For months, the three people who still watch NBC have seen the promos for this season of The Celebrity Apprentice; the big climactic scene was of Joan Rivers smashing down a glass out of some sense extreme frustration. Of course, it made the three of us wonder: did she get annoyed during a particularly tough task? Did one of her fellow celebs completely throw her under the bus? Was it Joan's way to finally lash out at Donald Trump's scattered and random management of the game?It turns out that it was none of these things. In fact, when the scene came in this week's episode, it was so anticlimactic that you might have missed it if you had turned away to get some ice cream. In fact, this week's entire two-hour episode ambled along so slowly that I thought NBC expanded it to three hours to take Kings' vacated timeslot.
Everything about the episode was just boring as sin, especially after Trump's out-of-left-field firings last week. The most interesting thing that happened during the first task -- a display campaign for LifeLock, who sells identity theft-protection that a relatively dedicated person could do themselves for free -- was Jesse James puking in a Port-A-Potty. Joan and Clint Black, who were at each other's throats last week, had nary a bad word to say to each other this time around. Both campaigns were uninspiring. And the firing of Brian McKnight, the losing project manager, went something like this:
Trump: Looks like you don't want to be here.
McKnight: Yeah, kinda.
Trump: You're fired.
McKnight: OK.
So, why did Joan go apeshit? Because Annie Duke sort-of, kind-of turned on her daughter Melissa. Sort of. I mean, Annie's a champion poker player. Anyone who didn't think she was going to bluff and connive her way through the game was probably kidding themselves. Yet Joan got upset anyway when Annie didn't do enough to criticize Brande Roderick. Instead of showing Annie being a two-face, the whole scene showed that Joan is overly protective of her middle-aged daughter, something anyone who's seen the two together already knows.
Anyway, the video of Joan's fit is below. Did she overreact? Let me know what you think in the comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-13-2009 @ 1:08PM
Bill said...
Joel, c'mon. Everytime you write about this show, you throw in some comment about how only 3 people watch it. The show get's about 8-9 million viewers each week according to Nielsen. Last night it had more viewers than Extreme Makeover, which is supposedly a hit.
We get it Joel. You don't like this show. But let's not keep implying that no one watches it, because the ratings are actually pretty decent.
http://tvnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/
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4-13-2009 @ 1:13PM
Joel Keller said...
I like the show, else I wouldn't watch it or comment on it. My "3 people" joke is more about NBC's woes than the show itself.
4-21-2009 @ 11:50PM
jps said...
Clint is no Trace Adkins! Clint is an arrogant snob. I wouldn't call him an A celebrity. Maybe a D list celebrity.
Hershell needs to come back. Clint, go home.
4-29-2009 @ 6:59PM
tvlvr said...
I thinkthat the rivers women are too into themselves to be able to get along in the real world. I liked Melissa at first but her behavior at the end was more than I could handle. I have never liked Joan but started to on this show, until she started complaining about everything and everyone. I considered them professional women with some class. I no longer feel that way. Joan left bcuz Melissa is too spoiled to deal with real people. Melissa got it from her mom I would guess. They are not the professionals they try to portray for sure!! Melissa initially appeared like a nice person, fooled ya!! good ridance to mom and daughter!! It could have been handled so much better by both of them.
Annie is a little much to handle at times, don't think she can be trusted like she wants everyone to believe!
GO JESSE!!
4-13-2009 @ 1:57PM
Jeff N. said...
I quit watching the show after last weeks ridiculous firings.
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4-13-2009 @ 2:40PM
Joyce N. said...
Of course, she over-reacted. Her precious little princess was "attacked". Joan and Melissa are both so obnoxious. I can only hope they both will be leaving soon but this particular season seems so much more "scripted" than usual and I've got a sinking feeling that one of them will win. Trump is using any excuse he can come up with to get rid of the "lesser" stars. Plastic faced mom and daughter will be with us to the end, I'm afraid.
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4-13-2009 @ 3:03PM
Lisa said...
While I agree that Joan overreacted, I don't like Annie..didn't from day one. I so hope that Natalie gets that big rival gambler to put enough dough to beat her. The Riverses are at least rotten to your face.
