TVSquad

(S05E07/S05E08) Well, we're about half-way through this cycle of The Apprentice, and there is one thing I can say with 100% truthfulness: team Gold Rush sucks! I mean, these are the worst group of corporate potentials that I have ever seen on this show. The three remaining male members of the team (Tyrek, Lee and Lenny) couldn't decide if they wanted cheese or not on their Whopper without an argument breaking out. Tyrek is just vapid, Lenny uses his Russian heritage as a crutch, and Lee kind of just sits there.

Actually, Lee reminds me of two people. If you put a pair of glasses and a bow tie on him he looks a bit like Mr. Smithers from The Simpsons. I can actually hear him saying, "Why, that's Tyrek, Mr. Trump. One of your cancerous tumors from Sector 7G." The other person he reminds me of is Michael from The Office; he seems like one of those guys who would do anything to get others to like him. Needless to say, if Gold Rush continues in their current format they are going to continue to lose.

I smell a team change on the horizon. With that foreshadowing let's move on to the chicken casserole we call The Apprentice.

Hoo boy! Lenny is project manager in the first episode, which involves the renovation of a room in two separate Boys & Girls Clubs. Lenny, in fine mafia garb, and Gold Rush do not put the right foot forward with the clients. Meanwhile over at Synergy, Michael (the other guy on the team) leads the golden children in a successful meeting with the client, even though it is a bit long-winded. However, as they decide on the color schemes, Gold Rush is already purchasing items at the store.

The theme for Gold Rush's room is music. As usual, there's conflict between the men and women on the team. Synergy's theme is 'The Lounge'. As the project moves along it seems that Michael is not very decisive and the team members are a bit upset. Sean goes so far to say that Michael is, and I quote, 'a wanker'. Hey, look it up if you don't know what it means!

We are definitely looking at two of the weakest team leaders and neither of the projects seem to be progressing very well. Yet, one team needs to win. Without much surprise and even with poor leadership , Synergy gets the concept and is declared the winner. Their reward is to grant a 'Make a Wish' child's request for a toy store shopping spree. It was a nice moment in a show based on backstabbing to climb to the top of the corporate ladder.

In the boardroom, it was pretty clear that Trump was ready to hand Lenny his hat by not even asking him what went wrong; he went to Charmaine first to find out if Lenny was a good manager or not. I actually laughed out loud when Lee said that Lenny did a great job. Bill and Carolyn tore into Lenny's leadership skills, asking him who would paid for replacement musical instruments at the non-for-profit organization when they broke. Lenny was in a very big state of denial. It was almost like he was channeling Brent.

Everyone on the team thought Lenny should be fired, except kiss-ass Lee who wanted Charmaine fired. Without even bringing anyone back, Lenny was fired. As he departed for the elevator, Lenny dissed Charmaine and said good-bye to everyone else.

The next episode began with the other Synergy team members telling Michael that he was really, really, REALLY lucky that the team won. Hey, no kidding! Well, it didn't matter this week as Michael moved over to Gold Rush. This episode's task was to launch a new sandwich for the 7-11 convenience chain and to provide a promotion to go along with it.

Andrea is Synergy project manager again (she thinks she should be project manager every week). Despite suggestions of cups and cup holders to promote the sandwich she decides the gift will be . . . hats. Yeah, she's getting fired. Over at Gold Rush, Leslie is the project manager and they decide to go with a beverage cooler. After weeks of laying low, Lee actually steps up to win one for the team, although Charmaine believes Lee is thinking only of Lee.

On the day of the promotion, Gold Rush tries to stop people on the street to try the sandwiches, which is so easy to do in peaceful New York City.  Synergy's idea of hats to promote the sandwich is not a good idea, but the flyers that were given out the night before seem to be working well. In a shocking moment, Lee steps up to the plate and tries to make a large deal with one of the local businesses, but without any luck. After all of the sandwiches were sold and the money was counted, Synergy won AGAIN! Good Lord, these people are blessed. Their reward was to have lunch with Senator Chuck Schumer in our nation's capital. Once more, I'd rather swim with sharks.

I'm thinking Lee is gone this week. If he isn't, I will be utterly shocked. In the boardroom, Leslie says that Lee did the least work. Carolyn and George take Leslie to task about the price she charged for a sandwich; eight dollars for a sandwich and cooler at a 7-11. Leslie only brings Lee back to the boardroom where they have quite an argument while the Big Three watch. The Trumpster thinks that Lee is not jiving with the team so he fires . . . LESLIE! The man is bulletproof!

With only a few episodes left, it's time to determine who will be in the final rounds. My vote is for Sean, Charmaine, Tammy and Andrea. We shall see in the next few weeks.