Episode 9 - Bringing Down the House

Four previously fired candidates return to settle some old scores and also help the two teams renovate homes on Long Island. One project manager gets overwhelmed, the other deals with an inept contractor.

11-04-2004 9:00PM & 11-06-2004 9:00PM (not sure about this second airing - NBC pulled the time from their listings since this was originally posted)

"Sometimes in life you have to work with people you don't like," says Trump.

[new info added Nov 2nd]

NEW YORK -- November 2, 2004 -- It's the return of the first four fired on this week's tension-fueled episode of NBC's "The Apprentice". Donald Trump gathers the ten active candidates on the roof of Trump Park Avenue and surprises them by saying, "Sometimes in life you have to work with people you don't like." Trump then signals for the return of Rob, Bradford, Stacie J. and Jen C., the first four candidates fired from this season. He assigns two to each team and then sends them to Long Island, NY with $20,000 to renovate a dilapidated home. The team who increases the value of their home by the highest percentage wins.

Trump's shakeup affects each team immediately as Stacie J. goes on the attack towards the women who called her "crazy." Jen C. attempts to settle some scores as well and Rob feels he needs to redeem himself in the eyes of the Trump Organization. On Long Island, one team struggles with internal strife and disorganization while another has an ineffectual showdown with a contractor.

Back in the boardroom, the losing team has mixed opinions on its project manager and one team member makes a unique plea moments before Trump makes his fateful decision. Matthew Calamari (EVP Operations and Construction, Trump Organization) fills in for George Ross this week in the boardroom.

So, which of the returning candidates gets back in the game?

Comments

[Ep 10]

I heard that for the 10th Episode, the Apprentices will open a Bridal Boutique.
It'll be unfair if Sandy's still around, so I think she'll go in Ep 9.
Plus, she's likely to be PM iin Ep 9, sinece everyone else has had a chance. This means Mosiac looses and Sandy's gone!!

[Yahoo Sam's Fan]

Sam's List of the Top 5 Candidates: Andy, Kevin, Jennifer M., Chris, and Kelly

"I say Maria has no chance nor does Raj. Ivana has a sharp edge and is quick to point the finger, which may make her an easy target in future weaks. Wes is too arrogant and Sandy, well Sandy, I don't have a whole lot to say about you. But you have a bit of the Maria syndrome and that will ultimately do you in. So that leaves Andy, Kevin, Jennifer M., Chris, and Kelly."

http://apprentice.tv.yahoo.com/theshow/recap/episode8_sam.html

To hire Sam for speaking and personal appearances, email sam_solovey@yahoo.com

[Did ya EP it?]

Sandy Gets Fired in Episode 9

Did ya notice? guy/girl was right on target when he or she, I do not know who it is, pointed out that Elizabeth would be fired in the episode 8: "I think Elizabeth will be fired this week. Why? Well, in the Designer clothing episode we saw very little of Stacey and then the following week she was fired. In the dog wash episode we saw very little of Elizabeth, plus I think she's the new Apex PM."

If Did ya notice? guy/girl's logic is right, then in episode 9, Sandy should get fired because in NYPD episode 8, we saw very little of Sandy, plus, if EP 10 were right, she is likely to be the new Mosaic PM.

If EP 10's news source were to be proved correct, in episode 9, the candidates "will open a Bridal Boutique". According to EP 10, "It'll be unfair if Sandy's still around, so I think she'll go in Ep 9. Plus, she's likely to be PM iin Ep 9, sinece everyone else has had a chance. This means Mosiac looses and Sandy's gone!!"

Let us see if this prediction turns out to be true or just a wild shot in the wilderness.

[Ep 10]

This is the Description I found for Ep 10: RUN AWAY PRIDE.
It's a day to always remember when the candidates open up competing bridal shops. One project manager is overwhelmed by their lack of expertise in this particular field. The other team has to deal with a car accident, a marketing plan gone awry, and a project manager that rides the coat tails of a teammate.

P.S. I'm only guessing that Sandy's fired in Ep 9. But I agree, her lack of exposure in Ep 8 makes it only too promising.

