Jan 4 2008
Life on the D-ish List
An all new, special edition of 'The Apprentice' (complete with new opening) kicked off by introducing us to the 'celebrities' that will be competing for the title, but not an actual job, on 'The Celebrity Apprentice.' Money they raise or earn will go to charity. With a few exceptions, to say that the players involved are 'celebrities' is really expanding the notion of 'celebrity.' Kathy Griffin probably wouldn't even let some of these celebrities onto her 'D-list.' For instance, we had no idea who Tiffany Fallon was, until the introduction helpfully told us she was a Playboy playmate. And if you can tell us who Nely Galan is - without the benefit of looking it up on the Web - you're way ahead of the game!
She's Gonna Be Annoying Isn't She?
That was our first thought when at the first meeting with Trump at the New York Mercantile Exchange, Omarosa - she of the first season Apprentice infamy - piped up that she wanted to be Project Manager. When Trump said that it was up to her team and that they might not like her, Omarosa chirped back that she didn't care because all that mattered was if Trump liked her. We don't think she won any brownie points with her new teammates with that.
Battle of the Sexes
Trump declared that it will be men versus women and that their first assignment was to select Project Managers and to come up with a name for their team. The women went with 'Empresario,' which Nely Galan (television executive) said was another word for 'mogul' in Spanish, while the men went with Gene Simmons's (KISS member) suggestion, the mythic name, Hydra, which was a seven-headed monster that Hercules faced (and couldn't beat). It is meant to denote immortality and invincibility.
Meet Your Project Managers
Omarosa got her wish and was selected Project Manager for Empresario, while Stephen Baldwin (yes, one of the many Baldwin brothers) was named the PM for Hydra. Apparently there is some history between Stephen and Omarosa because when Trump asked Omarosa if she knew Stephen, she icily replied, 'Unfortunately, I do.' Stephen countered that he thought Omarosa was 'delightful' in a way that conveyed quite the opposite.
