Amazing Race - Birthday Bust

This was so much like a soap opera, it was great! There was suspense, there was back stabbing, there was action, ok so it's like most episodes. Nate & Jen started out by saying they have been playing nice, since when! Then you have Nick saying that he and gramps have been playing the game like bitches. Jen started out so happy because it was her birthday and seemed all happy with Nate. Now, we all know that won't last. The next clue was to take a taxi to a Floating Garden in a building with a hole in it. Not real good with the clue this time. Father Ron and Christina, as well as the other teams, found it pretty quickly. It turned out to be an observatory. Good thing TK took the lead on this one since Rachel wanted to take the elevator down. It looked like the serene team was getting on each other's nerves but, it didn't last long and they were soon back to their Kum-by-ya selves.

After the Floating Gardens, the teams were off to Taipei, Taiwan or as Nate kept saying, Ta-pie. At the airport, Christina pulled a Boston Rob and asked the ticket agent to say the flight was full. Jen over heard and started yelling at the agent saying you can't listen to them! I loved the "who me?" look on Christina's face. Nate & Jen did not make the flight and even fell behind TK & Rachel when they arrived in Taipei. Rachel made the comment that Jen was pissed, when is Jen NOT pissed? She told Nate she couldn't believe how mean he was being to her and he hadn't said a word! Gee, sounds like last week when she accused him of pushing her into the cab.

The car seesaw challenge would have made me sick. Looked like father Ron was not real happy about it either. After that, they had to drive underwater for 17 seconds. Father Ron and gramps both looked like they would rather be anywhere but there at the time even earning gramps a bleep when he expressed how he felt. The other teams cruised through. TK & Rachel came out behind father Ron & Christina only to find the dreaded speed bump. In the speed bump, TK & Rachel had to don safety suits and run through a barrage of fireworks. TK said it was like running through a war zone.

While on the train to their next stop, Jen complained (go figure) to Nick and gramps that they work their butts off and TK & Rachel are slackers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't all the teams do the same challenges? I know Jen, it's not your fault sugar, the other teams don't do as much as you! I love it that Nick went right to TK & Rachel and told them about what Jen said about them. Way to stir that pot Nick! All teams chose the "Earth" challenge and had to find Youth Park. Jen talked to some locals who said to take the subway because traffic was bad. Not listening to Nate, Jen plowed ahead to the subway. The other teams took taxi's and found the park. When they couldn't catch a bus to the park, Jen blamed Nate saying he needed to step up and make decisions. Would she even listen if he did? So now they are back to hating each other.

Father Ron & Christina came in first with Nick and gramps edging out Nate & Jen which sent me jumping out of my seat for joy! Coming in last, Jen tried to tell Nate that they were not thinking about their relationship only the race while Nate started crying. I hope he was crying in frustration that he didn't pick a better team mate! Then the touching moment when Nate picked up Jen in a big bear hug. Gag me! If those two stay together after this, they deserve each other! Looks like father Ron really is changing his ways, he is much more enjoyable to watch with his new attitude. 5 backpacks to say GOODBYE to Jen! Oh, and Nate.

Double D

I can't believe that we are approaching the end of this season's Amazing Race and sure enough, it did not disappoint. As the teams are about to leave lovely Osaka, we learn that it is Jen's birthday and all is well with the world-but wait......it's still early. When Nate learned they were going to Taiwan, he said he didn't know anything about Taiwan, but that he does love Thai food-Thaiwan-Thai food close, not! wrong country Nate! The birthday bliss did not last long, while at the airport trying to make reservations, Nate interrupts Jen with the ticket agent and Jen explodes telling Nate that "I can't believe you're being mean to me on my birthday!" Waaa! Jen manages to keep up her tense stress level throughout the entire episode, seething below the surface every time they ran into TK and Rachel.

Ok, I admit it, TK and Rachel are behind and that's where I wanted them to stay-Jen said it best when they all caught up at the airport, that she wanted to rip those dread out of his head-ouch! My thoughts exactly-I'm sorry. They just bug the tie dye out of me. And Rachel, I don't think she has a clue in her head, best she listen to TK because her feelings are all wrong, like how she wanted to stay on the ground when looking for the clue at the floating gardens-hum, floating could mean air bound no?

How is it at the road block, father Ron and Gramps are chosen to do the car ride? Did you notice how the older contestants had the look of fear in their eyes, while the younger contestants were laughing their heads off with glee. Just goes to show you that as you age you lose your ability to enjoy anything death defying. I know this because I will never, ever go on that plunging water ride at Knott's Berry Farm, with the vertical dive straight into a pool of water again! I thought that father Ron would leave the truck-his mouth was a constant whoa, whoa, whoa, but he did emerge from the water jeep ride and said that was refreshing.

And who thought up that insipid speed bump, running through a bunch of firecrackers, why I have done that same thing at San Francisco's Chinatown New Year's parade (only without the fire suit). TK and Rachel managed to finish everything in record time in their slow mellow way.

Once again Christina's trilingual ability helped them make their way through Taipei, helping them translate the Chinese characters at the bottom of the tea cup. All three teams chose the best detour to do the walk challenge, which at first I thought it was to walk on a bed of hot coals, but it turned out to be sharp stones. Father Ron's feet must really tough as leather because he said it really didn't hurt him much. Go figure, tough feet, tough exterior!

I don't know why Jen seemed to think that it was faster to take a subway and then a bus to reach the park, that turned out to be the slowest way and thus their final undoing as they yelled to each other in the street in fits of frustration. Jen does make some sense (am I really saying this?) that Nate needs to make a decision for once! Now if only Jen could keep her mouth shut maybe he could.

