iVillage - Celebrity Apprentice

Ereka Says: Was This Episode Boring?

2008-03-14T13:56:00Z

I’ve got to say I was a bit bored with this episode and no it’s not because “Omarosa went home-a.” I don’t understand why both teams resorted to only handing out fliers on the street. I would have had the most recognizable celebrity handing out flyers and the rest of the team locating all the major corporate office buildings in the neighborhood to solicit large corporate lunch orders.

So Piers Morgan continues to get more and more cocky as this season progresses. And why is Carol Alt feeding his incredibly large ego by telling Trump that Piers is “brilliant.” I bet you Carol was at home today watching this episode and fuming to see Piers criticize her performance. I fear that if Carol doesn’t start playing this game Piers will target her next...I like Carol and don’t want to see that happen.

While the boardroom scene was relatively boring, I do respect the way Trace Adkins and Stephen Baldwin handled themselves and I’m glad that I get to soak up Trace’s charm for at least one more week.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

BILL Says: Earning the Old Fashioned Way

2008-03-14T13:53:51Z

Hi Everyone,

Well, the tone of this boardroom was the polar opposite of last week! I don’t think Trace Adkins and Stephen Baldwin could have been nicer to one another. It was very refreshing to see after Omarosa’s rampage last Thursday.

Here are some of my thoughts on tonight. First of all, I do think that the sandwich choice of Empresario did not appeal to everyone, especially women. The name Cowboy Club was catchy but anybody who is watching their weight wouldn’t sink their teeth into this club sandwich.

Hydra took the safe route and their sandwich did appeal to the masses. That, coupled with their extra team member and the recognition of Lennox Lewis led to a win.

I think Stephen did a great job on this task; he is a hard worker and gives 110%. However, I don’t feel too badly about him getting fired because he is walking away with a large sum of money for his charity.

I enjoyed watching a task where the contestants were unable use their Rolodexes. They had to earn the win the old fashion way—just like me!

Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

BILL Says: Omarosa Couldn't Move the Art

2008-03-07T14:47:38Z

Well, having wealthy friends who had an appreciation for art definitely helped Piers Morgan win tonight. Here are some of my thoughts on tonight’s episode.

As each week goes by I think these contestants are running out of people to call on for favors. Also, I think that some team members—ahem, Stephen Baldwin and Trace Adkins—may be saving their contacts for when they are project manager.

Omarosa and her team were unable to come up with the contacts to move the art and that is the bottom line. In the beginning, Omarosa did do a nice job of funneling the people to the back of the studio where the David Kramer art was displayed, but that is about all she could do to get anybody back there.

Piers may have made a new enemy tonight. Trace was the only one NOT laughing about the kiss. I thought Pierce handled himself well and took the high road out of Omarosa’s accusations.

I really enjoy watching as it gets closer and closer to the end. Next week will be fun to watch.

Have a good weekend,
Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

EREKA Says: Finally! Oma Goes Home-a

2008-03-07T14:12:57Z

What a shame…. Omarosa didn’t learn a single thing from season one. Omarosa has played this game before, she was the only contestant who had the inside scoop on how this game is played and still she failed to win a single task in which she was project manager. As a manager she runs her team like a dictator and never makes the right decisions.

I was amazed to see her attack Piers Morgan again on a personal level. What planet does she live on? Did she really think that Trump would believe that Piers was a homosexual and if so what does that have to do with ANYTHING??? What if he was? Is she homophobic? She was clearly just acting out of anger and was backed into a hole. Piers’ response was brilliant and poor Trace Adkins was caught in the middle of it all.

Piers planned his revenge well and while I do think he is antagonistic, I’m glad he won this battle. At the moment, he seems unstoppable.

I’ve been keeping my eye on Carol Alt who may be my new favorite. I was very impressed at her sales skill and her aggressiveness. I predict that Lennox Lewis is the next to go, but is will be a pleasant firing. Trump has a great respect for boxers.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

BILL Says: At Least Tito Helped His Charity

2008-02-29T18:39:11Z

Hi Everyone,

Wow, I could tell Mr. Trump did not want Tito Ortiz to be fired, but in the end he had no other choice. I could tell in the beginning of the boardroom Mr. Trump was gunning for Omarosa. She is lucky that Trace Adkins and Tito stood up for her.

Let me start from the beginning. I thought it was great that Carol Alt became project manager for her team. Clearly, she has the most experience with this kind of task and she wasn’t afraid to take charge. Omarosa, on the other hand, immediately volunteered to be the project manager but changed her tune when Mr. Trump revealed that the project manager on the losing team would be fired. Talk about playing it safe!

I agree that Hydra had a much better ad than Empresario. Carol, Piers Morgan and Lennox Lewis had a clear message and really spoke to the demographic of the magazine. I think every 37-year-old reader wants to look as good as Carol Alt.

