US
Reality
TV series
2004

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I'm not a big sucker for reality shows. I watched the first Survivor, got sucked in, but that was enough for me. The better shows, like Survivor, are a little like playing computer Solitaire; mindless, addictive, and a very big time trap. When I have time for hobbies, I'll play computer games and watch reality shows.

But after hearing some radio chatter about one episode of the Apprentice, I had to check it out. What the heck. Let's see what Mr. Trump has come up with. And a big ole sucking sound entered the living room.

It's interesting. They've got a good selection of personalities to watch, but the shows we've seen so far also have underlying lessons that the viewer probably gets more than the players. For example. These groups of entrepreneurs, PhD candidates, MBAs, and self-made business people had a very easy first task. It's New York City, they have $250, and they have to sell lemonade.

That's it. Back to basics. Sell the most lemonade on the street in New York City.

The teams were divided up into two, and Mr. Trump decreed that it would be men versus the women. It's hot. It's New York City. Guys are in suits, and the gals started out in suits. Hey, guys, sex sells. Much better than trying to sell lemonade next to a fish market. Thus the first lesson: location, location, location.

Suffice it to say, the guys did pretty well, doubling their stash by the end of the day. They looked pretty smug as Mr. Trump then asked the gals how much they made. Those smug looks went buh-bye when the women announced that they'd made over $1,200.

Selling lemonade, on the streets of New York City.

The winning team gets a taste of the good life (one reward was getting flown to Boston by private jet for dinner in a closed restaurant), and the losing team meets Mr. Trump in the board room -- and they have to bring their packed luggage with them. The team leader for that challenge must pick two others. Of those three, Mr. Trump fires one.

We've only seen two, however girl power had reigned supreme for the second episode (designing an ad campaign -- where the men failed to ask the company what they were looking for in an ad campaign) and again in the third (where the ladies again outsold the men, but have been given a strong suggestion that they're crossing the line on sex appeal in their tactics.)

What can I say -- I'm suckered. It's fun, there's things to learn, and I like watching how Mr. Trump and his lieutenants evaluate the contestants and make decisions on who to fire and why.