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.

When I started watching celebrity apprentice, I actually liked Joan - throughout the show however, I saw more and more of her "real" side and liked her less and less every week. I had never heard or Annie Dukes before seeing her on the show, and I think she is incredibly conceited and egotistical BUT, she actually did impress me with her professionalism and I was stunned when Joan won. I learned to dislike Joan completely and while I never really liked Melissa, I now loath her - she is a spoiled little brat all the way through. Melissa and Joan have such a sick and twisted relationship that it actually made me ill. I also ended up not liking Clint Black who is more egotistical than Annie but without the intelligence Annie has - he's lucky he can sing... All in all, a very entertaining season, but a terrible ending.

Technically Blaine may not be Donald's "ex" sister-in-law, but she might as well be and the divorce from The Hair's younger brother looks like it WILL be nasty. The point is, that is still a weak argument that the show was "fixed". DT also disclosed that fact early in the show, btw. Sore loser Annie Duke supporters act like it's breaking news, though, and you'd think that simply citing the name "Blaine Trump" proves something. It doesn't.

blaine trump is NOT divorced from donald trump's brother yet...she is stil family

Annie SO should have been fired on the episode when Melissa Rivers was fired instead. Annie talked as if she singlehandedly did so much on that task, so if the team failed then it should have been all her fault. Trump favored Annie on that task. It was fixed, biased towards Annie! LOL.

Blaine is Donald Trump's EX-sister-in-law - and the divorce from his brother was a pretty nasty one. If anything, Trump had to look past that connection when choosing Joan Rivers as The Celebrity Apprentice (2), and letting the money go to that charity. Interesting that this article doesn't mention that. But I've heard countless Annie Duke fans go on about how Annie was "robbed" and the show was "fixed". Give me a break. If Trump favored Joan over Annie, it's because so did the fans. About 2/3 of viewers this season wanted Joan to win. And about that many are very happy that Joan won. Also, at least that many prefer Joan's charity, not because of anything to do with anyone Trump, but because it's charity that benefits Americans in need, as opposed to foreigners. Everyone cares about charity but it's easier to really feel for a charity at home. Also Joan's presentation of the charity and her involvement in it was very touching, whereas Annie's presentation seemed more businesslike in a way, even with the woman's story about her kids' visas.

Was the Donald involved? Answer Yes to both. Annie mirrored Piers (past Winner) in approach to business, handling people, raising the most money, winning the most tasks and conducted herself as the professional (that she happens to be). Guess what she lost and last year Piers won! Why, because the Donald says so!

I doubt that Blaine Trump's involvement in the charity had any impact on Donald Trump's decision given the fact that she's in the middle of a nasty divorce from his brother who left her for another woman. I think it is far more likely that Annie Duke lost because she isn't a team player and it showed in her constantly under utilizing her team members. I was seriously disgusted while watching her constantly singing her own praises.

Annie needs to get over the fact that Joan Rivers won because she is BETTER in every way. She is SMARTER, KINDER, MORE PROFESSIONAL and played the game with HONOUR. Just because TRUMPS sis in law is involved with the charity does not mean it was fixed. The KODAK executives are the ones that awarded Joan a win on three out of the five categories and EVERY celebrity (with the exception of Jesses James) told TRUMP they should hire Joan. Face it Annie, it's time to throw in your cards in this game. You went up against the BEST (Joan and Melissa Rivers) and you LOST. Not only did Joan win the $250,000 but she also walked away with her integrity, something you lost in the first espisode.

A poker blog that thinks Annie Duke should have won the show? Get out! A little biased here maybe?

I'm glad to see another story on this. Unfortunately, sisnce it's on Gambling 911- it will be considered biased towards Annie Duke. BUT, The real story is that it doesn't matter who the competition was, the final outcome was always and only going to be Joan Rivers. It is so obvious and that is what is ticking so many people off. "It's for charity! Get overe it!" you say. But I say: That makes it even worse. To think that all the players were playing for charities and then got SCREWED. That is some low down stuff. I hope this gets some major coverage. Everyone call your connections. Entertainment Weekly, I want to see a story next week!

I think it was fixed to Anne Duke was phenominal on the show and should have won no questions asked