The Apprentice: Season 10, Episode 1 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)
HOLY CRAP! For those who tuned in to see how an Iranian-American district attorney from Brooklyn would fare in Donald Trump's boardroom, they were not disappointed. Mahsa Saeidi-Azcuy was definitely front and center of the entire first episode of Season 10 of the Apprentice. But that might not be as good as it sounds.
After Trump's brief intro and the familiar theme music, we were gradually introduced to each of the 16 candidates. Dave immediately got sympathy for his life story, which basically boils down to his marriage to his high school sweetheart imploding in the wake of his disastrous economic woes, leaving their 5 kids together with an uncertain future. However that feeling was short-lived and his subsequent behavior left me wondering if there was not more to the story on why wifey left. Suffice it say that bratty, pouty tantrums are not just the domains of toddlers it seems. Dave honestly looks so full of rage all the time that I found myself wondering seriously if he was going to climb on top of the Empire State Building and start shooting below!
Although we are used to the first task being somewhat of a cutesy challenge like selling lemonade on the streets of Manhattan, as we saw in seasons past, this time, Trump jumped right into it, giving both teams (Octane, the all-men team vs. Fortitude, the all-women team) a challenge that he is an expert in: Real estate. Specifically, turning a vacant space into a "modern workspace."
I have to agree with Trump that in the end, the results were not up to par. Octane's workspace looked like a teenager's room, all with the bright colors and "artistic" (ahem) graphics on the wall. Not a very particularly hip teen-ager either. This maybe was considered cool in the 80s but definitely not today. Come on, people, you have a design task, at least pick up a couple of interior design magazines on your way to the furniture rental place! Or borrow from hip TV workplace shows like Ugly Betty or Mad Men (for that modern retro look).
And as for the women's team, oh my stars, they did NOT pick out that terrible painting of some creepy old guy to make it the centerpiece of their executive suite, did they? I mean when I saw that, I thought they were joking. But sadly they were not. As soon as I saw that, I was like, either Tyana is going down in flames for picking that, or Nicole is, for approving it as the Project Manager.
When everybody finally got to the boardroom, Mahsa suddenly exploded against Nicole, the project leader. Short of accusing her of mass genocide, Mahsa ripped into her like a bulldog on a meaty bone and would not let go. If this is what she is like in the courtroom, I think every criminal in Brooklyn watching her in action on TV got a sudden case of the colics! I actually felt sorry for Nicole even though I did not like her attitude as team leader and believed she was rightfully fired. But this was even before the women knew they had lost the task!
While Mahsa's fiery attacks ultimately succeeded in getting Nicole fired, I don't think it was the smartest move. First of all, she got Ivanka really peeved at her. It's not surprising that Ivanka would have a soft spot for Nicole, the ex-beauty queen from Stanford, as they both SCREAM sorority girl, silver spoon, prissy princess while Mahsa has got that street spunk and ambition that Donald is more likely to appreciate. Still, not a good idea to piss off the boss' daughter on the first episode.
Nicole was sufficiently inapt to dig her own grave without Mahsa coming on so strong. And by doing that, Mahsa assured herself a spot on the final 3 up for elimination in the boardroom, whereas it was not clear at all that Nicole had any big deal grudge against her prior to her outburst. This is never a good thing because we know how volatile Trump can be in his decision-making.
Traditionally, the Apprentice winners, or at least finalists, have been 'sleeper' types content to stand behind the scenes for half the season, before suddenly popping up towards the end, when they finally show their cards and wouldn't you know it, they have a full house. Mahsa, more of a poker face please, and watch your back! While we are proud of you for your passion and not sugarcoating things, please tone it down so we are able to watch you for more episodes. This came really really close, and it was too close for comfort.
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update: Mahsa resigns as Brooklyn ADA
by Niki Tehranchi on Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:33 PM PDTRead the Wall Street Journal article from October 1st:
//online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704483004575524850856918296.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Mouse jan, that site is not affiliated with NBC
by Niki Tehranchi on Sun Sep 19, 2010 09:50 PM PDTI just found the video on there. Only the NBC Site for the Apprentice has info on the contestants that has been verified. But you are right that a few websites have questioned whether she is or is not currently working as Asst. D.A. when I was doing my research pre-interview which is why I made sure that she would clarify. So there you have it :)
Niki jaan the boardroom link u provided said "former". 2nd para
by Anonymouse on Sat Sep 18, 2010 05:25 PM PDTEverything is sacred
She is.
by Niki Tehranchi on Fri Sep 17, 2010 09:43 PM PDTI don't know where Mouse got the information she is a "former" Assistant DA. Her bio on the official website says she works in the DA's office and when I asked her, she said the same. In fact, she was on a 20 minute break before rushing back to court. The taping is done but I think what happens with the Apprentice is that they tape the very last show, the one where they announce the winner, LIVE. So that the contestants find out at the same time as the audience who is the ultimate winner. So just because she is back at her DA job does not mean she did not make it far or even into the finals.
