Not gone burgers

Dudes... you're all a bunch of losers.

As the Boss would say, you stuff up, you take the consequences. So what happens? You stuff up and you weren't fired. Man up, boys. Just because you own up to making mistakes doesn't mean you aren't pulling a fast one. And pulling a fast one to save your poor scrawny neck is, in my business book anyway, the same thing as fibbing.

Athena knew what they wanted right from the get go. They talked to the sponsors, they vox-popped and they got the advertising right. My flavour, my taste. Mmm. On the other hand Number 8 offered ... well, what? A healthier roast? And this after they taste tested it on themselves, a bunch of blokes, plus token giggly girl. Meat heads.

Then they messed up at point of sale, while Paul was spotted asking bus commuters whether they'd be hanging around for the next couple of hours, and if so they could perhaps come and buy some summer meat. But wait, there's more...

Told not to use any upselling tricks, Number 8, led by Rich "it's good to lead from the front" Henry, promptly produced some "added value" - a staff incentive programme, whereby staff selling the most healthy roasts would get vouchers. Yes, like the gold star you get at primary school when you spell your name correctly.

It didn't work. The double summer meaty thing accounted for 42 per cent of sales; Athena's Chicken BBQ Blast for a whopping 60 per cent. It also had much better store presence, and lovely Linda who for this challenge gamely frocked up as Subwayman.

So Number 8 lost. But what do you know - Subway were impressed by both teams, the Boss rolls over and no one gets fired.

Call me cynical - oh you have? - but isn't this just a ploy by the programme makers to drag out the agony? Next thing you know, my earlier prediction - that The Apprentice NZ will be the first in the world (gosh, what a tall poppy) to have apprenti (that's more than one apprentice) will have been proved correct. Step up Rich, bring it on Nicky.

Loving it: XT's grovelling. Telecom provided the winning team with handsets, which may possibly have had something to do with the length of time it took Karen to get through to her beloved. And then she cried. Aw.

Loving it II: Serepisos snarling at Rich for calling him Terry, not once, but twice. Yes, Sir.

Loving it III: Some genuine emotion shown by the Boss and the girls re those calls, thanks XT, to their families.

New buzz word: Blitz.

Phrase to replace "stepping up": Awesome opportunity.

Dark horse: That Catherine. She's bossy, but she's a smart cookie.

This week's spoiler: Came from Serepisos' last blog: when a contestant makes a mistake on The Apprentice, it does not necessarily warrant an immediate firing, as I do believe in second chances. However, the level of mistake must be taken into account. Everyone is entitled to make a mistake, and I've certainly made a few myself in the past, but you have to be able to step up and take responsibility for them.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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paul   #1   08:24 am Mar 17 2010

"Gritty hands" ???

Weird comment from that girl re the other one handling the merchandise for the photo shoot.

Dennis   #2   10:42 am Mar 17 2010

Hang on... so taking responsibility and expecting to get fired (but not getting fired) is the same as lying in your books? That's kind of weird, don't you think?

Real Dude   #3   11:05 am Mar 17 2010

The fact is that nobody made a big enough mistake. They were both good and they both managed to blitz the sub of the day. While the girls did win by a clear margin, the boys did okay.

My view on the problems with the show last night? Firstly, the incentive was ridiculous, trying to change a well-established global decision....not a good look and all that "looking long term" rubbish..

And Catherine, kept saying: "I am going to make a decision". Irritating, just make the decision will you!!!