Celebrity Apprentice-It's A Dog Eat Dog World

First of all in my previous blog, I think I called Piers Morgan, Nigel because every Englishman is named Nigel right? I am loving this Celebrity Apprentice. There was a very touching moment when Stephen Baldwin gave the winnings over to his mother for the Barbara Baldwin Breast Cancer Foundation.

When this episode's challenge involved pets, I thought Omarosa definitely will not tolerate any kind of animal around her, she's too self involved to give to animals and all that fur, fleas and slobber. It was completely surprising that Lennox is a cat lover, who knew? When Nely started off her meeting with stretches and quasi yoga meditation, Omarosa and Marilu, eyes rolling, were not having any of it. As Omarosa said she's not into all that existentialism-oh kumbayawn! Smart move on the women's part to meet with the Pedigree official to assess what the client wants. I'm betting that Gene Simmons has never watched a previous apprentice (and in reality probably doesn't give a sh--! either), otherwise he would have known that the Donald would want the group to meet with their client before preceding. But NO! Gene definitely has his own way about how it should be done-his way or the highway. He was not going to waste any time meeting with some nobody of a big corporate dog food chain, no sir-oopsie! I thought right there and then the guys are toast! Typical guy thing, let's not ask for directions, let's just plow on. I loved it when Stephen Baldwin, batted his eyes and slyly asked the group who was going to direct the commercial-oh oh pick me, pick me! And what was that between Gene and Ivanka that led up to his curt dismissal of her and that crass gender remark that because of sisterhood she better not rat out the guys-she was pissed! Omarosa said it best in the boardroom that it was a personal attack on Ivanka's integrity-Omarosa point scored.

Throughout the filming of the women's commercial, Nadia Comaneci looked confused when she was told to get the crew some lunch-I'm thinking that the English translation of "what would you like for lunch" doesn't translate well in Romanian. Marilu again looked pained working with the "talent" (no-talent in my book). At least the commercial was a collaboration with the women, although Omarosa's most important comment during that was, do we have to use the slobbering Saint Bernard, she probably doesn't like slobber in any form. On the other side, it was more of a dictator state, with Gene and Baldwin calling the shots which almost created a mutiny on the bounty-guys will be guys.

And what's up with Nely, will someone give that girl a Valium or something, she's like a rabid pit bull. When the Pedigree rep saw both commercials, I knew instantly that he liked the guys better. I could just tell that the women's commercial was sloppy and not cohesive and once again, the women did not use their celebrity to sell the product-uh women-WAKE UP! Jeez. If you got it flaunt it!

I was glad the men won, it was a better commercial, Lennox was perfect with the bulldog (great choice-because a chihuahua would not have worked) and the voice over by Troy Atkins was like Gene said, the voice of God. Even the vipress, Omarosa let out a chuckle of approval in the boardroom.

In the end, Nadia is too timid, too polite to be able to swim in the shark tank and was sent packing, back to her gym in Oklahoma. Goodbye Nadia, we hardly knew you-Single D

I'm not surprised that Nely stepped up for this after all, it is right up her TV alley. But when she started all of the deep breathing, hand holding, chummy chummy stuff, her main chum, Omarosa was taking a time out. At least Marilu participated she didn't like it but hey, she's a team player. I too thought good for the gals to meet with the client, isn't that what you are supposed to do?

No surprise that Gene "I am God" Simmons would not waste his time meeting with anyone let alone someone he is essentially working for. Being rude to Ivanka won't win you any brownie points either Gene. In his defense, he did apologize to Ivanka in the boardroom, he even took off his sunglasses while he did it, nice touch ;)

Nely must of been coming up with a contingency plan in case they didn't win the challenge because it looked to me like she was setting up Nadia saying how she does everything she is told but not very well. What did Omarosa do this time except complain about the dog slobber? Come to think of it, I didn't notice Carol or Jennie doing much of anything either. Omarosa did have a dog with her while they made their presentation. She was carrying the dog like it was her handbag. Maybe she was getting some ideas. Run puppy, run!!

