I've been a huge fan of Trump's for years. Read "Art of the Deal" when it first came out - twice. Read almost everything he's written or put his name on since. Have several "Trump University" boxed sets. I used to exclusively visit and stay at Trump properties in Atlantic City. NO MORE. I've watched every episode of "The Apprentice" and "Celebrity Apprentice". Trump had been - up until the final boardroom with Annie Duke - he HAD been very consistent with his criteria, policies, etc. That's what made the show so fascinating. But he broke all his own rules and invented brand new criteria in the 11th hour, and the reason was clear - to favor Joan Rivers. Why was it clear? Just watch the show - Trump was constantly deferring to Joan and none of the other contestants ... "what do you think, Joan?" ... "what would you do, Joan?" In one of the last few episodes, he went to Joan Rivers a half dozen times in a row asking what she thought, all the while Clint Black was sitting right next to her, silent, never called upon. It was bizarre. The clues all season long were there - Joan Rivers QUIT the show - and was allowed back on? Does everyone remember when previous candidates in earlier seasons simply HINTED at the idea of MAYBE quitting? Trump would FIRE THEM ON THE SPOT and explain he would never tolerate such thoughts. Her vitriolic attacks were excessive and simply stupid. "You have blood on your hands!" Attacking Annie's people? Her mother? NOTHING Joan attacked had anything to do with the show itself. And yet Trump calls her a "role model" - for who? Hitler, maybe. Yes, this whole show was clearly bizarre. Perhaps a few Rivers fans who have never followed Trump's show before are giddy with sadistic delight as usual, but all long time fans of Trump and the "Apprentice" series that I know are utterly disgusted. I've never seen such a bad reaction to a TV show that I can remember. Trump really blew it here - he was flying a great franchise and he just crashed it right into the ground. Oh, well. Perhaps Richard Branson will revive his Apparentice-style show - I'd watch that in a heartbeat. But never again will I watch Trump.
Seemed fixed to me