Apprentice *SPOILER*

[GheeTsar]

The right person went IMHO - while she had the cut-throat attitude Lord Sugar likes, I don't think she has enough people skills (despite the accolades) to get on well enough with other people in the business.

Jim really seems to have two sides; one which is unstoppable and a great candidate for winning, and another where he's floundering and looks out of his depth. Last night's show was definitely the former. If he keeps up at that rate he may win the show.

Susan is naive and too timid, but has some really good ideas. I can't see her winning unless she becomes more forceful.

Natasha is on borrowed time and I'm amazed she survived this task.

Tom could win it if, like Susan, he becomes more forceful with his ideas. But I'm not that will happen

Helen didn't do well in yesterday's task, but still could be strong contender

My finalists prediction is Jim and Helen.

[roachcoach]

Lordi Sugar embarrassed himself by letting the best candidate (Melody) go. She oozes success through drive and capability. Sure, she winds up some people because she's also a looker, but you can't let that influence you either way.

No, she tunnel visions and won't listen - that's the kind of person you do NOT want running a business.

It might be the kind of person you give a simple task to and micro manage...I don't know though, the only people who actually 'got' this weeks task were the two blokes, so she couldn't even follow that utterly obvious "Do this, this is what to do. See this? This here is WHAT TO DO!" directive. She went off on one.


You're right the other candidates are not great either, but he was definitely not wrong to fire her, if nothing else she should have been sent packing on the French excursion on principle alone. Lying to team mates, utterly ignoring the PM's precise instruction (an act which cost them so very dearly at La Redoute) those were unforgivable acts.



@TooNice: Tom has the best overall potential I think, but he really needs to start exercising some authority like...yesterday. Very astute, but too soft.

[Saracen]

....
Yeah, but what does she actually do?

She works with young people, having single-handedly established a world-leading global operation to provide consultancy to help people establish the necessary skills to achieve their vision, by establishing unique and interactive skills development training and provides support for young people to change the world on issues that are important to them.

Or in other words, excels at management technobabble.

Melody, in the unlikely event that you read this, I've a suggestion for you in the art of communication .... more meaning, less gobbledygook. More clarity, less ego.


And that global 'operation' that, in her own words, she "’til this day runs every single aspect of the company alone."? The limited company was established in March this year, a whole three and a bit months ago.

In other words, she provides some kind of "inspirational" personal development courses for young people, and gives motivational speeches at conferences. Well, good for her. And, no doubt, she's bright, well-educated and has had some success. But what winds me up is the way she presents things. It comes across as being bigged up to a phenomenal extent, and she seems to try to portray her company as some major multinational player, when as far as I can tell, the image she portrayed is entirely unsupported. Not that it's easy to tell, because the website for her "international" company is so slow that it either times out or takes ages for anything to appear. It took me over 10 minutes to get the home page. Much of the "100 countries" consists of a speech here and some training there.

Does she have things to be proud of? Probably, yeah. But what appears to be an exercise in ego-polishing is nauseating.

[Saracen]

...

Natasha? No. Just no. It's all wrong. The vacuous one who has sneaked under the radar.

Agreed.

....

Jim? Wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him; he is a duplicitous get. Watch your backs when that conniving sod is around.

I wouldn't trust him either, but he does have some of the hardness necessary to do well. But the main talent seems to be a glib charm that works well in sales. Sugar wants much more than a glib salesman and I'm not sure Jim's got it.

....

Helen? Got lucky to be on the winning teams and is starting to believe her successes have been something other than luck. Now she's bad-mouthing others she's starting to look cheap and ordinary,

Not so sure about that. But she did let herself down badly with the "retailer" strategy. I thought Sugar couldn't have been clearer about what the task was this week .... sell that crap, smell out what sells well, and buy more .... and repeat. And having stock left is no bad thing. it was all about identifying product, and building the business, so identify what sells, and who it sells to, match product to buyer and get on with it. But that "I ought to take over as PM" move was, on a couple of levels, pretty slick. I think she's playing a bit deeper game that it might first appear.

....

Susan? Has been poorly treated by virtually everyone and although she's made protestations, she should not have allowed herself to be bullied. But the only one I'd trust in the remaining heap.

Agreed. And several times, she's seen what's being done wrong and pointed it out, only to be either ignored or overruled. But that's a problem. Sugar wants someone with the drive, character and confidence to be able to run a business, and not get walked over. In a few years, I've got a feeling Susan might be quite a force, but I'm not convinced that she isn't just too young and a little too insecure at the moment.

....

Tom? That chinless wonder? I wouldn't have him on a till at Tesco's. He has zero personality and his creativity is laughable. "I'm gonna make a biscuit with a biscuit in the middle". ROAR!

For me, the jury is still out on Tom. He's pretty sharp, from what I've seen. Astute. But I'm not sure he's got the drive. He's not pushy enough. I suspect he's got the best business brain of the lot (maybe except Susan) but can he develop, and demonstrate, drive, determinate and resilience?

If Tom makes it as far as it as far as the interview round, it'll be enlightening to see how he copes with a drubbing from Sugar's attack dogs. For that matter, the same applies to Jim.

....

Lordi Sugar embarrassed himself by letting the best candidate (Melody) go. She oozes success through drive and capability. Sure, she winds up some people because she's also a looker, but you can't let that influence you either way.

Don't agree there. For me, this week, it was clear fairly early. Either Natasha or Melody ought to go, depending on who ended up in the boardroom and who didn't.

