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The Apprentice: Martha Stewart: Episode 8

by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 9th 2005 10:07PM

Because of cable problems, I only saw the last 10 minutes of last week's episode (thanks for filling in Sarah!), so I didn't see what got Primarius in so much trouble. I was horrified to see the little "previously on The Apprentice" at the start of tonight's episode. They tried to sell a handheld Tide pen with some sort of rap, with clowns juggling? Yikes.

Most of the teammates are happy with the way last week's boardroom went, and it's time for this week's challenge. 

Julia calls and tells everyone to meet Martha.

The challenge: to pick an outdoor product and sell it on QVC. They'll have 10 minutes to sell, and the team with the most revenue wins the challenge. The winning team gets a reward, and the losing team is dipped in wax and made into very special Martha Stewart Living holiday candles. Well, no. Actually the losing team has to go to the boardroom.

Dawna is now on Primarius. She misses Matchstick, but sees the amount of "energy" that Primarius has. "Energy" meaning "unprofessional." She thinks Jim is a nut, but she seems to be able to control him.

It's off to Pennsylvania!

QVC's warehouse looks like the big room at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. So many stacks, so many items. Matchstick picks a hose retractor to sell, Primarius picks an inflator (after almost killing themselves trying to assemble a hammock). But nobody has any real experience selling things on television, especially where you have to talk for 10 minutes. Matchstick is battling over who should be on the on-air personality and who should sell. Why do I think they made the wrong decision?

Meanwhile, Primarius is practicing their pitch at 2am. Howie isn't doing too well. So Dawna picks herself and Jim to do it. But she's worried: will Jim say something crazy on live television?

Leslie actually does really well for Matchstick, very energetic. Sales are great immediately. Keeping the camera off Amanda helps a lot.

Meanwhile, Jim is spanking himself just before the cameras roll. Dawna is afraid he's going to start talking about his balls. Sales aren't going that well, until Jim starts to talk about his daughter and acts like a "goofy Midwestern dad" I think one of the teammates called it. Then sales start to climb and climb.

Matchstick sells less units, but for more money. They win! They get to go on a helicopter ride around New York. Then a trip to Martha's house! The tour guide says, "Martha is one of the biggest collectors of taxidermy...she really loves animals." Um, OK.

Jim wants to go after Howie, while Dawna doesn't like working with Bethenny.

Martha thinks the product they picked was OK, but that the on-air presentation was just so-so (Jim talked over Dawna, Dawna never looked at the camera, etc). Jim calls out Howie for quitting.

Bethenny picks Jim and Howie to go into the boardroom with her. But the three of them talk in the lobby and they don't know why they didn't get on Dawna more. Bethenny plans to say it to Martha anyway, and Jim encourages her.

Martha narrows it down to Bethenny and Howie. She questions Bethenny always saying she has a lot to learn, but she also questions Howie's passion. She doesn't quite know where Howie would fit in at MSLO. So...goodbye Howie!

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Jason Simmons

I personally believe that it should be up to the audience to decide the final apprentice as that would make for greater TV ratings. Regarding, rewards given on the show, I firmly believe that Martha should simply say, "It's a good thing, but we will no longer offer rewards because this is an apprenticeship--NOT Wheel of Fortune!" Am I right, should rewards be cancelled? I mean when was the last time that you received an award for an interview process? Another possibility is to allow others to vote on the rewards. The rewards might be: (1) cooking in the kitchen with Martha, (2) crafting with Martha, or (3) gardening with Martha. The rewards should be related to Martha Stewart's career, so the apprentice can learn more about the company. The reward where Martha Stewart eats with everyone at her estate in Bedford is an excellent example of what rewards should be offered. The rewards should be more relevant to the company. Finally, the apprentice of the show should be able to get an expensive Jaguar for their car as opposed to an inexpensive one; after all, it was a grueling interview process, don't you deserve an expensive car to go with your salary?

November 11 2005 at 6:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Duane

Last night really reinforced for me how easy it is to hate Martha Stewart. "Well, when *I* was on QVC, we sold 55,000 books, which if you know anything about the book business, is just *extraordinary*..." And "I have a *beautiful* mansion that you'll get to visit..." Next season on both Apprentice shows I want to see the reward segment replaced with straight out cash. I always fast forward through those stupid things. Really, how rewarding is it to the audience to watch somebody pick out a new suit, or have dinner? Get to the boardroom and let the backstabbing begin.

November 10 2005 at 10:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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