[Ep 9 Spoiler?]

I found this at:
http://www.tubescanboard.com/showthread.php?t=22536
By SimonSaid, under Twist(Spoiler)
Don't know if it's true.

"Rob, Bradford, Stacie J and Jennifer C come back...Mr. Trump decides to give them a chance. He add Bradford and Jennif'er to Mosaic and Stacie J and Rob to Apex. However the losing side will have "2" people fired.

Jennifer C, Stacie J and Rob are said to have bee fired again rather quiuckly..while bradford makes it pretty far. also it was spoiled/confirmed that next week will be the last we see of Wes "

[Sandy 10]

Sandy Will Not Get Fired In Episode 9

Sandy is known for her skills in running a successful bridal shop. Since Episode 10 is concerned with opening a bridal boutique, Sandy is not going to be fired in Episode 9.

Her mettle will be tested in Episode 10. Episode 10 is going to be either a make or break for Sandy. If she shines, she will move forward and if she fails in episode 10, she will either depart or will be reduced to an inconsequential presence on the Apprentice 2 series.

Donald Trump will want to find about Sandy's worth, resilience, and resourcefulness in a business in which she has established her strong credentials that brought her into the Apprentice 2 world.

Sandy told Entertainment Weekly that she is “feisty and tough” who would be a perfect fit in a Donald Trump’s organization. Trump would like to know if there is any truth in Sandy’s claim or whether what she says is all just a pompous bluster.

Sandy runs an award winning bridal business and wedding and event planning company, and has also dabbled in real estate ventures and investments.

In Episode 10, Sandy is going to fight for her life. After all, in her own words: “Business is cut throat. To stay in the competition you must take the bull by the horns, be a risk taker, and definitely think outside the box”.

Ep 10, what is your reaction? Do you agree, disagree, or have no opinion?

[Ep 10]

Glad Sandy has at least one supporter out there.

In the Ep 10 description it says one team has to deals with "a project manager that rides the coat tails of a teammate". That sort of suggests that someone's relying on Sandy's expertise. If so, then she may survive to Ep 10.

However, Burnett's editing has become predictable. Sandy's lack of exposure in Ep 8 suggests she'll go in Ep 9. And we all know Trump is itching to get rid of her, plus Trump's probably aware of the upcoming Bridal shop task. However, I note, that we also saw very little of Ivana, so I believe she's Apex's next PM.

Re SimonSaid posting. The photos are up at the NBC Apprentice web site. Bradford and Stacie are with APEX, while Jen C and Rob are with MOSAIC.
So, if SimonSaid is wrong about that, he's probably wrong about Wes being fired in Ep9. (I found that posting, so I apologize and hereinforth will post only my opinions/new episode descriptions.) Anyway, I'll stand firm that Sandy's fired in Ep9.

[A2 Viewer]

Episode 9: Testing Time for Ep10

The question before the start of Episode 9 is whether Sandy will stay and make Ep10 eat his/her words?

On October 28, 2004 03:26 PM, Ep10 made this forecast: "Sandy's gone!!".

When Sandy 10 challenged Ep10 on his/her prediction: "Sandy Will Not Get Fired In Episode 9", Ep9 stuck to his/her gun and made an emphatic declaration: "I'll stand firm that Sandy's fired in Ep9".

Ep10, your credibility is at stake as well as Sandy's survival in episode 9 of Apprentice 2 Donald Trump season.

[stephen harris]

Hello - sorry, have been so busy this week to make any updates or comments. However - live blog again tonight on http://apprenticeviews.blogdrive.com

and please - add your comments as we go for the live ride!

stephen
http://apprenticeviews.blogdrive.com

[Ep10 Stopper]

Episode 9: Ep10 is humbled as Sandie trumps; and Raj asks for Robin's date and gets the sack from Donald Trump

Sandie took her team to a decisive victory in Episode 9.

Sandie and Raj were the project managers in today's episode. Raj's team lost very badly and Sandie's team won a great victory.

Raj lost his poise in the boardroom. Chris shot his own foot and incurred the wrath of Donald Trump to his certain exit in the next few episodes.

