It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye
I never saw much of last year's Apprentice. From what I've seen this year it seems like a show with a promising format, let down by its central figure. The thing just appears to be a big ego trip for Alan Sugar, doesn't it? Those boardroom sessions are awful- he rarely asks pertinent questions and never gives anyone a chance to answer, just roundly slags off everyone in earshot and then sacks someone, apparently at random.
I'm sure the programme makers would argue the confrontational aspect makes for good, panotomimesque TV- but in the real world this kind of behaviour by bosses, spread over a long enough time, is what leads to long-term absence, nervous breakdowns, and court cases. So you have to wonder, when Sugar talks about using his media profile to showcase British business, just exactly what example he thinks he is giving. God knows there's plenty of small-time bullies out there who would need no second invitation to abuse their management positions by indulging in a spot of employee-baiting.
(sorry about this lengthy rant in response to your innocent enquiry- as you will have gathered I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about The Apprentice- feeling much better now though, thanks very much...)
No, I agree!
Last year I thought he was vile. This year I think he's vile & unbalanced.
I have a daydream in which the eventual Chosen One stands up and after eloquently listing all the reasons why they would never work for him in a million years, tells him to stick his job, and walks out to the applause of the nation....
(I am still watching it though)
Extremely well put Jonathan.
Ruling by fear would seem to be his preferred management style, and those least scared of him appear to be the ones to go first.
Of course we don't know if that's just a personae the telly people are encouraging him to adopt for the sake of making good telly. But it's hard to imagine him being so easily manipulated. The man clearly enjoys being cast that way.
You desparately want whoever wins the contest to turn around and say "Actually Sir Alan, I've seen the way you operate and heard the things you say, and have decided I'd rather not work for you, thanks all the same." Now that would be good telly.
Ah. Beth beats me to the punch once more. Great minds think alike and all that.
I like the Dragon's Den. I'd love to be patronised by that saucy Red Letter Day minx who's company collapsed around her ears.
Naaaah. They should just rename the show 'Market Trader' and it would be perfect. Cos that's who he's after.
I've just googled for MR3 and found this: "By March 2008 to undertake an organisational review to ensure posts reflect service delivery requirements as defined in the IRMP."
No idea what that means.
Did you get an interview for the job you didn't want, btw?
looby - that sounds very like what's happening to us! ..and no, it was mutual - they didn't want me either....still, it's the council - they'll have had someone lined up for it before the advert went to press...
Oh, what a shame. Or a relief! 
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