The Apprentice - is every series like this?

[acrossthegardens]

This is the first series I've ever watched and every week it's not really a case of which team was better, just which was the least shit.

They are terrible?! Every week they are terrible? These can't be the best candidates available they seem clueless?! Is this a particularly bad series or is it always like this? I've not been impressed once

I have watched every series but I couldn't face the shite this year. There were genuine great moments in the first few series (the wolf jacket is my go to cheer up moment) and then about 7 or 8 series they just employed really shite identikit humans who should have no chance at this investment.

Not watched it much recently but yeah back in the day you’d have genuinely able and focussed career types, though some were always a bit unpleasant/unhinged
(Katie Hopkins for starters)

They are obviously very concerned by looks and age also as most of the women are very glamorous and the men fairly attractive. They always throw a couple more 'normal looking' people in (people who probably look more like you and me). I'd love to see more over 40s on the show.

It's possibly telling that in this year's and last year's series, the token normal-looking woman dropped out early on.

That's a really interesting observation! I have no issue with what any of them look like. I will always advocate for people not giving a fuck and dressing how they wish. What I don't like is the way the media is moving more and more towards the stance of 'you have to look like this to be considered'

Looking back, the shift in candidate type probably came when the format changed from recruiting an employee to offering a business partnership. The candidates in early series were employees rather than entrepreneurs, so likely to be of a different personality type - it requires different qualities to be able to follow a corporate line and show initiative and creativity within defined parameters, than it does to set up your own business where you aren't answerable to anyone.

They do seem amazingly dim this year don't they?

This is the first year I haven't bothered watching it. I used to be quite a fan.

It's become formulaic - take 14 good looking people with a scattering of skills between them, remove their tech and smart phones, and then have them guess how to create a product/brand at item/sell a thing.

Off they go to make a tit of themselves....Then gather them and criticise them for their crap efforts

Time for this to be over I think.

Also everyone together 1-2-3 "good morning lord Sugar" <puke>

Exactly. They haven't changed the format in nearly 20 years and it's so dated now.

I agree that the tasks have become more complicated so they are set up to fail, and communication between the subteams is limited to cause drama.

Take this week’s episode, one team decided on a high end, luxury yacht experience in the morning briefing but the client wanted a more intimate family style day but the sub team did all their bookings based on the briefing and didn’t know what the client wanted was actually different. And likewise with the other team where the client wanted high end luxury but was offered mid range food and entertainment.

Previous series would be an ad campaign/tv marketing task, or a product design task, now it’s design a product and do the ads on multiple platforms, and pitch to retailers.

You're not the only one! Even now I watch that clip yearly, one if the funniest things ever if you knew the characters involved.

If I have had a shit day and want something to laugh at Max in his jacket and the reaction from Saira just cheers me up.

Those were so much better than the shit they put on today.

There were genuine great moments in the first few series (the wolf jacket is my go to cheer up moment).

This was epic on so many levels. The sheer orgasmic intensity they exhibited trying to sell those furry monstrosities.

Great moments from the early years

The woman who insisted on making a 'mood board' to promote an Amstrad hi-fi called 'The Juke Box' and then tried to make the seriously unimpressed panel of experts dance barefoot to some music she was playing - they flatly refused. To make things worse, the other team's effort was really professional.

'Pants man' - need I say more?

The team who offered a 'concierge' laundry service, so as Suralan said, you could phone for an update on your pants . Then they lost half the laundry and got the rest mixed up. Again, the opposing team did really well, with their ex-military team leader running their laundry service like a crack operation.

Although I commend this to you for the ultimate cheer up clip. 1987 BBC documentary entitled Soll on the Piste. Five minutes of utter comedy.

I’d love to rewatch old episodes. I think I stopped watching so avidly years ago when Margaret left. There was something about Karen…it just didn’t feel the same. But I remember I used to watch it with my family and discussing the episodes in school. I didn’t realise that it was still running. Which old episodes would you recommend @PlaitBilledDuckyPuss?

Series 4 was my favourite!

The contestants were a higher calibre years ago. The business ideas weren't great. I think they're just chosen for good TV now.

It's a mix with them

Yes. Agree. Its like they set a task that a) isn't really feasible in the time allowed (see also Great British Bake Off) and limit communication.....neither of which are remotely like an actual business would work. You'd be collaborating and communicating with the subteam or remote members all the time and you wouldn't submit a shit advert/product because you gave yourself an arbitrary time limit, you'd work all night if needed to produce something that you felt happy to put your name to.

In the early series they had some loud know it alls but they also actually had some quite competent people too.
And agree there is very little diversity in terms of age, looks, figure etc

Love it!! They are thick as pig shit and make me feel good about myself so…. 😂🤷‍♀️

Talking about the Apprentice though … anyone really not liking Tom Allen on You’re Fired?

Bring back Dara! (Get well soon Rhod! ❤️ you too!)

Oh, I can't stand him. I've more or less stopped watching that now - only switched over on the occasions a candidate dropped out to see if there were any interesting reveals (there weren't). Back in the good old days YF was all about the show and candidates - now they seem almost an afterthought on what is a platform for Tom Allen and his panel guests. I agree Dara was great, also Adrian Chiles who was the first presenter.

I used to love it. I still watch but no one has had talent since the year Stella won. I wonder if you can find the old ones anywhere....

Same. Watched it with dara and rhod (didn’t bother with Jack Dee) and tried with Tom but didn’t like. Tried again this time and still don’t like. It just feels a lot more stilted.

God I love it. I spend the whole hour laughing. I am sure the candidates were technically better in the earlier series but it is v entertaining. My kids love it too.

My favourite from last season was the shopping channel one.