Raj brought Evana unnecessarily in the boardroom and could not defend his choice well. Raj put up a pathetic show in the boardroom; He was totally clueless as what to say or do. He lost his cool; his composure; and was totally at his wit's end.

Raj was fired in the boardroom by Donald Trump. Jennifer is going to be pretty upset at the departure of Raj from the Apprentice 2 series. Jennifer stood by Raj solidly; So, did Chris. But, Raj did not help himself. Donald Trump fired him today.

Raj did not help his public image after his sacking by asking the Robin's phone number and getting rebuffed by her. He has vowed to get Robin's phone number some day in the future.

It looks like Raj entered the Apprentice 2 contest to get dates from every female that he came across in the TV series.

Note 1: On October 28, 2004 03:26 PM, Ep10 made this forecast: "Sandy's gone!!".

Note 2: When Sandy 10 challenged Ep10 on his/her prediction: "Sandy Will Not Get Fired In Episode 9", Ep9 stuck to his/her gun and made an emphatic declaration: "I'll stand firm that Sandy's fired in Ep9".

[diva]

I think it was a stupid move on trump's part to fire raj. Sometimes his decisions are irrational

[Aytas]

It is like watching a suspense thriller. No logic at all in raj getting fired, for that matter a lot of people.

[Vasudev Brahma]

Hi Diva,

I understand your support for Raj. But, Raj failed as a project leader and led his team to a big defeat.

When the appraisers visited Raj's building, you could see the mess that his building was in. There was a big spread of paint over the ground, there were huge traces of dirt on the carpet draped over the stairs, and the bathroom was not even half complete, with several of the room furnishings, lying all around, crying for attention, and were yet to be fixed to the walls.

Raj told everybody in the boardroom that he owned the responsibility for the appointment of the contractor, who did a sub par work for the team. As a result, though it was Kevin, who had recommended that contractor to Raj, Kevin could, no longer, be seriously blamed for the selection of a bad contractor for the building renovation work. So, by his own admission, Raj, the project manager in episode 9, was unable to get his money's worth of work and service from the contractor.

If you are a project manager on a building renovation task, and you appoint a bad contractor and you fail to get good work from your contractor, you are, surely, going to be in big trouble.

Raj, to his credit, did not pass the buck completely to Kevin, and took major share of that blame for himself. Raj, as a history buff, had not only heard it, too many times before, but also firmly believed and practiced it: "The buck stops here". In episode 9, the buck stopped at the top, with the project manager, which was, Raj, in this instance.

It is important to recall that Raj took a spur of the moment decision, as he did in many of the previous episodes. Much to the dismay and consternation of many and against Jennifer M.'s vehement and strident protests, Raj stuck to his perilous decision and went ahead with his decision to demolish one of the four existing bedrooms and convert a four bedroom house into a three bedroom house.

Most building owners would acknowledge, without battling their eyelids, that reducing a four bedroom house into a three bedroom house, would not enhance the value of the property, but would, on the other hand, reduce its value, several notches, down.

The task that was assigned to Raj, the project manager, and his team, in episode 9, was to renovate the building, and add as much value to it, as possible, with $20,000 of investment.

Raj brought Kevin and Ivana to the boardroom to hear the judgment from Donald Trump, as to who had to take the major blame for the team's debacle in episode 9.

Raj bravely, courageously, and with nobody's prompting, stood up to his failure and accepted the responsibility for the appointment of the contractor and thereby, made it difficult for Donald Trump to fire Kevin in this episode.

The second person that Raj brought to the boardroom was Ivana, who, Carolyn Kepcher, one of the two judges, pointed out, worked really hard on the task. Matthew Calamari, the second judge, also noted that Ivana did nothing wrong. Donald Trump, as a result, could not fire Ivana either.

In fact, Donald Trump was constrained to tell Raj directly that he, as the project leader on the task, was wrong to bring Ivana to the boardroom.

Raj, for his part, did not have, any good reasons to give or any good arguments to make, as to why he brought Ivana into the boardroom, and why she should be fired in this episode. He could also not make a credible case as to why, Kevin, and not he, who should be fired in the current episode.

