Donald Trump AP Photo
The Donald fires Melissa Rivers but Joan Rivers quits on episode 9 of Celebrity Apprentice. The two leave together with Melissa yelling at the crew denying a final interview. Here’s what happened.
Trump moved Jesse James to the other team – so he was now with Joan Rivers and Clint Black leaving producer Melissa Rivers with poker champion Annie Duke and Playboy Playmate Brande Roderick. The task was to create a 4-page print ad to appear in Sports Illustrated and SI.com promoting the new Right Guard deodorant, Fastbreak and starring New York Knicks power forward, David Lee.
From the beginning each team was more plagued with personality issues than task problems. Jesse James took on Clint Black using profanity (which was bleeped out) while Melissa Rivers felt like the third wheel with the Annie-Brande bonding. What we learn is that Annie Duke is applying her poker-playing strategy to play both Brande and Melissa which is picked up by guest judge CNBC Mad Money host, Jim Cramer. Both teams present decent designs with Clint Black, project manager, using the Right Guard orange stripe effectively while Brande Roderick, project manager, featured a nearly naked David Lee. The win went to Clint Black’s team which prompted Jesse James (at Trump’s suggestion) to be gracious and congratulate Clint. He did. It wasn’t such a pleasant ending for the losing team.
In the Board Room, the judges first thought Brande showed a lack of passion but she reminded them of her fundraising ability and stepping up to be project manager. Since Annie was the number one fundraiser and took initiative on the task – she said Melissa should be fired. When Melissa began to defend herself, she interrupted Trump which is always a Board Room no-no. In a surprise move, Trump wrote something down and slipped the note to Jim Cramer. Shortly after, we heard Trump say, “Melissa, you’re fired.” She was clearly horrified and humiliated running into the lobby and calling out to the crew frantically that she wanted her purse and would not grant the final interview. While this was happening, Joan Rivers was packing her things in the winner’s suite and warning Brande to watch out for Annie. It was emotional and sad for the Red Carpet Rivers duo and for their millions of fans.
PR Lesson Learned
Pay attention to the purpose and plunge ahead. Clint Black was criticized and even mocked on his ideas, his pace, and his approach but as project manager he knew he had to deliver so he kept the personalities out of it and fulfilled the objectives. He won and has $20K for his charity to be presented next week. Stay tuned ...
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Comments
I was disappointed in Melissa's firing. She did nothing task wise wrong. I will not watch Celebrity Apprentice anymore. Donald obviously favors the blond playmate, because she is beautiful. He gave her plenty of opportunities to defend herself, while cutting off Meilssa when she attempted to do so, even though there was nothing for her to defend. The other two screwed up, pure and simple.
Thank God! Joan and Melissa finally showed how un-classy they are. Joan, go home and breastfeed your daughter!
Melissa showed her true colors.Lets face it if she wasnt Joans daughter she would proably be wearing a blue vest @ Walmart
These two forgot that this is a game for CHARITY!!!!! They brought the high school drama
no wonder Melissa hated high school,if she acted like she did on the show,she was proably hung up in her locker
And where does Joan get off calling anyone two faced,she has to be working on her sixth or seventh
I believe it was Cramer that wrote something on paper and slipped it to Trump.
I too was disappointed over Melissa's firing. At this point, it's about how much money is brought in - nothing to do with teamwork. So next season, why do anything except that?? Just sit back, bring in money from rich friends and do nothing else.
Also, Brande sharing her private conversation with Melissa was waspish. Annie is a manish cut-throat. Jesse's mood swing was childish.
As to Joan quiting, I don't think so. She'll be back to reap satisfaction. Wish my mom was so supportative.
And I'm sick of hearing how beautiful Brande is; Melissa is far prettier.
Joan and Melissa were by far the most intelligent people on the show. The firing should have been judged on the task and either Annie or Brandeeee should have been fired. I don't blame Melissa for being upset. Annie is a total witch, and Brandeee watch your back, as it is about to be stabbed. Joan was right to leave that den of vipers.
