Back to genuine talent
Posted in Latest News, Nicky's Blog by Nicky on November 24th, 2009
My two guilty pleasures are no more…Jedward and Breff….back to genuine talent now and to be honest I’m not sure how I feel about that. Watching last night’s episode I definitely missed the Cork rower, the feeling of curiosity wondering what Breffisms were next but the show must go on. In fairness to the other candidates it was time to really separate the genuine players from TV personalities; I noticed my attention was more focused at the task than laugh-ability factor and folks we have to remember that this is what The Apprentice is all about. Yes I admit I was blind sighted too but time to move the focus to the potential winner…….The job is within reach now and they can smell it. It’s all about number one now.
Aoiffe was visibly devastated by the result, she knew the moment Bill announced they had lost that she was fired, and you could see it in her face and through her tears. She fought with dignity but not with the same passion as previous boardrooms, she knew it was better to go with some pride than lose the head. This mentality was gone by the time she made the taxi because in her exit interview she was raging!! Did she go hell for leather or what!? There is one person who will definitely be feeling the wrath, Geraldine!! Everybody is ready to pounce on Aoiffe and I am not condoning some behaviour but I do think they were both in it and we never know what goes on behind the scenes. Production edit footage and every show has to have the token bitch….unfortunately for Aoiffe she was the chosen one. Bill has good judgment and he liked Aoiffe so that must say something? I am trying not to judge the candidates personally from the show as I know the trials and tribulations of reality TV.
This was a very high end task, technically challenging and dealing with a global market which is a first in Irish Apprentice history. I would have been ecstatic with a task of this calibre. The teams had the opportunity to prove to Bill that they had the professional and creative skills to go international. They failed miserably and Bill was furious. I do not blame him. There was so much scope here, I do understand the time restraints and they are harder than people imagine but I have to agree with Bill here. It did not take much to make a huge difference, the actors dressed multi nationally? More thought to expo stands? These are Bill’s suggestions which to me would be basic knowledge for such a task. I could be here for a few paragraphs on ideas but it was their task, not mine! Brainstorming, writing scripts, idea evolution and the if, but and maybe chats are time consuming, a lot more of this could have been worked on at home late into the night so they are prepared and ready to go during the day. I thought the presentation skills on both teams weren’t great either. They weren’t awful but by no means inspiring. It is about finding the fine line of introducing humour, quote’s or something to keep the clients attention while staying professional. Something was missing for me. As you approach each task it is important to always remember what Bill has asked for in previous boardrooms, I appreciate there is often mixed messages but the candidates are sometimes too cautious and go from one extreme to the other. For example Rhubarb & Custard was a “no” but Buddy (though wrong message) was praised for taking the risk. Bill will tolerate certain mistakes but staying in the long grass he will not. Steve crippled Aoiffe’s suggestion to be more creative but in fairness she had no other ideas. Lucinda had ideas but I think was crippled by Stephen encouraging her not to take the risk?
Bill definitely seems worried about who he will hire, each person has individual skills but none of them seem to have multiply skills in abundance which he needs at these tough times to hit the ground running! 2 boys and 2 girls left. Geraldine and Stephen have potential and I have a soft spot for Geraldine but in my opinion Lucinda and Steve are the strongest. Steve did surprise me with his comment about being punished for only him and Aoiffe on a team! This is the Apprentice; Bill knows Steve can sell so he has to be challenged in every task not pat on the back with a gold star. I thought it was a petty argument. Lucinda has never been in the boardroom! This must say something!
Cathal says:
Brendan O Connor had a little crush on Aoiffe last night if you ask me. He went so easy on her it was ridiculous, he was giggling like a adolescent schoolboy with a crush on his teacher the whole time, and he insulted Geraldine constantly to try to impress her as well… ha ha! Lucinda to win!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Jackie says:
I was furious by the your fired show afterward with Brendan. He was like a little puppy dog all he was short of doing was humping her leg. He made the show completely about how great she was, the dart board wasnt very nice and Aoiffe was in her element. He would not let anyone say a bad thing about her. Aoiffe’s biggest problem was she was not a team player. She made it sound like she was bullied on the your fired show when she was well able to stand her ground. The things she said was nasty. It doesnt matter if you have a problem with someone you should be the bigger person. Maybe behind scenes things are different but no one else seemed to have a problem with Geraldine but so many of them did with Aoiffe. She has loads of potential but lost with her childish behaviour. She hung people out to dry in that board room and I dont think much for people like that. On another note I love Lucinda and I hope she wins
November 24th, 2009 at 9:50 am
OlLY K says:
Lucinda is by far the strongest candidate left. She is such a pleasant girl and she’s got plenty of smarts! Geraldine has got such a chip on her shoulder, just because she never went to college she feels she is more worldly than everyone else. Sooo inferior! I assure you in todays world I would certainly much prefer to have a Smurfit education behind me rather than shouting about banannas in Moore St. Lucinda for the top Job.. quite cute also!
