Celebrity Apprentice May 3, 2009 Review

The final Celebrity Apprentice contestants to go head-to-head will be.....

Joan Rivers and Annie Duke.

Hard to believe isn't it? Joan Rivers left the show last week on the heels of Melissa Rivers who was fired by being shut out by Annie Duke and Brande Broderick in their losing task last week.

I didn't think Joan Rivers would be back. At least I wasn't alone; Jesse James didn't think she would be back either.

Joan Rivers returns to KOTU as Celebrity Apprentice Teams Receive Instructions

As teams KOTU and ATHENA met with Trump, oddly enough in front of the elevators, the elevator rang and out stepped Joan Rivers. She said it wasn't fair to let her team down and that she was here to play a game for charity.

KOTU with an unfair advantage?

The assignment was KOTU versus ATHENA in a challenge to write a jingle and a commercial for Chicken of the Sea tuna.

The obvious advantage seemed to belong to KOTU. Clint Black was unanimously nominated project manager, because one of the primary objectives of the task was to create a jingle.

Annie Duke and Brande Broderick were crestfallen that they had to go up against Clint Black, Gramy winning singer and songwriter, to write a jingle. For the first time, we had a brief (very brief) glimpse of Annie Duke exhibiting insecurity.

Neither Annie nor Brande new anything about music and neither could carry a tune in a bucket with two handles and a lid. Brande kept proving it over and over again. The girls seemed so desperate that they were overcome with silliness at first. Of course, Annie Duke nipped that in the bud and got them on task.

Working the Celebrity Apprentice challenge

With the help of the studio musicians, Annie Duke wrote a jingle and their singer recorded it for the Starkist executives. It turned out to be a catchy, contemporary jingle that the executives really loved.

Meanwhile, things went right back to usual on KOTU. Clint Black, as project manager, didn't listen to anyone, including the executives. He pretended to listen by responding differently to Joan and Jesse's suggestions, but ultimately every decision was his.

Clint wrote a great jingle, but it was too slow and country-fied to reach the broad audience at whom the Chicken of the Sea executives are aiming to reach. Joan and Jesse suggested to Clint that it would be a winner if it were sped up a bit. Clint recorded it faster, and it sounded great, but Clint didn't like it. If Clint doesn't like any aspect of a task it doesn't happen.

In the Celebrity Apprentice Boardroom May 3, 2009

Everyone in the boardroom was shocked that Annie Duke and Brande had written a jingle that beat Clint Black. That was until they got back to their room, at which Annie Duke began her usual "go me" speech. She was proud of her win, as she should have been, but she is absolutely obnoxious in her self adulation.

The good news was that the second most obnoxious person, who lasted way to long, was fired. It was Clint Black's turn to hear the Donald's words, "You're fired."

Clint wasn't the only one fired

There was little time to revel in the victory, because the final four Celebrity Apprentice contenders were called back downstairs to interview with Piers Morgan, another obnoxious egoist who won Celebrity Apprentice last year.

Piers didn't think Brande had what it would take to play as one of the top two Celebrity Apprentice contenders. She was the first of the final four fired.

Neither Piers Morgan nor Donald Trump could figure out Jesse James, particularly his failure to call on his wife Sandra Bullock for fund raising. Jesse remained cool and impenetrable. It only ended in his being fired.

The final two Celebrity Apprentice candidates: Annie Duke and Joan Rivers

So, it is down to a grudge match. The final celebrity Apprentice will be a contest between Annie Duke and Joan Rivers. It will be personal.

I'm not sure this was the fair way to end the season, but it was certainly a guaranteed way to pull in ratings. Both Annie Duke and Joan Rivers will do anything to beat the other woman. Next week's Celebrity Apprentice will be a show not to miss.

Joan makes no secret of the fact that she can't stand Annie Duke.

Next week, on the three hour season finale of Celebrity Apprentice, we'll get to see the two women fight for their right as Celebrity Apprentice.

It will be interesting to see which celebrities return and how committed they are to helping their leader with the finale task. Returning players have a varied history; some come back and work hard for their leader. Others come back and do nothing but consume time and practically sabotage their leader because they simply no longer care. With this in mind, Annie Duke may have the advantage because she doesn't mind telling anyone where to get off.

Predictions of the Finale of Celebrity Apprentice

I'm batting zero on making predictions for Celebrity Apprentice. For the past few weeks there has been a curve ball in every episode. At least it kept the show interesting, but I'm firing myself from making predictions in this article.

Give me a few days to look at previews, reviews, and poke around for erroneous internet leaks and I'll check back in with predictions.

My only prediction for tonight that it will be a huge finale full of surprises. Tune in on NBC, Sundays at 9/8c.