Celebrity Apprentice is back for another week, fresh after the firings of Jamie and Terrell. We are now down to 11 of the original 16 celebrity contestants. They’re dropping like flies!
The first hour begins with the introduction of the next task: utilizing a mobile boutique to create a marketing event to promote Ivanka Trump’s line of shoes, sold at Nordstrom. Sig, who hasn’t made a peep all season, remarks that all of the tasks so far have been so feminine in nature that he has trouble finding his penis in the morning. Also, the late great Joan Rivers shows up as advisor for this task. This will mark her final appearance on TV as this was one of the last things she filmed before her untimely death last year. *tear*
The project managers are chosen for this task. For Team Vortex, Vivica steps up once again to fill the role as Shawn cowers and makes excuses as to why she won’t volunteer. On Team Infinity, Kenya takes the responsibility. This should make for an interesting hour!
Both teams immediately set to work on their strategy and how they will execute it. Kenya immediately says that she wants to replicate the Nordstrom experience, complete with baby grand piano and chandeliers. Meanwhile, over on Team Vortex, Geraldo is voicing his ideas to the group (long-winded and egotistical as ever). Shawn, although she didn’t want the role of PM, gives her idea that they should pamper the customers that stop by.
The next day, Vivica and company arrive to find out that the truck they will be working with is smaller than expected, and they now have to alter their game plan. There isn’t room for everything on the truck and still fit the shoe displays, so they go with the idea of a cafe, complete with tables and chairs to be set up outside the truck. Tensions flare between Vivica and Shawn as Vivica is irritated she has had to step up as PM again and Shawn is coasting along.
Over on Team Infinity, things are going a little more smoothly. Kenya comes up with the tagline “Power Up Your Sole.” Ian sets to work photographing 100 pairs of shoes to be featured on the interactive display. Brandi and Kenya are still not getting along too great, but there isn’t that much drama to speak of.
It’s now the day of the event, and the teams are putting everything together at the last minute. Brandi is irritated with Kenya because she thinks she isn’t doing a good enough job as project manager. (I’d like to see Brandi do better!) Meanwhile, Vortex is setting up and I have to agree with Kate here: it is a little weird to have a cafe set up outside and a shoe boutique set up on the inside. The two don’t really go hand in hand.
Joan shows up to both teams and seems a little quizzical about Vortex’s concept. She seems to be a little more interested and involved with Infinity’s work. She even cracks a few jokes. Meanwhile, Ivanka herself shows up and doesn’t seem as impressed. Both teams are going to have to work a little harder to wow her!
It is now time for the boardroom as we will find out which team did the best job of impressing the hard-to-please Ivanka and which one will lose the challenge and another team member. Surprisingly, Brandi and Kenya get along well and have nothing but nice things to say about one another… no matter how forced it seemed. Vivica, on the other hand, wastes no time in throwing Kate and Shawn under the bus (and rightfully so
). Vivica is a little shaken as she has to admit to Trump that Shawn is not stepping up and pulling her fair share of the weight. Ivanka announces that the winning team is… INFINITY! Team Vortex’s concept just didn’t work well and didn’t feature the shoes prominently enough. It is now time to find out who will be the next to be fired. Vivica decides to bring Kate and Shawn back with her to the boardroom. Shawn is fired for her failure to step up and take a leadership role!
The second hour begins and the teams get their next assignment: to make a viral video promoting the Chock Full O’ Nuts single serve K-cups, using a GoPro camera. They will be judged on creativity, brand message and overall entertainment. The project managers for this task are the savvy Leeza for Team Infinity and Lorenzo for Team Vortex.
Now, the fun begins. It’s time to plan the message and the execution of the viral video. We start with Team Vortex. Geraldo, really showing his age, sings the Chock Full O’ Nuts jingle and Lorenzo decides that he wants Geraldo to sing the jingle for the video. UGHHHH. America collectively groans at the thought of Geraldo being heavily involved in yet another task.
Meanwhile, Infinity goes a different route with their project. Ian sta
rts to turn into Geraldo Jr. and tries to steamroll everyone, despite the fact that he is not director or project manager. Leeza wants to play off the tension with Kenya and Brandi and feature that in the viral video. It will turn from a catfight in front of a coffee stand into a sexed up pillowfight dream sequence featuring the Real Housewives.
The teams get to work shooting their viral videos. However, Kate is holding up Team Vortex while she is still getting primped in hair and makeup. Over on Team Infinity, they are ready to start filming but Ian keeps interrupting to try and be director, making Leeza feel somewhat belittled. She doesn’t back down, though, and tells Ian that they HAVE to finish this scene and get to the money shot before the time runs out.
The teams are almost done and are editing their final versions of the videos. Ian is still being hardheaded and combative with his teammates and is really pushing the time limits because of his Geraldo-esque ego. Meanwhile, Vortex edits their video and Lorenzo says that if they fail, he can blame no one but himself. Foreshadowing!
Overall, I liked the more risque video that was created by Leeza and Team Infinity. It had more of a viral video feel to it. However, my opinion doesn’t count. We will have to go to the boardroom to find out how it went! Leeza tells Trump that her team didn’t have any weak links, just a few shining stars. That’s just her diplomatic way of alluding to Ian’s overzealous antics. Trump asks Lorenzo if he were to be the losing PM, who should get fired. Lorenzo respectfully withholds to comment. Again, foreshadowing!
It all comes down to this: which team impressed the most and which one falls short? It turns out that the winning team
is… Team Infinity! Leeza and her team are safe from the boardroom and have to watch as Lorenzo and his team fight for their life in the competition. When Donald asks Lorenzo which two he wants to bring back to face being fired, he says he cannot do that and he takes the blame completely on himself. As a result, he is automatically fired by Trump. Some describe this as a noble move on Lorenzo’s part. I think it was a weak move and a total cop-out. He just didn’t want to ruffle any feathers or hurt feelings. As a result, he is out of the competition and his charity is the real loser here.
What are your thoughts on this week’s episode? Do you like how it turned out? Let me know in the comments below and on Twitter! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @vince1187 as I live tweet #CelebApprentice all season long! See y’all next week!