It was nice to see that Tito was able to win some money for his charity; he was a consistent player each week and doesn’t deserve to go home empty-handed.

Next week we are already down to the final six—things are going to get really interesting.

Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

EREKA Says: She Will Survive

2008-02-29T14:34:41Z

Truthfully, I didn’t like either campaign. Thanks to Piers Morgan’s British charm—which seems to only appear when he is presenting—Carol Alt’s campaign was well delivered, but so much like some of the other campaigns I’ve seen in magazines. The last photo was not necessary and the male model was too young. Tito Ortiz’s presentation lacked finesse, his advertisement had no story and little information, but did have beautiful photography.

Omarosa is up to the same old games: lying, avoiding responsibility and placing blame. This episode reminds me of the season one finale when she lied to Kwame Jackson. She seems to forget that she is in a reality show where cameras catch everything. I can only imagine that Donald Trump wants to keep her around for the non-stop Oma drama.

I was bothered to see everyone point the finger at Stephen Baldwin. He was the only one who stepped up to the plate and took control. It’s usually Trace Adkins that comes up with the big ideas, but perhaps he was thrown off because he was the focus of the advertisement. He is still my favorite.

I laughed the hardest when I heard Omarosa claim that she felt her voice was not heard. I have experience with the big O and I can tell you this much: when she wants to be heard, she is heard. She survives another day.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

Bill Says: No QVC Ladder for Me

2008-02-22T18:30:44Z

Hi Everyone,

I have to say that I would not have chosen the ladder to sell on QVC. Losing the coin toss was a blessing in disguise for Empresario; the vacuum was a much better product and easier to sell. Everyone needs a vacuum—I think I have three of them in my house—but not everyone needs a step ladder. Most times, I just pull over a chair when I need to reach something.

The fact that Hydra didn’t know about the easy pay plan hurt them. I think that, coupled with the poor product choice led to Hydra’s defeat.

Empresario’s QVC segment was like watching something in slow-motion compared to seeing Marilu Henner’s high energy infomercial. Trace Adkin’s voice has such a calming effect—I think he may have hypnotized the viewers.

Stephen Baldwin had a nice brainstorm when he came up with the easy pay system for his team. He is becoming a steady contributor to the tasks each week.

Did you see the previews for next week? Just in time for Spring Break!

- Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

Who Should Be Fired Next?

2008-02-22T15:54:16Z

BILL SAYS: I Called It

2008-02-15T15:47:47Z

Hi Everyone, I must admit that I called it -- halfway through the boardroom I had a feeling that nobody was going to be leaving. I liked the way Empresario stood together both during the task as well as in the boardroom. They set an example that Omarosa and Piers Morgan should follow. I was glad to see that nobody got sent home.

I could not stand to watch the bickering between Omarosa and Piers for one more minute. I am so relieved that this episode was only an hour and not the two- hour special! I do think that Omarosa was hitting way below the belt when she repeatedly brought up what a bad father Piers is. Piers, on the other hand, was letting her get to him. As Project Manager he should have risen above and not given in to the name- calling.

I think that if Hydra lost this task, Omarosa would be packing her bags right now. First of all, she did not bring in any money, and I could tell that Mr. Trump did not like the things she said about Piers. Therefore, she was saved by this win.

Next week looks interesting, with the teams changing again, things are going to heat up even more.

Have a great weekend,

Bill

EREKA SAYS: You're... Not Fired

2008-02-15T15:09:41Z

I never thought I’d say this, but I feel for Piers Morgan and team Hydra. This particular episode hit home for me. During season one not only was Omarosa constantly creating tension amongst the ladies but she also went after me in a very vicious way. In my case she pulled the race card and claimed I said something that I never ever said. Fortunately Donald Trump supported me.

When Omarosa feels that she has lost control she’ll do just about anything to regain it. I happen to agree with Piers on this matter… leave the man’s family out of it. Her statements were disgusting and inappropriate. I’m sure Omarosa has done her research on all of the celebrity contestants and has dug up dirt on each and every one of them, but she should heed the saying “don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house.” It’s a shame; Omarosa is a smart lady with an extremely ugly personality. She is not a good example of how a successful businesswoman should behave.

Enough about Omarosa, I love Trace Adkins. He is incredibly earnest, graceful and polished. I also love Marilu Henner’s energy and thought her champagne idea was very smart. I was thrilled to see the team stick together in the boardroom and I’m glad that Trump did not force them to point fingers. I would have loved to see Trump donate $7,000 to Impresario and then fire either Piers, Omarosa or both!

