The Apprentice 2 - Definition and Overview

The second season of The Apprentice began September 9, 2004 on NBC. It features 18 candidates, whereas season one only featured 16.

Three new twists were introduced to The Apprentice this season. First, each team was unexpectedly forced to trade one member of their team for a member of the other team, resulting in a male on the female team, and a female on the male team. The traded members then became the project managers for the first task. In the second twist, it was revealed that the project manager of the winning team would not be eligible for firing the following week. Finally, the losing project manager could choose either two or three people to bring to the boardroom to be considered for firing.

The mostly male team named themselves Mosaic Corporation, and the mostly female team adopted the name Apex Corporation.

The Candidates

Detailed information on the candidates in this season can be found at The Apprentice 2 Candidates.

The Apprentice 2 features 18 new candidates.

The 18 candidates for The Apprentice 2 are:

¹ - In an unannounced move, Trump fired two candidates week 11. Boren was fired first.
² - As planned, Trump fired two candidates week 14. Allen was fired first.

Weekly summary

Week 1: Toying with Disaster

• Air date: September 9 (A special 2 hour version aired on NBC on September 11)
• Project managers: Pamela (Mosaic) and Bradford (Apex)
• Task: Develop a new toy for Mattel. The product deemed most viable would be the winner.
• Result: The team with mostly men (Mosaic) developed a line of mutated animal Transformers called "Crustacean Nation". The team with mostly women (Apex) developed a radio controlled car called the Meta-morpher with parts that interchange.
• Winner: Apex Corporation. Mattel said their product fit in nicely with their existing popular Tyco RC car line and the children in the focus group responded well to it.
• Reward: Dinner with Trump and Melania Knauss.
• Trump thoughts: Donald Trump was puzzled more than once that Raj decided to bring a cane with him to the first task.
• Dramatic tension: Stacie J., a member of Apex, alienates members of her team during the wait before a winning team was decided. Pamela (Mosaic) makes fun of the weight and haircuts of the children in the focus group and is called on it by an offended Carolyn. Rob curtly cuts off a questioning Carolyn in the boardroom when she interrupts him to ask a question.
• Who gets fired: Rob, for not being assertive and sharing his ideas more with the team.
• Postscript: On September 14 2004, Mattel announced that they would begin producing the winning toy under the name Morph Machines. It will retail for $30 and be available in early 2005.
• Episode One Recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/index.shtml)

Week 2: Scoop Dreams

• Air date: September 16 (A special 2 hour version aired on NBC on September 18)
• Project managers: Kelly (Mosaic) and Ivana (Apex)
• Task: Create, develop and market a new flavor of ice cream with the Ciao Bella Gelato Company for the Trump Ice Cream Parlour.
• Result: Mosaic developed a chocolate doughnut flavored ice cream. Apex's flavor was based on the Red Velvet Cake.
• Winner: Mosaic wins by almost $250. They opted to give a portion to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society as a marketing gimmick, so they actually made more before that donation. Mosaic asked Trump to have their entire winnings donated to the charity. He agreed to do so. Ivana chose to bring Stacie J., Jen and Bradford to the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: Trump didn't like that Ivana kept changing her mind about who and how many people to bring to the boardroom. He felt that Jen shouldn't have even been brought to the boardroom initially, but Jen kept interjecting her thoughts, annoying Trump.
• Dramatic tension: Mosaic made a critical error when they left their business plan in the open for Apex to read. Apex is forced to move from their original sales location when street vendors demand to see their permit. Bradford waived his exemption because he felt he gave his all to the cart, but he was chosen to go to the boardroom by Ivana.
• Who gets fired: Bradford, for waiving his immunity impulsively. Trump thought it was a fatal error and underlined it when he shocked the boardroom by firing him.
• Episode Two recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/two.shtml)

