The Apprentice 2010: Final Task Performance Review, Conclusion

apprenticeship with one of the most famous and iconic moguls in America. It’s clear–and has been so for at least the last five tasks–that Clint wanted it more.

So how did Clint end up getting passed over for Brandy? All I know is that I had a bad feeling about the Final Task as it was clear that it would be judged by subjective, not objective (for example, amount of money raised or revenue generated), criteria. I will give Trump the benefit of the doubt and not take into account the feelings of many (at least based on all of the #Barbie plus #TheApprentice hashtags I saw on Twitter last night) who feel that being a young, attractive blonde female gave Brandy an advantage over Clint. I also reject the argument that Clint’s country-boy demeanor (including his liberal use of the word “y’all”) marked him as unsophisticated and not suitable for hire. To have passed him over because he speaks with a southern drawl is just as blatantly discriminatory as it would be if he spoke English with a Spanish or West Indian accent.

My only conclusion is that the finale of The Apprentice 2010 is merely the period on the argument being made by many people (most insistently by Calvin J. Adolph, a frequent commenter on my posts), namely, that it’s well past time for The Apprentice to retire, and that the concept that was so groundbreaking back in 2004 has become, well, tired. They argue that this is the weakest pool of candidates compared to those of past editions of the reality show (not including the celebrity versions, which would be an unfair, apples-to-oranges comparison). The prizes for winning project managers, which were eye-popping during the first few seasons, were underwhelming at best this go round. Even the finale lacked the pomp and energy of previous seasons. Instead of the finalists being interviewed in front of a live audience including their respective friends, family and supporters, this year’s finale ended with basically just another boardroom scene. And the 2010 edition delivered the worst ratings in the 10-year history of The Apprentice.

The next run of The Apprentice will be a return to the celebrity version of the reality show. But it seems as if Trump’s heart, and that of the show’s producers, just isn’t in it anymore. Despite the disappointments of this season, I still believe that The Apprentice, at it’s best, can be a business reality show that is both entertaining and truly instructive for business professionals and entrepreneurs. If it can’t return to that form, Brandy Kuentzel could have the distinction of being the last apprentice.

What do you think? Was Clint robbed, or did Brandy deserve to win? Can The Apprentice be saved? Should it be? How would you change or improve the show? Weigh in with your comments!