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Original Message
"The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 08:34 PM
Let's keep all of our initial reactions, discussions and updates here tonight! Protect the West Coasters .
Table of contents
Messages in this discussion
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 08:37 PM
The Donald STILL has the f'ing comb over...URGH!
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 08:40 PM
LAST EDITED ON 09-09-04 AT 08:40 PM (EST)

WOW! They will be working with Mattel and P&G just to name two of the HUGE companies this go around!

This maybe tougher than last time around!

"RE: The Donald's Comb-Over"
Posted by Pepito on 09-10-04 at 08:32 AM
Yes, same style, but it looks different...it used to be more reddish brown, now it seems more light brown. I do believe he used a different color hair dye.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 08:51 PM
Raj sounds like he's auditioning for a 1930s radio job.

So far, half of them are giving off the She Who Must Not Be Hired aura. And here MB said there were only three.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 08:53 PM
First interesting twist of the night - a successful project manager is granted immunity if their team has to go to the boardroom the next week. That would mean that the immunity is wasted if a team wins two weeks in a row. Might that lead to some trying to sabotage their team's effort or simply not trying as hard during their immunity week?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 08:56 PM
Next big thing...one male goes to the female side as PM and a female goes to be PM of the males! WOW! Great idea...I like it!
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by subman on 09-09-04 at 10:13 PM
I missed how that happened. Will this be the case every week?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 10:21 PM
They didn't say, but the previews made it look as if it's possible, given Mosaic's street team.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by subman on 09-09-04 at 10:53 PM
I think the next show will have a blowup with "The Brad" in the middle since he has an incompatible management style with the womwn on his team. However, since he has immunity, how will this impact his motivation as a leader with no end responsibility for his team's performance?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 00:42 AM
"since he has immunity, how will this impact his motivation as a leader with no end responsibility for his team's performance? "


I'm guessing there will be a different PM next week. Brad's immunity just means he can't be eliminated if his team loses. He wouldn't have to make an appearance in the boardroom.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by subman on 09-10-04 at 00:59 AM
Yeah, of course you're right. The immunity carries over to protect him as a subordinate next week should his team lose. I like this wrinkle since it rewards PMs for showing leadership initiative by giving them a pass the following week in the event their team loses. However, if you were the PM and had this person with boardroom immunity as a subordinate, how would this impact their job assignments? Would you trust this person with a major task since they could not be held accountable at the end of the day? This may not be a factor this early in the game, but these guys are already looking at each other as fresh meat. Someone will use this pass to their benefit.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by subman on 09-10-04 at 01:02 AM
Mosaic...what a lame freakin name. I have to give Raj credit for trying to get it changed.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 08:56 PM
the men vs. the women, but with a twist. They must each choose one team member to go the opposing team and be project manager. No mention of when or if that person will return to the original team.

Good twist. It will be cool if they keep doing it each week.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:01 PM
It would be cool to do it every week...that way the game changes each week and it will be more difficult to keep the team balanced as well!


Director of Public Relations for GAWKUR!

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:01 PM
Dunno... they said 'permanent assignment', which in this show means it may last until the first merge.

Pamela to lead the men, Bradford to sit in and look bewildered by the women.

The mostly-males are Mosaic, and the mostly-females are Apex. Raj wanted Empire badly (can't blame him -- it's optimistic if nothing else).

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:01 PM
Team Names:
Men - Mosaic
Women - Apex

I actually rather liked Mosaic, but the women are implying that the name isn't masculine enough. Must mean, in the immortal words of Ahnold, that I'm a girlie man.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Loree on 09-10-04 at 01:05 PM
I liked the name Mosaic too. It was different. Not the same old like Apex. And I noticed both teams were throwing around the name Empire. They must of both been looking out the window at the Empire State Building when they were thinking of names.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:05 PM
Each team will develop a new toy for Mattel. The Mattel execs will choose what the most marketable toy is.

"Pamela - Take off Your Ties!"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:08 PM
Pamela tells the men to take off their ties since apparently Mattel has a more relaxed corporate culture. She wants them to start thinking like Mattel executives.

Love Pamela so far - very assertive and direct.

"RE: Pamela - Take off Your Ties!"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:13 PM
It's a great, fast observation. The toy industry is pretty low-key for a corporate megalith.