November 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Connie says:
I feel that the correct decision was made last night. Aoiffe claimed she had peoples skills but i personally think the girl lacked this skill big time. Aoiffe feels threatened by other females. The way her and Geraldine behaved is a disgrace even though it made great entertainment. Aoiffe despite being 25 has alot to learn i think that the feud between herself and geraldine shadowed her game and potential of being a member of Bill’s ‘organisation’. Brendan O’ Connor was a joke on the aftershow last night!! he didnt challenge anything about how Aoiffe behaved in the show and was there to lick ass to her seriously like… the girl is full of notions as it is.
Lucinda is playing a great game, and i would love for her to win overall, Geraldine is a lovely girl but let her emotions sidetrack her completely between Breff and Aoiffe. I must admit Breff was fantastic entertainment it was a pity he was so young and inexperienced because i think with a few more years experience he would definiate have made it a long way! Steve the english guy is lovely, got a very hard time half way through being called a bully but he is seriously trying despite his lack of creativity!! but Steven ‘Mr Muscles’ seriously needs to go, he is terrible, has the personality of wet paint and is def going to get fired next, i think it will be Lucinda and Steve for the final!! Aoiffe let her self down completely in her bitchness and seriously needs to come down a peg or two… no offence to the girl.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Sarah says:
I am so dissapointed at Brendans treatment of AoiFFe.
He went totally easy on her. And considering how he gave Sam a hard time for being a bit nutty he should have given Aoiffe a hard time for being the biggest BITCH on this years show! I would go as far as to say that he was actually licking up to her with his snide remarks about Geraldine.It was absolutely pathetic and cringeworthy to watch..Even right up to the very end with the audience clearly showin a “fired” majority he tried to say different then tried to make her feel better with his “only slightly”…was there another reason for his treatment of her or does it boil down to a simple crumbling under her womanly wiles..Embarassing Brendan..Had a chance at a great interview with thousands wanting to see her get a hard time and blew it. Was already taking a turn off him after last weeks remark about how Geraldine should be chuffed that a guy like vreff was interested in “a girl like her”! What a snob! Me an my family are all agreed that we wont be watching Youre Fired again.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Patrick says:
Guys why the rush to hammer Aoiffe and defend Geraldine? It is something that I cannot understand. Geraldine in my opinion seems to think that having a similar background to Bill entitles her to remain in the competition, and possibly even win it. She may have some selling skills but has to be one of the most unprofessional candidates I have ever seen on The Apprentice. Her conduct on the nasal strip task was indefensible and she should have got the road.
As bad as Aoiffe was perceived to be she was always upfront about it whereas Geraldine hung Breff out to dry. You could see that he never even saw it coming with her. People on this blog are having a go at Brendan for his “girl like her” comment and call it snobbery. You may be right but equally Geraldines “Daddy can’t buy you cop on in Trinity” comment should not earn her any points either. It was like some weird form of reverse snobbery (for want of a better phrase) If Geraldine did not have the same opportunities in life that Aoiffe had that does not give her some sort of moral high ground.
Aoiffe has been outspoken and confrontational but would you want someone like Geraldine on your team who does not (a) have the required skillset and (b) will completely compromise those around her who trust her just to preserve her own position. Aoiffe called it right. Geraldine is a b*tch. She is underhanded, conniving and sneaky in her dealings with people. Hire her at your peril Bill.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Jill says:
Ah Patrick that’s a bit harsh. I don’t know if you noticed that sly digs that Aoiffe was having with regard to Geraldine’s accent. I think that evens out the daddy cant buy you cop on thing!
Aoiffe was only up front when faced with bill in the boardroom. Geraldine wasn’t the only one who had a problem with her. She could not take leader ship and was most definitely not a team player and I would not like her on my team for sure. Imagine trying to manage her. I’m a Lucinda fan myself so I’m not picking up for Geraldine but in my opinion its obvious who was in the wrong. No one else seems to have the same problems with Geraldine.
