It begins... 21st Marchhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/gallery/2012/mar/13/apprentice-reality-tv
Sample: Ricky Martin is a 26 year old recruitment team leader and is also a wrestler. Says: "I truly am the reflection of perfection"
― kinder, Tuesday, 13 March 2012 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
Clips here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00pj01n/candidates
― kinder, Tuesday, 13 March 2012 17:44 (twelve years ago) link
― rain came down like water falling from the clouds (snoball), Tuesday, 13 March 2012 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
Excellent, I hate all these people already. Bring it on.
― ailsa, Tuesday, 13 March 2012 20:19 (twelve years ago) link
Azhar, Duane, or Jane seem to have even the slightest chance. Even then I could still happily stuff them and the other 13 onto a rocket and fire it into space.
― rain came down like water falling from the clouds (snoball), Tuesday, 13 March 2012 20:48 (twelve years ago) link
I was actually going to do a fair assessment of each candidates chances, but less than half way through watching the clips it was clear that the producers have picked most of these candidates purely for the lulz. Even more so than usual.
― rain came down like water falling from the clouds (snoball), Tuesday, 13 March 2012 20:52 (twelve years ago) link
My o/h is watching the clips right now and Jane says "There's no-one more critical of me than myself, I literally beat myself up"
― kinder, Wednesday, 14 March 2012 02:39 (twelve years ago) link
•Azhar Siddique - ""It’s not who shouts the loudest; it’s who has the ability to control the conversation"
Blimey, someone says something sensible!
― Mark G, Wednesday, 14 March 2012 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
He will be routinely ignored and kicked out in the second week.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 14 March 2012 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
This starts tomorrow, usual batshit time, usual batshit channel.
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Tuesday, 20 March 2012 18:15 (eleven years ago) link
Dara O Briain @daraobriain Reply Retweet Favorite Well the first episode of "you're Fired" was great fun. I think you'll enjoy that..
Reply Retweet Favorite Well the first episode of "you're Fired" was great fun. I think you'll enjoy that..
― kinder, Tuesday, 20 March 2012 18:21 (eleven years ago) link
i'm gonna hate myself for watching this, i can tell
― koogs, Wednesday, 21 March 2012 20:39 (eleven years ago) link
16 men on Alan Sugar's chest! Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of LOL!
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Wednesday, 21 March 2012 20:58 (eleven years ago) link
'The Voice' a thrilling new series on BBC1 rollercoaster at Alton Towers.
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Wednesday, 21 March 2012 20:59 (eleven years ago) link
THIS IS A{LARGE RED SMUDGE}
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Wednesday, 21 March 2012 21:20 (eleven years ago) link
it's like Engrish but without the excuse of not being english
― koogs, Wednesday, 21 March 2012 21:21 (eleven years ago) link
30 minutes in and the task is over. so now we have 30 minutes of boardroom bitching. snore.
― koogs, Wednesday, 21 March 2012 21:33 (eleven years ago) link
Oh boy but that's the best part!Nick 'Boris' looks like he's on his way to be publicly executed.
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Wednesday, 21 March 2012 21:35 (eleven years ago) link
Quiet start to thread.
Or, TV threads goin out of fash.
― Mark G, Thursday, 22 March 2012 21:29 (eleven years ago) link
Well, this isn't exactly an American sitcom.
Biggest lol of the night was that girl dissing the architect "all she does is draw pictures of buildings".
Figured the do-nothing blonde was gonna get the axe until the one that did go piped up and pleaded when she shouldn't have.
Also never seen a team get berated by a shopkeeper for badgering/generally being awful.
― stay in school if you want to kiw (Gukbe), Thursday, 22 March 2012 22:17 (eleven years ago) link
^ all highlights of an otherwise appalling episode. Union Jack bears? In London? For £15?
I couldn't understand why the girls were pack-hunting around - split up and cover more ground ffs. Their t-shirts were actually quite nice, that alone should have won it if they weren't mostly so completely stupid and awful.
― ailsa, Thursday, 22 March 2012 22:26 (eleven years ago) link
Girls team leader kept looking like either Britney or Jessica Simpson
― kinder, Friday, 23 March 2012 00:26 (eleven years ago) link
This is the thing, often the TV show will concentrate on the failings of one team more than their 'successes', as if to say "Surprise! They won!"
― Mark G, Friday, 23 March 2012 09:03 (eleven years ago) link
There's also a large dollop of 'team wins because they're very slightly less crap than the other team'.
Union Jack bears? In London? For £15?
Yeah, even in the tourist trap shops on Oxford street they're £3 max.
Most reality TV thread on ILE are like this at the start, simply because there are too many people to keep track of at the start of the show. 16 candidates starting t' 'prentice this year. I'm not sure that the first programme even managed to name all of them. Losing a real character like Bilyana this early is a bit of a blow. Hopefully something deeply unpleasant is in store for Gabrielle and Katie.
― a dramatic lemon curd experience (snoball), Friday, 23 March 2012 09:10 (eleven years ago) link
totally.it has become tiresome this aspect of the show ..
― mark e, Friday, 23 March 2012 09:34 (eleven years ago) link
Then again, this week it did have a point: The girls had a good product, but lost because of trying to 'hit' babies with their sales teams (four people 'taking turns' and shouting a lot?)
Whereas the boys were selling lousy stuff but had a better sales presence, and actually going to where there were lots of foreign tourists who hadn't quite got the hang of the conversion factor, made the difference.
