The Apprentice (Ireland, 2009)
Reviewed by Conor O'Neill via 
on 22 Sep 2009
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Probably one of the best shows TV3 have ever made. This season's bunch seem more rounded and maybe less interesting than last year's loons but so far it's one for watching and tweeting.
Bill plays Bill beautifully. The gruffness pitched just right. The gaggle of new proto-apprentices covers a wide swathe of personalities and backgrounds which should keep the aggro high.
Stand out character so far is Geraldine from the inner-city who I'm calling as the winner now, after one episode. Not because she has a similar background to Bill but because she is clearly very smart. "Yeah, could you tell me how much these ice-creams cost? It's for a group of kids, I run a club". Loved it! And what was the line about not being able to learn cop-on in Trinity College.
The other stand-out for all the wrong reasons is the music teacher. Oh dear god. What is it with people from a "drama" background? I give her a fortnight before she gets the boot. Maybe she could bring the bullhorn into the boardroom and "sing" for Bill?
Given how difficult they all found it to pick 5 ice-creams, price them and sell them, maybe I shouldn't suggest that they make the challenges a little "deeper"!
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Comments
reviewer191855 at 20:24 - 22 Sep, 2009 said:
I find that there is more strength in the mens group een though they lost the first challenge. Steve is quite straight up and seems to have a good head on him(the non ginge one although the other steve is good to) but ya he seems lie a born leader. Im calling him my winner.
Conor O'Neill at 08:26 - 23 Sep, 2009 said:
Only on an Irish show would they leave in the loser muttering "well fuck it anyway" as he left the boardroom. The editor of the show should get an award for that. TV gold.
omahonydonnelly at 12:05 - 23 Sep, 2009 said:
Conor, where is your review for the "You're Fired" show with Brendan O'Connor? I thought your review here was spot on, though I think that the ladies' project leader was pretty good - Ruth, is it? I'm keeping an eye on her. I didn't think the lads looked very good at all. Will be interested to see how it develops.
Conor O'Neill at 12:10 - 23 Sep, 2009 said:
Is that the Brendan O'Connor who does the talent show thing? I'd prefer to have my eyes and ears gouged out with hot pokers than watch/read anything he does.
Conor O'Neill at 07:37 - 29 Sep, 2009 said:
I can't deny I'm enjoying it, maybe for the wrong reasons. It looks like the lads team are the rejects from the interview process for the head of FAS. The girls are all claws and spit, apart from the drama queen who is so out of place, she has to be a ringer.
Lots of people complaining about the product placement which I can understand. I couldn't tell last night when the ad-breaks were over and the show began, they had so much Samsung gear shoe-horned into the hour.
Ooh, I've just been on the Samsung Jet site. Guess what one of their tag-lines is? "Ready, Set. Jet". What did the Ireland Manager for Samsung call the girls version of that? "Hackneyed?"
Their main Samsung Jet tagline of "Smarter than Smartphone" isn't much better. Of course it's probably more acceptable than "It runs a Samsung Operating System so it's as dumb as nuts.".
As for the boys "LED", why not go the whole hog and use all the letters of the screen-type "Aimless Muppets Offering Live Enjoy Dream".
reviewer192116 at 12:02 - 10 Nov, 2009 said:
Dear Bill & Jackie
Hi how are you both. Well I watch your programme every week and find it great. But I can tell ye that ye were right last night and previously about the VAT/Prices etc. (That is what business is really about) Do these contestants who say they are of third level education, and cannot even work out VAT, which was explained to them by Jackie a few weeks ago. As Jackie said you dont have to be an accountant to work out VAT. I just don't know what to say. I worked as an Insurance Sales Representative for 2 years immediately after leaving Kylemore Abbey. I broadened my horizon & took a secretarial and business studies course in Galway later. I went to the UK where I worked for an Accountant for five years and was responsible for the VAT and book keeping. I got married, we went into the Licensed Trade and I was working in Marketing also, Now this is WITHOUT University education, in other words I had cop on. I now live in Dublin permanently in a beautiful appartment. But these people seem to be all talk and no action or no 'Liathroidi', and fighting among themselves in your Boardroom.
Bill and Jackie I wish ye all the best. And best of luck Jackie with you and Brenda with your Make up Concept.
Regards
Patricia