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Original Message
"A question about "You're fired""
Posted by echidna on 08-09-06 at 11:12 AM
Sorry, I'm not really a fan of the show and I only catch it from time to time and see it in commercials, but I really couldn't find something about my question.

After 5/6 (3/4 in the PHilippines) seasons, I've always been bothered by Donald Trump's catch-phrase "You're fired!" That's what he says when he eliminates a contestant right? Now what bothers me is the repeated assertions on how the show is the largest or longest or (insert adjective) *job interview*. I know it's nitpicky but technically isn't it that Donald Trump can't actually "fire" the contestants because they're not "actually" working "for" him quite yet. In fact aren't they kind of unemployed? OR not. On the flip side, saying "Your application is rejected" isn't quite catchy and simply saying "Rejected!!!," although more catchy, is certainly quite abrasive or obnoxious.

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: A question about "You're fired""
Posted by mysticwolf on 08-10-06 at 02:07 AM
If I recall correctly early in the first season one of the contestants did something, or said something in the boardroom that was so outrageous that DT simply blurted out, unscripted, the "You're Fired" line, including the trademark handflip of dismissal.

Everyone, including DT, who hadn't expected to blurt that out, was stunned and there was some question about what to do, but they all realized it was an unscripted moment that they not only didn't want to lose, but provided a trademark dismissal that worked. They kept it. Although, DT wasn't all that thrilled at first, and has said that in real life he would never actually fire someone in that way.

(And, since that kind of firing is pretty public - even if only in front of the others in the room - I believe it. He's not interested in being sued by former employees. Even DT has an HR department in his organization to take care of that sort of thing day to day. If you're important enough to take his personal interest he's going to be far more likely to, at the least, handle it in private, if not work out some sort of settlement to make you go away.)

Semantically, you are correct. They haven't actually been hired by him yet, so he can't fire them. But, in a way they have been "hired" for an extended interview process for which they've agreed to put their lives on hold, and temporarily relocate their residence. Not unlike a contract position - and, you can bet on it, they've signed a contract before the show starts. And it makes for good show drama, even if it wouldn't be the way it went down in real life.


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"They can still be technically fiired"
Posted by lindan on 08-17-06 at 05:00 PM
A lot of times when candiates are required to call a client, they would say things like
"This is Wes calling from Mosaic", or "This is Ivana calling from Apex". They are making it sound like there is a real company called Mosaic, Apex, etc.

When Trump says "You're fired", it can imply the candidate is fired from the "company" Magna, Networth, Excel, or whatever name they choose for to give themselves at the beginning of the season. Afterall, Trump is still the big boss of Versacorp, Protege, and other 'companies'.

"RE: They can still be technically fiired"
Posted by profesora_toro4 on 08-18-06 at 02:42 AM
And after all we are talking about the Donald here. He does whatever he wants to without caring what anyone else is going to think.
"RE: A question about "You're fired""
Posted by livsforluv on 08-21-06 at 03:49 PM
I think that it's all about the phrasing. Your fired just sounds dramatic.