― Mark G, Friday, 23 March 2012 09:58 (eleven years ago) link
Change in format has damaged the show: who doesn't believe Sugar has already chosen which business plan he's willing to invest in? Last series Tom should clearly have been thrown out time and time again, but obviously he was the only one who Sugar thought would actually do anything after the show had finished. Inexplicable non-sackee will emerge halfway through this series and go on to win.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Friday, 23 March 2012 10:23 (eleven years ago) link
'Killer whale of the sea world'
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:07 (eleven years ago) link
A recycling bin!Great, except that the council delivered one to every house in the area for free (OK well it was paid for with taxpayer's money) not that long back.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:09 (eleven years ago) link
These people are all terrible.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:52 (eleven years ago) link
yup. not enjoying this series at all.
― mark e, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 21:02 (eleven years ago) link
There's still too many of them. Hope that it picks up once they've got rid of the no-hopers.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 21:03 (eleven years ago) link
The thing about the vegetable compactor is that it's crap, but so are most kitchen gadgets.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 21:23 (eleven years ago) link
Argh. If it's about the number of orders why not sell it for £0.01 or cost price or whatever. Or design something small and cheap rather than larger and pricier. Obviously they must have some constraints that stop them doing this but we're never told and it makes it very pointless to watch...
― kinder, Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:59 (eleven years ago) link
otm. there must be have been something that would have stopped the sub-team from saying "scrubbing gloves are cheap as shit and they'll order twice as many on a lark".
Can't believe people aren't enjoying this series because everyone is terrible because it seems to me that the whole point of The Apprentice is that EVERYONE IS TERRIBLE.
― stay in school if you want to kiw (Gukbe), Thursday, 29 March 2012 07:55 (eleven years ago) link
I doubt it: They're daft enough to go with the 'cool looking' idea.. (xpost)
― Mark G, Thursday, 29 March 2012 08:40 (eleven years ago) link
xpost there's usually someone to root for, or a comedy baddie to root against, but this is just a festival of unremitting awfulness.
― ailsa, Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:36 (eleven years ago) link
Well, once the whittling down has happened, yes.
― Mark G, Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:19 (eleven years ago) link
Coming up with a new condiment this week.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 4 April 2012 19:55 (eleven years ago) link
Levi Roots on the after match analysis show.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 4 April 2012 21:01 (eleven years ago) link
Today I learned that there was a contestant called Michael and that there's a contestant called Thomas. Seriously, too many contestants, so much irrelevant badly-explained ridiculous task bullshit.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 4 April 2012 21:48 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah I don't even remember seeing the Thomas guy before. The real surprise for me is that Nick 'Boris' Holzherr seems to be among the more competent of the contestants. That there are far too many of them at the moment is possibly why, and he'll look increasing incompetent as the series progresses.
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Wednesday, 4 April 2012 21:58 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, he seems OK, but for an Apprentice-contestant value of OK, which is a pretty low bar to clear, tbh. My other half drew google-eyed Stephen in the sweep at work. I lolled.
― ailsa, Thursday, 5 April 2012 09:15 (eleven years ago) link
So, Ricky 'not that one' Martin saved himself by sounding like someone that understands business, and Katie by being a fairly decent 'motivationer' Task manager, the result was easy to guess (the candidates back at the house pretty much had it sussed for once). Neither needed to stick any knives in, really.
― Mark G, Thursday, 5 April 2012 09:57 (eleven years ago) link
Michael could have saved himself in the boardroom if he'd a) knocked that pleading to AlSug on the head, b) gone on the offensive against Ricky re: the factory sub-team not making enough jars of comedy salsa. Something like "I could have sold more to the trade if you'd made more jars in the first place."
― beanz meanz lulz (snoball), Thursday, 5 April 2012 10:30 (eleven years ago) link
"We can funk it up to be a funky bin"
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:07 (eleven years ago) link
Selling crap to hipsters, lovely...
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:16 (eleven years ago) link
"That well known saying you don't look a gift horse in the eye."
― mmmm, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:20 (eleven years ago) link
tonights episode in short form :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVvcD4Czx4Y
― mark e, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:35 (eleven years ago) link
oh to be a fly on the wall of the homes of the folks that paid for that tat
― mark e, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:42 (eleven years ago) link
I don't have a lot of sympathy for hipsters who either don't realise they can, or can't be bothered to, get this stuff from a charity shop.Meanwhile, I can get behind hating Thomas for his smirking expressions in the boardroom.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
no sympathy at all.
― mark e, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 20:50 (eleven years ago) link
The expression on Jane's face is just 'duh'. She did talk herself out of the door a bit though.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:02 (eleven years ago) link
The incorrect use of 'myself' instead of 'me' in this episode had me (myself) going fucking mental.
I like Gabrielle.
― oppet, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:11 (eleven years ago) link
Gawd, next week's task. They've really gone for the 'lol stupid humiliating' this series.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:32 (eleven years ago) link
yup.i've heard that terry christian is on the panel for the bbc2 show.
― mark e, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 21:35 (eleven years ago) link
This series is so full of irritating people already that the introduction of Nathan Barleys twatting around the shops was just too much for me to bear. Also, Union Jacks surely don't scream multicultural east end to anyone, do they?
Laura should have gone.
― ailsa, Thursday, 12 April 2012 12:23 (eleven years ago) link
lovely wallpaper in the dead person's house.
but... a box on a ladder?
― koogs, Thursday, 12 April 2012 19:27 (eleven years ago) link
also, worst union jacks ever.
