..at least Donald Trump can say he still has his integrity.

I have slagged Donald Trump in this here blog a bunch of times. I think I do it because I don' t like the way (IMHO) he has morphed into a caricature of the guy I admired as an impressionable youth.

That being said I am nothing if not fair and I believe it is worth noting when someone shows integrity....so I figured I should mention something that happened on the last Celebrity Apprentice and why it impressed me.

So before I begin I should say that I am not sure why I am watching CA because like Celebrity Jeopardy, it doesn't seem as hard or as interesting and I won't even get involved in the speculation as to if half of these folks are even Celebrities but that is not what this post is about.

Ok so in the last episode things happen that find Gene Simmons (Project Manager of the all woman team) in the board room and when The Donald asks Gene "The Tounge" Simmons who he is bringing back he chose two people who had no direct result in the teams loss.

This put Trump in a weird position...."Do I fire the guy who is the only reason to watch the show and will probably kill my waining ratings...or do I fire one of these other two who had nothing to do with the team but by firing them I will keep Gene Gene the Dancing Machine on the Show"

This was a legitimate "tough choice" but I was glad to see Trump exercised integrity and fired the correct person....Gene Simmons......even if it does kill his show.

Oh well, Good for Trump. I am not sure if I will continue with the show...oh who am I kidding....I am still in as long as Jennie Finch is there.



-saul

Donald Trump knows a little something about sitting around

I sometimes think I should re-brand this blog as a "What's Donald Trump Doing Now" site because I talk about him a lot. Sure I mention every time that i used to admire him and yes I say I am sad at how he is nothing more then a caricature of himself now and yes I made fun of him selling meat but I can't find a single thing to say about his latest venture.

Trump Office (from Staples) is the luxury office chair line at an affordable price. I think a lot about personal brands and from where I am sitting (in a chair from IKEA) the TRUMP brand should never be about "an affordable price". I know Trump is a smart guy and I never question his intellect but I really wonder why he is so eager to attach his name to anything....he can't need the money but there has to be a good reason he is willing to dilute his name and personal brand to the point he has.

This will be the biggest and best post in the world!

Pardon my Trump like bravado in the title of this post but I figured it was appropriate since this post is all about "The Donald".

I write about him every so often and am usually critical because I am actually a little sad at how he has morphed from a New York real estate legend to a guy that seems that he will let you put his name on any product as long as the cheque clears.

I think this bothers me as much as it does because I used to really like him and was always impressed by his ability to make deals. I have read every book he has written (except for the last one) and even took a course at Trump University (for me it was a waste of time since it didn't challenge me and now it seems I will be spammed by them for ever) so I write this from a point of pseudo authority.

That being said....why am I writing about this now?

Well I was kinda taken back when I saw Mr. Trump on the cover of the Sharper Image Catalog pointing at a pile of steaks with an exaggerated smile the way Stephen Colbert points at his friends in pictures.



When a building has the Trump name you can make an assumption of the skill and attention to creature comforts that went into the building. What does the name of a builder or celebrity on a bunch of meat through the mail say?

....and on that note why are people buying meat through the mail? I know Omaha Steaks is a huge company and the steaks are apparently very good but so are the steaks at my local butcher shop and I don't have to wait for UPS to bring them to me.

I think the core of this post is that I wish people would do what they do best and not dilute their own brand. What is wrong with being the best at one or two things instead of being mediocre at several things therefor making the few things you are really great at not important anymore since everyone remembers the silly stuff like TrumpICE (water), Trump Vodka, Trump Air, Trump Suits and lets not forget the Trump Doll.

Come to think of it.....I want a Saul doll so I shouldn't talk about that one!

saul

P.S. You have to check out the personal message from Trump and hear him talk about how him steaks are the single greatest thing since the wheel

...but it is the #1 show in America

Reuters is reporting that the end may very well be near for The Apprentice. the show was not included on NBC's Fall schedule and while it hasn't been cancelled it very well may be if any of the new shows show promise.

Makes you wonder if Donald was exaggerating when he boasts about his ratings :)

saul

The Apprentice is over.....

So last night was the finale of The Apprentice. I have written about this before and have mentioned that is used to be one of my favorite shows etc etc. Well last nights finale was such an anti climactic letdown that I actually hope there isn't another season.

Sure it was the first year that the finale was not a two hour extravaganza but seriously, where was the drama? Where was the stunning conclusion?

This show would've played better on the radio since there was nothing visual to look at. I was surprised that in this season they focused so much (about 30 mins each episode) on the board room fighting and yet in the finale where these people are fighting for a very lucrative job making personal appearances and writing books and there was no fighting or even dirty looks.

This finale made me miss the days when the finale was a variety show and had the O'Jays singing the theme show while Regis Philbin co-hosts.

saul

More on the Apprentice.....

I have spoke about the Apprentice before and while watching last night I think I decided to stop watching in the future. Two things that hit me last night were this

Trump did his intro to the task and said (and I am paraphrasing) "welcome to the Chinese Grumman Theatre (sp?)......I should have my footprints and hand prints in cement outside because I am a bigger star then any of them...I HAVE THE #1 SHOW ON TV"

Has Trump not noticed that his rating have dropped every season since inception and he is far from the #1 show unless he is reading some obscure rating sku like #1 with shut ins between the age of 34-45 with Black and White televisions.

His phony bravado is too much for me and I think I am bowing out....too bad I am not a Nelson family.

The other thing that made me realize I am not interested anymore is the fact that they gloss over the tasks. I have mentioned this before but last night it hit me why this bothers me. Without seeing the people participate in the tasks I can't decide who did a good job and I can't get emotionally invested in any contestants. Why would I care who gets kicked off if I can't play along at home?

This show has gone so far away from what made it cool that I would be surprised if it lasts another two seasons...I say two because I think the next season is already filmed or will be doing so soon.....doesn't matter to me because I won't be watching.

-saul