While shooting their commercial the guys decide to get an outdoor shot of Lennox walking the dog. OK, so you have at least four pretty recognizable celebrities hanging around in NYC and you don't think anyone will notice? Right. I love it how Vinnie and Gene are trying to hold back everyone so they can get their shot, yeah, that will work. Back to the studio. What was up with Gene and Stephen sending everyone home. What, they are the only ones to contribute? Tito had it right, if they don't win, Gene could come back and say, hey, they were the ones who left.

In the end I thought the guys had a better commercial. The pairing of man and beast was perfect and Lennox has a nice smile, although the concept Piers had of a naked Lennox holding a dog might have worked too. You know a little strategic posing and, oh sorry. Anyway, the girls had a good idea but having it sound like the dogs were talking just didn't fly. I did like how it finished but it wasn't enough. And work-aholic Nely coming up with a radio spot and the internet ads, did I miss the client asking for these things? She probably would have done better had she not done those things and focused more on the TV spot. I have to ask, why did they wear those outfits in the boardroom? They all looked like a bunch of bumble bees.

The guys are getting pretty cocky with themselves, notice the little "low five" between Gene and Stephen while they watched the girls ad. And they all acted like it was a no brainer that they won. Check that ego at the door next week guys it will get you in trouble! I knew Nadia would not make it in the boardroom if the girls lost. She didn't stand up for herself and I don't think she would have been a good PM. It's back to the balance beam Nadia! Double D

Project Runway-Prom Dress-Prom Mess

Ok Heidi, that was very misleading when she said that the challenge will involve the most important night in a girl's life. I'm thinking wedding night-gasp! I hope it's not a wedding gown-who said that? But actually something more innocent, a rite of passage, THE PROM! Christian looked like a shocked poodle. Yes, Christian, prom dresses! I was thinking he didn't go to his prom, (because maybe he was too shy??), but it turns out that he did and they showed a very geeky picture to prove it. Very funny! Teenaged girls from a local girl's school were to be the models/clients and got to chose their designer. You know there is always one in every group, the Teen from Hell and this teen chose our poor poodle dog, Christian. He was intimated right from the get go because she wanted gold chains, lace, leather and whatever. Her tackiness terrified him, hey the girl just wanted some bling. Christian, she might out weigh you, but you are the designer after all-take charge! I loved it when Victorya's teen, Jessica, truthfully told her that she didn't have a choice, because she was the last one left, but hastily added that she liked her work, and when Ricky (and how many black and white caps does he have?) said that when in high school, he made his girlfriend's prom dress, that should have been a clue-ya think? Each designer was given $250.00 for materials, which I thought was very generous. I think the hardest part of this challenge was trying to incorporate what the teen wanted, plunging necklines and short hems and make it sensible, wearable and fabulous! But unfortunately, most of the designs were just ugly prom dresses. Color choice was a major problem for these designers. When I think prom, I'm thinking either old school, pinks, lavender, cream or new school, black, velvets or shimmering satins. Not a velvet in the bunch, where's Elisa when you need her? But ugly colors reigned, pea green and tomato red. By far the one dress that made their teen age by decades was Rami's, whose arrogance for his own design really turned me off. His attitude was, that is the way I design and I will not compromise-hey the girl is only 16 make her look 16 and not 56! Being a great designer means that you can design for any type of woman and if he didn't have immunity he should have gotten the auf with his pukie green dress. Maybe pukie green is the new black? The best color choice was Jillian's dress for Erika, a beautiful seafoam green and Sweet Pea's satiny cream dress, which was the ultimate prom dress, simple yet elegant.

In the end it was Kevin's baby doll red dress that did not make the judges cut-it was terribly unflattering to her figure, what was he thinking? She looked like a tomato. Seriously, I struggled with the choice between Kevin's and Christian's both were just awful and deserved the auf wiedersehen. Single D

Ah, teen girls and prom night, it brings back memories. Unfortunately for some of the girls, they will still have to go dress shopping! The girls got to chose their designer by looking through their portfolios. When Krista chose Chris, he told her that he would be scared after looking at his portfolio. It is all pictures of Chris wearing outrageous dresses with the bust lines all enormously enhanced. It was hysterical! I thought Krista's mother was going to faint when she saw it! Chris, for the second time in a row, made a very nice and conservative creation.