Since neither of the two people that Raj brought to the boardroom could have been justifiably fired by Donald Trump, Raj had to be sent away.

Raj showed great promise. But, he also exhibited some weaknesses.

Many of his fellow contestants, openly, unabashedly, and on several occasions, admired Raj's several sterling, positive qualities. But, at the same time, many people also criticized Raj Bhakta's eccentric behavior; excessive argumentativeness; militaristic posturing; and aggressive courting of many women and asking for their dates on the Apprentice 2 series.

Pamela Day, Bradford Cohen, Elizabeth Jarosz, and Raj Bhakta have already made their exits, but as long as they stayed on the Apprentice 2 series, they showed, time and again, how highly talented, extremely capable, and superbly business savvy people that they are.

Pamela Day, Bradford Cohen, Elizabeth Jarosz, and Raj Bhakta, all, had their impressive outings on the Apprentice 2 series. Kudos to them all!

[fedup]

Actually Donald is as stupid as some people on the show (making money does not really need to be a nobel prize winner, one can be as irrational as Donald to make money). He felt threatened by Raj when he hit on the models. Okay a man with a teenage daughter is insecure because someone is hitting on the models ? So Donald did not like Raj , DT said "he drove the models crazy" ...(hey Donald we are fed up getting this lame excuse to get rid of a guy) and even though he contributed more than most other on the team, he couldn't save himself because Donald took a personal grudge against Raj. Hey Donald can we tell you something, we think you are great to make money, and so what Raj hit on the women, why are you so insecure with Raj? Raj should take Donald's fiance on a date and let her have a life than date an old hag. Did you see DT's big smile when Bradford said his girlfriend was beautiful ? At least Raj can ask Robin for her no, DT probably needs viagra for his nightromps, hey Donald that kind of smile reveals a lot. After all it isn't always business, it's personal sometimes.

[Mr. Up]

Please wise up, you Fed Up.

I am fed up with fedup. Fedup's posting is totally salacious, prejudiced, unreasonable, unethical, unfair, irrational, inhuman, personal, and stupid crap.

There is no reason nor any sense in Fed Up's wild, babbling, anti-social, criminal, barbaric, and sadistic utterings.

Please wise up, you Fed Up.

[dolphin]

Yeah unfortunately this episode was Donald the duck show. In business if you are selecting a person the process is to select the person who has more strong points than negative ones, unless the negative is to the point of self destruction. It is always easy to find faults with a person. Raj sure had negative points, are his negative points more negative than Kevin or Ivana; AND are his plus points more positive than Kevin's or Ivana's ? The contractor choice was emphasised by Kevin and while reducing the 4 bedroom to 3 bedroom , no one in the team raised an objection, so why blame Raj for a team decision ? And as far Ivana , hell she was a lousy project lead and haven't seen her bringing much to the table. It is very easy to blame the pm because he is taking a decision. Even Carolyn agreed that it was commendable that Raj stood up to his decisions, and even for his mistakes. Donald got the impression that Raj hits on women, okay i don't find that a serious fault, are we to believe that Donald did not hit on women when he was 28 ? I think Donald's decision was a personal one, not a business one. Actually that also happens in business. Raj probably should have been careful at what image he was putting forward.

[Dollups]

Raj and the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace

Mitsubishi paid millions of dollars of compensation to settle the sexual harassment case brought against it by its female employees.

Sexual harassment is a real, recurring, and troubling phenomena in today's workplace. Folks, please try to understand it. Sexual harassment, which basically emanates from, randomly hitting on most new women that you come across, is not a laughing, casual, and innocent matter.

Sexual harassment is as unacceptable in the work place as stalking is in the real, living place.

Please do some Internet Search on "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" and you will understand the mistake that Raj was continuously making, episode after episode, in Apprentice 2 business tv series.

Companies cannot afford to have employees who hit on fellow employees in their companies. Raj, with his reputation, for hitting on women indiscriminately, right before the cameras and before millions of tv viewers, will be the last person that companies can afford to have as their employee, let alone a top business associate or executive.

