First: last year's season was rigged. Scripted. Set up to give Donald the winner he wanted, working for the charity his relative managed, immediately followed by getting her own series from his executive producer. There's no point in continuing this discussion if you're not willing to at least play along with that idea. This is the windup, this is the pitch, and this is the umpire trying to hide the suitcase full of money under his protective equipment. The quasi-celebrity version of this show is a competition the way the WWE is an sports league: actual effort goes into the performance in the hopes of boosting popularity, but the top of the standings are determined in the front office weeks before the match -- and skill only matters if the referee decides to watch.Given all that, and since the next piece of crap dubiously hosted by the World's Most Bankrupt Soon-To-Be-Former Casino Owner (all three are going down as we speak) premieres Sunday, we have to ask ourselves one major question before skipping the entire season: who has the show been rigged for this time? Someone's name is on the final page of the script, it's been there for months, and if you want to wait for May so you can hear it being read off, you may want to start seeking other avenues for your self-torture fetish. The fix is it -- but who's been fixed up?
Thing to consider:
* The last 'winner' was double-involved (or 'in bed', if you can stomach that image) with the principals: upcoming series with Burnett, charity run by a Donald relative. So pre-existing connections could be important here.
* The tasks have nothing to do with anything except getting promotional money. Sure, teams can win or lose, but Donald decides who gets fired and can protect his chosen one every time.
* It's potentially all about the drama. Our last two 'winners' were the people who caused the most turmoil in their groups: this pattern may continue.
* Reality experience may count, at least as far as working the drama goes. Bret and Maria have been on shows before this (the later a dating contestant on Outback Jack, the former with multiple dating series on VH1): Sharon has a current judge panel job. And both Piers and The Hag had reality shows -- he before, she after.
The cast, with charities listed:
Rod Blagojevich: Children's Cancer Center
Sharon Osbourne: Cedars-Sinai in support of Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program
Darryl Strawberry: The Darryl Strawberry Foundation
Curtis Stone: Feeding America
Sinbad: Omega Boys Club / Street SoldiersCyndi Lauper: Stonewall Community Foundation for True Colors
Bret Michaels: American Diabetes Association (Sponsor of Camps for Kids With Diabetes)
Bill Goldberg: Specchio Family Foundation in support of "Sons of the Fallen."
Summer Sanders: Right to PlayHolly Robinson Peete: HollyRod Foundation
Maria Kanellis: Make a Wish Foundation
Carol Leifer: North Shore Animal League America
Selita Ebanks: Shine on Sierra LeoneMichael Johnson: Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
One of these people is Donald's Chosen One. And no matter how bad that pick might make him look, he will not choose someone else.
So. Who?
Dunno, but Maria is no longer working for the WWE, so take that for whatever it's worth......
I figured last night would be a no-brainer with it being a restaurant challenge, and the men having a 'world renowned', but un-renowned to me, chef on their team.Besides, Cyndi Lauper seemed to be a total air head! Wow, I've seen her perform and watched her on television shows, but never really saw her just be HER. She is just out there, ain't she?? Poor Sharon Osborne, who, for all intents and purposes, knows her way around a few reality shows! To be stuck in the middle of such comedic chaos!
Even with the 10K given to them due to the praises of Joan Rivers, they still couldn't bring in enough to win. But I truly don't think it was Carol's fault. There was a true lack of leadership, and the only think that helped Cyndi stay in the game was the fact that she worked her tail off in the diner, IMHO.
I was actually rooting for the men-liked the way they worked together and felt they actually knew how to involve their fame into the game. Love Sinbad! Bret Michaels is just what Carol said...sadly. But he did well in this competition, and I think he'll be around for a while. The chef (can't remember his name) seems like a great guy, EVERYONE knows Daryl Strawberry! There just doesn't seem to be the dead weight or trouble this year on the men's team like last season with Rodman. Although Micheals seems to be on his own time-table. Aren't all rock stars??
I have to say I don't even KNOW who the other women are on that side, with the exception of Cyndi, Sharon and Holly. Victoria Secret models and swimmers? Nope. But they're getting good publicity at any rate-good or bad!
