Witch Hunt

We’ve watched every season of The Apprentice since viewing the premiere episode entirely by accident. It’s become a guilty pleasure over the past two years and the only reality series we allow in the house.

You’ll learn more about business, as John Houseman used to say, “the old fashioned way,”-- via an MBA or running your own business, but the dynamics are fun; they’re the reason you watch any reality series. As a lifetime people-watcher and one who enjoyed more than a few courses in Organizational Behavior, the group dynamics are the most appealing element of the show to me.

Every season has a screw-up, a tradition that began with Sam in season 1 and has carried through to the latest installment. This time it’s Brent.

It’s obvious no one on the team really likes him and they certainly don’t respect him. As has become a custom, after losing and faced with the prospect of defending themselves in the board room, the team decided it was going after Brent. Not because his performance was bad—actually, his antics are probably the only reason they weren’t completely skunked IMHO—but because they don’t want him around.

Witch hunts don’t work. They never have; Trump is about performance. If you can show that your favorite screw-up didn’t perform, they’ll be gone. As per usual, PM Pepi and teammate Stacy couldn’t make the case and ended up only making a case for their own dismissal.

The candidates are chosen for their smarts, savvy and demonstrated history of achievement. In all that however, it seems that most don’t do the simplest bit of research for their participation in the show—that is, watching the durn thing!

If they did, they’d know that the screw-ups shake out; every time. And if they knew that, they’d know that witch hunts never pay!