The men's ideas are all over the place and mostly inspired by Saturday morning cartoons. The women have absolutely no idea what boys might want to play with, and are trying to adapt classic girls' toys to the other chromosome.

Bradford wants to do something along the lines of a super-deformed football player with vacuum action, and overrides the group with an executive decision.

Maria's just a little bit scary right now.

"RE: Pamela - Take off Your Ties!"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:22 PM
LAST EDITED ON 09-09-04 AT 09:25 PM (EST)

Pamela messed up by making fun of that boys hair! She should have kept her mouth shut!

"RE: Pamela - Take off Your Ties!"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 00:49 AM
"She should have kept her mouth shut! "

As the Donald said, "Pamela has a hard edge." I know they're all desperate to stand out and make a good impression, but dang - that woman is beyond intense and overbearing.

Her comments about the children were rude, insensitive, and uninsightful. She was focusing on their appearances when she should have been focusing on the boys' reactions to her team's prototype toy. She didn't seem to have a clue that those children were a major factor in Mattel's decision making.


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"Bradford, on the other hand, . . ."
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:16 PM
is a dolt. I don't remember which of the women said it, but I have to agree that there isn't very much going on up there. If I understand correctly, he wants to create a remote control football player. Despite the fact that no one in the group likes his idea, he makes an "executive decision" to use his idea since its his butt on the line.

At first he seemed overwhelmed by the group dynamics. Now, he seems to be overcompensating.

Oooohh . . . Trump's lesson of the night - you need to make quick decisions, but they still have to be thoughtful. Bradford is toast.

"RE: Bradford, on the other hand, . . ."
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 00:54 AM
"remote control football player"

He definitely does not belong in a "How To" book on personnel management. His unilateral decision was obnoxious and rash. He needed to listen to his team members longer. I think he knew he was in a weak position, so he used bluster to override his team. That will not win him friends or respect for future team projects.

As it turned out, his idea was deemed worthless by the Mattel prototype people. Good - he needed some humbling.

His team won, but not due to anything he contributed.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: Pamela - Take off Your Ties!"
Posted by Loree on 09-10-04 at 01:07 PM
>Pamela tells the men to take
>off their ties


I thought it was interesting she tells the men to take off their ties. Then she stands there with her scarf tied around her neck. Why didn't she take off her's?

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:10 PM
Why are they not trying to meet with peeps at Mattel to find out how they go about developing toys?

Don't you need to get to know the peeps you are actually working FOR?


Director of Public Relations for GAWKUR!

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:11 PM
Well, Bradford just won ZERO votes from the ladies...what an idiot!

Even if the idea turns out to be the winner..they are still urinated off at him!

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 09:12 PM

Wow. He's a complete d!ckwad, eh? "Executive decision"?????WTF? It's week ONE, you moron.

**sigh** Me thinks we see Sam 2 in the making.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:14 PM
And I thought that was going to be Raj. It was the pants.

(I like the cane, though.)

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by subman on 09-09-04 at 10:17 PM
Urinated off?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:14 PM
So far the Guy's team is being diplomatic about throwing out ideas for toys and developing the ideas. The girls team has a manager who wants to play dictator and go with his idea, a football player headed car that rolls over footballs and picks them up, the girls want a super type of vehicle with some of the best parts of cars, boats, planes, etc, combined.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:24 PM
Men go with mammal/fish combo action figures with the very bad name of Crustatean Nation, which is at least very vaguely originally. The women try remote control cars with interchangable exteriors, which I know I've seen before somewhere.

The cars are a hit. The action figures are falling apart too easily for the kids.

Prospective summary title: 'Shortpacked'?

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:20 PM
The focus group consists of little kids. They are the ones who will make or break the teams.

"Miscue by Pamela"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:24 PM
While watching the focus group, Pamela makes an off the cuff comment about one of the kid's haircut making him look like the guy from Dumb and Dumber. Unfortunately, Carolyn & the Mattel executives were definitely within earshot. This could definitely come back to bite her if Mosaic ends up in the boardroom.
"RE: Miscue by Pamela"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 00:57 AM
"Carolyn & the Mattel executives were definitely within earshot"

Besides being unprofessional, she was careless - some of those kids could have been an executive's son. STUPID!!!



