The Apprentice

[poliphilo]

I hadn't realized the Apprentice was such a big deal. Here in Britain it's playing on a minor channel. It hasn't caused a stir and it probably never will. It's too American for us. Last night Trump took the winners to see some football manager no Britisher will ever have heard of (sorry guys) and they hugged and Trump said "you're a special guy" and the football manger said "you're a special guy too," and they were effusive and sentimental with one another to the point where (if they'd have been Brits) I'd have been expecting them to rip one another's clothes off. It was all very foreign and embarrassing.

So too is the emphasis on winning, winning, winning. Here in Britain it's still the case that we love a good loser. Bragging makes us wilt. Self belief is all very well, but you're supposed to muffle the edges with ironic humour.

We're more devious, more dissembling. Look at Blair- the shit-eating grin, the catch in the voice, the doe-eyed modesty- that's the British style. I'm not sure I don't prefer American braggadocio. You got power? well enjoy it, radiate it, be what you are!

But here's one piece of cultural crossover. When Trump says "you're fired"; I'm hearing the governessy tone of our very own Anne Robinson. "You're the weakest link; goodbye!" Oddly enough, where she's sarky and dismissive all the time, he does his best to massage the self-esteem of his young people and it's only the final line that's so frosty. I find, to my surprise, that I'm liking him. But what's with the pompadour? So far as I can make out he's combing it forward from way back then fixing it with spray- oh and dyeing it bright orange. Why would anyone in their right mind want to look like that?

Comments

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I actually think that's a toupee? Don't take that as the gospel truth, but whenever I see the commercials for the show, that's immediately what I think.

I have a confession - I dislike reality TV, and I do not watch it, not even in its heyday when it was all anyone ever thought about. On the radio yesterday morning, the broadcasters on one station were talking about the phenomenon and how the number of watchers had declined by something like 20-30% and that the peak was probably over and I couldn't help but say "Thank God" because I would like to see some good shows with good actors back on the small screen.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I find it good for watching when I'm eating a meal- and I can't give my full attention to the screen.

My favourite show- some years back- was about these people who were dumped on a Scottish island and had to build a community. It was very gentle. No firings and if people left it was because they couldn't hack it.

BBC America

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I actually watched a few of those shows, and I did like premise because it was people working together, not competing against one another.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

That's Trump's real hair. He showed us, by lifting it up and tugging.

Not that any of us cared. But we do all wonder: if this man is so rich, why can't he do something about his unfortunate hair?

As for his phrase "You're fired!"--Trump said he just said it spontaneously during the first show. Now he wants to copyright it! (Fat chance.)

I watch the Apprentice, and I think it shows the worst of our business practices--the back stabbing, competition, the grim effort to succeed at any cost, the bottom line of money.

On last week's show, there was a $10 difference in profit. One of the team members protested that $10 amounted to a tie, and George--the older man at Trump's right hand--jumped down the team member's throat, saying that isn't the way to think about the final numbers.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He wants to copyright it? What- no-one ever said it before?

It isn't a show that makes you feel all snuggly about human nature- but I guess it's educational. So this is what it's like to be in business. It confirms me in my decision never to go anywhere near that world.

[archyena.livejournal.com]

No, this is what it's like to be in straight-business. Trump's business is buying and selling things produced by other people along with financing the work of others. He's a broker of sorts. The only skills that matter in that pure business realm are social, it's about sweet-talking or intimidating people into giving you money for no apparent reason. It's the worst end of financial capitalism, the financial part, where the economy becomes divorced from production and all that's left is greed.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

My daughter reminded me that The Apprentice is not about the "worst aspects of business," but rather is "about people who know they are on national television." She has a point.

Those board room shots are taking place, by the way, in a fake boardroom down in the basement.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's in the basement? I'm a little disappointed. I love the way Trump comes in and sits in his big chair. He reminds me of a Renaissance Pope.

Your daughter is making a crucial point about- not only this- but all "reality" shows.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I guess the point is that the hair gets him noticed. There are lots of robber barons out there but, thanks largely to the orange pompadour, we all know Donald Trump!