The last two legs seemed to be easy for father Ron and Christina, maybe knowing the language helped and once again came in first. I'm hoping for either Ron & Christina or Nick & Gramps to win this thing, because if TK and Rachel win, they'll just buy a VW van and cruise around America singing some Cat Stevens song.

As for Nate and Jen, as Phil says, you are the last team to arrive, sorry but you have been eliminated. Jen's commentary on their relationship is that they killed it, or in this case over killed it as she leaped into Nate's arms and wept. Ah, this is what TV's all about. -Single D

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

The Celebrity Apprentice-Premiere

After the insipid last season of Donald Trump's Apprentice, I wasn't holding my breath for this season's Celebrity Apprentice with a bunch of semi celebrity D-Listers. Who are these people? Jennie Finch, Tiffany Fallon, Nely Galan? Of course, I did recognize Marilu Henner and my favorite semi movie star Stephen Baldwin now turned reality star. Did I tell you I saw his brother Alec Baldwin and daughter eating lunch at the Topanga Westfield mall? But I decided to watch because the apprentice everyone loves to hate, Omarosa was going to be on the show (psst-I think she's had some plastic enhancements!).

Once again, it's the women against the men-or in this case who has the most celebrity clout. I had to laugh when the men were picking their name, Soprano tough guy Vincent Pastore said, lets call ourselves the "Ba Da Bing, Ba Da Bang Boys" and of course, Omarosa had to take the lead and spotlight and name her sassy self project manager. The first challenge was a simple enough, sell hot dogs from a vendor cart on the streets of NY. I think I distinctly remember Omarosa said not to use their celebrity status to sell the dogs-wrong! Celebrity sells-this is America. The guys on the other hand jumped right in with the celebrity thing as Gene Simmons pulled out his black book of numbers and started dialing for dollars. Towards the end, a frustrated Marilu called her contact who brought in $10 Gs. Who was the still wet behind the ears kid? Cute and he had money!

Back in the boardroom, the guys won, ya think! Gene Simmons contacts came through for him in a big way-something like $64,000 to $17,000, wow. I loved it when Nigel down Omarosa (or as Pastore said Ponderosa) by saying, I know you're famous, I don't for what. In the end, Tiffany could not swim against the sharks, Omarosa and Carol Alt and Tiffany was sent packing.

I think this season will be entertaining to watch because the contestants are more mature, more funnier, definitely more seasoned, have more life experience and are celebrities after all. I'm just wondering if their friends with money list is limitless for the coming challenges and I hope Vincent Pastore stays around for awhile, he's the joker of the bunch and will definitely give us good belly laughs dissing Omarosa. -Single D

Since the last Apprentice was so disappointing, I figured the Celebrity Apprentice had to be 100% better and it was. Most people will watch this just for Omarosa and she did not disappoint. She jumped from the starting gate saying she wanted to "go on record" to be the first project manager. All this before they even split up into their groups. Way to step up Omarosa!

After splitting into their respective groups and deciding who was going to be PM, introductions were made in the boardroom. When asked if she knew Stephen Baldwin, Omarosa said, "yes, unfortunately". What poise, what class!

It is going to be the classic girls against the guys with a very diverse group for both sides. The girls started off with Omarosa being all egotistic and confident and Producer Nely Galan bringing props in the form of hats to which she said would bring them closer as a team. Omarosa, rolling her eyes at the hats, became fast friends with Nely. Omarosa starts out winning friends and influencing her team by saying they won't be using their celebrity to sell hot dogs. When the other's voiced their opinions to the contrary, Omarosa rose to the occasion by saying, "I'm running this" and that they will use solid sales tactics to win. That's right Omarosa, you tell them, you're the boss and you won't take crap from anybody!

Meanwhile, the guys, having picked Stephen Baldwin as their PM, decided to use their celebrity to sell the hot dogs. Lennox Lewis, after saying he wasn't taking pictures with anyone, had his mind changed when Stephen told him he will if someone pays $25 for a hot dog. You go Steve! I laughed so hard when Gene Simmons make a reference to Hydra being the guardian to the gates of hell (it was Cerberus wasn't it?) and Vinnie Pastore said, "no, that was my exwife!". While getting the game plan together, Gene Simmons starts calling his buddies and asking, actually telling them, to come down and buy hot dogs for $5000. That's using your celebrity!

The guys got off to a slow start, Piers didn't help them by turning down sales because he didn't think they were paying enough, but the competition heated up with both teams getting contacts donating large sums of money. After telling her team not to use their celebrity, you would think Omarosa would thank Marilu for using her contacts. But no, she was too busy trying to get Tiffany to go out and flaunt herself to get people to buy hot dogs. Great delegating Omarosa!

The guys pulled it out by making $52,000 compared to the girls $17,000. They donated their winnings, as well as the girls winnings, to the Carol M. Baldwin (Stephen's mother) Breast Cancer Research Fund. They also got to watch the boardroom antics from a "war room" via closed circuit TV.

While watching the boardroom, Gene Simmons calls Omarosa a cockroach "you can't kill a cockroach". They keep trashing her as she tries to defend herself. The Donald rakes her over the coals after asking why she didn't use her team's celebrity like the guys did. She quickly recovers putting the attention on Tiffany who failed to use her one big celebrity contact which could have put them over the top. That's right Omarosa, Tiffany should be flogged for not calling Hef in your hour of need! After all, that really wouldn't count as using your celebrity, would it, that would just be calling a friend. Staying true to her friend, Omarosa praised Nely's work as well as Marilu's.

Tiffany failed to defend herself and came off as being quite naive and inexperienced. She heard the words so many aspiring apprentices before her have heard, "you're fired!" At least Omarosa will be around next week to defend her honor and, hopefully, help her team to victory! Double D