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 09:24 PM
interesting that they both came up with interchangeable toys. Also interesting that they think these are incredibly original ideas. I think 50% of boys' toys today involve interchanging parts. My son had a car like that, minus the remote control, when he was 3. He's 11 now.

ROFL at the haircut comments. Cruel, b!tchy and totally inappropriate for the situation, but dead-on. Of course, if she were a mother, she would know that she was looking at who had cut his hair.

"WTF is up with Stacie?"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:27 PM
She is wigged!


Director of Public Relations for GAWKUR!

"RE: WTF is up with Stacie?"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:33 PM
Everyone must listen to Stacie at all times. Any lapse will result in her complete and total wrath.

"RE: WTF is up with Stacie?"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:35 PM
I just want to know how Rob's magic 8-ball got onto the set. Has MB been stealing from his other contestants again?
"RE: WTF is up with Stacie?"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 01:00 AM
Ok, I assume Stacie is the Paranoid Wacko Woman? Oh my - I can't stand her already. She'll probably haunt me for several weeks yet.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"I still say..."
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:31 PM
They should have worked with or asked somebody at Mattel on ideas of the process that is taken in coming up with new toys!

The guy actually mentioned this as an addition to an existing line! APEX's idea that is!

"RE: I still say..."
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 01:03 AM
"or asked somebody at Mattel on ideas "

I wondered why they didn't mention a possible cartoon video or fast food chain giveaway tie in. They could have developed a story line as part of the promo.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:31 PM
Mattel thinks both projects were good.

But the clear cut winner was APEX and their metamorphises vehicle.

Trump says he missed saying a couple of words for the last few months. You"re Fired.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:34 PM
The fact that the girls were dining with Trump was worth more than the win according to one of the losing guys. The girls were getting to know Donald on a personal basis.

He made fun of the guy with the cane on the other team.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 09:37 PM
Well, the cane did sort of work. Out of eighteen people, Trump now knows who one of them is. He's the guy with the cane. And the bow tie. And the red pants. And the radio voice. And...
"Boardroom Strategy"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:42 PM
Most of the guys agree to make Pamela the fall person for the project.

They seem to be on the right track, since Carolyn is dismantling Pamela in front of Trump right now for her comments.

"Actual Boardroom Conversation + New Twist + Selections"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:46 PM
Actually, the men are splitting between Rob & Pamela in the boardroom.

New twist - the project leader can take either two or three people to the boardroom with them. Pamela elects to take two - Andy & Rob.

"I would have taken three plus myself!"
Posted by volsfan on 09-09-04 at 09:46 PM
WTF? That way you have a 25% shot instead of 33%!
"RE: I would have taken three plus myself!"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 10:03 PM
It's never quite straight odds, though. I think two vs. three is a character test: how much does this person try to spread the blame?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:47 PM
Everybody blamed Rob for not getting involved enough in the project. He is looking like a fall guy for a weak team effort.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by tachuan on 09-09-04 at 09:50 PM
She has to go, although she is entertaining.
I love the debater, did he say he was a master debater.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Sobe on 09-09-04 at 10:52 PM
That Andy guy won't stay long. He probably had repeatedly said he is a master debater for at least 3 time in one episode.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 01:08 AM
"Andy guy won't stay long"

I learned a lot from last season. It seems the outgoing, in your face peeps disappear sooner than later. I'm watching for the ones that are in the background. You do remember Bill and Kwame, don't you?



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 01:06 AM
"did he say he was a master debater"

Yes, he did, and I won't comment because it might earn me a rebuke.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by seahorse on 09-09-04 at 09:54 PM
Rob is the first to go because he did not take the initiative in doing his work.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 01:11 AM
I'm not quite sure how Rob came to take the fall. I thought they were gunning for the PM to go. I can't remember - who first fingered Rob?


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"Fun Boardroom Next Week"
Posted by FFantasyFX on 09-09-04 at 09:58 PM
The Donald to Prospective Firee: You're so stupid.
"Fun task next week."
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 10:04 PM
Oh, sure. They've moved from selling lemonade to selling ice cream. Major progress up the corporate ladder, don't you think?
"Wowee!"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 10:09 PM
maybe they'll get to sell water someday....oh, wait, that was last season.
"RE: Wowee!"
Posted by Estee on 09-09-04 at 10:12 PM
Did you notice the bottled water in the suite? Wonder what brand it was?