Week 3: Send in the Crowns

• Air date: September 23
• Project managers: Kevin (Mosaic) and Elizabeth (Apex)
• Task: Develop a launch promotion for Crest's newest flavor of toothpaste. Each team has a budget of $50,000.
• Result: Apex selects Mike Piazza to endorse the toothpaste at a cost of $20,000. Mosaic, after an abortive attempt to have a million dollar contest, gives away several smaller money prizes with circus performers.
• Winner: Procter and Gamble felt that Apex clearly generated the most buzz from their event, but a budgetary overage of $5,000 gave the win to Mosaic. Elizabeth opted to bring Stacie J. and Maria to the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: While he felt Elizabeth was a poor leader and that Ivana should have been sent to the boardroom by Elizabeth, he became concerned with Apex's feelings concerning Stacie J. He called everyone from Apex back to the boardroom to discuss their feelings about Stacie J.'s actions during week one's task.
• Dramatic tension: Mosaic is told the night before the event that they cannot have a million dollar contest and is forced to regroup. Elizabeth blames Maria for breaking the budget due to sloppy contract negotiations.
• Who gets fired: Stacie J., due to fears that she is mentally unstable.
• Episode Three recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/three.shtml)

Week 4: The Last Supper

• Air date: September 29
• Project managers: Raj (Mosaic) and Jennifer C. (Apex)
• Task: Open a new restaurant in 24 hours. Each team would be given a empty space in Manhattan. They would be responsible for chef selection, decor and stocking the restaurant. The winner would be the team that scored the highest on the Zagat survey of customers. (Bill Rancic, the winner of the first Apprentice series, filled in for George as overseer in this task.)
• Result: Apex chose an Asian fusion theme while Mosaic went with standard American. The men of Mosaic used their sexuality in a subtle way to win over even their most critical customers.
• Winner: Mosaic won, receiving a very positive review from the survey. Jennifer C. chose Stacy R. and Elizabeth to join her in the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: Trump felt Apex should have hired a cleaning crew the night before like Mosaic to avoid fatigue the next day. Bill warned Jennifer C. not to choose people to go to the boardroom to settle personal scores as this would lead to a quick ouster for her. He was surprised that Sandy was not called to task for poor design in the restaurant.
• Dramatic tension: Elizabeth is attacked by her team for choosing Stacie J. to go to the boardroom. Stacy R. takes offense at Jennifer C.'s harsh judgment of two Jewish women who were very critical of their restaurant. Jennifer C. is rebuked by Carolyn twice in the boardroom for interrupting while she's talking.
• Who gets fired: Jennifer C., as Trump saw no reason to fire any of the other boardroom candidates. He called it "easy".
• Postscript: Jennifer Crisafulli was fired from her job at a real estate agency in Manhattan the day after this episode aired. The firm cited Crisafulli's comments regarding Jews as the reason for her dismissal.
• Episode Four recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/four.shtml)

Week 5: Lights! Camera! Transaction!

• Airdate: October 7
• Project managers: Chris (Mosaic) and Pamela (Apex)
• Task: Select a product from the QVC inventory and sell it on-air. The winner would be the team that has the most gross sales. Before they started, Pamela was sent to Apex by Trump and he appointed her the project manager for this task.
• Result: Apex chose a cleaning product called "It Works!". Mosaic went with a more costly electric sandwich maker.
• Winner: Mosaic barely squeaks by, winning by only $10 even though they sold far fewer units. Pamela chose Stacy R. and Maria to join her in the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: Trump expressed admiration for Pamela when he sent her to be project manager of Apex. Trump was also concerned that she couldn't admit she lost. She said she felt it was a tie. Both Trump and his advisors felt that it was the price of the item that lost Apex the competition.
• Dramatic tension: Pamela begins her leadership of Apex with a speech where she admonishes the team for interrupting and not paying attention to people speaking. Raj and Kelly disagreed over the price of the sandwich maker. Raj argued that setting it at a slightly lower price might lead more people to buy it. Kelly insisted that it should be sold over the $70 price point and his idea was accepted by Chris, the project manager. Raj tempts the fates and makes a pass at Anna Kournikova during the reward. He loses a dare to her and is forced to run around the stadium in his boxers while John McEnroe and the rest of the team lob balls at him. In the boardroom, Stacy R. tells Trump, "If you want another Enron on your hands, here's Pamela."
• Who gets fired: Pamela, for setting the price of the item too high. Trump also felt that she was a poor judge of her team's skills and assigned them to the wrong jobs.
• Episode Five recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/five.shtml)

