TITLE: “UNDER THE HAMMER”
TASK: CHARITY AUCTION & CONCERT

As the finalists work down to the wire preparing for the charity auction and concert, one celebrity fears the entertainers will refuse go onstage if their demands can’t be met. The other decides to limit the food for the event, hoping the guests will be more generous with their bids if they are drunk. The moment of truth arrives, and so do the stars. With the auction over and nearly a half million dollars raised for charity, Donald Trump is faced with the final decision – who will be fired, and who will become the Celebrity Apprentice.
The Celebrity Apprentice does not win a position in Trump’s organization, but wins $250,000 dollars for their charity.

Comments

[happyshamrock]

If it was the real world of business, Donald Trump would have gotten it all wrong. While Piers Morgan excelled in raising money…he is a business liability. Morgan’s methods would land him in the Human Resources Department rather quickly in any American corporation.

Morgan is the employee, that while he performs remarkable feats, he requires constant counseling and documentation. Watching this season, I counted not less than four other contestants that would have had grounds to file a complaint. And even though Omarosa equally acted inappropriate during their verbal fisticuffs, HR would have fired both of them to avoid litigation.

I once had an employee that was both a great salesman and a hard worker. However, he had a temper. The final straw was when he hit his girlfriend, also an employee, on company property. No amount of sales can make up for his behavior. There are just some things you don’t do. Period.

While everyone agreed that Piers Morgan could raise money and hit many good points, people just didn’t seem to like him. That says a lot. It shows that he would require fires to be put out on a regular basis. Because his attitude wouldn’t just come across in complaints to the HR Director, at some point it would show with clients. He would demand so much time and attention; management would tire of dealing with him.

Finally, the sheer lack of loyalty that Morgan displayed would make an employer cautious to trust him. As Trace Adkins pointed out, you would see him coming – it wouldn’t be behind your back. Piers Morgan would be the employee that would clean out his desk, walk straight to the competition, and divulge every trade secret.

[Tom]

The fact is, Trace has had the ability to build an incredible network during his career but hasn't because he has chosen not to. Trace could have easily called on the heads of all the music labels out there but instead simply said he doesn't "know those kinds of people." That's nonsense. The doors were there for him to open, but its not in his make up to cold call and build those type of relationships. Well Piers was working the phones, Trace was complaining about the BSB. And don't be fooled, Trace's buddy's have the ability to drop a lot more than the $5,000 and $10,000 donations they made. The one guy alone has had over 40 number one albums. It cost more money to charter the two jets to fly Trace's guys up to New York than the amount they donated. Also, the Grand Ole Oprey dropped $5,000 for Trace. That wasn't even solicited. Imagine what they may have given had Trace actually given them a call. The fact is, Trace is a great guy and a great front man for his charity, but not a great fundraiser. Raising money is an art and Piers is simply that much better.

[vickie]

This is one reason why America is in trouble, yes money is important, but the bottom line is kindness, which Trace showed. It just shows the world what kind of man Donald Trump is. It's to bad money is so important.

[Lana]

I have one comment to make regarding the Omarosa/Piers conflict. I have absolutely "zero" respect for Omarosa. She showed her true colors by attacking Piers personally on the final show. The comment she made concerning Pier's "oral hygiene" was most distasteful and irrelevant! Guess he should have come back with a comment concerning her enormous "bubble butt".

[Pauline in MD]

I cannot believe that Donald Trump chose Piers Morgan over Trace Adkins. Trace was a better player than Piers. Trace came up with the ideas during the competitions. That's why Piers and his team won so many times. It wasn't that Piers had great ideas. Also, on the Quizno competition, the Mr. Trump's order was to create your own sandwich, not just change the cheese on another Quizno sandwich. That's all that Piers and his team did. Trace actually created the sandwich! I have been stewing over that. Of course, Piers thinks we don't like him because he's British. I don't like him because he is cruel. He might have raised the most money, but he alienated the other contestants. If he was actually in the business world and alienated as many people, he wouldn't be too successful. Trace should have won!!!!

[Marti]

If you watched the finale very closely, Trace actually did win the show even if he was "fired" by Donald Trump. Mr. Trump had no choice but to "hire" Piers because he did the best job of raising cash for his charity..... HOWEVER .... if you watched the show closely, it was Trace that held everyone's heart and respect including Donald Trump and his family. With the show of hands by the celebrities to Gene Simmons' choice of Trace..... Even NBC!

Trace also succeeded in what he wanted to accomplish. He created an awareness for FAAN, raised quite a sum of money, and is also raising more through song sales on iTunes as well as your ongoing donations. Trace now has many new fans who don't normally listen to country music. I'm also willing to bet that the Trumps probably made a sizeable donation to FAAN as well!

What has Piers won besides the donations to his charity and not hearing the words "You're fired"? Who will give him a second thought after the end of the show? I would much rather have someone's ongoing respect than a couple of minutes of fame!

Trace didn't lose... far from it.......

[Tania]

Piers earned the right to win this game. But it was Trace who won big last night. Gene Simmons nailed it when he said Trace has that something special, and that something special is the respect and admiration of Millions of people for his integrity and class. Piers... Not so much.
It is not his intelligence and drive that really turned me off, but the manner in which he speaks to and about other people. His obvious glee in describing his victories reflect his true pettiness and lack of dignity.

[menot you]

Piers was the best choice. The "evilness" was just fabricated drama. Sure he's not a "favorite" guy but he's brilliant.
I like trace. He's the "best" guy.
Piers had to win, there was no other choice. He outplayed everyone.
And one comment for the last female introduced - there is no class in that personality.

[M Love]

Dear Mr. Trump:
I watched the show with regret as you helped sell the soul of America further into the slavery and oppression of selfish, vicious dog-eat-dog business in the name of a charity pitch. How absolutely unjust and unimaginable to equate performance with success instead of valuing that something special in someone with moral fiber and true kindness of spirit as worth more than gold. You have done youself, business, and the good people of our country a great, and terrible disservice in promoting this ongoing charade of entertainment which coursens souls and teaches such. You are also culpable in all acts that follow such promotion. I advise sir, fire yourself promptly and ask those who know God to pray for you, and soon.

[D]

I think Donald wanted to pick Trace as he was the viewers fav and Trace was truly genuine. However...it is a Trump game...and he HAD to pick the person who had the better NUMBERS. After all, business is business. I think alot of us wanted Trace to win as he is what we all strive to be...and he proves that you don't have to be a SOB in order to be successful. TO ME, IT WAS A GREAT HISTORY LESSON AS TO WHY MY ANCESTORS FLED ENGLAND!!

p.s. Donald, please..please..please..don't bring Amarosa back....ever.

[Michael Ma]

If Richard Simmons (not Gene Simmons) hosted the Celebrity Apprentice, Trace would have won for sure. Its too bad for weak hearted viewers that this was not a personality contest. Its all the same complaining every time this happens. "I can't believe the person that made 5x the money won the business contest! They should have picked the nicer guy. I am no longer going to watch the show!" This just in. Your emotions do not mean anything to anyone else. They are not as significant as you might hope. The show won't know you're gone. Hopefully you'll keep your word and will not watch the next season to get your heart broken. I'd rather not hear about how you're not going to watch the show, again next season.

[BL]

In Australia, we've barely started with this season. Disappointed to see who wins in the end, frankly, but not having watched the hiring process, I can't back up my comments. I'm blogging on this season:

http://trumposium.blogspot.com/

please feel free to post comments there -- i'm everything BUT non-radical :)