― koogs, Thursday, 12 April 2012 19:33 (eleven years ago) link
I know!! It was so awesome
― kinder, Thursday, 12 April 2012 23:31 (eleven years ago) link
I still can't get over Jane in the boardroom the other week saying that doing well in the task was more important to her than her child weeping down the phone. Staggering.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Friday, 13 April 2012 17:31 (eleven years ago) link
It's just another point on the 'I will urinate on an unconscious pensioner to win this' reality TV axis.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Friday, 13 April 2012 17:39 (eleven years ago) link
"Let's getcynical!cynical!"http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/vWz9VN40nCA/hqdefault.jpg
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
Devise your own fitness programme? Risible. And surely potentially dangerous when devised by know-nothings.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:08 (eleven years ago) link
lol at Azhar and Adam arguing over who has creative direction of a highly camp exercise video
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:21 (eleven years ago) link
Ricky's rationalisation of his decision-making in the boardroom was perhaps one of the most OTM things anyone's said in there. Basically 'I delegated, but you can only work with the pishy blunt tools you're given, ffs'.
I basically quite like Ricky, Katie, Nick and maybe Jenna. The rest, meh.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:26 (eleven years ago) link
^^^ Nick seems competent (still a Tory boy though), Katie obviously isn't the boo hiss baddie that she was set up as earlier, Ricky more level headed than he seemed at the beginning of the series.
I thought Stephen would come unstuck in the traditional 'pprentice "I do this as my day job I should be PM!" move, but he didn't, although more by luck than anything. The other team's programme seemed like it would do better in the long run, but the show isn't about coming up with real practical business ideas that would actually work for more than five minutes.
Adam clearly heading for a huge blunder that completely sinks him. Tom is a sneering prick who will come unstuck when he's put in charge of something that actually matters. I can't tell if Laura really is argumentative or if she's just being edited to seem that way. Gabrielle, Jade, and Jenna are possibly the real argumentative elements. Azhar needs to pull something out of the bag to avoid his video performance being just an insubstantial flash in the pan.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:39 (eleven years ago) link
Duane's brother is Simon from Blue!
― ailsa, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:44 (eleven years ago) link
can i just pop in here to say that me and my friends LOVE the apprentice uk??
― A Little Princess btw (s1ocki), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:44 (eleven years ago) link
(and hate the apprentice US?)
what episode are you on? NO SPOILERS FOR A SECOND PLEASE!
(i just watched 4)
― A Little Princess btw (s1ocki), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:45 (eleven years ago) link
Someone at my other half's work knows Laura. Gossip or character assassination sadly unforthcoming.
Comedy Scottish racism ahoy next week. I predict Laura will be fired for (1) somehow not being an expert in all things ever to do with Scotland or (2) going postal on everyone for assuming that living in Lanarkshire gives you instant insight into the whims of wee old touristy grannies on the Royal Mile.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:52 (eleven years ago) link
This was episode 5.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 21:54 (eleven years ago) link
I'm slowly starting to think Ricky is the most sane, normal and dare I say, professional person they've had on for a long while.
― kinder, Thursday, 19 April 2012 05:47 (eleven years ago) link
It's back? Cool
― Memorial Highway (admrl), Thursday, 19 April 2012 05:47 (eleven years ago) link
This is the second week in a row where the team that did the 'proper business process' implied in the task lost, and the team that did the barking mad stuff, won.
btw, where can you source Spacehoppers for £2 each?
― Mark G, Thursday, 19 April 2012 05:56 (eleven years ago) link
indeed.
this wam bam, here's the twist! groove is becoming very tiresome
and surely there should have been equipment costs taken off the 12 grand license fee
i mean a few thousand spacehoppers/skiping ropes/hula hoops aint going to be that cheap ?
― mark e, Thursday, 19 April 2012 07:08 (eleven years ago) link
^^^otm
I was mostly sat there after the decision puzzling about how they worked out the costing and if they factored that into the grand total. Thankfully my general life outlook is that business is all handwaving and bullshit, so I'm happy to have this programme continually reinforce my belief system.
Would've liked someone to have just said, "yeah, your product was better and it was more well-liked than that shit retro thing that was poorly thought out, and you're only here because some of bloody 'family market' fluke that nobody on that team considered until it was brought up by a buyer."
― stay in school if you want to kiw (Gukbe), Thursday, 19 April 2012 07:20 (eleven years ago) link
and i had to stifle a laugh "you'll always witness the fitness with Ricky Martin."
― stay in school if you want to kiw (Gukbe), Thursday, 19 April 2012 07:21 (eleven years ago) link
I can't tell if Laura really is argumentative or if she's just being edited to seem that way.
She's certainly giving them loads of material if she isn't. I used to work with someone just like her - I think it's the nippy voice that makes it worse.
― ailsa, Thursday, 19 April 2012 08:33 (eleven years ago) link
Best deal I can do you on these Spacehoppers is £46.20 for five, darling. Special offer. They're £122 for 10, and this offer won't laugh. What do you mean £2 each? You've heard my offer. Take it or leave it.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Thursday, 19 April 2012 08:35 (eleven years ago) link
Well, there you go. If AlSug had factored in the cost of the spacehoppers into the final net totals, WHICH IS WHAT YOU DO IN BUSINESS, the fair and just result would have been presented.
― Mark G, Thursday, 19 April 2012 08:45 (eleven years ago) link
I've seen this 1-0, 2-0, 2-One squillion scoreline too many times before to believe that it wasn't either a fix by the producers or a wind-up by Virgin, but either way it backfired. The result didn't make sense and the winning team was stuffed with dead men/women walking, hence the need to make an absurd fuss about whether the video did or not contain the right moves in order to sack one of the strongest candidates. No wonder Duane seemed puzzled.
― And I have been called "The Appetite" (DL), Thursday, 19 April 2012 08:55 (eleven years ago) link
The other problem with this series, as I keep saying, is the premise: it's about Sugar selecting the best business idea to back. Does anyone seriously believe he hasn't decided the winner on the basis of the business plans before the series even starts, and the rest is just a charade? Last series, as I also keep saying, Tom kept getting saved despite being palpably the most hapless contestant week after week after week, which must have been because his was the only business plan Sugar was actually interested in - as it proved to be when they got down to talking about them, and the other contestants were dismissed out of hand.
