Apprentice Watch – Week 7 – The one with the Andrex puppy

I watched both the Apprentice and, for the first time this series, You’re Fired last night as it was a big episode. The one where two contestants get fired.

This weeks task was a trip to Morocco to do a bit of haggling in the souk of Marrakech. The contestants couldn’t contain their glee at bagging a free foreign trip. Raef held court with his lowly subjects and informed them of how one should dress for a trip to the outer reaches of the empire. Well, that’s how he appeared to me – regal and prince like. All he needed was a cohort of man servants fanning him and throwing rose petals in front of his feet as he walked to complete the picture.

Our girl Jennifer the Ice Queen, and tough-as-nails Lee McQueen were appointed project managers. Who was on what team totally escapes me now but that’s hardly relevant.

Much was made later on in the boardroom and in the You’re Fired programme about Jennifer’s lack of planning or strategy in the task. I just don’t understand how a strategy or plan is needed to go a do some shopping and I don’t think she lost the task because of this. Maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention but I didn’t notice Lee had a huge plan either.

Off they went on their merry way to buy the items on Sir Alan’s list. I know they were doing this task against the clock and for a reality tv programme, but I don’t know how the traders managed not to throw them out of their shops. Haggling might be part of the way of life in a souk, but that doesn’t mean you go in and insult a man trying to make a living by offering him a pittance for his wares. Did they think they were dealing with poverty striken people who would be grateful for anything that came their way? Careers in the UN I cannot foresee for any of them.

Lee McQueen’s impression of an alarm clock was classic along with his dinosaur impression. He ran around like the Andrex puppy, only bigger and with more stubble. “That’s what I’m talkin’ bout – come on, yeaaaah”… He shouted at every available opportunity while punching his fists in the air or high fiving any available palm within touching distance. A man’s man if ever there was one, but Apprentice material, I think not.

Absolutely staggered at Jenny and Michael’s lack of knowledge of what kosher means. Michael obviously isn’t the good Jewish boy he claimed on his application form. Sir Alan’s suggestion that maybe he could pull down his trousers to find out was comedy gold.

In a departure from the norm, he didn’t ask the losing project manager (Jennifer) to nominate who to take back into the boardroom and it was a bit of a free for all as each tried to defend their position. Seeing Jenny Celerier squirm was worth watching and Sir Alan was genuinely annoyed by her and gave her the boot. Our Jennifer really looked beaten and I think she knew her time was up. She was like a cornered rat and tried desperately to keep her position by latching on to the fact that Michael attempted to bribe a shop assistant in Morocco. Sir Alan has a liking for candidates that remind him of himself at a certain age. In this case, Michael was very lucky to escape the chopping block and it was our Jennifer who was shown the door eventually.

So that’s it – Jenny and Jennifer gone. Watching You’re fired, poor old Jennifer barely got 5 or 6 minutes of the programme. Most of the time was spent on the Jenny interview and then they discussed Lee McQueen during Jennifer’s interview. She looked so small in her seat, I felt a bit sorry for her but I’m guessing that we’ll be hearing a lot more of Jennifer. If she’s not hosting a radio show or something by the end of this year, I’ll be very surprised.

With 7 candidates remaining it’s still hard to see who is going to win this series. My personal favourite is Lucinda but I can’t see Sir Alan hiring her. I think it will be one of the men, but I just can’t decide which one yet.