They should be using whatever assets they are given, especially when they’re essentially free. They shouldn’t be trying to do it all; they should be showing their prowess at organizing, planning, staffing, marketing, and _managing_. Ummm, I don’t think there were any “staff” in those motels. They looked pretty derelict on the inside. I think those Apprentice Wannabes were on their own. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/99 "2005-01-29T22:05:35Z")
Executives need to be ready for grunt work. Maybe the last place I worked was unique, but I remember one time when the owners were coming from Sweden, and **everyone** was given clean-up duty. There had been a major remodel, and a main hallway was full of old office furniture, cubicle partitions, etc. No time to get the contractors in, so even the suits got their hands dirty that day, moving stuff to trailer trucks. There were other times when people worked way outside their job descriptions, and executives (or anyone) who refused to help were dealt with. Flexibility is important. Todd knows that from Week 1, and a little flexibility would have helped Brian too. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901/100 "2005-02-01T14:07:59Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > I, too, was extremely surprised that The Donald commended Verna for her ‘comeback’ rather than just going, “the hell?” I think he was just being gracious. Besides, tearing her a new one would have been bad for the show’s dramatic potential. Now, we’ll get to see how everyone treats her and how she acts in future tasks. Will she blow another gasket? Will anyone give her a task with any responsibility? Will she try to be project manager, and be shot down? Will people be outwardly nice to her, but harbor ill will? Will that facade of warmth and support crack in an explosive manner? Last season, I noted that many people were upset with Donald for not firing in order of incompetence. In other words, he doesn’t always fire the person most deserving of firing that very week. That doesn’t mean that the person in question is still in the running. I think he keeps certain people around because they’re catalysts for conflict and drama. He knows it’s a TV show. As long as he ends up with a final 2 he can live with, I don’t think he really cares whether an undeserving person stays on the show for a long time, as long as it makes good TV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apprentice-1-27-spoilers/286901.md?page=6)