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:02 (eleven years ago) link
Well, quite. When he was looking for an employee, the ability to communicate, take on new ideas, get stuck in, work as a team, pitch, sell, understand sums, etc, were all important. Now you just have to have a good idea and you can get Sugar's money to employ someone else to do all that shit for you. Tom would never have won last year's one in the old format, and Helen would probably have run away with it.
― ailsa, Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:09 (eleven years ago) link
I won't be happy till Adam is fired, not least because he has the manner of a date rapist.
― And I have been called "The Appetite" (DL), Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:28 (eleven years ago) link
How many date rapists do you know, Dorian?
― Viva Brother Beyond (ithappens), Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:48 (eleven years ago) link
There are too many flaws in the programme to take it seriously. Maybe I'm too cynical but I'd assumed that the 250k 'win' is better than a job offer for Al Sugar.
A job offer would entail a headache for one of Sugar's company's HR, finding them a suitable role in an environment that people might be unwilling to work with them, employer's NI, benefits, the bad publicity if you need to sack them.. the list is endless....
£250k means you can put them in a remote office, possibly even charge them for rent and admin staff, visit them for 'an update & advice' once a month and them wave them off when the money (quickly) runs out.
The types of 'tasks' remind me of a useless BTEC in Media that I did years ago. They are faintly ridiculous. Not at all suitable to judge a person's ability. I think Sugar, Nick, Karen and the talking heads on YBF look the most silly for taking it seriously.
― mmmm, Thursday, 19 April 2012 11:35 (eleven years ago) link
Quite fun to watch though...
― mmmm, Thursday, 19 April 2012 11:37 (eleven years ago) link
no-blinky guy is terrifying.
― jed_, Friday, 20 April 2012 01:05 (eleven years ago) link
http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/13/article-1331644279394-1224FDBF000005DC-234307_466x310.jpg
BLINK MOTHERFUCKER
― jed_, Friday, 20 April 2012 01:07 (eleven years ago) link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/07/Krays.jpg/250px-Krays.jpg
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Friday, 20 April 2012 09:30 (eleven years ago) link
as played by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Owen_ee.jpgmorelike
― useless chamber, Friday, 20 April 2012 10:10 (eleven years ago) link
gah
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/Steve_Owen_ee.jpg
and now it's massive. what a fucking idiot.
― useless chamber, Friday, 20 April 2012 10:11 (eleven years ago) link
I love the "This is my boardroom, and by the way, this is my money" bit they show every week.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:02 (eleven years ago) link
Don't think that's an Amstrad games console they're playing there.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
I love the 'TAFF ECONOMIC TIMES' from last year which is now just 'tough times'
― kinder, Thursday, 26 April 2012 05:25 (eleven years ago) link
Finally, a team wins by actually doing the task!
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 06:22 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, I was a bit surprised by that. We wondered if they would hammer Adam for failing to understand the "gourmet food" part of the instructions (again, make these things clear, ffs!), but no, he loses anyway. Then gets a second chance in order to prove his managerial clout (despite that being the point of being a team leader which he was rubbish at). Did Azhar actually do or say *anything* (apart from trying to sell meatballs to a squirrel)?
Trying to flog expensive food to hungover Rangers fans at Tynecastle at stupid o'clock on a Sunday morning is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard as a business plan. btw, had it been a normal kick-off time, I'd totally have bought some real food on the way to the match.
Also, why make it hard for both teams by doing this on a Sunday anyway? Looking at the fixture list, I reckon this was filmed in October. A Sunday in October is not exactly prime tourist time either.
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:10 (eleven years ago) link
Also fuck Jenna and her "will you understand them if they speak Scottish" pish.
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:12 (eleven years ago) link
The reason for filming on that day might have something to do with not upsetting other traders on busier days? They appeared to have carte blanche over where they put their food wagons. This made it more realistic as before they seem to get put in places where one has good passing and the other doesn't. The task on the other series with the sausage selling was typical, one team had a weekday on Portabello Mkt which has limited appeal and the other team had Leadenhall Mkt which has huge number of city workers at lunchtime. All the bashing of Adam about not having a 'gourmet' product and in the end they just went to the wrong places at the wrong time. I can't imagine the 'gourmet' aspect being the reason they didn't sell.
― mmmm, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:30 (eleven years ago) link
They were given a choice of about half a dozen places, iirc. Lack of local knowledge is usually the first fail - are they never allowed to do research on this if they don't have anyone with local knowledge?
The bashing of Adam for not having a gourmet product was because they were asked to provide a gourmet product. Not that they ever specify if there's a punishment for not adhering to the rules, but ffs, gourmet does not entail hundreds of tins of own-brand tomatoes.
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:45 (eleven years ago) link
On the train up to Scotland, wasn't Nick phoning around places for advice on where to set up their pitch? He got some pretty good recommendations but they were ignored.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:56 (eleven years ago) link
Also fuck Jenna and her "will you understand them if they speak Scottish" pish.― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:12 (48 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:12 (48 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I note that everyone else present was trying very hard not to laugh out loud / roll on floor of the taxi, etc.
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:03 (eleven years ago) link
I did wonder what would have happened if that team had won by £21 as opposed to losing by that amount, whether or not the team would have got fined for not doing the task as was CLEARLY explained.
As our Alice exploded: "You don't "Slop Gourmet Food on a tray" like it was School Dinners!!"
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:06 (eleven years ago) link
"There's one fing you can't cook.. and that's the books!"
