Development.: April 2004 Archives
The Apprentice is the biggest show in America right now. The finale of the first season will air live on NBC tomorrow night, and it is likely to get monster ratings. NBC sorta lucked into finding their replacement for Friends (after failing with such duds like Coupling), and they are really banking on The Apprentice being a heavyweight for the next few years. I had the opportunity recently to go to a tryout for The Apprentice 2 at Mall 205 here in Portland, Oregon. As my partner, J. John Afryl, and I pulled into a overflowing parking lot we noticed a few people wearing suits scurrying towards the mall entrance. Once upon the scene we found a vacated women's clothing store with 3 folding tables surrounded by 12 hopeful apprentices and one person moderating from the production comapny. Gazing into this stark room you could just feel the nerves mixed with insecurity and arrogence coming from all different directions. The people at the tables spoke animatedly and laughed at each other's quips while the next few groups of 12 waited outside the dress shop in the hallway of the suburban mall mostly quiet, pumping themselves up, and practicing in their heads, I'm sure.
The mall hallway was filled with onlookers, supportive friends and family, merchants trying to sell the would be apprentices coffee, pastries, pizza, and specialty t-shirts with "You're Hired" on the front and "I survived auditions for The Apprentice; Portland, OR" on the back. What was most interesting in that suburban mall hallway was the small groups of potential apprentices who had completed their tryout. So excited and expressing the need to talk about what happened these ultra-quick friendships were born. Business cards were exchanged. "No! You were so good in there. I definitely think you should be on the show," was heard more than once. People were making plans with these new friends! Even the overly optimisitc "I'll see you in Trump Tower," escaped a mouth.
The line for the tryouts went all the way down the hallway and we were quite impressed, but as we investigated fully we realized that the line was not contain by the building alone, but it escaped outside, and as we emerged outside the line was a behemoth. It went from one end of the mall all the way to the other end, you know like going from the JCPenneys to the Sears. It became apparent to us that people had camped out overnight for their spots in line as we saw some sleeping bags and tents. Amazing. This line of 800 to 1000 the vast majority in their best business wear was a real sight. There were many vendors walking up and down the monstrous line hawking their goods to those who were trapped in line. Porta-potties were brought in the for this occasion. It's amazing that the tryout was big business in itself.
Some people in the line had eye catching props. One woman had a full size cutout of Donald Trump with a thought bumbling saying "Clearly She Trumps The Competition!" Wow. What struck me most while inspecting the line is that a lot of these people would have no chance to get on the show based on their looks only. This show is no different the The Bachelor or The Real World or Temptaion Island in that looks definitely matter. I mean it might be a little different but if you don't fit the part, you're outta luck. I don't really have a problem with the concept. It's all about making TV that people want to see, but it struck me as sad to see all these people who want this thing enough to show up at the crack of dawn, take the day off work, and potentially make themselves look like fools for this opportunity they so desperately want.
We hung around for quite a while longer, just basking in the excitement of these contestants. Watching people walk out of the tryout room and whip out their cellphone to call their loved one and tell them what happened. Hearing people about their business qualifications. Some folks talking about how would have done something differently, in reference to something that happened on the show. My partner and I had a couple of friends who we were urging to take part in the tryouts, and neither of them did, and while observing this bizarre thing, I kept thinking about how I wish they were there because I wanted them to experience this wonderful combination of vulnerability, excitement, ambition, and hope. I doubt I will recognize from these tryouts when The Apprentice 2 premieres, but I also doubt that no one that I saw on that bright beautiful Friday morning regrets trying out.
ps-GO BILL!