If I were Sugar, I couldn't face trying to get straight answers out of her. Was it Nick who pointed out to Sugar .... if you go into business with her, board meetings are going to be interminably long?

[Lowe]

Is it me or has Susan got a mouth like a cats bum?

[santa claus]

It might be the kind of person you give a simple task to and micro manage...I don't know though, the only people who actually 'got' this weeks task were the two blokes, so she couldn't even follow that utterly obvious "Do this, this is what to do. See this? This here is WHAT TO DO!" directive. She went off on one.

Nah, The Apprentice is set up to be adversarial, the tasks are designated for the best TV and it's no wonder that candidates get pulled apart. I don't believe you would need to micro manage that girl. She certainly exudes confidence even though she admitted in "You're fired" that when she appears to be at her most belligerent, it is usually when she is feeling at her most exposed.

This week Tom should have gone. He has the air of a simpleton and the demeanour of the socially inept. He couldn't lead a granny up a garden path.

She works with young people, having single-handedly established a world-leading global operation to provide consultancy to help people establish the necessary skills to achieve their vision, by establishing unique and interactive skills development training and provides support for young people to change the world on issues that are important to them.

Or in other words, excels at management technobabble.

Melody, in the unlikely event that you read this, I've a suggestion for you in the art of communication .... more meaning, less gobbledygook. More clarity, less ego.

And that global 'operation' that, in her own words, she "’til this day runs every single aspect of the company alone."? The limited company was established in March this year, a whole three and a bit months ago.

In other words, she provides some kind of "inspirational" personal development courses for young people, and gives motivational speeches at conferences. Well, good for her. And, no doubt, she's bright, well-educated and has had some success. But what winds me up is the way she presents things. It comes across as being bigged up to a phenomenal extent, and she seems to try to portray her company as some major multinational player, when as far as I can tell, the image she portrayed is entirely unsupported. Not that it's easy to tell, because the website for her "international" company is so slow that it either times out or takes ages for anything to appear. It took me over 10 minutes to get the home page. Much of the "100 countries" consists of a speech here and some training there.

Does she have things to be proud of? Probably, yeah. But what appears to be an exercise in ego-polishing is nauseating.

In the environment that is The Apprentice Telly Programme, all you're ever going to get are people who act the part for the cameras. Seeing beyond that is tricky especially because of editing but it did not conceal her quality. She has to 'big herself up' and whilst there are ways to do this without getting people's backs up, I believe she went for the only opinion that matters - Alan Sugar's.

I don't think his heart was in firing her; I think he saved her from the debacle that is about to follow.

Does she have things to be proud of? Damn right. She is an entrepreneur of the sort that ought to be celebrated by those engaged in technology for example because she's the sort to turn ideas into spondoolicks. Of course she has an ego but it is not over-bearing. She can't be a business-person without self-belief.

Her departure is a huge blunder and Melody, in the unlikely event that you read this, you have crossed the World to find success and you will find it here in your chosen home. I wish you well; you deserve it.

[foskee]

Is it me or has Susan got a mouth like a cats bum?

and a face like a dog's

I didn't know there was so much love for melody having been my familys most hated from the beginning! There was a nice bit in the latest episode where tom sat melody by saying no one actually knows what she does . Buttt I think toms too quiet and if he gets to the final he'll crumble trying to manager the larger group. Helen Jim final.

[G4Z]

dammit....

Dude, *spoilers* tag!!!!!!!

[santa claus]

Helen Jim final.

Pinching one of Saracen's words and adding one of my own - that'll be the glib against the glum. What a final, I'm wetting myself with excitement already.

Ladeeees an' genteeelmen, I give you your finalists:

Jim Glib
Helen Glum
Natasha Dumb
Tom I want my mum
Susan Young

dammit....

Dude, *spoilers* tag!!!!!!!

Sorry mate. Thought everyone would know by now.

[foskee]

Yeah exicting indeed... I'm still anticipating lord sugar playing a wild card and bringing 2008's raef back for the final!

[Spud1]

My finalists prediction is Jim and Helen.

Today, I'm thinking the same - out of the remaining candidates these two are the ones who will get through the interviews.

Both Tom and Susan will be ripped apart there, considering that both of them are far too timid and inexperienced - i'd be shocked in particular if Susan makes it through, I just don't think that she has what it takes, at least from what we've seen.

It's pretty clear that Natasha hasn't got a hope in hell at least.

Jim is very much too faced but I think he has what it takes, and Helen we just don't know about yet as she's managed to coast along nicely..it's become clear in the next few weeks I think.

[Saracen]

Is it me or has Susan got a mouth like a cats bum?

Dunno. I've never made much of an examination of the shape of cat's bums. I bow to your expertise.

[Saracen]

....

Ladeeees an' genteeelmen, I give you your finalists:

Jim Glib
Helen Glum
Natasha Dumb
Tom I want my mum
Susan Young

Class. True class.

That just has to be as succinct as it's capable of getting in describing the current state of play.

[MadduckUK]

[HSK]

Ahh facebook! & friends willing to sell ya pictures.

[Macman]

Imo Melody deserved to go out. She was all 'mine mine mine' I guess at the end of the day Lord Sugar knows what he is looking for in a candidate. Even at that, Melody will still be succesful @... what ever she does.

If she's determined, she might get another crack at it with Lord Sugar.

However I had to laugh at;

Susie "Do french people like their children?"

Jim ftw!