― mmmm, Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:18 (eleven years ago) link
Second week in a row where he's fired someone with real skill and promise while sparing a plodder.
― And I have been called "The Appetite" (DL), Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:18 (eleven years ago) link
Well, yes. I assume Adam and/or Azhar have some excellent business propositions for when they scoot through to the final like Tom last year.
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:40 (eleven years ago) link
If I'd been Laura I'd have nutted her in the face. Take *THAT* Scottish stereotype, ya daft bint.
(I wouldn't really)
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:42 (eleven years ago) link
not that she has an accent or anything...
― jed_, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:26 (eleven years ago) link
Welll, the further north you come from...
Actually, shock horror actually the first team manager to do it properly and well, this series?
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:27 (eleven years ago) link
no-blinky guy should have been in the board room for suggesting a price hike from 5.99 to 8.99.
― jed_, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:30 (eleven years ago) link
have been trying to avoid this but when your flatmates are fans what can y'do. caught one of the girls on the meatballs team saying their food was "locally sourced" - what, because they bought it at a nearby tesco?
― Touché Gödel (ledge), Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:30 (eleven years ago) link
it doesn't matter where the produce comes from as long as it is utterly delicious.
― jed_, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:32 (eleven years ago) link
Noblinky guy seems to have 'taken over the house', particularly last night's show where he launches into a 'congrats' speech 'on-behalf-of' everyone to the two returning.
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:34 (eleven years ago) link
Noblinky is the worst. I think Adam didn't bring him in because he was scared of him.
― mmmm, Thursday, 26 April 2012 10:54 (eleven years ago) link
My husband has noblinky in his work sweep. His hilarious attempts to try to find reasons for him to win are part of the fun in my house.
― ailsa, Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:06 (eleven years ago) link
Noblinky's passive-aggressive way of addressing people as "buddy" makes me want to stab him in the eyes. See if he blinks then.
― And I have been called "The Appetite" (DL), Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:56 (eleven years ago) link
xpost to Ledge Wasn't it a local Morrison's? Makes a world of difference.
― Manfred Mann meets Man Parrish (ithappens), Thursday, 26 April 2012 13:32 (eleven years ago) link
It was Morrison's cheap range, so it was about as cheap as you can get.
― nate woolls, Thursday, 26 April 2012 15:49 (eleven years ago) link
I don't know about the meat, but there was definitely "value" tins of Tomatoes, and discussion about "we don't need fresh herbs, we can do with dried surely?"
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:09 (eleven years ago) link
Adam's business idea must be really shit hot.
― Cheggers Plays Populous (snoball), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:10 (eleven years ago) link
tbf there was nothing in the rules that said what the quality of food had to be like - it was just 'make the most profit'. If they really cared about making them have a gourmet product they'd have some chefs rating it or something. I don't blame the guy for playing the game by the rules, even though Sir Alan has wheeled out the 'you missed the point of the task' line several times over recent episodes/series.Any marketing person who chooses the name 'utterly delicious' deserves to be fired FROM EVERYTHING though.
― kinder, Thursday, 26 April 2012 17:22 (eleven years ago) link
But no-one ever actually knows what the rules (and, by extension, the punishment for breaking them) are. There were definitely a specification for the food to be gourmet. Though what that was defined as, fuck knows.
― ailsa, Friday, 27 April 2012 08:29 (eleven years ago) link
If they'd used £100 to make souvenir plates of Edinburgh, or (even) "The Apprenice 2012", sold a load of them and made a massive profit...
― Mark G, Friday, 27 April 2012 08:32 (eleven years ago) link
Stick a pony in me pocket.I'll fetch the suitcase from the van.Cause if you want the best 'uns,and you don't ask questions.Then Lord Sugar is your man.
― 'scuse me, while I Rim the Sky... (snoball), Wednesday, 2 May 2012 20:00 (eleven years ago) link
Well that was boring, and how on earth did Jade manage to stay in?
― kinder, Wednesday, 2 May 2012 21:52 (eleven years ago) link
Nah, we all had him pegged for the boot.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 2 May 2012 22:52 (eleven years ago) link
All those Essex people bemoaning being reduced to a cliche/stereotype, regarding the fake tan and the 'nail-wrap' being picked up for sale. And yet, they still sold tons of it.
Oh, and business logic ahoy: Just because one item has the biggest percentage difference between cost price and retail, does not make it the item to stock up on: you still have to actually sell it.
― Mark G, Thursday, 3 May 2012 15:04 (eleven years ago) link
He had to go. With all his talk of 'strategy' Sugar had him down as 'a finker, not a do-er'.
― mmmm, Thursday, 3 May 2012 15:47 (eleven years ago) link
"Strata-geh", please.
Felt sorry for him. Clearly an arsehole, but he called something right, whereas Jade got nothing right. Presumably she's got one of the business plans he's interested in.
― Manfred Mann meets Man Parrish (ithappens), Thursday, 3 May 2012 16:33 (eleven years ago) link
Didn't she say she's got a few, a few 'million pound' companies that she's waiting to set up for him? She was going off on something about it in the boardroom. They are all so awful this time. It does usually start getting better after a few non-personalities have gone..
― mmmm, Thursday, 3 May 2012 17:20 (eleven years ago) link
I get the feeling that the entirety of Tom's experience is the time he wrote 'WANKERS' with a felt pen on a bus stop.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:08 (eleven years ago) link
"Nobody knows who Banksy is." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:11 (eleven years ago) link
Off to Bristol, birthplace of the completely anonymous Banksy, who no-one knows anything about. Except where he was born.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:13 (eleven years ago) link
Tom is so full of shit. As much as I hate to say it, Ricky and Nick seem to have this sew up.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:15 (eleven years ago) link
Laura's 'wtf' face is comedy gold.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:16 (eleven years ago) link
To be honest, if whoever loses this had come round mine I would have given them the winning difference to get the taggers who think they're the 'new street artist' to get the fuck away from spraying on my house.