Mellisa needs to quit posting these messages in support of herself
Annie or Brandie should have been fired. You need to be careful about how many times you go to the well for fund raising. Joan and Melissa along with Jesse are the talent Annie's just a bach stabber.
Mellissa's and Joan River's showed how much class they had last night. I would say it was lower class. Their is no reason at all why one would wonder after last night why they were fired from the Red Carpet.
Good riddance... I can't imagine two more hideous, loathsome individuals than Joan and Melissa Rivers. I did notice that Carol Van Stone makes a special note of Jesse James profanity, which was used to describe Clint Black's ideas. Funny she didn't mention Melissa Rivers profane tirade or Joan Rivers reprehensible remarks. Nice work Carol.
Good ridance of the RIVER RATS, Joan is awful rude, and daughter would have been fired sooner if not for her mothers name,Joan should have been fired during her last project manager show. Trump kept the two River Rats on for TV rating, Melissa shyed away from being project manager incase her team lost and she would get fired. All the River Rats did was play with their lap top's and critize the other members, and Melissa kept running to her mom like some spoil brat, and Joan act like some mother hen. Good ridance of the River Rats.
Joan Rivers and Melissa Rivers are only relevant to people who look and behave as they do... the rest of us simply find them pathetic and repugnant, and their embarrassing behavior last night only confirmed this. Hopefully these histrionics will spell the last of these two and their self-serving, self-centered arrogance. These are the worst kind of people... those who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and failures. Classy.
Melissa and Joan have a lot of talent in marketing which was obvious, However, Melissa should not have played into the Brandy's and Annies game. Her concentration should have been on the game she was playing and not have allowed her 2 components to manipulate and roll her under the bus. She lacked the skills to ignore them. I wanted her to stay on the show she had talent but she didn't play the game right. And her temper tantrum in the end just didn't bode well for her.
dissapointed at donald too.. I love joan.. but I also love annie.. (poker player myself)..but what they did to melissa.. was wrong she had no decision over her fate.. her ideas.. thrown away.. other poeple got to do the project when they failed she got the blame.. what the hell.. I lvoe joan though.. ride or die joan.. thats your blood..
I'm shocked anybody is stepping up to defend Melissa Rivers. She acted like a total baby when she was fired, as if she just expected she should win the whole thing. She is an insecure, spoiled little brat, and B Jones is right--if Joan was not her mother, she would be a nobody. I like Joan Rivers, but it was pretty classless of her to leave too, just b/c her daughter didn't make it.
Weak article. reads like a second-grader wrote it with zero insight. lame
he is such an idiot. that's it for celebrity apprentice.. Donald you r fired
Annie or Brande should have been fired and not Melissa. Brande doesn't realize that Annie is manipulating her big time. I think people don't give Melissa her just due. I saw her on another reality type show and I must say, Joan Rivers raised a great kid, now a woman. I did not think that much of Melissa but after that show I know that Joan Rivers is a great mom and I think she did well standing by her daughter!!!! As for the Clint and Jesse, I really like Jesse's style, he's another person who is himself and gets the job done without making himself only the center of attention.
I am sorry Mr Trump fired Melissa it was the wrong move. Hopefully Joan and Melissa will read this message and know that the public supports you and that you were and are right in your protestations!
I have to admit that at the start of the show, Melissa and Joan were both repugnant to me but much to my surprise they totally won me over.
I have nothing but respect for the both of them. I believe them to both be talented producers and intelligent women who both take the high road. The problem is that they expect others to treat them in the same impartial manner which has not been the case on this show. It was really quite awful what happened to Melissa last night so I do not blame her for her attitude and I do not blame Joan for supporting her by leaving. Melissa was totally set up for failure by the other two women who sadly enough were rewarded for their treachery. If this were a show about being hired for a job then I would greatly question the decision to favor treachery over a team player. Melissa only wanted to do a good job and have a chance to contribute to the team.
