Only on Celebrity Apprentice would you find a contestant posing the eternal question: “Are you shaved or are you hairy?” That was just one of many wonderfully curious moments in an episode that also included lots of grunting, Donald Trump’s newfound bandanna obsession, and the rarest of all things: an actual Sharon Osbourne sighting! My full recap will be up at 2am, but if you’ve already watched the episode and can’t wait to sound off, then keep reading after the jump for more. [SPOILER ALERT: Do not read on unless you have already watched Sunday's episode of Celebrity Apprentice.]
The teams were tasked with taking a rising county music star, creating a press kit for them while also giving then a makeover and media training. The women (mostly Cyndi and Maria) clashed, while on the men’s side, Goldberg tried to frighten their country singer into smiling by yelling in his face. Unsurprisingly, the men lost and Goldberg was fired, although guest Trace Adkins was a total badass in the Boardroom while subbing in for Ivanka. He twice dissed Trump’s sudden bandana fixation, and then, in perhaps a Boardroom first, had the cojones to tell the Trumpster that he didn’t agree with his decision to fire Goldberg. (You will be shocked to learn that Don Jr. completely agreed with his dad’s decision.)
With Goldberg gone, that means only two men are left: Bret Michaels and the hair-care product obsessed chef whatshisface. No doubt that means that The Donald will mix up the teams next week. My full recap will be up at 2 a.m. (UPDATE: Click over now to read Dalton Ross’ detailed Celebrity Apprentice recap), but you don’t have to wait until then to join the fun. Post your thoughts now! Should Trump have fired Goldberg or Bret? Are you on Team Cyndi or Team Maria? And were either of those country singers actually any good? Hit the message boards and let us know. And for more Celebrity Apprentice news and views, follow me on Twitter @EWDaltonRoss.
Image credit: Al Goldstein/NBC
Despite how much I enjoyed Trace from the first CA season, I disagree with him and I definitely think Trump made the right decision in firing Goldberg. That being said, I’ve been watching this show so long that it’s sort of a given for people to just nod and kiss Trump’s butt when he asks if he made the right decision at the end of every episode. When Trace disagreed with him, it looked like somebody slapped Trump in the face. (I actually felt like I got slapped a little because it jolted me awake.) Trace DOES get total bada$$ points for grumpily saying, “Enough with the bandana.”
It was a good, not great episode. I can see where the men won on the press kit, and the women on the makeover, but the whole “breakout potential” criteria for the challenge seemed nebulous at best. Not really sure how they came up with a winner for that one.
My sneakily favorite moment: Sharon’s “I’ll cut a b!tch” face when Trace made a joke about working with a difficult man, right before he revealed he was talking about Piers Morgan and not Ozzy.
I absolutely agree, I think Trump made the right decision. He was the project manager and should not have delegated so much to one person in the first place. He also shouldn’t have been project manager here. But, I agree, Trace was badass. I always liked him from his season! I am definitely on Team Cyndi here! And, glad to see that Sharon and Brett will be on the same team per the highlights for next week. As for the singers, I thought they were both good. I am not a huge country fan though so would probably not buy their albums either way.
Yeah, maybe it’s just me, but I think Rocksolid are getting the two best players from Tenacity next week. (Assuming Sharon is healthy enough to actually compete the entire time.)
Ceballos, I’m with Trace on this one. I think he should have fired Bret. I think it WAS a mistake for Goldberg to volunteer for PM on this challenge BUT I understand why he did – and I would have too.
Bret enthusiastically accepted his delegated duties, and failed. I happen to think the person who most contributes to the team’s failure should get the boot. The “makeover” was laughable (couldn’t they have changed his hair or something??) and the singer’s interview was TERRIBLE.
I’m all for firing a PM that fails – but in this case, I didn’t see Goldberg effing up the challenge, I saw his team letting him down.
Oh, and sidenote, I thought the montage of shots of men crying in the audience while Emily West sang was Heee-larious!
Ambient-
You bring up some interesting points. Rocksolid lost and Bret accepted most of the responsibility for the task.