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:18 (eleven years ago) link
Stephen or Tom out, depending on which team loses. Irritating bawbags, the pair of them.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:38 (eleven years ago) link
The winning team's treat is a load of Pollocks.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
Changing my mind, rooting for never have to listen to Laura's whiny voice ever again.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:51 (eleven years ago) link
Tom has been pish thoughout the task.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:53 (eleven years ago) link
Aye, but Laura is getting on my tits something chronic (also sounds like this irritating. blethering daft lassie I used to work with so triggering all sorts of negative reactions)
Oh good. Byeeee!
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 20:57 (eleven years ago) link
English sparkling wine? How about this for an advertising slogan:"It doesn't taste of piss... at least not quite as much as you thought it would!"
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:00 (eleven years ago) link
Has Ricky committed any massive acts of bawbaggery? I like him a lot. He seems decent, not stupid, has some people skills and can do arithmetic in his head.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:07 (eleven years ago) link
AFAIK he's not done anything stupid. Going into the series, he was the lol wrestling lol Ricky Martin lol Superstar Ricky Hype slightly joke candidate. But aside from being a bit full of himself in the earlier weeks, he's turned out to be pretty competent. Same with Nick really.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:11 (eleven years ago) link
OTOH Tom must literally have a goose that lays golden eggs as an integral component of his business idea. But to be fair he did take responsibility in the boardroom for the two big decisions that scuppered the task though.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:12 (eleven years ago) link
He's still a twonk out of his depth though, and the "we just need to sell ONE" tactic always always fails.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:14 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, Nick seems decent too. I keep nearly warming to Jenna and Jade, but not quite. Gabrielle is just a bit meh (also put a suitcase on legs), Adam's your standard issue Apprentice twat. I can't even think about Stephen any more. Tom, blah.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:20 (eleven years ago) link
Ooh, Dara's audience don't like Ricky and do like Tom. Hmmmm.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:23 (eleven years ago) link
ha !
pure evil gallery@pureevilgallery
Every time #alansugar says pure evil im having a drink. I'm totally drunk. Thanks #theapprentice
― mark e, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:27 (eleven years ago) link
xp It's because they've just watched the episode - in a sea of BS, Tom admitting to a couple of mistakes makes him seem honest. Rick'ys been soldi this episode but his team's performance was pretty high except for Gabrielle's gaffes. She seems to easily lose track of what needs to be focussed on in a task, relying instead on being smiley. The whole business about not asking the corporate client how much they had budgeted being a good example.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:30 (eleven years ago) link
those graffiti robots(?) are all over the hoardings on the pizza shop by covent garden fopp.
― koogs, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:24 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, the girls (I.e. my two) recognised them straightaway.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:35 (eleven years ago) link
thought the lots of the art was derivative - HORROR picture obviously creature from the black lagoon for instance (not sure who they thought would buy anything like that, was expensive and nasty). better off with the original aesthetic stuff. or the funny derivative stuff. or just bright colours.
loved that abstract of snoopy's face.
as dara pointed out, the stig comment was classic.
― koogs, Thursday, 10 May 2012 13:59 (eleven years ago) link
original by john buscema & dan adkins: http://bit.ly/IWdsxC
jessop's pisspoor copy: http://bit.ly/LvCtyE
― pat rice memorial barbecue (Ward Fowler), Friday, 11 May 2012 14:09 (eleven years ago) link
Fizzy piss!
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
What about 'chink'?
― mmmm, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:10 (eleven years ago) link
As usual with these 'build a marketing campaign' tasks, it's the graphic designers I feel sorry for.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:14 (eleven years ago) link
Tom to go?
― mmmm, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:16 (eleven years ago) link
It's being edited to look that way. If his team lose, and he's really done nothing except piss about tasting wines with Adam, then he should go. I have to say, that again Nick looks like the most competent candidate.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:19 (eleven years ago) link
www.yawn.com(is available as well, by the looks of it)
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:38 (eleven years ago) link
Tom being smug, even though he did a bad job.
― mmmm, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:44 (eleven years ago) link
He's heading for a fall.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:46 (eleven years ago) link
I wonder if Stephen's idea is for a gadget to get rid of 5 o'clock shadow?
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:51 (eleven years ago) link
(which would obviously be a pocketable battery powered electric razor, but that must be why I'm not an entrepreneur)
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 21:03 (eleven years ago) link
wtf, they agreed that Ricky's campaign got to the heart of the brief more than Tom's did, then randomly decided to make them lose anyway, then passed up the golden opportunity to get that idiot Stephen out of there. I can't even watch the tv when he's on any more.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 16 May 2012 21:20 (eleven years ago) link
This 'Tom and Adam on the piss' montage makes me hate them both even more.
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 21:26 (eleven years ago) link
Ricky's involuntary head movements remind me of Mr. Mackay from Porridge.http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1965000/images/_1967033_mackay150.jpg
― banal like anal (snoball), Wednesday, 16 May 2012 21:28 (eleven years ago) link
Stephen: "I'm going to give 110%"
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
I'm going to blink 110 times. for the rest of my life. then that's me done with blinking.
― jed_, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:07 (eleven years ago) link
Tom and Adam can just fuck off now.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:40 (eleven years ago) link
Keep thinking Adam's the worst then I see Steven
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:49 (eleven years ago) link
Stephen's just descended to being an argumentative prick at this point. He thinks he's impressing AlSug, but really he's talking his way out of the door.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:51 (eleven years ago) link
... double firing?