The other two women are threatened by her and probably are targeting Melissa also because of her status of Celebrity Daughter which is not of her making. Not only was Melissa painted into a corner but then she was not allowed to stand up for herself. She was thwarted while trying to defend herself in the boardroom. The task last night was not about raising money. It was about producing an advertisement. I do not recall anyone having to call in any donations so the judging should have been based on who was responsible for the ad failing not on who didnot raise enough money. Donald Trump has a definite preference for the blond and the gambler. I think Melissa is too intelligent for Donald. He had to admit that she had done a fantastic job but let's face it she was not the type of bimbo Donald likes to keep around.
Annie is white trash? She went to Colombia University... so I guess that'd make her Ivy League white trash.
I pray that Joan and Melissa are true to their word.....DON'T COME BACK!!!
I can not believe the Donald, who I thought was a good business man along with having some values of right could have kept Brandy or Anne who are not good leaders and proves that no morals or honesty pays off.
Both Melissa and Joan give new meaning to the words-- poor losers, classless and foul-mouthed. The notion that there is any traction to any of the misplaced name-calling in which they engaged is absolutely zero. They both appear to need mental help. And apart from the apology they each need to extend without equivocation, they likely will provide some bonanza to a P.R. firm, whose services they are now in dire need for. Their performance on the apprentice will go down as a classic case of self-immolation.
I'm not going to watch the show any longer. I really enjoyed the intelligence of Joan and Melissa. I heard Donald T. say something pretty nasty about Jesse James this morning on Regis and Kelly - So that clinched it for me! No more
Apprentice! Donald Trump has NO CLASS!
Melissa should not have been fired, just goes to show that even Donald Trump can get played. I do think Joan was wrong for calling poker players trash. Lets face it folks, are we all not getting tired of Apprentice, take the damn show off the air. And I will no longer be watching, last night was it for me
I think the Donald is getting a little off track here. He fired Khloe for having a DUI, he fired Dennis for his drinking problem and now he fired Melissa for her future fund raising ability. What is wrong with firing people for the job they did on the current challenge.
I was disappointed in Melissa and Joan's departing behavior. The language was not necessary. Most of the other folks left with dignity. They should have too. Other than that-most of these men and women show their ego's, who wouldn't? Being "fired" is not on their lists of things to do I'm sure.
Joan, remember the years of saying "Grow-up" --you and your daughter should heed that advice. Pathetic!
THIS IS A GAME!! One wins....everyone else loses....some lose gracefully like big kids and others....like Melissa....don't!
I for one will not be watching again Melissa should not have been fired she did her job. I ADORE Joan and Melissa. I SAY TRUMP LOST THIS TIME
LOL!!! What a couple of whiney, juvenile petty babies! I have lost all respect for them... I think they are just so used to getting their way that they could not handle a little criticizm! HAHAHAHA! That episode was the funniest thing ever! I hope they are totally embarassed by their little tantrums... it made them look like spoiled little teenagers! And the name calling! How old are they? Thirteen? Hahaha! They are SOOOO immature... Mommy having to follow her poor little baby off the show because she was fired... LOL Melissa's 8 year old son is more mature than they are... Also, to call the other women trash and whores??? Sorry Rivers girls, they showed WAY more class than you did last night!
What is wrong with Rivers Jr. With all her 'experience' has she never had a problem with co-workers, has she never sat in a boardroom with negative vibes? The woman was pathetic for someone who claims to be a professional, even worse is that she works in that industry. People are losing their jobs all over the place without the kind of resources she has. For someone who has so much you would think she could show a little class.
Brandy and Annie did freeze Melissa out and one of them should not have been fired, instead of Melissa. However Melissa should not have left in such a tantrum. I think she was fired for interrupting the Donald.
It's a gameshow. For Charity. Some kinds of ugly are just too deep for plastic surgery to fix.