If you believe the premise that this was a closely-contested task (I don’t think anyone would say it was a blowout) then it comes down to this: do you fire the person who contributed the most in a team’s failure (even though they may have come close to winning) or do you fire the person who contributed nothing? I also happen to think Goldberg did the right thing by delegating to Bret, but surely he could’ve found a more effective way to contribute than snarling and yelling “SMILE” like a maniac. I actually didn’t think Rocksolid did that badly given that they had the more challenging country music singer and that he bombed the interview by doing everything Bret told him NOT to do.
From where is was sitting, it didn’t look close AT ALL. I thought Rocksolid’s photos/kit were awful and the interview was even worse. Despite everyone raving, I failed to see anything positive about the men’s “makeover”. Of course, you’re right, they did have a more challenging makeover. But ill-fitting neck chain + huge collar does NOT a makeover, make. heh
Totally psyched for next week. Rocksolid will have serious powerhouse potential!
See, I thought the men’s press kit had completely dominated the women’s because Sharon had said the men did a much better job on it and Trump looked like he was going to be physically ill looking at Tenacity’s un-retouched photos. (Then again, Sharon and The Donald’s votes don’t really matter.) I guess I was under the impression that it was closer than it was.
I also don’t understand why Trump would so thoroughly weaken Tenacity by taking away two (of their best) players and leaving them down 4-3. (Not that I’m complaining because I think Sharon and Maria are their two strongest players.)
I think you’re in the majority in supporting the men’s efforts – even the women oohed and ahhed about it! And if indeed it was that close, then we couldn’t argue about whether Bret did a good job, and he would have deserved to stay. Maybe I just didn’t see what everyone else saw.
I agree about Tenacity. Perhaps he doesn’t see them as being weaker??
I wish I could remember who I’d slated for the final 4 – I know I had Sharon, Curtis, and Holly…now who was that 4th? Bret maybe? Right now I’d go with him OR Maria.
I really find Apprentice entertaining and don’t take it that SERIOUSLY.
It is fun to watch. I have watched ever since Bill Rancic was crowned. But to see Joan Rivers crowned last year. Yuck.
This season is less timid. Some to like but not dislike. Even the Governor is fun to watch.
Sharon Osbourne got free passes already. Chances are she could take the Joan Rivers route and stay away from the board room. If she win, it is predictable.
I will miss Goldberg, but Apprentice no longer surprise me.
Also, I think Trace kinda made Trump Jr. look like a chump when he stood up and removed his hat when the women came into the boardroom while Trump Jr. stayed planted in his seat.
Ha, yes he did! Team Trace 4 Evah!
if there is one person that needs to be fired from the Apprentice, it is Don Jr.
I mean all he knows is FREE RIDE.
Stand up like a man and not parrots your father.
Trace Adkins made him look like a chump. Adkins didn’t back down from Trump when he stated Bret should have been fired. Bret is his friend, but logically he failed in his own element – music.
But back to Don Jr.
He has nothing to contribute at all to the show. At least Ivanka has both brains and beauty. What does Don Jr provide?
Who gives a crap? This is a totally junk show.
if it’s a crap show then why do you even bother commenting you idiot?
Obviously you Hiro.
You can still enjoy and think of it like wrestling or American Idol. Sure it is scripted. But people get hurt for real in wrestling. While in American Idol, the producers decide who win or lose. (Anoop Desai won!)
So Apprentice is basiclly scripted. Remember when Joan Rivers quit in the middle of last season. But Donald gave her an offer she can’t refuse ~ to win it all despite doing nothing. Brandy won more.
So relax and enjoy the show. Apprentice is scripted drama.
If the women had lost on the kit, Cyndi should have been fired. She managed to remove the “touch-up” a pro makup artist did then did’t get it done in post. Not enough photos and the wrong croping etc in the kit was terrible.
Cyndi, darling yes the 20 year olds look better than your .. but hirest digital is very unforgiving.
BTW.. What Cyndia did good was interact with thier artist in the photoshoot. The guy’s photographer was at best a competent lighting and cropping technician, he in no way had a clue about shooting a sincere portrait which is about interacting. At least Goldberg got Gomer Sleepy to smile a few times.