Meanwhile, poor Christian was stuck with a miss know-it-all who started sketching her own dress. I figured if she sketches it she should like it. But, of course things can't be that easy and she didn't like the dress. It was butt ugly! And speaking of butt's, it made hers look three times bigger which she definitely did not need. If our poodle dog had been a bull dog and tamed that shrew, he could have made a much better dress.

Rami decided to go to with his big bad self and came up with a flapper dress meets ancient Roman toga which aged his client 30 years! What was Ricky thinking with that color choice? You can't hardly see it! Thank goodness for the sequin trim at the waist or his client would look totally naked. I really liked Sweet P's dress although it could have used a bit more fabric at the top. Some of the mothers were nervous about their daughters wearing some of the dresses. If they only knew what their little girls really wanted, plunging neck and back, those mothers would be going to prom night with them!

Victorya also decided to design for herself and came out the winner. It was pretty nice, good choice of color and a modernized neckline. I don't like her and her ego but she did good this time and her client was very happy with the dress. Although, I don't think I would wear red shoes with it. We say auf wiedershen to Kevin and his cheap looking red dress. Too bad because I think he had some very good designs he just messed up too much this time around. Double D

Biggest Loser 5-Goodbye Brown Team

I used to watch The Biggest Loser when Caroline Rhea was the host. Whatever happened to her? Did she get too fat to host and thereby becoming a good candidate for the Biggest Loser herself? She was so funny, she was like family, someone you would want to invite to dinner. Now it is hosted by a slimmer, younger, blonder version of Caroline Rhea, Alison Sweeny. I guess she's alright and does make the appropriate sympathetic faces at the right moment. I missed the premiere last week so I am just familiarizing myself with the contestants. Already I like the Brown Team, Curtis and Mallory.

Right off the bat, Bette Sue of the pink team decided to eat Treadmill and did a face first on the rubber. I thought for sure she's hurt, I mean 200+ pounds taking a header on a piece of gym equipment, tell me whose going to win? But she's a trooper and kept on jogging.

That Hall of Truth showing video's of each contestant's consumption of food in a year, totaling calories, fat, sugar etc etc was like a nightmarish Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. The totals were astounding, who knew one could consume so much, it was scary!

But back at in the exercise room, there was alot of whining from Neill, crying that he can't do it any more-goodness-he shoulda won the Oscar for Best Whining During an Exercise Session. Scarlett, you will live to see another day. Jillian, the exercise guru is one tough cookie. You go girl, these people need tough love, especially Neill as he definitely has issues with his weight and his ability to move forward or at least to get moving at all.

That giant seesaw challenge looked fun-but a 100 times? I think even for the conditioned person that might be tiring. Good going to the black team for winning and then having to pick three other teams to give the phone cards to. I'm glad they gave it to the ones that have family.

Maggie and Jen were whining that they wanted the phone cards and it wasn't fair that just because the others have family that they should pick them-oh wa, want some cheese with the whine? You wait until you have children and are apart from them for any lenght of time, it rips your heart out. So I did have a momentary minute of weakness when the calls to home were made and the couples got to speak with their kids. I just hate it when adults cry!

The food challenge allowed each contestant to walk through a room of food and whoever ate the most calories would win $5,000. I seriously didn't think anyone would fall for that, but of course the devil on the shoulder of Mallory (she just ate a handful of candies) Mark and Paul fell to temptation. Paul's excuse (I think he called it a plan) was that he was allowed to eat at least 900 calories more for the day, I think that's his excuse everyday, that's why he has a weight problem. I think Mark just wanted to eat and so he did, cake, sweets, rolls....In the end Mark won the money beating out Paul by just a few calories (912 to 931 something like that).