I think Geraldine has had plenty more high points then Aoiffe and it actually shows that on this website.
She is not underhanded at all. And I really don’t think what happen with Breff was intentional. Even when they lost that task Aoiffe had a right go at her saying she put her on her own on purpose when she was the one who asked to go on her own. Then on the after show she still can’t admit that she did wrong and said to Brendan unfortunately she lost because of Steve’s weakness. Now come on that’s a girl with an inferiority problem.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
OLLY K says:
Jill, as I have already stated on this blog (see above) I would have to agree whole heartly with Patrick, Aoiffe may not have the best people skills in the world but she is a tough lady and I would prefer to employ her in my organisation anyday over Geraldine. Geraldine’s skill set is very poor and she is playing on the whole ‘Penny Apples’ thing – those days are over I’m afraid we live in a corporate society nowdays where professionalism is the name of the game. Lucinda appears to have it all.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Jill says:
Honestly don’t know why people think she is playing on that “penny apples” thing? I’ve never seen her mention it except for the start of the competition! Just because we know she comes from a similar background we think she’s using that to her advantage. There’s no doubt that she is good. She’s been good from day one. The only downfall she’s had was flirting with Bref and the petty goings on with her and Aoiffe. Their both to blame, I just think Aoiffe would have no problem hanging you out to dry and that’s not professional to me. Also to say those days are gone I would have to totally disagree. I do think Aoiffe would be good she just let the whole Geraldine thing bring her down and I suppose that is something she’ll learn from. It’s all about experience at the end of the day and I suppose I was a little bit disappointed that she didn’t seem one bit sorry on the your fired show and showed very little respect for her. She should have been the bigger person! I still think Geraldine is stronger than Aoiffe but that’s just my opinion. If there’s one thing I agree with you on it’s Lucinda is most definitely the best candidate
. Get ginger Steve out next. He’s useless!!!
November 26th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Siobhan says:
I for one am delighted to see the back of the bug eyed Aoiffe, what a gutter snipe – she came across like such a spitefull bitch, the kinda girl other girls are drawn to hate naturally! you can’t really blame Ger for that!
And Brendan, what a disapointment i stayed up to watch it and woulda been better off going to bed, he was more like Dr. Phill than the comedien hired to give them a hard time, the only thing hard was………….. shame on you Brendan
November 26th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Iris says:
Aoiffe was a disgrace. Her family must be mortified. She acted like an absolute scum bag and she’s supposed to be educated?? She is not a people person. Geraldine might not be much better but at least she didn’t let herself down by cursing to the country. For a good looking girl, she was very ugly. Brendan o’ connor is a joke. Always has been and always will. He’s an old sleazy cork man.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
ann kelly says:
wake up and smell the coffee all you Aoiffffe fans.She was booted to the gutter and should be stepped on continually in the sharpest of stilettos until she learns a lesson. Professional??? Is that what you call her behaviour? Lacking any modicum of self control and blurting out a belly full of bile that is aired on national tv about how much better she considers herself than the other contestants? Um, what kind of idiot are you to want to hire an evil little spoilt, deluded b*tch like that for whatever your “organisation” is? Get real. She was exposed for what she is – a nasty little manipulative deluded vile no talent contestant that should have been fired weeks ago.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Olly K says:
Now Now Annn, I don’t take too kindly to being refered to as an idiot! I am simply expressing my view. Judging from your comments Aoiffe is not the only one lacking self control and “blurting out a belly full of bile”!
November 30th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
katya says:
Hello I am Polish woman in irish workplace I agree against Aoiffe. Very bad to see this behaviour on television.Do not encourage this type woman because it very bad working with the woman like this every day. Olly K I think you have obsession with her maybe you need some help. Maybe yes, you are idiot. Very good Geraldine will win.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Olly K says:
Katya, it never fails to ammuse me how girls are so bitchy when it comes to pretty girls in the work place. From the minute a pretty girl comes through the door regardless if she holds a Phd masters etc she is branded a bitch. I have seen this type of jealously over the years and I must say its not healthy. I admit Aoiffe was not the nicest of girls but I dare say she would not have received so much negative press had she been a little on the “plain side”. I have worked with some amazing women in the past and the most successfull just get on with the job in hand and do not engage in bitchy comments. Just look at the way Nicky conducted herself on last years show,she is the ultimate proffesional and in my mind should have won.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Warren says:
Oh dear Olly, me thinks thou “doth protest too much”! Cant quite see the attraction myself! Pretty Scarey!
December 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pm