Week 6: Crimes of Fashion

• Airdate: October 14
• Project managers: John (Mosaic) and Maria (Apex)
• Task: Select a designer, develop a clothing line to present at a fashion show for buyers from several upscale department stores. The team with the highest revenue from orders wins.
• Result: The Apex team generally worked smoothly and efficiently, completing the task without major problems. Their designer was helpful in walking them through most of the steps. The Mosaic team floundered throughout the task, partly because their designer was unhelpful.
• Winner: Apex wins, with roughly triple the sales revenue of Mosaic. John chose Kevin and Andy to join him in the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: Trump felt the Mosaic team set their prices too high, which resulted in lower sales. He continued to be puzzled by the tactic of bringing only two people into the boardroom. He wondered why John would bring only one of the two people responsible for pricing and not the other.
• Dramatic tension: The women generally felt that Elizabeth was a distraction, and Ivana snapped at her at one point during the show. On the men's team, the designer failed to complete production of the clothes until the last minute. Raj was accused of getting in the way.
• Who gets fired: John, for making a series of errors, including not being involved in the pricing decisions.
• Episode Six recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/six.shtml)

Week 7: Barking Up the Wrong Tree

• Airdate: October 21
• Project managers: Wes (Mosaic) and Jennifer M. (Apex)
• "Corporate restructuring": After the project managers were chosen, Trump told them to each select three players they did not want on their team. The chosen players would go to the opposing team, making each team have three men and three women. Jennifer chose Sandy, Maria and Stacy. Wes chose Raj, Chris and Kevin.
• Task: Create a dog service business and bring in more profit than the other team. (Allen Weisselberg, Donald Trump's Chief Financial Officer, filled in for George as overseer in this task.)
• Result: The Mosaic team got a late start and was unable to come up with a solid business plan. The Apex team was able to expand their services beyond washing by offering dog massages and nail clippings.
• Winner: Apex won, with nearly triple the sales revenue of Mosaic. Wes chose Andy and Stacy to join him in the boardroom.
• Trump thoughts: Trump said that Wes did a lousy job as a Project Manager and that Andy made a terrible mistake by destroying the team's ability to communicate. He said Stacy did not take enough responsibility and was unable to sell her ideas to Wes, adding that you can't blame the Project Manager when you're unsuccessful in getting your point across.
• Dramatic tension: Andy left Mosaic's cellphone in a taxicab, limiting his team's ability to communicate.
• Who gets fired: Stacy, for not taking enough responsibility and being unable to sell her ideas to the project manager.
• Episode Seven recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/seven.shtml)

Week 8: A Tale of Two Leaders

• Airdate: October 28
• Project Managers: Elizabeth (Apex) and Andy (Mosaic)
• Task: Create a recruting ad campaign for the New York Police Department with Donny Deutch's advertising firm.
• Result: Apex created a campaign designed around a military theme. Mosaic's integrated campaign revolved around the question "When was the last time you saved a life?".
• Winner: Donny Deutsch felt it wasn't even close, awarding the win to Mosaic in a landslide.
• Trump thoughts: Trump felt Apex's ad was frightening; it seemed like life in a police state. He questioned Elizabeth's leadership style when he said, "I don't know, you just don't have a lot of 'something'. What the hell is missing with you Elizabeth?"
• Dramatic tension: Apex nearly mutinies when an indecisive Elizabeth goes back and forth on what the ad will be. Trump makes his decision for firing before letting the rest of the team go back to the suite; he said he didn't need the extra time.
• Who gets fired: Elizabeth, for poor leadership.
• Episode Eight recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/eight.shtml)