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4-13-2009 @ 3:43PM
C.K. Lichenstein II said...
I had to give up on this show as the two hour long format was dragging on waaaay too long. I only watch about two or three reality shows and liked Apprentice from the get go and thought the first Celebrity Apprentice was enjoyable. If they were an hour long I'd probably still be watching.
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4-13-2009 @ 4:05PM
Mike said...
I believe I stand vindicated... Last week I said that it'd probably have to come down to Melissa and Joan, or Joan would have to go first because if she didn't there'd be hell to pay and she might self-destruct on the spot.
"No, No, that'll never happen, I don't see it that way." Was the response I got...
Anyone care to amend their comments from last week? lol
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4-13-2009 @ 4:42PM
RobynS8971 said...
Natalie had a good idea about getting rival poker players, but correct me, isn't Phil Watzname Annie's brother?
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4-13-2009 @ 9:39PM
Squishy said...
No Annie Duke is fortunately not related to Phil Hellmuth. Her brother is Howard Lederer, who is a champion, but not quite the bastard PH is.
4-13-2009 @ 11:02PM
Duane said...
The show is so blatantly over produced (to the point of being fixed) it's ridiculous. "Herschel's gonna be project manager." "No, pick Joan." "Ok, Joan." So, you know, coincidentally she can go head to head with the person she now - as of 5 minutes ago - hates.
What will be a wonderful irony is if Joan's team wins, and then Melissa ends up fired. I would enjoy that.
Although even better would be Melissa turning on her mother next week, leading to a Joan vs. Melissa final.
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4-13-2009 @ 11:14PM
MrMuggs said...
I gave up after last week. I can't take 2hr episodes any more. Even after I fast-forwarded through a lot of it there was still too much.
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4-14-2009 @ 1:24AM
Linda said...
I love Joan and think it was totally great how she literally had a melt down...good for her! These chicks on the show are so too faced and dramatic. I loved watching Walker and Black interviewing the models, that was hysterical! Hey btw, I saw a site called theolist.com that was giving away a signed Hershel Football and was wondering if anyone knew if this was for real? I was thinking of getting it for my husband.
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4-14-2009 @ 2:48AM
meg4fancast said...
Brian's interaction with Trump was hilarious. I don't blame the guy. Melissa vents about the drama on her latest Fancast blog. She's kind of getting out of control lately. Check out her post- http://www.fancast.com/blogs/celebrity-apprentice/melissa-rivers-i-found-myself-in-the-movie-mean-girls/#more-33977
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4-14-2009 @ 6:00AM
deebopalula said...
"Annie's a champion poker player. Anyone who didn't think she was going to bluff and connive her way through the game was probably kidding themselves."
Or they're incredibly naive. They haven't really shown Annie talking strategy in the little "sidebar" individual interviews they do (likely intentional on her part) or her game plan would be more clear, but I have no doubt she's manipulating other players and using mind games to progress herself all the way to the finale. Good for her!
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4-14-2009 @ 9:34PM
Sarah said...
I'm not generally a celebrity apprentice fan (can't stand the Donald) but I'm sticking it out to see how Annie Duke does. Those Rivers girls are making it tough though -- all they do is complain and throw fits. by the time we got to this episode it was pretty common for joan to have some sort of problem, so the glass thing wasn't a big deal anymore.
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4-16-2009 @ 7:09AM
Shelby said...
I cannot believe the temper tantrums Joan has displayed on the air and, yet, she bad mouths the others. "the Donald" should read the research how "one bad apple" spoils the whole work team. Does he give her extra leeway because she is famous. He's fired better leaders than Joan Rivers!
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4-17-2009 @ 1:51AM
DapperDan said...
sorry, gotta luv Joan & Melissa they are the only reason I am watching more so for Joan though I have never watched any of the previous Apprentices.
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4-20-2009 @ 1:54PM
Paul said...
Are there any more unattractive people who Trump could pick to be on this show? Joan Rivers and her look-a-like daughter are enough for a lifetime, not to mention how obnoxious they both are. No more nepotism Donald!!
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