It is the top executives who set the tone at the top. If the top management executives are at fault, the people lower down the ladder, will go berserk and will become a social menace and wreak havoc on their fellow employees in the workforce.

Raj, needs to undergo a radical metamorphosis and mend his ways drastically for the companies to even consider offering him a job now, let along allow him to shape their future.

I am not suggesting that Raj is guilty of sexual harassment. But, with the reputation for repeatedly hitting on different women, Raj will find it difficult to find acceptance as a promiscuous colleague or a top executive in today's work world.

Jennifer C got fired in the Apprentice 2 series for her racial slur and next day, she got fired from her real job as well. Of course, Jennifer C., made it clear and quickly made amends for her injudicious remarks by emphatically and repeatedly saying that she had relatives in her family that belonged to different religious groups and she has respect for every religious group and she did not mean to hurt anybody. It looks like the controversy is receding fast.

Raj would do himself a favor by emulating Jennifer C. quickly for his own long-term good and positive image.

[Vasudev Brahma]

Hi Stephen Harris,

Please update your article for the episode 9: "Let's look at the teams and see who's star is rising - and falling."

I liked your previous posting on the episode 8 stars and slackers.

I read your live blog on episode 9 and I agree with you that Chris made a terrible mistake today.

Just like Bradford departed in episode 2, Chris would have made a fateful exit in episode 9 if Raj had changed his mind and brought three instead of two.

In fact, Raj could have saved himself, if he had told Donald Trump from his list and taking Chris in her place.

Chris would have been devastated if Raj had done that but, Chris unnecessary gave rise to that possibility.

Chris needs to be little more discreet hereafterwards and try to prove his worth as a project leader in episode 10.

Chris, please wake up and ask Stephen Harris for advice as to how you can resurrect your image and not repeat your dreadful, unnecessary, and personally injurious mistake once again.

Thanks

[Yahoo Sam's Fan]

WOULD YOU LET RAJ DATE YOUR SISTER?

Please take the survey at:

http://apprentice.tv.yahoo.com/pollresults.html?poll_id=1595&wv=1

[Editorial Note]
or let us know here Raj's Dating Poll

[Gauguin]

I was sad to see Raj go. I was hoping that Donald would fire Ivana because she is WORTHLESS. Unfortunately, Raj didn't make his case. Why didn't Jennifer back up Raj and point her finger at Ivana's worthlessness???

[Courtesy]

Weekly Recap in USA Today

Read the artilcle at:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/apprentice2-digest.htm

Exerpts: "Not aesthetically pleasing, but everything's in place," unstoppable salesman Raj said of the bathroom. Everything except, hmm, the shower and — what's that unbolted thing over there called? — oh, yes, the TOILET.

Only, say, a gas explosion at the other place would have kept Mosaic and team leader Sandy from winning. Which, of course, they did, their house appraising 10% higher than before, compared to 7% for Apex. Mosaic's prize was a helicopter ride to socialite Denise Rich's Hamptons mansion.

Raj's defenders (including Bradford, one of four firees brought back for this episode) pinned the blame on a lackadaisical, taco-chomping contractor and Kevin for defending him. But not Trump, whose irritation grew as Raj refused to drag an insolent Chris back to the boardroom for blurting out aimless criticisms of the team.

Smooth to the end, the Raj-ster asked boardroom secretary Robin for her phone number on his way out. But like the appraiser, she didn't buy the sales pitch, either.

[Courtesy MSNBC]

ODD BIT of MATH GETS RAJ FIRED

Apprentice Update:
Read the article by Gael Fashingfauber Cooper at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6002604/

You're fired: Raj, he of the bow ties and the cane and the pleated pants, didn't lack for self-confidence. He flirted with Anna Kournikova, with Trump's secretary ... pretty much with any women he saw. And he was a decent leader, and for once, took blame where it was deserved once his team lost the home-renovation challenge and he ended up in the boardroom. But he couldn't explain why he turned a 4-bedroom house into a 3-bedroom, and in the end, this odd bit of math helped get Raj fired.