At the weigh-in it was the brown team, my initial favorite team that was in the bottom 2 and I can understand why the other teams eliminated them, because they are a strong united couple and their return home would not signal an end to their commitment to exercise and lose the weight, unlike Paul and Kelly, the divorced couple. Goodbye Mallory and Curtis-they did look good with their progress at home, keep it up! One more thing, do the guys have to remove their shirts during the weigh-in...those man boobs are just wrong!-Single D

This is the first time I have watched Biggest Loser. The whole concept just never appealed to me. A bunch of overweight people trying to lose weight, got it. The first thing I noticed was that they never showed them eating (except for the food challenge) so we have no idea what kind of diet or restrictions have been imposed. All they show is the contestants working out, is that all they do all day? No wonder Neill was complaining, although it was annoying. Come on Neill, like Jillian said, people pay thousands of dollars to come to this place and you are getting it for free!

The see-saw challenge looked like fun! I thought they should have shown the contestants getting on the see-saw, that would have made for good TV! Paul said it was like steel dental floss up your butt. Yeah, those seats did look uncomfortable. Three teams made it to 100 with brothers Jay and Mark winning. I know it was hard for them to pick which other teams would get the calling cards. Of course everyone started crying thinking about calling home. Everyone has someone they miss and it is a good morale booster to get to talk to a loved one. But hey, not everyone could win so suck it up and try harder next time!

That hall of truth thing was an eye opener to some of the teams. That started everyone crying again. I'm sorry, did you think you got that big by eating lettuce and carrot sticks?!

The food challenge was whoever ate the most calories wins $5000. Only three people ate anything and what they ate was JUNK! Hello, did anyone see the meat and baked potatoes?! Those have calories and it's protein without all the sugar. Again, I go back to why they are the way they are. I would have been all over the steak and potatoes!

Biggest Loser is one big cry fest, one lazy guy (Neill) who to everyone's amazement keeps losing weight, and watching these people work out all the time. I'm glad these people are trying to get healthy but it's just not my cup of tea. I do like Bette Sue's facial expressions! Good luck to all! Double D

Dance Wars-Dance Bores-Premiere

Ok, Dance Wars was a little boring and alot more abbreviated than lets say American Idol with their constant air time of no talent losers-funny, awful, but losers no less. Dance Wars was only a three city stop, showcasing undiscovered talent or in some cases the talentless. There were some that could sing but not dance, there were some that could dance but not sing, and then there were those that could do both-why are some graced with talent and talent? Life's just not fair and here I sit in my dark, modest home office, in my flannel robe and tattered slippers typing and wishing I could do either one! Who knew Carrie Ann was so talented, choreographer to the stars, along with Bruno the UK equivalent. The two hour premiere quickly wrapped up the tour in Los Angeles, home of where stars are made or followed (if your Brittney Spears). Drew Lachey, the host, is somewhat lacking in the hosting skills as say Tom Bergeron, maybe he just needs some practice and an arsenal one liners-but he is a fantastic dancer, remember Dancing with The Stars? The final fourteen came out and danced at the end of the premiere and I guess next week they pick teams where they will get picked off one by one until only the final dancer is left standing. I'm a huge fan of "So You Think You Can Dance" with it's quirky crew of judges and immensely talented choreographers. Dance Wars will need to put a new spin on their dancing shoes to win viewers and keep them coming back otherwise, they will just be another high school talent show. And oh, why is it called Dance Wars, when they also have to sing as well, it should be called "The Ultimate Dancing and Singing Contest War Between Bruno and Carrie Ann Formerly Known As the Judges From Dancing With The Stars War"!-Single D

Amazing Race-Taxi your way through Osaka

First of all, let me say that the Planters commercial they showed right before Amazing Race began, had me from the first peanut! After that commercial I was craving nuts! So much so, I scurried to my pantry only to find toffee coated cashews leftover from Christmas which did help to calm my snack attack-thank you very much Planters! Finally an episode where father Ron manages to control his temper and as he said make a journey of change-well, let's see how long that last. It is inspiring to see two teams with older people on it, so there is hope for us Donna! Nick has proved his mettle by carrying Gramps pack-go Nick-you're learning. I just hope Gramps doesn't keel over and have a heart attack-he did look winded in this episode. Good for his age (69) but winded!

