Richly Deserved: The Apprentice: Los Angeles Episode 6-3

Previously, Carey designed a pink swimsuit. Carey modelled it with much flair. Carey got ridiculed for it. Carey tried to blame Michelle for their loss. Carey is fired.

Now, Carey tried to justify the pink swimwear to everyone including our own Roxanne. The only thing I want to know is: Did Carey’s explanation cause Roxanne to roll her eyes?

Anyway.

The team decided to nickname Michelle “Johnny” because she’s so annoying. I don’t get it either. Tim says Michelle creates tension in the group. Michelle and Nicole return from the boardroom. Heidi meanwhile informs her team that Carey is fired and talks about the team’s frustration with Michelle. The campers describe how tough it is at camp.

THE TEAMS
With Carey’s departure leaves us with …
Kinetic: Heidi, Derek, Aimee, Marisa, Angela, Surya, Muna, Jenn, Kristine.
Arrow: Frank, James, Aaron, Stefani, Tim, Michelle, Nicole.

THE TASK

Teams meet at Loews hotel in Santa Monica. Kinetic is dismissed to enjoy a spa day at the hotel. Arrow splits into teams and Trump asks for project manager volunteers. Aaron and with a long pause, Michelle step up. Michelle picks Tim, Nicole, and Frank. Aaron picks James and Stefani. Don Jr. makes his first appearance and tells the teams they will create a Star Line Hollywood bus tour complete with a double-decker tour bus. The most creative tour as judged by a focus group of tourists, wins.

James suggests getting the Laker Girls for Aaron’s team. Michelle meanwhile is looking for consensus. Frank tries to drag the others into the consensus. They are setting up “A day in the life of the rich and famous.”

Kinetic meanwhile enjoys their spa day. Derek imitates a shamu in the pool then they settle down for breakfast. Kristine doesn’t care what the other team is doing.

Aaron’s team comes up with an idea to take people to locations where famous movies were shot and James in supremely confident.

James did some focus group work by taking a Hollywood tour. The tour was led by an operator making really bad jokes. Not only that, but James noticed there were no refreshments on the bus.

Kinetic is back by the pool then they get their rub downs. Marisa says the days off will help them focus in their next task.

Michelle plans the tour route. They drive up and down Hollywood and find that the place is, rather dumpy. They head to Beverly Hills but get no real ideas. They head back to Hollywood. Nicole and Frank meanwhile decide to get tuxedos and do banners for the bus. They have no confidence in Michelle, and for good reason. Late into the night, Michelle and Tim still do not have a plan.

Aaron’s team work all night coming out with a route but do get some rest when things are under control. Michelle tries to keep her team awake all night and she and Nicole get into an argument. Michelle is looking really bad at this point.

Aaron’s team is on their way with their “Famous places, beautiful faces” Star Line bus tour, complete with Laker Girls. The girls sign photos for the tourists. Refreshments are on the ready. Ivanka joins them. James conducts the tour and is loud and full of energy, perhaps too loud. He also doesn’t do a lot of describing where they are. James and Stefani are worried.

Michelle emcees her tour with Don Jr. on the bus. She completely didn’t have a clue. Neither did Tim. The microphone was also working poorly. They pass by a hotel and mention that’s where John Belushi died of a drug overdose. Tim regretted bringing that trivia up.

Stefani took over the microphone duties to give the patrons a break from James more than anything else. Aaron was very pleased with her. Stefani was really great.

Michelle thought their trip was a bit of a disaster but thought some of the tourists might have sympathy for them.

THE RESULT

Aaron’s team: Aaron is confident and got votes of confidence from Stefani and James. Aaron’s team approval rating, 82%

Michelle’s team: Trump asked how Michelle was as a project manager. Tim said “She has her moments.” Nicole said no. Frank said Michelle had trouble making decisions. Michelle’s team approval rating 58%.

Trump tells Aaron’s team that they get the mental reward of the satisfaction that they won. Come on, Trump. At least give them a gift certificate for In ‘n Out Burger.

Rather than waiting to be called back to the boardroom, Michelle addresses Trump. She says this process has been tough for her and she would never have signed up for this if she knew she was going to be living in a tent. She has decided to quit.

Trump said he was amazed that only one other person had quit (Verna, in season 3). Trump berates Michelle for quitting and tells her she’ll personally regret this decision. Don Jr. asked what she learned and she replied that she wants to keep her integrity. Trump berates her some more but accepts her resignation.

BACK AT CAMP: The team is angry with Michelle and the others on the team are afraid that they might still be called into the boardroom and fired over her decision to quit. However, they get a call telling them the boardroom is cancelled. They celebrate.

MICHELLE:
This may have been no more than someone expecting the process to go one way and when it goes another, being unable to adapt to the challenge. She stepped up to be project manager, mentally and psychologically unprepared and her performance proved that. People will argue she didn’t want to hear “You’re Fired”. I’m sure there’s truth to that. At least she can sleep in a bed again.

Next week: Trump really gets mad and we get our first Apprentice romance (isn’t the term “showmance”? – Kevin) since Sean and Tammy last season. At least there won’t be any football on the opposite channel to disrupt things.

Sir Linksalot: The Apprentice