Students view The Apprentice most realistic of reality shows
by Shannon Harrison
feature editor

   Fear plays a major role in the popularity of reality TV these days—fear of not being selected a star; fear of not being able to eat a roach; fear of not being selected as a mate or date.
   But a new kind of reality show that hit prime time this season has everyone talking.
   College students across the country are tuning in to find out about the reality of the business world, and professors are encouraging their viewing.
   TCC students like Ashley Switzer tune in for the weekly episodes of The Apprentice, featuring Donald Trump.
   “I’m sure some of the things on The Apprentice are planed, but this is one of the few reality shows that seems the most realistic,” Switzer said.
   The Apprentice, patterned on Survivor and sharing the same executive producer, has two teams conducting tasks every week and losers going to the board room where one person gets fired by Donald Trump, the millionaire entrepreneur.
   The contestants are vying for a grand prize of a one-year apprenticeship as head of one of the companies in the Trump empire accompanied by a $250,000 salary.
   The Apprentice takes the viewers to the workplace where two teams compete in the business world.
   Each week, a player on the losing team gets fired until only one lucky individual is left.
   Trump, who almost went bankrupt in the early ’90s, is now worth more than $5 billion.
   The question many people are asking is, “Does the business world really work like this in real life?”
   Billye Runnels, assistant professor of office administration on NE Campus, discussed the show with her introduction to business students.
   “Not too many of the students have seen the show, but those who have thought that things would be different in the business world, such as the firing of one of the more obnoxious contestants, if it weren’t for the ratings,” she said.
   “In other words, the students felt that Donald Trump kept some of the contestants because of their personal impact on the ratings,” she said.
   Trump, who claims that The Apprentice is the No. 1 show on television, when it’s really No. 8, said in a magazine interview that while negotiating for a second season of the show, he was insisting on more airtime for himself and his real estate.
   So, whether he does things for the ratings and takes advantage of advertising his assets is for the viewers to decide.
   The show, however much Trump advertises, is a hit across America with 18 million viewers tuning in every week.
   Among those viewers is NW business student Cortni Brown, who doesn’t agree with the show’s take on reality.
   “From my perspective, The Apprentice doesn’t necessarily portray the average entrepreneur because the average person isn’t going to sign up for a television show,” she said.
   “In a competition like this, your morals change sometimes; it is nothing like what you would see in the real world,” she said.  
   Another TCC business students had doubts about the realism depicted in this reality series.
   “I like the show, but I don’t think it’s realistic because of the tasks the groups are given to do. Plus, a real-life interview isn’t a few months long,” the student said.
   Brown also wondered about the seriousness of these young business people, many of whom own their own companies or are top producers for their employers.
   “I would think that a business person would be dedicated to staying and working on their own business and wouldn’t just leave to go and try out for a show that would probably get them nowhere in their career,” she said.
   On the other hand, Bernard Jackson, also a business student likes the show.
   “I really enjoy the show,” he said. “It shows the competitive nature of the business world and how you have to step on people to get what you want. I believe it is very realistic because there is no room for the weak in the business world.”
   The show, which features a mock-up boardroom, has become such a hit that it is slated for another season.
   Potential business entrepreneurs, who are interested in making it big, can download an application for season two at nbc.com.
   The applications must be received by Thursday, March 4, 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
   Although people may have different opinions about the show, most like to tune in to see the antics of the players and hear the words “you’re fired” being delivered by Trump.
   “It is a good concept, but focus is different from the business aspect,” one TCC student said. “The show is focused on drama and ratings.”
   The student enjoys the show because there is a huge educational opportunity if portrayed correctly.
   “Negotiating strategies and various business strategies are used, yet not focused enough. I would also like to see Donald Trump speak his opinions on individuals and what their strengths and weaknesses are,” he said.
   “The opinions of a top CEO would be beneficial,” the student said.
   Whether the show is educational or entertaining, America has sequestered itself to watch the dramatic events of people trying to work their way to the top in a short amount of time.
   And to make the show more interesting to Metroplex viewers, two of the original 16 apprentices Bowie Hogg and Amy Henry, graduated from Texas A&M, and Henry received her MBA from TCU’s business school.
   Hogg was fired in the fourth episode, but Henry is still in the running with 4:1 odds of her winning.
   The Apprentice can be seen Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. on NBC-Channel 5.