The Apprentice

Gavin Scott · Tue 27 May, 2008 21.57

Nooo!

Michael's gone.

Nick Harvey · Tue 27 May, 2008 22.18

Gavin Scott wrote:Oh, Nick has just agreed with me.

Errrrr?

Oh, that Nick.

Sorry.

Dr Lobster* · Tue 27 May, 2008 22.47

i do wonder how sophocles even got on the programme, it's just got no personality at all, no business acumen and no management skills whatever.

i'm not actually sure there is anybody left who i'd want to work with or manage myself, they might be able to sell things but as managers they seem to be lacking some fundamental qualities.

Gavin Scott · Tue 27 May, 2008 23.04

Dr Lobster* wrote:i do wonder how sophocles even got on the programme, it's just got no personality at all, no business acumen and no management skills whatever.

I simply can't imagine

Actually I think he's brimming with wide boy sales patter, and Sugar is all about selling. That said he probably is suited to selling advertising space - an environment where the customer is expecting a hard sell. Selling cars is similar, but like me he only knows how to be driven in one.

i'm not actually sure there is anybody left who i'd want to work with or manage myself, they might be able to sell things but as managers they seem to be lacking some fundamental qualities.

Lucinda has the type of personality I could work with, and she's a grafter. She's not ruthless because she's too empathic to cope with that type of thing.

I don't know what Sugar wants but she'd be an asset in the right company.

all new Phil · Wed 28 May, 2008 13.50

I'm glad Michael's gone, I was getting bored of his self-pitying and pretend naivety.

I hated her at first, but I'm really warming to Helene. She just seems to get on with it, although I can't see her getting past next week. Lucinda is still the most fabbest thing ever though - the lack of a brightly coloured beret this week upset me however.

Only 2 will survive next week - I'd love it to be Lucinda and Helene in the final, although I have this horrible feeling it will be Alex and Claire, neither of which I particularly care for. Alex is just horrible. I can't see Lee getting to the final.

Gavin Scott · Wed 28 May, 2008 14.40

all new Phil wrote:I'm glad Michael's gone, I was getting bored of his self-pitying and pretend naivety.

Well that's his shtick isn't it. In his defence he's not fully cooked yet. I'm sure he'll grow out of it.

I hated her at first, but I'm really warming to Helene. She just seems to get on with it, although I can't see her getting past next week. Lucinda is still the most fabbest thing ever though - the lack of a brightly coloured beret this week upset me however.

I can't bear Helene. She's devious. She'd be fine if she was on your side but a total fucking nightmare if she wasn't. She's a corporate animal. No real world experience. She'd be the type to take you into a meeting room to discuss why you received personal emails saying, "Fancy a drink tonight?" I've been there, so I say it with some authority.

Only 2 will survive next week - I'd love it to be Lucinda and Helene in the final, although I have this horrible feeling it will be Alex and Claire, neither of which I particularly care for. Alex is just horrible. I can't see Lee getting to the final.

Claire is like the Badger. She's a hell of a saleswoman and she's not got that bitter streak I see in Helene. I wouldn't be surprised if she made it through to the end.

Alex is a waste of space. Lee just wants to be liked, but he's not very effective. The way he managed Lucinda was attrocious.

As much as I like Lucinda I don't think she's right for Amstrad.

I'm tempted to get my pal to ring Lucinda and find out the outcome, but I'll wait. To be honest she's got further in the competition than she implied she had, so maybe she's keeping it secret from her friends too.

Jovis · Wed 28 May, 2008 14.44

Wikipedia says...

Two versions of the final boardroom sequence are filmed — showing each of the finalists winning. Between filming and transmission — a period of about six months — both finalists work for Sir Alan in temporary jobs. Sir Alan does not reveal his decision about who is he is going to hire until shortly before transmission, and this determines which ending is shown. The BBC has issued contradictory statements about the decision procedure. The first version of events is that Sir Alan makes his decision on the day that the final boardroom sequence is filmed, based on the contestants' performance in the final task, and keeps it secret until just before transmission.[26] The second version is that Sir Alan decides after the six-month trial period.[27] Former contestant Saira Khan also stated that "His final decision is not based on the programme that people see. His final decision is based on these two people [who] have been working with him for the six months."[28]

wells · Wed 28 May, 2008 15.55

Jovis wrote:Wikipedia says...

Two versions of the final boardroom sequence are filmed — showing each of the finalists winning. Between filming and transmission — a period of about six months — both finalists work for Sir Alan in temporary jobs. Sir Alan does not reveal his decision about who is he is going to hire until shortly before transmission, and this determines which ending is shown. The BBC has issued contradictory statements about the decision procedure. The first version of events is that Sir Alan makes his decision on the day that the final boardroom sequence is filmed, based on the contestants' performance in the final task, and keeps it secret until just before transmission.[26] The second version is that Sir Alan decides after the six-month trial period.[27] Former contestant Saira Khan also stated that "His final decision is not based on the programme that people see. His final decision is based on these two people [who] have been working with him for the six months."[28]

I've often wondered why they don't have a live final boardroom sequence.

Gavin Scott · Wed 28 May, 2008 16.05

They do it live in the states, don't they? I remember seeing the boardroom set with the "fourth wall" flying out to reveal a packed auditorium. There was a presenter doing a piece to camera before Trump did his final summing up and decision.

The whole thing was a bit sloppy, and it didn't work very well for me (apart from the clever set change), so I would rather see something that's been through the edit suite and has a suitable soundtrack dubbed on.

Its a very polished show so I think it needs a polished finale.

Sput · Wed 28 May, 2008 16.26

Gavin Scott wrote:a suitable soundtrack dubbed on.

I've not seen the show, but is that soundtrack just a bottom E held down on a synth for 5 minutes? Longer note = more dread, as we know!

Gavin Scott · Wed 28 May, 2008 16.40

Sput wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote:a suitable soundtrack dubbed on.
I've not seen the show, but is that soundtrack just a bottom E held down on a synth for 5 minutes? Longer note = more dread, as we know!

That's the one. But last week they added a "shock" sound as Raef was booted. It matched my shrieking sound. I was very impressed.