The NZ Apprentice
February 17th, 2010 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarYep I tuned in last night. I was amused that the “HQ” for the show is at City Life Apartments off Queen Street, as that is my normal hotel in Auckland (I often can get a suite for $150). So I know a lot of the sights they film in the hotel.
I am not sure the show will work well in NZ. The US shows works for several reasons:
- Working for Trump gets you an amazing network of contacts
- Trump has presence and an ego, which work together
- The tasks on the US show often involve working for iconic companies, and meeting heir top officials
- The treats for the winning team are often amazing
The treat for the winning team last time was to have a dinner at Dine (in Sky City Grand). Now that is one of Auckland’s better restaurants, but hell I’ve had dinner there half a dozen times. This is not a place you have to book six months in advance. Getting to go there isn’t somethng that would be hard to do yourselves.
Serepisos as the boss, did better than I expected. I liked it when he dissed the person who mispronounced his name. His two off-siders are not a match for George and Caroline.
Julie Jacobson is blogging her take on the series.
Kim Laurenson got fired last night. A pity really as I thought she performed quite well. On the other hand she is a real estate agent (if one more sends me unsolicited junk mail I will go postal) which is a negative, but she also owns a boutique clothing store and does Ironman triathlons.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Was quite suprised to see one of my old friends as a contestant. She has been getting some stick on facebook but is taking it in her stride, and with a smile.
Found myself in a corporate box at a pheonix game next to one with a number of the contestants. We took great delight in shouting “You’re Fired” at the ref whenever a dogy call was made.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Such a pity “The Boss” is a complete and utter arse. Or wanker. Whichever you prefer.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
“Such a pity “The Boss” is a complete and utter arse. Or wanker. Whichever you prefer.”
Ah yes…the good old Kiwi “ever rich man is a wanker” attitude raises its ugly head again.
Clearly you know fuck all about the man, or, he fired your arse at some stage.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Actually big bruv, I don’t hate every rich man at all, and aspire to be there one day myself. But not at the cost of being anything like him.
And he’ll never fire me, cause I’ll never work for him. I couldn’t work for anyone with his business ethics.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I found it amusing to see that they had to set-up their barbeques in pre-resource consented areas, and had to have a health department inspection before commencing trade. Don’t remember too much bureaucracy in the US version!
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I’m with you fizzleplug. I bet a lot of subbies and other business people around Wellington will be sick seeing them try to make this guy into some sort of tv “star”
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
When he wolf whistled?
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I bet a lot of subbies and other business people around Wellington will be sick seeing them try to make this guy into some sort of tv “star”
Exactly. There’s a reason someone tipped a pail of paint into his convertible. The reason was NOT envy.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
The show is dreadful – full of negativity. “If you do not perform you will get fired etc etc”. It assumes failure and then dire consequences. Ghastly stuff.
Vote:February 17th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Has anyopne here seen the UK Apprentice? I find it much more addictive than the US version.
Sir Alan Sugar is such a compelling character, you can’t stop watching him as he dolls out divine cockney retribution
Vote:February 18th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Contestant Paul Natac is listed as being a “Relationship infringement manager”
Vote:What on earth is that. A Parking Warden who talks nicely to you? or someone who ensures we are always nice to our partners?
February 18th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Doesn’t appeal to me as much as the original, as running down Queen St (on the entrepreneurial errands) has less appeal than running down 5th Avenue (from where the Don has his gilded HQ of course) which from my experience reeks of money and class mixed with loud and very aggressive homeless/semi broke hustlers…
And Manhattan is more believable for instant riches on the street than in Auckland… But in it’s defence Auckland Citylife apartments do have a high reputation even outside of Auckland as I have (as others will have) heard of them (probably from flipping through the Sunday Star Times)…
But will try to tune in next to see if it translates at all in an Auckland context (I expect property development will be focus) I would have thought they would have set it in Wellington since Serepisos is the boss and somehow incorporate the Phoenix into it (selling the most Yellow Fever jerseys maybe)…
No ephemera I haven’t seen the UK one but will go and look up YouTube now…
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