Celebrity Apprentice 2009, Episode 4 Review

After a dull show last week, Celebrity Apprentice episode 4 began with the men down three losses to the women. This episode of Celebrity Apprentice was a much more entertaining reality TV show.

Looking Back: Celebrity Apprentice Episode 3

Comedian Tom Green was fired last week. He made two major mistakes. One, he failed as project manager on the task selling wedding dresses. Two, he went on a drinking binge with Dennis Rodman and allowed Rodman to sleep through the second day of the men's task. He even made excuses for Rodman in the boardroom.

Rodman went back to the suite and picked up arguing with the men. It was obvious that Dennis Rodman and Clint Black were not going to get along, no matter what.

Rodman licked his wounds telling the audience the way he sees it is there are three Celebrity Apprentice teams: the men, the women, and Dennis Rodman.

The Task

Celebrity Apprentice teams were to work with ACN telephone company to launch their new videophone. The teams were challenged to bring excitement, emotion, and enthusiasm to their introduction of the videophone to the ACN sales team.

Claudia Jordan, model on "Deal or No Deal," was the leader for the women's team. Joan Rivers was once again absent the first day of the task. She was performing a charity event, but her absence hurt the women.

Brian McKnight, R&B star, took the helm of the men's team.

Dennis Rodman's Meltdown

Before the men and women separated, Dennis Rodman went into a cursing tirade in Clint Black's face. Clint is exceedingly irritating, but Dennis's meltdown was immature and caustic. He acted like a mad hustler rather than a celebrity or businessman.

It really was no surprise when Rodman walked off the set, ostensibly quitting Celebrity Apprentice. It was one of the most intense moments in Celebrity Apprentice history.

Brian McKnight blamed the previous losses on Rodman and refused to call him back to help the team. As Brian McKnight put it Dennis Rodman prefers to be in "Dennisland."

Dennis Rodman showed up mid-task, claiming he wasn't a quitter. Brian McKnight refused to use Dennis. I believe his real reason for showing up was so that he couldn't be blamed, or fired, in the event of a men's team loss.

He offered to get monitors for Brian McKnight, but McKnight refused Dennis's help.

Oddly, Clint Black sucked up to Dennis Rodman. He and Rodman made up. It was one of the oddest moments in Celebrity Apprentice history.

Celebrity Apprentice Project Day One: The Men's Team

Jesse James grasped the task and immediately suggested Brian McKnight sing. He knew the videophone product launch should be a "spectacle." James also set up a gig at a West Point to film a vignette showing how the phone could be used to connect troops to their family.

Clint Black felt left out of the loop and tended to disagree with Jesse James's ideas. Clint Black has been a know-it-all from the start. Over Black's objections, the men headed to West Point.

Project Day One: The Women

The women wrote scripts and hired actors to film vignettes to show off the ACN show. Joan Rivers was appointed to work the crowd to introduce the phone and work the crowd between vignettes, but would not be back in time for the presentation.

Natalie Gulbis, golf pro, came to the rescue of the women's team. She made a few phone calls and lined up her personal plane to get Joan Rivers to the presentation on time.

The women floundered planning their presentation, showing their dependence on Joan Rivers as a leader.

Claudia had some nasty things to say about Melissa Rivers. She said it was obvious Melissa was an only child because she was a "spoiled brat." She also made comical, yet slanderous, references to Melissa's botoxed forehead that "doesn't move." Claudia launched an impersonation of Melissa Rivers when she was in the van alone with Brande Roderick and Tionne Watkins.

When Joan returned the women began practice. Once Melissa Rivers stepped up to the plate the presentation began to come together. Claudia even stepped back and allowed Melissa to direct the show.

Celebrity Apprentice Introduces the ACN videophone

The women's presentation of the ACN videophone was first. Joan Rivers put on a great show for ACN. The video vignettes were family oriented and seemed to appeal to the crowd.

The men presented their videophone vignette featuring the army cadet speaking with his family. This was a brilliant move that tugged at the heartstrings. Brian McKnight then performed.

The women's advantage was that their focus was on the videophone. Joan Rivers gave a great performance and repeatedly took the audience back to ACN's videophone.

In the Boardroom

Before the winner was announced sparks flew in the boardroom.

Predictably, the focus was deflected from Dennis Rodman's outburst and the issue became Brian McKnight's failure to utilize Rodman on the task. Dennis Rodman and Clint Black were suddenly allies.

It also wasn't surprising that Claudia turned on Melissa Rivers, despite having praised her stage direction the day before. She had complained about Melissa throughout the task, mocked her, and demeaned her for being bossy.

Melissa and Claudia went after each other in the boardroom before they even knew if they won or lost. Joan Rivers jumped in on behalf of Melissa. No surprise there.

Annie Duke was surprisingly silent throughout the task, but Annie spoke up in the boardroom commenting that this was the most chaotic task to date.

This Week's Celebrity Apprentice 2009 Winner is...

. Surprisingly, the men's team took their first Celebrity Apprentice win. 85% of the ACN representatives favored the men's presentation.

The emotional appeal of the soldier using the ACN phone combined with a stage show by Brian McKnight was unbeatable.

"You're Fired!"

In the final analysis it was determined that the women's vignettes were cheesy, but Joan Rivers' performance was great.

Claudia Jordan was dogged by Annie Duke and Melissa Rivers in the boardroom.

Claudia Jordan took Melissa Rivers and Khloe Kardashian in the final boardroom. It was Claudia who heard Trump's infamous words, "You're fired!"