Apprentice Losing Its Magic?
Trump’s Apprentice is Losing Its Magic is the Ad Age headline. Well, all I can say is about time!
Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” is showing serious signs of exhaustion. Ratings and ad dollars are on the decline at the NBC/Mark Burnett franchise, and media buyers grumble that its heavy reliance on branded entertainment tie-ins threatens to turn the show into an infomercial.
I admit, I watched the show a few times out of either curiosity or consideration (a visiting friend was addicted). And, I have a perverse appreciation for the Donald. He’s a tremendous fake, but - um - a real one. However, having spent my fair share of time in boardrooms (complete with CEOs with giant egos and bad hair), I find the show both silly and depressing. It reinforces the godawful behaviors and reward systems that make real-life business so difficult and ineffective.
I finally called it quits for good after watching a boardroom cat fight between two big-hair blondes in heavy makeup, stilettos and tight skirts.
I suppose the show could be thought of as a learning experience. As in learning what NOT to do, in business, team management, and advertising.
Tags: Apprentice, advertising, blogher, nobodies
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April 24th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Ah yes, what to do when accomplishment is replaced by drama…? Who didn’t enjoy the first couple of seasons of the Apprentice? I even used Season 3 as an assignment for my grad students - each task seemed to fit perfectly with my planned lecture topics. But season 4 and 5 have been dismal. The D really had no room to blast Martha for her version (albeit equally dismal). Why? The first 3 seasons were accomplishment driven. The honor was there to win the top spot. It seemed to be about winning, about getting things done, about accomplishing. Granted, in a reality show, there’s going to be some drama, but when the drama overshadows the accomplishment, then it’s time to move on. Donald gave the public at large a glimpse at corporate life (maybe his version, but a glimpse nonetheless). Now it’s time to look for the next purple cow.