I think it'll be a good season, and as someone said earlier, we'll find out soon enough who The Donald's chosen Golden Boy or Girl is, and who the scape-goat will turn out to be.
Glad it's back! Love seeing those high and mighty come down to the lower edge of life!!
I think the "fix" must be Cyndi. She should have gone. She was wishy-washy at the end, and we all know how Donald hates that. He was getting visibly irritated that Maria couldn't name names.Agreed - the women are largely complete unknowns. Cyndi and Holly had their heyday at least 15 years ago. Sharon is only famous because of her husband, whose heyday was 20 years ago. I don't know anyone else! The men have more celebrity (at least those that I recognize): Sinbad, Bret Michaels, Darryl Strawberry. Well - on 2nd thought, maybe the teams are about even in terms of celebrity power.
This used to be my favorite reality show. But, it was far superior when it was the non-celebrity version. It seems these versions are all about popularity: Who can get the biggest donations - period. I know Donald said next week isn't going to be like that - but we'll see. Perception.
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I think he struggled with that one, especially when Cyndi called him out for his treatment of Rosie O'Donnell. He knows if he lets her go too early, many of us will stop watching.
And what was with The Hair trying to be all "hep" and "mod" by swearing in the board room. It was as ackward as watching Nelly Furtado trying to act sleazy.
I think it's Sharon Osbourne, hence all the profanity in the boardroom. I think her and Donald Trump are on the same wavelength but we'll see...
I feel like Holly is this season's Annie Dukes. I expect her to be in the final 2. I don't know whether she will win or not. But I feel she will bring the conflict. Trump keeps talking about how this season some of the contestants ended up hating each other more than Joan and Annie did.We had 2 females in the final last season so probably a male and female this season. I am watching to see which male Holly ends up hating the most and that will be my choice for the other F2. I am leaning towards Bret if he can last that long.
The men won.Because their commercials were better.
Really.
Not because they were, y'know, down to three people or anything.
Would Donald lie to you?
The Funky Godfather was killed by a rival family.
I agree with you Estee. The men won that task only because the men where down so many people and the women had some fat to trim...like a Victoria Secret modle know one heard of before the show. She was not fired because she deserved it....she was fired because someone on the woman's side needed to go. because if the woman actually lost it was a no brainer that Holly should be fired.....hence they really did not lose. How many times in the past did we see Donald save some one by saying.....SO & SO was not the reason you lost this task. The Victoria Secret model was NOT the reason they lost the task. She lost because she was deemed expendable by Trump. It was funny how after the Model was fired...they all said that was an easy choice. Easy? What did she do wrong????? Didn't she win as a previous project manager?????????????
Again: actual performance doesn't matter. Donald will choose the person he wanted to win all along. It's what he does. You should be used to it by now.Which means the only question becomes 'Who did he pick?' And has that pick stayed consistent? It could have been Holly right up until the moment Bret's health issues began -- and that may have been enough to switch things: honor the fighter, plus Donald probably doesn't want to say 'And then the shock from my judgment killed him' in front of a real jury. (Or maybe Bret will sue the person who's denying him an insta-dolly. How stressful!)
I think he was favoring Holly during filming, but post-show events could have changed his mind.
Well obviously Trump is not hard to read. I guessed the final 2 awhile ago. It was predictable.Trump will now probably give the win to Bret. He will worry how it will look if he doesn't. Bret beating death and all. Holly probably is having a fit that Bret got all this sympathy about his health. It is all suppose to be about her and her charity you know.
Thou art the Script Previewer.
How do we even know if Bret was around to complete the challenge at hand? Does anyone know the time frame from when they started the last challenge (for the finale) up to and when Bret had his aneurysm, hospitalization, then release?I doubt he ran right out of the hospital room to join his team to finish the commercial, or whatever they were working on. OR did all that with the health issues happen AFTER the task? I am asking because I am confused.....
From all I have heard everything was completed before Bret's health problems. They only have the live show left to shoot. Bret should be able to be at that.
Yeah the show was probably shot in November or December, so long before his health issues began.