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December 22, 2005

ON THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART

Did you happen to catch last night's season ending episode of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart? Like I said a few days ago (click here for that posting), I'm a big fan, but that's not because I fall all over myself over the contradiction that is Martha Stewart.

At the end of a show that featured unabashed and inauthentic pitches and plugs for various Stewart-related products, Stewart says to the final contestants, each of whom is vying for a $250,000.00 job at publicly held Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia:

"Bethenny, youíre spunky, youíre a show-off, you feel that you have to make a physical impression which is really not terribly necessary at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Dawna, you are clearly a talented manager and we can always use someone with your business acumen at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and I would like to offer you the job of my Apprentice."

Solid choice. If you watched the show like we did, you may hold the same view, that Dawna was, all along, the best choice for the job. But what the heck was that nonsense Martha spewed at the end about Bethenny being a show-off and the type of person who feels she has to make a physical impression in order to get ahead? At no time before last night's season finale--not once in 13 or so episodes--did Stewart or anyone else for that matter associated with the show, ever make THAT statement or observation about Bethenny (who, by the way, I was not a big fan of myself).

What Martha should have said, but clearly chose not to because she's nothing more than a self-serving bully, is something like this...

"Bethenny, you're a talented and feisty leader, but you've stated numerous times, and again so tonight, that there's a lot you still need to learn, and that you'd love to do so at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. As you know, we need someone who can jump right in and make a difference starting tomorrow. Dawna, you are clearly a talented manager and we can really use someone with your business and publishing background at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and I would therefore like to offer you the job as my Apprentice. Bethenny, I'm sorry it didn't work out, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your time, energy, and interest. Dawna, congratulations. I, and the rest of the team, look forward to working with you."

But no, the contradiction that is Martha Stewart chose to use the show to throw a sucker punch at Bethenny, a contestant who genuinely looked up to her before last night's season finale, and who never once made an inappropriate physical impression on any of her fellow contestants or Stewart or her staff. Martha Stewart should be ashamed of herself, as should Omnimedia's Board of Directors and shareholders.

Posted by Mikal at December 22, 2005 6:01 AM | TrackBack