"RE: Wowee!"
Posted by anotherkim on 09-09-04 at 10:36 PM
I didn't notice it...I was sort of shell shocked from seeing the goober drinking the Dom from the bottle after making cracks about the women's team.
"RE: You're So Stupid"
Posted by Pepito on 09-10-04 at 01:58 PM
I believe that was tricky editing. I think that he REALLY says, "That's (or it's...) so stupid... but it's cut right at the beginning of this phrase so the first word is hard to hear. It's also taken out of context.

True, The Donald is a sexist old fogey, but even HE knows better than a direct derogatory comment. I hope.

"RE: You're So Stupid"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 05:33 PM
"tricky editing"

Probably, but we can hope, can't we?

Didn't DT call Amy's "rental car for a weekend" dumb? I don't think he's shy or minces words with it comes to incompetence.


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Rothschild on 09-09-04 at 10:26 PM
Crustatean Nation -- only a Harvard MBA could think of that name. How many kids know what a Crustatean is or how to say it. Pamela may be rude, but when a buyer looks for an item to market or sell, they think what will dumb and dumber like ... it's the real world, sorry ... Crustatean would not sell in Peoria ...
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by NickyPick on 09-10-04 at 08:23 AM
I thought the Crustacean Nation toys would have worked a lot better if there was a comic/movie/tv show tie in. Do kids play with generic action figure toys? Barbie & GI Joe made their mark, but I believe most of these "dolls" are from some show nowadays.

Rae

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by rtrader on 09-10-04 at 09:31 AM
I thought the Crustacean Nation toys would have worked a lot better if there was a comic/movie/tv show tie in.

My thoughts exactly! Without some kind of tie from a TV show, comic book, etc. I don't see how any kid would have gone for a toy with a name that they probably couldn't pronounce.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by zazzy on 09-10-04 at 10:20 AM
Can your kid name any dinosaurs? Were those names too hard to learn?
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 11:16 AM
LAST EDITED ON 09-10-04 AT 11:17 AM (EST)

"name that they probably couldn't pronounce."

Kids love to use big words made familiar through advertising. After a few cartoons or a full length movie, "Crustacean Nation" would be HOT. I think the idea had potential.

ETA - Plus, the words rhyme, making them even more attractive to kids.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Rothschild on 09-10-04 at 05:20 PM
Do you know the cost of advertising ?????
Do you the cost of retail warehousing ?????
Do you understand retail profit margins ????
My stomach does ...............
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Rothschild on 09-10-04 at 05:21 PM
forgot, did you know ToyRUs is bankrupted
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 05:28 PM
"did you know ToyRUs is bankrupted "

What difference does that make? The deal was with Mattell, which as far as I know has a very healthy financial picture.

Mattell would have to come up with some kind of promotion - they're not going to spend a lot of money on a new toy without advertising and promotions, are they?

Think Ninja Turtles, Powder Puff Girls for starters. It's not unusual to have tie ins for toys.


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Rothschild on 09-13-04 at 02:24 PM
A manufacturer sells their product to a retailer.

The health of a large volume buyer is of great interest
to a manufacturer, because for some unknown reason it influences
their profit.

The Manhattan ToyRUs was featured in this epsiode.

Sure this was a complete accident, MB CBS and Trump don't
care who they feature in this show.

Forgot Lobster Nation is a big CBS hit, thus a great tie in
product.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by frodo2 on 09-13-04 at 02:31 PM
The teams missed an obvious research opportunity by not walking down the aisles of Toys 'R Us and checking to see which toys 6-8 year old boys played with. So their ideas were all theory.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Out4Blood on 09-14-04 at 02:51 PM
If you watched extra video on yahoo, you'll see that they DID do exactly that. This is where the women got the RC car idea.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-13-04 at 06:27 PM
Things a little tense at the office today?

What I meant was a story line could be developed to go along with the product, like the Ninja Turtles. Who would have thought those things would sell the way they did?


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by frodo2 on 09-14-04 at 11:58 AM
Actually, the Ninja turtles were developed as a story BEFORE the cartoon and toys. It was an edition of a role playing game system, and the focus was more mature. They dumbed it down for little kids, made lots of money, and most people never knew of its origins.
"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Devious Weasel on 09-14-04 at 02:41 PM
Actually, it was a comic book before it was anything else.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by ginger on 09-14-04 at 02:57 PM
I thought it was an obscure religious cult.