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:54 (eleven years ago) link
YES
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:55 (eleven years ago) link
BOOM! DOUBLE HEADSHOT!
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:55 (eleven years ago) link
lol Dara
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:01 (eleven years ago) link
"I'm the guy that will learn from his mistakes, and come back the next day and do the same thing again"
hmmm...
― Mark G, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:11 (eleven years ago) link
Jesus, we really thought Stephen was getting away with it again there.
I'm still Team Ricky, despite everything. Him and Nick. Maybe Jade at a desperate push. Adam and Tom can fuck off though.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:14 (eleven years ago) link
Stephen's grown that beard in the time it took Dara to interview Gabrielle.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:17 (eleven years ago) link
When Jade got the 50% Sanctuary discount, I knew the game was over...
― Mark G, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:18 (eleven years ago) link
Nick vs Jade for the final. Ricky coming across more and more as Pricky. Tom is a smirking jerk and Adam is just a bumbler.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:19 (eleven years ago) link
Ricky is normally the only one they show telling potential clients why they might actually want to do business with them. Thinking about what other people might need to know, rather than what you want to say, seems to be a quality lacking in most candidates.
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:23 (eleven years ago) link
Nick's shown that as well, although not to the same extent. Ricky keeps on missing sales, like the 'only 100' thing this episode. Jade doesn't miss things like that, but OTOH she doesn't have Ricky's sales presentations skills.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:26 (eleven years ago) link
Jade Jennie Bond has a voice that really annoys me.
― banal like a null (snoball), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 21:28 (eleven years ago) link
Fav moment in this episode was when Ricky came out of the boardroom and Gabrielle was grinning from ear to ear. Although she was fired it must have been great to know that Stephen went too.
― mmmm, Thursday, 24 May 2012 10:54 (eleven years ago) link
Good episode. Also loved that the manager at Windows gave Ricky a grand tour with no intention of striking a deal - good advertising if you can get it!
― mmmm, Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:24 (eleven years ago) link
That guy was on Michel Roux Jr's programme last year where he trained unemployed kids to work in the hospitality trade, he was quite self-promoting then too. I'd have edited him out of it for cheek, but I guess the BBC quite like him.
― ailsa, Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:46 (eleven years ago) link
If a luxury product is affordable, doesn't it cease to be a luxury?
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:06 (eleven years ago) link
oh just get Adam the fuck out of there already.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:37 (eleven years ago) link
The moment he put himself forward to be PM, I knew they'd lose. And they did, even in spite of Nick's ideas and Jade's sales skills.
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
Thought Ricky and Tom totally nailed the brief - even without the blithering twatfest opposite them almost guaranteeing them victory by default, they looked like winners right the way through.
I have no idea why preparation and research aren't more widely-used and rewarded.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:52 (eleven years ago) link
Chocolate shop should've been called LORD SUGAR
― kinder, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:53 (eleven years ago) link
wait when do they do the interviews?
― kinder, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:57 (eleven years ago) link
Sunday. Interviews are ripping the business plans apart iirc
― ailsa, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:58 (eleven years ago) link
oh yeah right so. so there's only one ep left and it's not the big task where all their friends come back to help?
― kinder, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:59 (eleven years ago) link
aargh, Kelvin Mackenzie is on You're Fired, in the only possible move to make Adam seem like not the biggest twat in the room.
― ailsa, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:02 (eleven years ago) link
and Ruby Wax, why are they doing this to us
― kinder, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:02 (eleven years ago) link
Ruby Wax there as well. I almost feel sorry for Adam.
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:02 (eleven years ago) link
Actually I don't feel sorry for him, with his shiny pink perpetually grinning face that looks like something a kid would draw on a balloon.
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:18 (eleven years ago) link
God, Nick Knowles seems like a real-life spitting image puppet
― kinder, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:28 (eleven years ago) link
I'd watch a Rolf Harris Apprentice.
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:28 (eleven years ago) link
Who was the silver fox checking out Jade during her presentation? The way the show was edited, I thought he was going to turn out to be a talking point later, but he wasn't. Did the editor just fancy him?
― trishyb, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 21:44 (eleven years ago) link
The moment he put himself forward to be PM, I knew they'd lose. And they did, even in spite of Nick's ideas and Jade's sales skills.― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:43 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Radical Jedward (snoball), Wednesday, 30 May 2012 20:43 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Yeah, Jade was in danger of winning the task for them.
― Mark G, Thursday, 31 May 2012 10:31 (eleven years ago) link
"CHOCOLATE BAAAAAAH!"
― Mark G, Thursday, 31 May 2012 10:32 (eleven years ago) link
Final on in five minutes, once Gary Barlow and his Royalist Tory tossbag mates have finished writing a pish song for the Queen.
― Dog shave the Queen / 'Cos tourists owe money!!! (snoball), Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:36 (eleven years ago) link
In a pub with it on. Happy days.
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:50 (eleven years ago) link
I hope bald Claude punches smug Tom in the face over and over again.
― Dog shave the Queen / 'Cos tourists owe money!!! (snoball), Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:54 (eleven years ago) link
Lol Nick working the catwalk just then
― kinder, Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:55 (eleven years ago) link
Jade's idea is the shittiest of the four by a long way.
― Dog shave the Queen / 'Cos tourists owe money!!! (snoball), Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:57 (eleven years ago) link
I need a pub with this on :(
― ailsa, Sunday, 3 June 2012 19:58 (eleven years ago) link
aldo aren't you in Bris? can't be arsed to go out and find a pub tho
― kinder, Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:01 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, in the Bishops on Cheltenham Road.
