The Apprentice, to think I want to see people do well, not to make prats of themselves season after season!

[MFF2010]

Just that really, it's the same format year after year and they clearly choose clueless prats in the belief we want to see people fail miserably week after week. If I'm honest I'd like to see people that excel and do really well at different and varied/interesting tasks . 🤷‍♀️

That would be a great show. But the apprentice is what it is for a reason. We like watching dicks in suits fail.

Dead right. It would be a much more interesting programme if they could occasionally find someone competent to compete.

Maybe they need 2 versions? The Apprentice and The Business?

The Business could have some of the actual competent entrants who are clearly weeded out in the selection process for The Apprentice.

Obviously all the contestants would have to be told that they were in the "competent" section - no problem there; their egos would be be big enough to believe it...

I agree. We normally watch it but gave up after episode 1 this year. They set them up to fail but I'd rather see half competent people give it a proper go. I mean, in the first episode, they are simultaneously sent to negotiate a price (and details of the day, like what kind of drinks they might want) with the client, while at the same time agreeing a price for the food and drink with the supplier, with neither team knowing what the other team has agreed. Why would those two things ever happen at the same time in real life?

It would be great if we saw more of what they did right. Sometimes you can tell which will be the losing team, by the amount of screen time they get.

(Cynical me suspects that the winner is chosen by the producers before they start filming, anyway.)

Haven’t watched this season at all. It’s got progressively worse and is now utterly cringeworthy. It’s stopped being entertaining.

It's entertainment. They clearly choose absolute bellends who have/are prepared to make up wanky motos about themselves etc. Egocentric idiots. But the whole task is set up to fail. Send people into 2 different teams: 1 to create the product; 1 to decide on how to brand and advertise it. Give them one day and don't let them speak to each other and lo and behold, it's all shit!

I actually marvel at the fact that some of the time they aren't that much shitier than actual products I've seen branded and advertised that have been through months of testing and development!

A lot of the incompetency comes down to the amount of time they get on tasks. It's easy to say 'they could have done a better job" but realistically, you wouldn't get a day or two to brand products, seek out clients, etc while also competing against 5,6,7 other people. Same with the Bake Off, it takes about what, 20 minutes to prepare and make a fairy bun, but they'll only give you 10, it's just to make it all entertaining for the viewer.

I loved the format originally but just can't watch it now. At least make a bit of an effort, am sure the tasks have been the same for the last 10 years. I just do my nails while it's on in the background these days.

I understand they're set up to fail, the tasks are awful. I don't want to see people fail though, I want a nail biting, close finish between outstanding candidates that think of things I wouldn't!

Scarily, we've had 2 new starters at work who've been this hapless. Both in their 30s, with degrees, who present well at interview but then start and appear to have as much common sense as a gnat.

I do agree that they're set up to fail though - it's all about entertainment, not business.

I stopped watching after Alan Sugar deliberately set Gregory up to be fired when he had done nothing wrong and routinely called out his interest in cannon (which saved a task). I didn’t love it before that, but it’s one thing the teens will watch with us, but I refused because he was picked on because he was a geek. No one watches now in our house.

It's also ridiculous that one team has to lose and then get infighting.
Both ideas could be really good. Well thought out, great team work, sell well, well pitched etc - but one will do more. '

Does that make the other a failure?

I know it's TV but it's a bit ridiculous.

But then having seen the last few episodes, I think I would fire people from both teams and then the best performers on each team should get the treat.

I can't be bothered with it any more. It is all fixed and staged, very badly IMO. I am watching The 12 on ITV. It is very good.

Same, I can't watch it anymore. I cringe so hard that I can't concentrate.

this is still relevant :)

Sir Alan: "Are you really Jewish? We can pull your pants down and check."