They're heros on the half-shell, and they're green.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-10-04 at 05:31 PM
"Do you know the cost of advertising ?????
Do you the cost of retail warehousing ?????
Do you understand retail profit margins ????"

Excuse me? I guess I shall have to remember to check with a financial analyst before posting on this matter again.



Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by ginger on 09-14-04 at 02:58 PM
Also, did you submit a resume? We checked the files, and can't come up with one.


The order of Banana delivery should be organized by location to save on shipping costs.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-14-04 at 05:33 PM
"did you submit a resume?"

No, Uncle Donald said I didn't have to.


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by rtrader on 09-14-04 at 03:02 PM
"name that they probably couldn't pronounce."

Kids love to use big words made familiar through advertising. After a few cartoons or a full length movie, "Crustacean Nation" would be HOT. I think the idea had potential.

ETA - Plus, the words rhyme, making them even more attractive to kids.

Possibly, but my impression with these type of toys is that the toys were created in response to a successful tv cartoon, movie, comic book, etc. not the other way around. While it is not impossible, from the toy company's perspective it would seem more of an unnecessary risk to create a line of "character toys", and then attempt to follow up with comic books or a cartoon show to make the toy successful. Personally, I think that is what it would have taken to make 'Crustacean Nation' successful. Better to go with a radio controlled moving car that crashes and comes apart.

My two cents.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by okaychatt on 09-14-04 at 05:57 PM
Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Ponies, Powder Puff Girls, She Ra, SpongeBob.

I don't know for sure which came first - the story lines or the toys, but the idea of linking the two is not new when introducing a new line.

A motorized car that crashes is a new idea? It's what sells, of course, but Mattel will have to come up with some kind of ad campaign to make it stand out, won't it? A plain old, "Get it NOW!" ad on Saturday morning tv would probably work, but a short video cartoon with a storyline or a promotion at McDonald's might make it sell even better.

That's all I'm saying. If our opinions differ, c'est la vie.


Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
Off to cram for a crash course in marketing and finance.

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by beardance58 on 09-15-04 at 11:59 AM
LAST EDITED ON 09-15-04 AT 12:05 PM (EST)

I beg to differ. I'm sure that my kid is not the only one child who knows what a crustacean is (notice the spelling). Think dinosaurs -- how many little boys are into dinosaurs -- they know the name of every dinosaur that ever walked the planet just like some kids know the make and model of every car. Kids today know about things like crustaceans -- we do have science standards. Don't assume that kids are dumb and dumber (reusing a tired phrase) or it will rear up and bite you in the #ss (reusing another tired phrase).

"RE: The Apprentice Episode 1 East Coast Chatter"
Posted by Bebo on 09-15-04 at 12:20 PM
Think dinosaurs -- how many little boys are into dinosaurs -- they know the name of every dinosaur that ever walked the planet

Exactly! My nephew wasn't even 6 when he would be telling me about the triceratops and the t-rex. He'd even call the t-rex by its full name (I'd misspell it too badly, that's why I'm abbreviating.)

And how many folks learned things ahead of their grade level thanks to Schoolhouse Rock? I'm sure I'm not the only kid who could sing about conjunctions when I was little.


Join my paramilitary org - call 1-800-FIGHT4BEBO.

"RE: about the name Crustacean"
Posted by rtrader on 09-15-04 at 08:06 PM
Looking at the focus groups, two thoughts come to mind. First, the kids definitely were more excited about the radio controlled moving car than the whole Crustacean Nation character toy concept. The kids didn't like the toy, irrespective of their intelligence. I'd like to think that a couple (or all) of the kids are bright enough to know what a crustacean is, but they didn't like that toy for whatever reason. Who knows why customers like one thing over another, but that's why they run the focus groups in the first place. Letting the kids judge, they went with the RC car.

Second, there was a marked difference between the way Bradford and the two ladies (Jennifer C. and Elizabeth I think) viewed the kids and the way Pamela and the two guys did. The Apex team clearly showed more respect and appreciation for the kids, and I have to wonder if Pamela and the other guy denigrating the kids in front of the executives (and perhaps the kids’ parents) swayed the Mattel folks, all the more, in going with Apex and not Mosaic.