Commentary

It's Just a Show...

Reality TV has always had a penchant for the uncomfortable. Part of the train wreck that is reality TV is the genre's ability to capture the ugly side of people under hot lights -- and under pressure.

This season's "Celebrity Apprentice" is one of the most nuanced versions of any "reality" program to date. For those of you unfamiliar with the premise, Trump elevates the "celebrity for charity" concept, made famous by other game shows, to a new level. Beyond the standard reality TV fare of weaning by backbiting attrition, this season's "Apprentice" raises an entirely new series of questions, including:

"How much humiliation is a celebrity willing to tolerate in the name of charity?" and

"How do you get OFF the show without insulting Donald Trump?"

Gene Simmons' Week 3 departure was particularly intriguing. Simmons sent himself to the boardroom with two players that everybody (including Trump and Simmons) felt did not deserve to be fired. Trump all but told Simmons that he should take Nely Galen to the gallows. By refusing to do so, Simmons essentially forced Trump to fire him.

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But Simmons' body language and eye contact spoke volumes. Simmons wanted off the show, but didn't want to insult Trump. Besides having to tolerate "The Donald" (or anybody else, for that matter) as a boss, Simmons was also forced to panhandle his friends in the name of charity, while mingling with the likes of a particularly loathsome noncelebrity (whose name will not grace this story). In Simmons' case, you've got to wonder how much more for charity (and himself) Simmons could have done by NOT remaining on the show. Simmons was certainly a ratings grabber, and one Trump and the show's producers did NOT want to see leave the show. So, the REAL intrigue to TV insiders is, "How does a celebrity orchestrate a face-saving exit?"

Gene's departure scene dealt with the subtle underlying plot as delicately as possible. Kudos to Trump, Simmons and Mark Burnett's editing team for one of the most sophisticated exits in reality TV history.

By comparison, however, last week's expletive-riddled episode delivered some of NBC's lowest TV moments in decades, even surpassing the "Today Show"'s C-word gaffe earlier that same day. In an unforgettably nauseating series of tasteless scenes, a pompous but brilliant Piers Morgan ultimately won as project manager, and saw his charity awarded with $65,000 for his efforts, but at a tremendous cost to his dignity. I would suggest that no human being has withstood as much derision and unnecessary public humiliation in the name of such a good cause.

Certainly, the donation to Morgan's chosen charity, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, should not be marginalized. But to win, Piers withstood vitriolic rants about his estranged children and their stepfather, calling into question Morgan's manhood and paternal instincts. He also tolerated physical threats, on the heels of having a drink spilled on his head the prior evening. Without regard for Morgan's British arrogance, as an American I was embarrassed that another human being would be allowed to be treated this poorly on American airwaves.

Even more discomforting was Trump's failure to put an end to it, apparently in the interest of ratings. Instead of firing the "Offensive One" (citing that the rules did not allow for it, since she was on the winning team), Trump instead transferred her to the opposing team for next week's challenge. In the very next scene, however, Trump proceeded to break the hallmark rule of his program, by not firing anybody on the losing team.

As the show concluded, the "victorious" team was captured in sullen silence, Morgan seething as he tolerates the physical presence of the person who he earlier (aptly) characterized as a "revolting creature." You can hear his mental gears turning; "What am I doing here?"

"Apprentice" Web site visitors cast perhaps the most compelling vote of all -- when polled as to what Trump should have done, only 15% agreed with his ultimate choice of firing nobody. 64% voted that Trump should have fired the "revolting creature," while only 4% voted that Morgan should have been fired. That's a bigger landslide than even the most lopsided Obama / Clinton caucus.

It's easy to hide behind the "It's just a show" mantra. Sure, the "Apprentice" (or any reality TV show) owes nothing to the American public, if not entertainment. That said, I for one hope that Mr. Trump raises the bar a bit and finds an especially appropriate way of ousting the self-proclaimed "reality personality" that he himself spawned in Season 1.

Any suggestions from our readers?

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