Predictions: 1. Omarosa will lay low next week, 2. Piers will continue to create tension on his team and will be fired if his teams loses.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

BILL SAYS: Surprised Stephen Baldwin Wasn't Fired

2008-02-08T20:15:24Z

Hi Everyone,

Wow, tonight’s show flew by compared to the two hour special last week. First of all, I think if this had not been Celebrity Apprentice, Mr. Trump would have fired Stephen Baldwin when he went in to resign. It is part of business and life dealing with difficult people like Piers Morgan, and you just can’t walk away when things get difficult.

Once again, Trace Adkins hit a home run with the slogan he came up with for the Vera Wang Serta mattress. He has been strong and steady throughout every task and many times has acted as the “voice of reason” for his team. I like his style and think he will go far.

Omarosa did a couple of things right in the boardroom. First of all, she took Mr. Trump’s advice and did not bring in Stephen when he warned her not to. Because of that, she brought in Nely Galan and what we get is another week of Omarosa.

Hope you all have a great week,

Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

Who Should Be Fired Next?

2008-02-08T16:55:42Z

Which male celebrity should be fired next?

Which female celebrity should be fired next?

EREKA SAYS: Trace Adkins is Hydra's Secret Weapon

2008-02-08T13:34:09Z

In previous episodes I noticed that Donald Trump did not think highly of Nely Galan. I believe he blames her for Gene Simmons' firing. Give a girl a break. She worked hard at each task and stepped up to the plate when necessary. I don’t quite understand the reason for her firing. Again, I would love to have witnessed the entire boardroom scene (remember they generally last for 1 to 2 hours). I’m guessing that there were harsh words exchanged between Nely and Trump. Nely seemed to give in to the fact that Trump just didn’t like her. Also, how did Stephen Baldwin get away with being absent for half the task?

I will say that I was completely bored by Impresario’s Vera Wang Serta display. It was a prime example of “playing it safe”. While their execution may have been flawless, creatively they took no risks. At first glance it just looks like another Vera Wang bridal display.

On the other hand, Hydra’s display was incredibly creative. I loved the concept of timeless romance! Hydra’s concept was “out of the box”. They developed a clear way to brand Vera Wang’s new Serta comforter and thought of an amazing umbrella slogan to incorporate everything Vera stands for... comfort, elegance and most important, romance. I was so impressed with Trace Adkins! He only speaks when he has something really important to say (I wish I had that talent) and when he does, his team has learned to listen. I also loved watching Tito Ortiz arrange flowers... I wonder if that how his girlfriend Jenna Jameson likes them? Job well done boys!!

I can’t wait until next week when the two hot heads tear each other up in the boardroom. If Hydra wins, I believe that Tito, Trace and Lennox Lewis will unite against Piers Morgan, and if Impresario looses, the women will unite against Stephen.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

Bill Says: Was I Watching The Sopranos?

2008-02-01T20:09:16Z

Wow, was I watching an episode of The Sopranos or The Apprentice? I am sorry Vinny Pastore resigned from the competition. I enjoyed watching him work. I do think he could have stuck around longer if had he wanted to. In the boardroom, Mr. Trump was looking for a way to let Piers Morgan go, but clearly Vinny did not want to stay.

I think Vinny resigned because last week, as project manager, his team won and he received a $20,000 check for his charity. At this stage of the game, why continue if you are not having any fun? He didn’t want to deal with the conflict between him and Piers anymore, so he decided to go home to be with his family. Remember, these people already have careers and their motivation to stay is much different than mine was during Season One.

Trace Adkins came up with a real winner with the “wear them share them” logo for his team. I like the way he sits back and doesn’t talk unless he has something important to say. A lot of people can learn from his style.

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Bill

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC

Ereka Says: Rehearsed Interviews?

2008-02-01T13:52:15Z

I am so confused. As far as I’m concerned this episode spiraled out of control. So Vincent Pastore was a spy, then a double agent and finally just a quitter. Piers Morgan (pronounced Pierz) attempted sabotage (or was it espionage?) and ended up handing the women their first win. Donald Trump’s face after Vincent resigned was priceless... he seemed confused, as were we all.

One thing is clear: Pierzzzz is a royal pain and may go down as being more obnoxious than my dear friend Omarosa. Speaking of Omarosa, as a viewer I hate when I can tell a contestant is acting. This is supposed to be a reality television show, not a scripted drama. Her interviews are so rehearsed. During this episode I became very aware that most of the contestants are performers... unlike your average reality show contestant, they know how to work the cameras.

I’m not sure that there were any real business lessons in this episode? The girls clearly had a more eye catching display and had a very thought out concept. Hydra had a great slogan, an average campaign, knew how to talk dollars and cents with the executives but did not have the “wow” factor.

I do like the way Carol Alt led her team. Her conduct in the boardroom was extremely professional and she seemed to manage the huge personalities on her team.

So what’s next? I think it’s the beginning of the end for the men. I think either Nely Galan or Piers will be the next to go.

You can see Bill and Ereka on In the Loop with iVillage Monday-Friday 12pm/11am Central on NBC