Back to make up!!
Me and my wife are going.. Yes she looks like the picture Cyndi. Which I think was all wrong for her..
Cyndi my produce etc. But she should have delegated more of the detail work.
Given that SAD Funeral Dress they put that singer out to sing in, I think it may have come down to the interview which was all Maria and a coachable artist vs Gormer Tired… who is going to work against his own success.
Golberg was the right choice.. for the reason Trump said. You don’t get money for your charity by losing. oddly now twice Brett has been Ghost Manager and they lost not because of his work.
Your post was largely unintelligible. Did you read it over before posting? Was this some kind of short hand only you could decipher?
Thank you AD.
well the guy singer won an ACM tonight so i guess he’s ok… i also thought that wayyy too much time was wasted talking about bandanas/press kits before trump announced the winner and everyone pretending to laugh with trump (though maybe that was actually kinda smart of them.) LOVED trace disagreeing with trump… the look on trumps face when he did that was PRICELESS!
Team Maria all the way! Cyndi is just plain crazy! But the guys should have won this task! Also, I liked Emily West before they made her all “professional” she was all bubbly and jumpy and outgoing and funny. I loved her facial expressions, but then Tenacity beat that out of her!
The face she made when she first met Cyndi annoyed the crap out of me!!
Maria is acting like a spoiled 12 year old. She needs to grow up and learn how to interact in a work environment.
There was nothing in Cyndi’s behavior tonight that was remotely “crazy”. Other than the fact that she managed to not smack Maria in the head. That must have taken some crazy strength.
We’re seeing now why the WWE fired her. They found out how she acted on the show and didn’t want their brand associated with her. Smart move on their part.
I thought Cyndi or Maria should have been fired since they did the worst jobs of anyone there. Cyndi’s a horrible manager and Maria got too passive-aggressive. It’s a bit unfair that the guys did a much better job but lost basically because of a guy who was so uncomfortable with making any changes.
I kind of agree with you. I came into this episode liking Cyndi AND Maria, but now I have a slight distaste for both.
This is basically Cyndi’s second straight flop as a project manager (she just happened to win this time) and you’re 100% right that Maria, while a strong player, was WAY too passive aggressive. I like that she wanted to be involved, but, as Trace said, you gotta just let Cyndi take a task like this one and absolutely run with it. (And if they would’ve lost, you would’ve given Cyndi enough rope to hang herself.) Then again, Cyndi is worth keeping around for moments like her confusion when Maria brought up the whole “are you shaved or hairy” thing.
News flash – Cyndi WON. They don’t fire someone from the winning team.
News flash – I actually mentioned in my comment that Cyndi’s team won. I was talking about what might’ve happened IF they had lost.
Also, just because a project manager happens to win a task doesn’t mean that they did a good job. (Summer Sanders was AWFUL the week she won.)
If you won, you are, by definition, not a “flop.”
“If you won, you are, by definition, not a “flop.””
Agree to disagree.
You know how someone can say a word so many times it doesn’t sound like a word anymore? That was Trump repeating “bandana” over and over.
I thought the guy singer (Luke? I don’t even remember his name) was such a tool. He seemed really difficult to work with, and he was horrible in his People interview. I am glad the women won, because if they lost, I bet Maria would have been fired even though Cyndi deserved it. Trump is hilarious!!
Amen etm, couldn’t have said it better myself. He seemed like a first-class, a-number one jerk. ( And he would have looked absolutely ridiculous in a bandana!)
Team Cyndi all the way! The other women have been downright cruel to her! I was glad to see her push back this week!! GO CYNDI!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AGREE 100%! I can’t believe how unprofessional the women were to Cyndi!! Just plain rude! And c’mon, Cyndi would have done a fine job if the other women would’ve stopped bitching and let Cyndi dictate how to get everything done. Maria and Holly are ridiculously unprofessional whiny washed out has-beens. Cyndi was right to fight back. Keep standing up for yourself Cyndi! Kick ass!
Go Team Cyndi! I was horrified to see next week she is now stuck on a team with beyotches Hollie and Summer. ugggh.
