Posts Tagged ‘Claudia Jordan’

Who knew? After three weeks of getting slammed by the women’s team, the guys finally broke the curse. Or rather, Brian McKnight finally broke the curse.

After chillin’ in the background for the past three weeks (hardly audible) McKnight stepped up to the plate and pretty much single-handedly sunk the nearly-unsinkable Athena women. In what could only be termed as disarray, the women’s team was all over the place under Claudia Jordan’s leadership. Too bad. I like Claudia, but she was out of her element here – especially when pitted against the Rivers (Joan and Melissa), two strong personalities. (Note: I still can’t understand why both are on the show, and it seems an unfair advantage to have both on the same team – but that’s my own personal peeve.)

Anyway, McKnight took the helm of the men’s team (finally, a worthy leader). His first wise decision was not to use Dennis Rodman. He was right. It takes far more energy to keep tabs on and try to control Rodman than simply ignore him. Second-best decision made by McKnight: do what it is you do best. And he did – to the Nth degree!

This week’s challenge was to present ACN’s video phone at an ACN convention. The convention’s attendees would decide the winning team. While the women put on a commercial of sorts, introduced by Joan Rivers, something got lost in translation.

Team Athena forgot the first rule of entertainment: it’s simple – entertain. They tried. But the (supposedly impromptu) proposal, before the crowd of hundreds, just fell flat. While attempting to appeal to the crowd’s emotions, Athena neglected to understand that folks stuck at a convention … just…want … to … party! This fact was not lost on McKnight, who put on his own mini-concert. He played his strength – and he didn’t try to appease his teammates in the process. The rest of the boys only needed to give him room. That voice, the energy – the crowd went mad! Nevermind that the product was vaguely used – and then only by women dancing and spinning on stage. McKnight gave them what they wanted and they voted in his favor.

In fact, the men won 85 percent of the vote. Poor Claudia. While she tried to blame Melissa for not giving her support, she was little girl lost, even while in the boardroom when she chose to also face-off with Khloe Kardasian, a move that gave both Khloe (and me) whiplash. (Seriously, where did THAT one come from?). Her fate was sealed. She got the boot…And Rodman’s still there. Go figure.

Celebrity Apprentice Round Two: This week’s challenge was to spearhead a campaign for Zappos, a shoe line. Leading the women was Khloe Kardashian.

Gotta tell ya’: That Khloe is a businesswoman to the bone! Her mad skills and leadership techniques were perfect for this segment – even (dare I say? – a joy to watch (nothing like the spoiled rich girl we’ve seen on “Keeping Up…”

Then there was Scott Hamilton, who took the helm for the men. Though his leadership skills really needed to be tweaked, I have to admit I don’t know how I would’ve dealt with the disrespect (namely from Tom Green). Green’s technique apparently worked. Frustrated beyond belief, Hamilton allowed Green to get under his skin – a move that would cost him greatly.

Both teams presented their marketing ideas to the client: Green was chosen to present for the guys – and did a pretty good job in spite of being him. The women elected Deal or No Deal’s Claudia Jordan, who exhibited flu-like symptoms the night before the presentation. It didn’t go over too well.

Muttering and stammering in front of Trump and Zappos’ executive, the ONLY thing that saved the women this week was Hamilton’s major blunder: Not accepting the ONE decent idea Green offered during the brainstorming sessions: naming the campaign’s heroine with a “Z” (as in Zelda) as opposed to “EEE” (Hamilton’s big idea, which he insisted stood for: Everything, Everywhere, Every time…or something like that). Yeah, whatever.

The guys lost. Hamilton chose Green to faceoff with in the boardroom. Just Green. The Donald, clearly trying to give Hamilton an edge highly suggested he choose one other player to tip the scales a bit. Hamilton complied and chose…(Huh?)…Walker. Yes, Walker, the only guy who came to his defense in the brainstorming session, stepping up to Green in support of Hamilton. The choice was so obviously devoid of thought, Walker shook his head in sheer shock. The kind of shock one gets when hit broadside by an oncoming train. And I understood.

Hamilton, on the other hand, had no clue how to play the game. When asked why he chose Walker, Hamilton said, “For support.” His fate was sealed. Between the “EEE” fiasco and his choice of Walker, Trump announced, “Scott, you’re fired!” Which means Rodman’s still there. There is no justice.

On March 2, 2009, Donald Trump uttered those infamous words, “You’re fired!” to this season’s first casualty.

This year the women’s team (Athena) is made up of poker champion Annie Duke; golf champion Natalie Gulbis; Deal or No Deal’s Claudia Jordan; reality star Khloe Kardashian; comedienne Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa; Playboy’s Brande Roderick; and T-Boz of the R&B singing group TLC.

Rounding out the men’s team (Kotu) are: country star Clint Black; comedians Andrew Dice Clay and Tom Green; figure skater Scott Hamilton; TV star Jesse James; R&B singer Brian McKnight; NBA player Dennis Rodman; and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

The first show of the season featured the celebrities in a cupcake contest. Giving no support whatever to his team, Dennis Rodman pretty much single-handedly turned the win over to the women – who may not have always seen eye-to-eye but were, at leased, focused on a goal.

Joan Rivers served as team leader and really showed her entrepreneurial savvy – much to my surprise. The men’s team was led by Herschel Walker, who is apparently much better on the field then in the boardroom. Nice guy, just not a motivator, a fact made abundantly clear by Rodman, who paid absolutely no attention to Walker’s direction (or lack of, depending on who you ask) – in fact, it would seem Rodman’s only purpose on the show is to sit behind the scenes while he reaches out to somebody much more important on his cell.

Not surprisingly the men lost. In the boardroom Walker faced off with Rodman and Clay – who was out of his element from “go.” For reasons only The Donald knows, Clay got the boot. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not losing sleep over it; I just don’t know why Rodman’s still there. Maybe he’ll be next. (One can only hope.)