Week 9: Bringing Down the House

• Airdate: November 4
• Project Managers: Raj (Apex) and Sandy (Mosaic)
• Task: With a $20,000 budget (and the help of 2 previously fired candidates), each team would renovate a home in the suburbs of Long Island. The team who has increased the value of their home by the highest percentage would win. Rob and Jennifer C. joined Mosaic and Stacie J. and Bradford were assigned to Apex.
• Result: Apex opted to make the house three bedrooms instead of four. Kevin found a contractor through his contacts that didn't finish before time was up. Mosaic's contractors descended upon the house in waves, many of them related to the main contractor, making the task far easier than it otherwise would have been.
• Winner: Mosaic wins in the appraisal battle by more than 3%.
• Trump thoughts: Trump was very impressed with Rob's work and enthusiasm even though he was previously fired. He questioned the wisdom of making a four bedroom house into three bedrooms, pointing out that this may have cost them the win. He didn't like Ivana's cattiness toward Stacie J.
• Dramatic tension: Stacie J. went on the offensive, attacking Ivana and the other women for labeling her crazy weeks ago. Raj is forced to accept the uncompleted work of a contractor who went on break. Jennifer M. and Raj decide to target Ivana in the boardroom. Chris, after being dismissed from the boardroom, spoke up and warned Trump about the chemistry of the team. This was poorly received by Donald and his advisors. During the exchange, Chris offered to become the Project Manager for the next task. Trump accepted this, mentioning that he'd be under extra scrutiny for the next task.
• Who gets fired: Raj, for choosing three bedrooms over four and for not bringing Chris into the boardroom.
• Episode Nine recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/nine.shtml)

Week 10: Runaway Pride

• Airdate: November 11
• Project Managers: Chris (Apex) and Kelly (Mosaic)
• The task: Open a bridal shop and sell dresses. Mosaic had an advantage by having Sandy on their team, since she works in a bridal shop.
• Winner: Mosaic, who makes nearly 12 times more money than Apex.
• Who gets fired: Chris, for poor leadership and not taking Jennifer M., who performed badly on the task, back into the boardroom.
• Episode Ten recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/ten.shtml)

Week 11: The Butt Stops Here

• Airdate: November 18
• Project Managers: Kevin (Apex) and Wes (Mosaic)
• Task: The teams are asked to create an in-store advertising campaign for Levi's Jeans. The team who created the better ad campaign, as determined by Levi's president, would win.
• Winner: Apex wins, with a campaign revolving around "The Perfect Fit" and a circular wheel helping customers pick the style of pants that's right for them.
• Trump thoughts: Trump was peeved at both Maria and Wes for various errors throughout the task; he called out Andy for not saying much in boardrooms, but after a smooth response by Andy, he let him off with a "Good answer".
• Dramatic tension: Jennifer M. is left to do busywork throughout much of the task, since she "can't get" what's going on unless it's right in front of her. During the presentation of the campaign, Jennifer M. jumps in and makes it seem like the idea for the wheel was hers, when it was in fact Ivana's. When asked by Trump who on Apex did the best job, the Levi's president stated that Jennifer M. did the best, ticking off Ivana.
• Who gets fired: Maria, for wasting the team's time and being a control freak during the task; a few seconds later, Wes is fired for poor leadership skills and being unable to keep Maria in line. The two of them enter the cab together and receive a group "Closing thoughts" interview while the credits run.
• Episode Eleven recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/eleven.shtml)

