The Apprentice

One Hit Blunder

Season 4, Episode 9, Aired 11/17/05

Episode Summary

The hopeful apprentices write and produce an original song to be performed on XM satellite radio, live. Capital Edge works well together as a team and finds an artist with a song that truly embodies the cafe feeling that the XM executives are looking for, while Excel Corporation struggles with Clay, who distracts the team from its objective, finding a great alternative rock song. In the end, Capital Edge dominates and is rewarded with a helicopter ride around New York City, accompanied by Donald Trump. Excel, however, is sent to the boardroom, where all three teammates are interrogated about what they personally did wrong on the task. Ultimately, Trump is forced to rely on the candidates' histories, deciding to keep Randal and Rebecca based on their former success, while firing Clay, who has caused one too many arguments.moreless

6.7

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Cast & Crew

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Robin Himmler

Herself (Trump's Secretary)
Rebecca Jarvis

Herself - Season 4
Randal Pinkett

Himself - Season 4

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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What relevance does writing music have to do with working for Donald Trump? Writing music is not an easy task, even professionals, who have sold millions of records, frequently don't do it well.moreless

2.0

"Terrible"

By TheTSArt, Nov 18, 2005 Report Abuse

This task involved the teams finding new musical talent and writing a song to be played on a Satellite radio station.

I have two basic issues with this episode. First, what relevance does writing music have to do with working for Donald Trump? Writing music is not an easy task, even professionals, who have sold millions of records, frequently don't do it well.

My second issue was with how they were judged: by callers who heard it on the radio. People who call into radio shows are generally a very small percentage of those listening and are often representing only the most extreme love/hate opinions. Also, how were they screened and how many calls were taken?

Overall, it did not seem like a fair task for people vying to be executives in Donald Trump's company, as I bet few of them already there could have done better.

While each episode has a sponsoring product, usually I can see some relevance in the task... To me, this episode was solely used to showcase the Satellite radio station and not much else.moreless

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The song duel

8.0

"Great"

By Martini_D, Nov 18, 2005 Report Abuse

Yeah, not so bad episode. The task was about having choosing an unknown singer, compose a song for a radio industry, and the executives judge who had the better song. I really tought that Excel would've won in the beginning, but with Clay butting in everytime, and Randal not getting the channel right on the sign, mistakes after mistakes. I really liked Felisha as a PM. I think she could go far. It was an ok episode, nothing really interesting happen in the boardroom compared to the previous times. Clay was finally fired. I think it was his time to leave. I just hope that Rebecca redeems herself next week.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- About 5 minutes into the show, Clay stands up from the bed and when the camera pans up to him you can see all the studio lights above them. This is more proof that the contestants are not in the suite but on a sound stage. Edit
- Felisha now has a win as Project Manager, giving her a track record of 1-1. She is the first candidate this season to lose and then win as Project Manager. Rebecca, on the other hand, now has two losses as Project Manager, giving her a track record of 0-2. She is the first candidate this season to lose twice as Project Manager. Edit
- This is the first time Trump has gotten rid of the exemptions in the final six. For the past two seasons, he got rid of them in the final five. Edit
Notes
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- Capital Edge does not vote for Felisha's exemption because Trump says there are no more exemptions from this point on. Edit
- Project Manager Rebecca, Randal, and Clay face Trump in the boardroom. No one is sent back up to the suite because there are only three of them on the team. Although the decision is tough, Trump eventually fires Clay over his history of being difficult to work with. Edit
- Clay, at his own request, is reshuffled onto Excel in this episode. Rebecca and Randal welcome him, expecting him to bring his creativity. Edit
Quotes
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- Trump: (To Clay) You're supposed to be creative, but no matter what team you're one, you always create problems. Edit
- Trump: (To Randal about writing the wrong station on the poster) Isn't that almost a firing? That's a biggie. Edit
- Clay: If that was a mistake, it was one of very few small mistakes. Edit
Allusions
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- The musicians who worked on the Capital Edge team's song was by Shawn Pelton and James Genus, both of whom happen to be current members of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band. Edit