I thought for sure TK and Rachel had the better flight since it appeared that it left earlier than the other flight-only did we later learn that it had two stops-father Ron said it best to Christina when she was booking the tickets, it's not if the flight is direct (we know it's going there) but if it's non-stop-ah there's the rub! That proved to be TK and Rachel's undoing. They were completely absent from this episode with changing planes and all. I thought maybe they decided to skip the rest of the trip to braid their hair or tie dye tee shirts.

The taxi challenge was very funny although, I thought it would be challenging because the location was written in Japanese. We do learn that Christina went to some "high faluntin college"(Princeton) and yes Gramps she does speak Japanese, so they are one up on everyone, until we realize that Christina may be highly educated but she doesn't know how to drive! Good Grief!

Jen was only concerned about how she looked in her taxi cap and managed to drive with relatively little hassle, shucks! I had to laugh at Nick's good nature, asking his passengers if they were hot "we gotta keep the customers happy" and his infamous quote "it's easier to land a plane than drive in Osaka", but he did prove to be techno savvy with those mini soccer robots- can those robots clean my toilets?

And what about all those flowers? I think my head would have been swooning trying to sniff out the real flower, like Jen said she was getting lightheaded. In the end, the race was between Jen and Nate and father Ron and Christina. I loved it when Jen accused Nate of pushing her in the cab and the camera did an instant replay-Jen you're loony! Nate should have given you a good swift kick! I so wanted father Ron and Christina to out run Jen and Nate, just so I could hear her scream and cry and blame Nate, but in the end-she conceded like a wet puppy. Thank goodness for TK and Rachel this was a non-elimination round. Four backpacks!-Single D

Osaka, Japan! I just knew Christina would know Japanese! At least father Ron kept his put downs to a minimum this trip. The one time he did start to criticize her, Christina put him in his place fast. Good girl, you're learning. Like Single D said, we will see how long this "change" in father Ron lasts. TK needs to loosen up those dreadlocks, they must be cutting the flow of oxygen to his brain. Don't you know the difference between direct and non-stop?! At least ask how many stops you have to make. I thought sure TK & Rachel were going to get off the plane in New Delhi and stay there thinking it was Osaka. Jen seemed to be in an especially good mood when they left the pit stop (get a little somethin', somethin' last night?!). She was actually being nice to Nate.

As they all made their way through the streets of Osaka via taxi, Christina remarked how she would never drive there. Of course their first challenge was to drive a taxi with a couple going to the post office. Jen made the bright observation that all of the street signs were in Japanese. Jen, I'm sure if they knew you were coming they would have put up English signs just for you babe. After wondering how she looked in the taxi cap and gloves, Jen was pretty good at getting around. Without Nate to yell at, Jen can think! I just knew Nick would get lost after stating that he knew where he came from so that should give him a leg up on everyone, wrong! I agree with Christina, public transit is the way to go in Osaka! There was a tender moment in the station between father Ron and gramps. While they waited for their respective team mates, they shared a snack. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but I thought it was cute and showed very good sportsmanship. After completing the taxi challenge, Jen was telling Nate about it and found out he wasn't really listening and got all disgusted with him. I guess she just isn't happy unless she is fighting about something.

While on the way to the next challenge, father Ron & Christina get a taxi driver who starts some very labored breathing. Father Ron wonders aloud if the driver is going to croak. In the flower sniffing challenge, why did Jen put on her glasses? The rules stated, noses only! Meanwhile at the sense of touch challenge, Nick did OK in the robot soccer (you know those Japanese are better than that, they let them win). While showing gramps how to use the cell phone to manipulate the robots, Nick says "stop!" and gramp's robot promptly falls down. He eventually gets his goal, after the Japanese player has his robot fall down about 20 times. Just when it looked like Nate & Jen would finally come in first, they once again hit a snag. It may be in the editing but, it looked to me like none of the taxi drivers wanted to drive Jen. It must have been all of the screeching about how none of the drivers knows where anything is. Then father Ron & Christina come up and get the first taxi they come to. I was just happy that father Ron & Christina came in first. Jen didn't throw a fit like I thought. Wait until tomorrow when she has had a rest, I'm sure she will come out fighting and yelling at Nate!

Double D