Week 12: The Pepsi Challenged

• Airdate: November 25
• Project Managers: Kelly (Apex) and Andy (Mosaic)
• Task: The teams are asked to create a new bottle for Pepsi Edge, and present it to Pepsi's entire advertising team.
• Corporate Shuffle: Jennifer M. is shunted onto Mosaic, which Ivana refers to as "a tumor" being lifted from the team.
• Result: Apex develops a bottle that has the letters D and G carved out of plastic, providing the grounds for a theme of hiding things in the inside of the D (referred to by the team as "What's in the box?". Mosaic develops a theme of "The Best of Both Worlds", designed to appeal to the "dual users" of both diet and regular colas. The bottle is shaped like a regular pepsi bottle with two halves of a globe on the bottom and top. A contest revolving around collecting areas of a continent to win a "Trip to the Edge" is also proposed.
• Winner: Apex, because its bottle represents what Pepsi Edge is about; Mosaic's bottle is derided for not showing anything inside the bottle (the whole thing is shrinkwrapped), and for making people think of geography when they see it (one of the ad execs mentioned "When's the last time geography was cool?")
• Trump thoughts: Trump agreed with the ad execs' decision that the bottle was too boring, lifting it like a dumbbell at one point. Trump got upset at Andy when he started to get yelled at on both sides during the boardroom, due to the "coalition" being revealed during the boardroom; also, Trump wonders why no matter who Jennifer's project manager is, she gets defended by them (see below).
• Dramatic tension: Before the boardroom session, Andy approaches Jennifer M. and proposes that they gang up on Sandy, because Andy believes that Jennifer did the better job. Over the course of the boardroom session, Sandy figures this out, and begins to deride both of them for attempting it. Showered with a debate raging on both sides of him, Andy appeared helpless as Jennifer and Sandy scream at each other constantly until Trump bangs on the table to get their attention.
• Who gets fired: Andy, for letting himself get bombarded on both sides by the debate during the boardroom, basically not showing any of his debate champion abilities. As Jennifer and Sandy enter the elevator after the result, the argument that was raging beforehand resumes.
• Episode Twelve recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/twelve.shtml)

Week 13: Sweet & Lowdown

• Airdate: December 2
• Project Managers: Ivana (Apex) and Sandy (Mosaic)
• Task: The two teams are assigned to produce and sell the M-AZING candy bar, a new product from M&M Mars. The team that makes the most profit from selling the candy bars is the winner.
• Result: Apex produces about 329 candy bars, while Mosaic produces only about 290 candy bars. Though Mosaic makes less bars, they adopt an aggressive selling strategy. Jennifer M. and Sandy dress up in identical outfits, so they look like sisters. They price their candy bars at five dollars apiece. Both teams are working around Wall Street, but Apex is selling its candy bars for less money than Mosaic is. Kevin in particular is selling the MAZING bars for "whatever he can get". Eventually, Ivana realizes (after asking a passerby on the street) that Apex's price is too low. In desperation, she attempts to make up for the difference by dropping her skirt in order to get a guy to pony up $20 for the candy bar.
• Winner: Mosaic wins in a landslide, even though the team only consisted of two people. They made $1,023.11, but Apex only made $560.75. For their reward, Mosaic flew to Chicago to meet Bill Rancic and tour the building project he is leading.
• Trump thoughts: Trump was disturbed that Apex was beaten by Mosaic because Apex had three people, whereas Mosaic only had two. Trump also criticized Apex for setting their price far too low and not manufacturing more candy bars.
• Dramatic tension: Carolyn commented to Trump that Ivana's behavior on the task was "completely unprofessional". George, on the other hand, said he thought Ivana was the only one who stepped up on the task. Because Kelly was Project Manager last week, he is exempt from being fired in the boardroom. Kevin is criticized for setting the price too low, but Ivana is criticized for doing nothing about it because she was Project Manager. Carolyn continues to point out Ivana's "unprofessional" conduct. Trump asks each who they would fire. Ivana says she would fire Kelly, but Kevin says he would fire Ivana. Then Trump asks each for their record as Project Manager. Kevin is 2-0 as a Project Manager and Kelly is 3-0. Ivana, however, is 0-2.
• Who gets fired: Ivana, for her losing record, her unprofessional conduct on the street, and her inability to effectively lead her team. As Trump is firing her, he says "I'm not hiring a stripper." Afterwards, George comments that Trump had no choice because "she lost all the time."
• Episode Thirteen recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/thirteen.shtml)

Week 14: The Final Four

• Airdate: December 9
• Who gets fired: Kevin and Sandy
• For their final task, Kelly picks Elizabeth, Raj, and John. Jennifer picks Chris, Pamela, and Stacey.
• Episode Fourteen recap at NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/episode_recap/fourteen.shtml)

External links

• NBC.com: The Apprentice 2 (http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/)