Last week, I was talking to a friend of mine, who is a big reality TV fan. As we discussed the anti-Trump protests and turmoil in the aftermath of the presidential election, my friend was adamant that Donald Trump thrives on mayhem.
“I think Donald Trump loves it,” she insisted. “Just watch The Apprentice. He loves to pit people against each other and watch them fight.”
Her opinion so intrigued me that it made me want to actually watch an episode of The Apprentice, which is strange because I hate reality television.
I have felt that way since the first season of Survivor in 2000, when that show was the primo water-cooler conversation topic where I worked. My co-workers were obsessed with Survivor and I never had any idea what they were talking about. So I watched one episode, just to be able to sit in the lunchroom and have a point of reference for the inevitable Survivor discussions and debates.
The show appalled me. I remember nothing of what happened in the episode, other than feeling horrified at how mean and insulting the contestants were to each other. I suspected that the meanness was nothing but a contrived and deliberate strategy to boost drama and ratings, but it was loathsome to me. I despised this public celebration of backstabbing and couldn’t understand why so many people loved Survivor and couldn’t wait to watch it every week.
I never wanted to watch another episode of any reality TV show again until now. However, when I starting searching for videos of The Apprentice to view, I cringed when I saw some frightfully prophetic episode titles, such as:
One of Us Will Win But Not By Much
Nobody Outthinks Donald Trump
Ahab’s in Charge and He’s Gone Mad
The Wolf in Charge of the Hen House
Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch any of them because the videos were no longer available, at least on NBC. What I did find was a 3-minute YouTube video called “The Celebrity Apprentice: The Winner is Crowned!” I watched that.
In this episode highlight, Donald Trump chooses Leeza Gibbons over Geraldo Rivera as the winner of Celebrity Apprentice. If there was any reality-TV-type fighting between contestants in previous episodes leading up to the crowning moment, I missed it. In this finale, Donald Trump lavished praise on both contestants, but what he said to Leeza took me aback.
“Leeza, you led with kindness. I don’t see these people in New York. I see brutal, brutal killers. I don’t meet people like you. You have tremendous talent and tremendous leadership ability.”
I didn’t know what was more curious… that Donald Trump only sees “brutal, brutal killers” in New York, or that the kindness of Leeza Gibbons won the game?
No matter. I’m not going to watch any more Celebrity Apprentice videos.
But I am going to watch Donald Trump this week to see if he remembers this lesson from his reality show when he picks more members of his Cabinet.
If we’re lucky, he’ll steer clear of brutal, brutal killers and appoint Leeza Gibbons.
***