X, you have a good point that a lot of reality shows are very exploitative with the producers setting up the people and even scripting the "drama." In my humble opinion though, the Apprentice is one of the least exploitative and I don't think it's scripted. Though I do believe that they pick the candidates who they think will make the best TV, that is of course the nature of the beast. In any case, most of these contestants are not really interested in a career in Trump's organization but more interested in getting their foot in the door for a career in TV/entertainment business.
She is or is not?
by Doctor X on Fri Sep 17, 2010 09:29 PM PDTI thought the little intro said that she IS currently working in the ass, DA capacity?? which one is it?
Seriously though. I don't care what background these people come from and what glorious accomplishements have the had in their lives, The tasks that they are put up to are just plain old stupid and dumb. It is like someone is laughing his ass off at these guys running around and bumping into each other, ending up becoming each others worse enemies! All for nothing but pure entertainment purposes , not to mention Mr. Trump's chunck of change. I mean reallyy... What are they out there to prove?
Once an apprentice Always an apprentice particularly when you are in The trumpland!
I'll watch the clip later but half the contestants are lawyers
by Anonymouse on Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:27 AM PDTGranted she is "former" Assistant District Attorney but in her bio on the show they say and is obsessed with beauty, hair and style secrets.
WHAT?? Not that she is not beautiful, she certainly is exotic, but "obsessed with beauty"?! Come on! They should have given Nicole that obsession. I think the Producers are building her up for something.
Besides aren't these shows already taped? I thought in your interview she said she was away for 6 weeks. Was that just for one show or more?
I think in future episodes others will take a jab at her, knowing how she acted in the boardroom. and some of those jabs could be ugly nothing of "beauty"!
Everything is sacred
video of the boardroom
by Niki Tehranchi on Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:15 AM PDTBelow is a clip from the Boardroom last night. The most brutal line is when Trump says Nicole is a nice person and Mahsa responds people thought the Titanic was nice too until it went off into the ocean and sank to the bottom. I don't think the producers are setting up Mahsa. Remember she is a distric attorney in Brooklyn. My experience of prosecutors has been that they are very aggressive and outspoken. They don't mince their words.
//www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/17/first-apprentice-boardroom-reveals-this-seasons-drama-queen/
I hate these reality shows because they 'keshesh' so much!
by Anonymouse on Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:09 AM PDTThey keep asking for drum rolls to just say someone's name. More than half the time is spent on "... and the next contestant to go home is .... is .... really is .... definition of the word is IS .... is ... ISSSSS ... NICOLE!"
I think they're grooming her to be the next Amarosa, although I never watched her, just know she was bitchy. I mean think about it, which of those women came out swinging like she did and being Iranian too?! How many Iranians do we know who'd pick a fight with all these people when so much is at stake?
What is she going to do if one of them says something about her Iranianness? Is she going to go biserk?
I don't think I'll stay awake but will probably watch it on internet or re-runs. I watch some shows on internet and lately just on earlier hours when they re-run it again.
Everything is sacred
Next time you have to stay awake!
by Niki Tehranchi on Fri Sep 17, 2010 09:52 AM PDTLoL Hubby fell asleep too, before the best part, which is the Boardroom. Seriously, the tension was all too real. Very entertaining television. Haven't been a fan of the Apprentice for many years but this is a throwback to the first season, which was so exciting. I just don't want Mahsa to be the next Omarosa!!! She is so much more than that, a fun, smart and witty girl, and the only reason hubby and I tuned in this season.
I saw half of the show, thanks for the review
by Anonymouse on Fri Sep 17, 2010 06:37 AM PDTNiki jaan you forgot to post a link to your own interview which covered a lot! Hope to see more reviews for future episodes, although if Mahsa leaves I'll loose interest since I don't care for Apprentice really.
As for Dave I thought he was all worked up too and which unemployed person who is supposedly still paying child support for 5 kids has a $500 i-phone4 to use for filing his weekly unemployment benefit?!
Overall I thought they both screwed their projects with their leather (read peep show separators :-) walls and loose carpet on hardwood which made the photographers fall! I thought the men had a worse setup.
As for Mahsa she came out as being bitchy! I'm sorry but she was all dressed up in chemical suit cleaning the windows and bitching and moaning about it.
As for the project manager she had so much hair extensions going and she was a lawyer herself, wasn't she? She said she didn't become a lawyer to copy papers?! So now she's a hair extension saleswoman in a mall now?!
I think she definately deserved to be fired because she didn't "manage" anything. All she did was to allow a mix and match of all kinds of tastes which ended up being more like a massage parlor than a "work place"! And yes she didn't even notice Mahsa until she went ballistic on her in the end (from what I read you say :-)
Everything is sacred