My Celebrity Apprentice prayers have been answered. Curtis Stone took his shirt off.
And we learn he could use a man bra.
…a MANsiere!
The ‘Bro’!
Well, Cyndi made the decision to go for Emily West in this task and that was basically the winning decision. The other women weren’t too sure in that. The men made a big mistake in just taking whoever and that reflects on the Project Manager. Cyndi gave the girl some sophistication. If it was up to Maria and Trump she would of been made up like a slut. Cyndi had the vision and executed. Goldberg vision was? Well, he didn’t have one.
Goldberg’s vision was VERY clear: SMILE!!!
Team Maria, 100%
They made Emily West look like Joan Rivers!
psssst… Maria was the one who gave her the Joan Rivers makeup.
Yup, Cyndi tried to take it off and let her natural beauty show. Holly wanted her picture touched up like some Playboy bunny.
That was just an observation…I didn’t mean in the sense that whoever did it should be fired lol.
But I will say this. Before tonight, Cyndi would refuse to give an opinion on who should be fired. She would hem and haw. But tonight she was quick to say that Maria was the worst and should be fired. But what the hell did Sharon or Summer do?
Cyndi likes to pretend that she’s nice and cares, but I don’t buy that act.
Well I’m not one for pancake make-up, natural is beautiful – BUT, a photo shoot is a TOTALLY different deal. Cyndi should have found a way to leave well enough alone and Emily’s photos would have been much better.
I’m totally gravitating away from Team Cyndi and finding myself more sympathetic with Maria. Cyndi is nuts. She was horribly condescending to everyone on her team. I’m glad Sharon’s back, she’s a stronger player than ANY of those woman.
I think, in the end, the women won for two reasons.
1) Luke was already better-known and didn’t want to mess with his already-crafted image too much. Though Trace’s point about getting him out of his ball cap was well taken. Emily was a bit more of a diamond-in-the-rough who was looking to take the next step, and I think Cyndi picked that up in the opening interviews.
2) Women are easier to ‘make over’ because you have more visual elements to work with — a much wide range of options with hair, makeup, clothes etc. Though apparently if they’d gotten Luke in a bandanna, all bets would have been off…
I knew of Luke before and even though he won the Best New Artist ACM tonight, he still is uninteresting to me, but I thought Emily came across well and I will check out her music after this episode.
I definitely agree with you, Carol. As a country music fan myself, I know that Luke Bryan is already an established artist. Is he a superstar? No, but he does have a few #1s under his belt, both as an artist and a songwriter. The men were at a disadvantage from the outset. Emily really is rising from the ground-up and was therefore more amenable to change. For goodness sake, Luke won the Best New Artist ACM last night! I know that the Apprentice wrapped up filming way before last night, but one doesn’t even get a nomination if he hasn’t established himself in some way.
Team Cyndi here. It totally sucks that nexy week she’s separated from Sharon; the only member of Tenacity who defends her. Plus, I was hoping for a Sharon / Holly smackdown because if they stayed on the same team, you KNOW it would have happened eventually.
They should send Cyndi & Sharon to Rock Solid & let the other bitc-s fen for them selves and not have Cyndi as their scapecoat when the slightest of things go wrong. Besides Sharon & Cyndi who ever heard of any of these “Celebrity” women. Do they really think that anyone is timing in to watch them???
Dangit, why don’t they have Emily West on American Idol! She would blow out that entire lackluster group of contestants this season!
Maybe she’s too old. She was definitely too old to be singing about her sadness over her parents divorce. Geez, get over it already.
I believe and hope that Sharon will win Apprentice. Cyndi is a pain in the neck and Holly and Summer are just nasty. GO SHARON!
Cyndi IS NOT A PAIN IN THE NECK! She is a fantastic person & singer, the thing here is that first she played it nice but they hated her only because she is nice & they are jealous of her so now Cyndi had to play ROUGH to be able to do her thing & not get crushed by those bitches, except for Sharon, & they have disrespected Cyndi a lot, but she got rough & she did her thing & she WON!
WOOT!
GO CYNDI!