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The Best...Apprentice

Donald Trump in The Apprentice USA
  • Posted at 11:22am
  • 11 October 2006
  • by DavidCrawford-RT
  • 5 comments

I don't understand schedulers. You have a hit with a business reality show, which after two series proves so popular that it escapes the ghetto of BBC2 for the bright lights and ratings goldmine of BBC1. What's more, you also have the rights to the original American version.

So why put the American version of The Apprentice, which to my mind is the better of the two, on at close to midnight twice a week? It's no wonder I'm turning up to work like a bleary-eyed zombie on Thursday and Friday mornings.

"Hang on a minute," I hear you cry, "How can the Yanks have a better show than one with a figurehead who is none other than that well-known salesman for National Savings Bonds, Sir Alan Sugar of the East End?"

Well, to put it quite simply, in the manner of most things American, it is bigger, bolder, and is headed by that well-known salesman for Donald Trump, er, Donald Trump. Alan Sugar may be rich and successful, but Donald Trump is richer and more successful.

The Apprentice USA lays its cards on the table the minute the opening credits start. The soundtrack is the O'Jays' For the Love of Money, and over a montage of fabulous-looking locations and private jets, the series credo flashes up: "What if you could have it all?"

Right from the get-go you know that every single contestant has in their mind that one day they too could have a ridiculous haircut that no-one dare criticise. Hell, it's the American Dream writ large. And you just know that they will do whatever it takes to make that dream a reality.

You may think that the British version had personality clashes and antagonistic contestants. But until one person has had their team-mates round on them and practically suggest they should be carted off to the nearest institution for the criminally insane, as one poor woman did in series two of The Apprentice USA, then I'm afraid it just doesn't cut the mustard.

Alan Sugar may have made the British version of The Apprentice with his constantly irascible demeanour, but Donald Trump shows that the super-rich can have a softer side too - he even has dinner with some of the contestants when they win tasks.

Trump's sidekicks are also more enjoyable to watch than their UK counterparts: they weigh in with their opinions in the boardroom and laugh at the idiocy of the contestants during tasks.

The American contestants live up more to the traditional image of an apprentice too - ie they're all relatively young. There are no middle-aged middle managers here. They're all either fresh out of college or young executives hungry for a new challenge - not depressed sales reps having midlife crises.

The Apprentice USA is a business reality show that is purely about business. It's a lean, mean, entertaining machine. No other version comes close, especially not Martha Stewart's lame attempt - would you take business advice from an ex-con? Nope, it has to be Trump all the way.

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Comments

  • Posted on 27 October 2009
  • at 3:24pm
  • by Louise

The American Version is so so so so much better!!!

The contestants are so full of themselves and are delusional about their talents!! They have much bigger and better tasks than the british version too!! Come on BBC - this deserves prime time television!!!!

  • Posted on 27 October 2009
  • at 3:50am
  • by geelad

totally agree with you, i can remember watching the first season a few years ago (us version) and couldnt believe that it didnt come back on television. was happy when the british one came out but compared to the american one its definetly night and day. the american one doesnt care who gets fired, i always feel like the british one likes to keep the good characters in the serious even if they mess up. the american one like the one last night doesnt care who goes first. there was a car advert challenge last night and one guy was a total disaster had it been the british one i think the disaster guy would have got fired because the other dude had what appeared more of a chance to go far in the show but that didnt matter to big DT. who said "you have a good future ahead but get the f**k out my office." get a grip BBC1 and get this on earlier.

  • Posted on 20 March 2009
  • at 8:16am
  • by jaffgyp

trump's hair rules out any credibility at all - i cannot bear to look at it- is he successful just because nobody is cruel/brave enough to tell him how odd it looks?- could that be the great big new idea for business success which all those strange graduate business schools might start peddling now that their awful 'see how nasty and greedy i can be' philosophy i presumably no longer peddlable?

  • Posted on 13 October 2006
  • at 5:33pm
  • by Steve

I agree that it ought to be in a primetime slot - season two was shown on BBC3 at 9pm, then repeated in its current slot on BBC2. Now I either have to stay up or set the video, which isn't as much fun. I really think the sheer excesses of the US version trump (sorry) the British one, as much as I enjoy them both.

  • Posted on 11 October 2006
  • at 12:10pm
  • by Sue

I agree - The original Apprentice (the USA version) is just as good as the British version and also has the added advantage that it has no swearing and I can watch it with my kids. Or I would if it was on at a proper time.

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