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:06 (eleven years ago) link
Ricky has a degree in medical biochemistry?!"Who plans a meal with recipes" er lots of people?
― kinder, Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:10 (eleven years ago) link
Is it just me or are some pitching ideas that basically they weren't willing to be PM on?
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:12 (eleven years ago) link
we're predicting Ricky to be hired
― kinder, Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:30 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, seems like the only conclusion. Especially after Claude sucking his cock so much.
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:37 (eleven years ago) link
@Lord_SugarShame about Nick nice bloke his idea such long shot
@Lord_SugarSpaghetti cabonara on google
@Lord_SugarChataux mon plonk will go down
― kinder, Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:41 (eleven years ago) link
THOR WINS
― the fey monster (ledge), Sunday, 3 June 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
This "You're Fired" panel is the worst ever, surely?
― I must be old, I recognise nobody in ITV2 idents (aldo), Sunday, 3 June 2012 21:27 (eleven years ago) link
panel chosen to make sure lord sugar was the funniest
― koogs, Monday, 4 June 2012 08:13 (eleven years ago) link
Still failed.
― Dog shave the Queen / 'Cos tourists owe money!!! (snoball), Monday, 4 June 2012 08:24 (eleven years ago) link
I thought Nick's idea was pretty good and I couldn't believe how dismissive the interviewers and Sugar were. Claude & Sugar both said "who's got time for that?" - what, clicking a button on a browser? Although I doubt if either of those two have actually cooked themselves a meal for at least 20 years.
― nate woolls, Monday, 4 June 2012 08:38 (eleven years ago) link
That question begged a proper answer. Why didn't he include some market research?
― mmmm, Monday, 4 June 2012 08:45 (eleven years ago) link
I expect Sugar has some existing interests in recruitment so that Ricky's plan can be easily implemented into a functioning back office and sales software set up. It also appeared that he had a few clients that he wanted to bring over, hopefully he previous employer(s) were all cool with that! Such a dull business idea. Easy choice though as it should make at least some money in the short term.
― mmmm, Monday, 4 June 2012 08:54 (eleven years ago) link
the interesting, possibly nonsensical, parts of the business plan (the ethical aspects) got waved away by sugar.
― koogs, Monday, 4 June 2012 08:56 (eleven years ago) link
I don't know enough about Nick's business plan - but the delivery end seemed a problem. If you're just ordering one or two items for a recipe that you don't want in bulk, or that won't keep fresh that long, who's going to deliver them? He may have the main supermarkets interested, but they already charge for a full delivery. Who want's to pay a delivery charge for a few spices etc.
― Bob Six, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:00 (eleven years ago) link
Jade's plan for a call centre that generates leads wasn't revolutionary. In my experiences these businesses are scaleable and use temporary staffing. Quite risky to talk about having the 'biggest' one. The operators I've had experience with have all been a bit shady, not a business people want to be associated with as typically they prey on the vulnerable.
― mmmm, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:01 (eleven years ago) link
I suspect that Sugar & Claude actually know fuck all about the internet either, really.
― nate woolls, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:02 (eleven years ago) link
I think Claude knows enough to be confident the recipe idea isn't going to be bigger than google.
― Bob Six, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:06 (eleven years ago) link
Was there actually an investment strategy behind the hedge fund idea? Or was the idea simply to use Sugar's name to draw in other investors?
― Bob Six, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:08 (eleven years ago) link
Did Nick say it could be bigger than Google or Facebook or was that something Sugar/Claude said because that's all they know about the internet?
― nate woolls, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:14 (eleven years ago) link
As I understand it Nick's idea was creating a button that would link recipe sites (like bbcgoodfood) to online grocery retailers (like Ocado). In principle an interesting idea. Who would use it? Well I know people who use both those sites so maybe them. I think the problems were probably in the details, it definitely had more scope to fail compared to Ricky's.
― mmmm, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:19 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah that's what I thought it was. A browser add-on, rather than the "web page" Sugar/Claude kept calling it.
― nate woolls, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:21 (eleven years ago) link
Nick actually made that comparison himself. I'm all for dreaming big but no.
― Get wolves (DL), Monday, 4 June 2012 09:22 (eleven years ago) link
Ah did he? That was silly. He should've kept their expectations realistic by telling them it could be as big as last.fm. I'm sure they would've got that.
― nate woolls, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:24 (eleven years ago) link
I couldn't get my head around the wine investment proposal. Was he asking for 250k in order to raise 25mil on which he would invest purely in wine? The question for me would be who is ready to invest now? 250k could be done in a couple of months of client entertainment with £0 at the end of it.
― mmmm, Monday, 4 June 2012 09:25 (eleven years ago) link
I still think this shift to business partners rather than actual apprentices is a disaster. It doesn't matter how well you do over 12 weeks of tasks - it all comes down to the one idea you had before you started, so it's basically become the world's longest episode of Dragon's Den. Although in this case (unlike inventor Tom) Ricky would have won the old format too - imo he's clearly the most impressive individual in terms of working with others, keeping his cool, learning from his mistakes, etc. But it still feels like an illogical process and I miss the old format of interviews in the penultimate episode then the big get-the-old-gang-back-together finale.
― Get wolves (DL), Monday, 4 June 2012 10:57 (eleven years ago) link
The wine investment thing works pretty much the same as how people invest in gold: you don't actually get to have any, but you 'sort of' own some until you sell it.
So, basically there were two excellent ideas, one fair to middling one, and one that the contestant had pretty much admitted she wouldn't propose if she'd had the time to re-submit "sweet things", etc.
And that AlSug was 'too old' to do the wine investment thing and all the learning involved. Maybe Branson would?
― Mark G, Thursday, 7 June 2012 08:58 (eleven years ago) link