A happy reunion?: Donald Trump and Mark Burnett probably had visions of last year's return of Omarosa dancing in their heads when they decided to bring back four fired contestants. But Stacie, Bradford, Rob and even Jenn C. not only worked hard, they seemed to mostly keep their cool. Sure, Stacie and Jenn couldn't resist a little snarking, but overall, the four returnees actually were helpful, with a minimum of drama. Who would have thunk it?

Foot, meet mouth: Chris, Chris, Chris. Did you learn nothing from "Austin Powers"? Zip it! ZIP! When you're in the boardroom and you don't need to speak, DO NOT SPEAK. After Raj had chosen Ivana and Kevin to come back to the boardroom with him, Chris just had to open his mouth, feeling that dogging his team would somehow make Trump think better of him. It backfired, almost fatally, as Trump tried to get Raj to switch horses in midstream and take Chris to the boardroom for what almost surely would have been a firing. Trump doesn't like the mouthy ones. Have you learned nothing from Bradford?

Still doesn't get it: Ivana never learns. She knew she was in for a bad time when Stacie J., who was fired when Ivana and the other women unfairly ganged up on her, returned. Ivana didn't handle herself well in the boardroom (Trump asked her "Why are you so nasty?") either. Oddly enough, she was saved by Carolyn, who reported to Trump that she saw Ivana working hard. But if this is a just world, the awful Ivana won't last too much longer.

Wise gal, or wise guys?: Sandy hasn't impressed so far this season, but her team's home-renovation project certainly seemed to run smoothly, despite her one crying jag. Perhaps Mosaic's victory was not so much due to her but to the Good Fella-type contractors Andy managed to wrangle. Apparently they made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

[Courtesy Andy]

Andy Cracks a Joke on Raj

"Let's see, thought Raj, if I get this project done early, maybe I'll still have time for a date."

Read Andy Dehnart's Commentary on Episode 9 at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6411934/

[Robin's Time]

Robin Rejects Raj

Exerpts of Andy Dehnart's Commentary on Episode 9

"Raj never gave up: After being fired by Donald Trump, he lingered in the elevator lobby, waiting for the doors to open so he could begin his taxi ride of shame. Instead of standing there, humbled, he went for it: He walked over to Trump employee Robin and asked for her phone number."

"As she tried to ignore him, he continued, “Pony up, come on, pony up. Do you have a boyfriend?” Robin, the “secretary” who has no purpose on “The Apprentice” except to tilt her head and tell the contestants they can go back into the boardroom, sighed and didn’t say much. But she rejected Raj, just as Donald Trump did, just as Trump had to."

...

"From the moment viewers laid eyes on Raj’s polka-dotted bow-tied self, it was apparent that he was going to be interesting, and he didn’t disappoint. During tasks, he was cocky but competent; he made mistakes but accepted responsibility in the boardroom. Yet his arrogance and self-absorption, and a related predilection for treating women as objects, destroyed his chance for success."

"Raj was essentially fired from “The Apprentice” for picking a bad contractor, and for deciding to convert a four-bedroom house into a three-bedroom house. His team didn’t think this was smart, but he persisted. Many leaders certainly forge ahead even when warned or challenged by others, and sometimes they succeed. But Raj’s behavior this season shows that he isn’t quite that type of leader yet."

Read the whole commentary at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6411934/

[Hero]

I'm sorry to see Raj go, especially when had Raj decided to pick Chris at the last minute, the boardroom would have been quick and painless. Without having to do anything, Chris would have been fired. Trump gave Raj Chris on a silver platter with a golden invitation, and Raj should have picked up on that. The instant Trump and Carolyn both harped on him, I would have taken the clue. I think Trump made a mistake keeping Ivana over Raj. The day Ivana becomes the CEO of a company is the day Hell registers 32 degrees. She is a nervous, unstable, confused worker who can only do what she's told, and even then not very well. Raj at least was entertaining, and I thought Trump would take more to heart with him as they are cut much from the same mold. Kevin was very smart in saying as little as possible in the Boardroom. I'd lay ten to one odds Chris is fired next week if his team loses no matter what happens. Everyone on that team has a free card to be lazy, because if they lose, Chris is gone.