Trump chooses Randal as fourth “Apprentice”

By Chris Michaud

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Real estate mogul-turned reality TV
star Donald Trump hired his fourth apprentice on Thursday,
choosing consulting firm CEO Randal Pinkett during a live
telecast of the finale of NBC’s “The Apprentice.”

Trump chose Pinkett over financial journalist Rebecca
Jarvis on a Lincoln Center stage that was outfitted as a
mock-up of the boardroom in which Trump aims his weekly “You’re
fired” at one of the contestants vying for a six-figure job
with the Trump organization.

Trump offered Pinkett, the first African-American to win
the apprentice job, his choice of supervising either the
construction of a luxury condo complex in Jersey City or the
expansion and renovation of his three Atlantic City casinos.
Pinkett, 34, chose the latter job, which will last at least one
year and possibly longer.

For their final tasks, Pinkett had to coordinate a
celebrity softball game to benefit autism, while Jarvis took on
a comedy fund-raiser for pediatric AIDS.

Both suffered personal hardships during the course of the
show, filmed over several months. Pinkett’s grandmother died
suddenly early in the series while Jarvis broke her ankle while
skating with professional hockey players and had to use
crutches for the duration of the filming.

Pinkett, who lives in Somerset, New Jersey, was a popular
choice among the other contestants who backed him strongly and
spoke of his amiable management style and proven record in the
show’s weekly competitions. The more aggressive Jarvis, 23,
also had supporters who praised her determination and focus.

Trump appeared highly impressed with both the
semifinalists, and after telling Pinkett “You’re hired,”
appeared to waver and asked him whether he should hire Jarvis
as well, which would have been a first for the show.

But Pinkett responded that the show was called “The
Apprentice,” which was a sole designation and there should only
be one winner. “Let’s leave it at that,” Trump said, although
he added that he could have been convinced to take on the
runner-up.

More than 1 million people tried out for the fourth season
of the series, which was a surprise hit when it premiered in
2003. The next “Apprentice” is expected to run in late winter
or early spring, sometime after the Winter Olympics wrap up.

Reuters/VNU