If winning is really all about mining your friends for charity, why not just call the show, "Mining Your Friends for Charity?" Too boring? Ya think? I will greatly miss the Rivers duo. Unfortunately, Donald just fired one of the main reasons I enjoyed watching the new group compete and meet the Trumps. It was a smart move to include them. Joan Rivers is
far and beyond the most entertaining person ever on any Apprentice show. She is a true star. But this week in the boardroom, after not being allowed to speak over & over again, Melissa's interruption of Trump was apparently a faux pax beyond redemption if you're short on fundraising from previous tasks. (I suspect Trump intentionally baited her to interrupt him by doing that.) But that wasn't the show I'd hoped for. I like real humor. The Trumps aren't especially funny though they are interesting, so why get rid of the comedian? Was firing Melissa a good TV show move? Look who's left? Compared to the Rivers family, it's Dullsville. WE all knew Joan would leave with her daughter in that type of scenario. Why didn't Mr. T? It's hard to really care about who wins with the shows key relationship gone. I was having a great time watching and will miss it. I would have enjoyed at least 2 more shows with the Rivers and imagined the fun of watching the duo team up
with Joan as one of the finalists. Now THAT would have been good TV --fun to WATCH! I will miss the show. The Rivers wound their way into my heart. I hadn't expected that.
So what if they left in a snit. Big deal. No surprise. But Donald could have taken a higher road and exited Brande, the boring
team leader who lost. (I was not awed or impressed by her 10 seconds of emotion.
I hope to see the Rivers ladies again, some other time and place.
I'm glad Melissa was fired.
I will not be watching the show anymore either, Trump showed a total lack of class, shame on him!
I am glad the filthy mouthed, whining duo is gone! No more nasal sniveling from Rivers Jr., and no more mommy tantrums from the queen of plastic surgery. They both lack the class they accuse everyone else of lacking. A poker playah? Geeze, get Joan! Her daughter waits tables, and Annie is beneath them? I don't think so!
Their foul mouths are disgusting, and the temper tantrums are so very childish. I think they both need more plastic surgery....to seal up their filthy mouths.
CONGRATS TO DONALD! JOAN AND HER WHINING BABY DON'T INTIMIDATE YOU. THEIR GREATNESS EXISTS ONLY IN THEIR SMALL FILTHY MINDS.
Now I can enjoy the rest of the Apprentice without gagging listening to the nasal whining of Rivers Jr. :-) Yeah!!
I was surprised when I began feeling sorry for Melissa Rivers. It did feel like mean girls in high school (or anywhere for that matter). When you speak directly to people and they act as if you are not there, that's mean.
While I would not put Annie Duke in the same category as Hitler, I believe she is playing people like a deck of cards. Too bad they react just the way she expects them to. How much better would it have been if Joan Rivers stayed in the game and beat Annie?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Joan and Melissa.... mate mate what a blast of childish behaviour, l thought my 2 year old was bad. Well done Trump Melissa is just a sook and mummy couldn't handle seeing her daughter lose!!
The part about Melissa that bothered me is that she is so projectionist.
She would constantly say to the camera that other people were acting big headed, not listening, whining, acting like babies, and not working hard enough. Then, she would slack off, announce that she knew everything better (can she please shut up about her 15 years of experience), whine around every corner, ignore other peoples' suggestions, and act like a baby. Plus, she is so petty and sensitive.
Here's a thought: Maybe people were ignoring you and colluding against you because you are a whiny bitch and they are tired of your crap. I would have given you the finger and told you to twirl a long time ago.
Stop trying to degrade other people with labels that perfectly describe yourself.
I say Donald made the only right choice here. Frankly, she is lucky he waited so long.
The only mistake Trump made in this celebrity apprentice is not to have Rosie O'Donald and Elizabeth Hasselbeck also on the show. It would have been fun to watch the two Rivers and Rosie and Elisabeth fight each other to death. In a way I am glad the foul mouthed Melissa and her mother are gone.
I will tell you guys why Mellisa was fired. That's because she interrupted while Mr. Evil Trump was saying... that made be pungent for him. Then he whispered with the old guy beside him and took a secret note for order to give opinion to fire her... and that's not fair because in the business it's not about the personal things but Mr. Rat Trump did it and yet it's the wrong way. He must pay in karma later someday somehow. Serve him right.
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