Apprentice L.A.: Episode 8

Surya's days were numbered the moment he joined the dysfunctional Arrow Corporation. He finally had to pay the price on The Apprentice: L.A., when his team's luck ran out and his lack of leadership skills was exposed.

Teams had to design a halftime show to promote GNC. The show was then performed at an L.A. Galaxy soccer game.

Kristy of Kinetic Corp. had experience planning this kind of event, and she went with the classic on-field race of the oversized mascots. It works every time. Need proof? Watch these sausages:



Kinetic ran several giant vitamins around obstacles like Osteoporosis and Heart Disease, while Angela narrated the race in an incomprehensible, screeching voice. To cater to the Spanish speakers in the crowd, Muna narrated some of the race in that language, as well.

So far, Muna's only positive contribution to her team seems to be her Spanish-speaking skills. She spent the rest of this task micromanaging and questioning the abilities of the professional prop builders and trying to undermine Kristy's authority.

Still, Kinetic was in much better shape than Arrow. Tim had the dumb idea of staging a mock boxing match between Average Joe (played by Tim, of course) vs. Life (symbolized by four guys dressed like high school goths). Only after some assistance from GNC Vitamin Guy (played by James in a costume that looked like a big tube of lipstick) could Average Joe beat life's problems.

Not only was the story lame, but it relied heavily on narration -- not exactly the kind of spectacle that plays well in front of tens of thousands of fans. Frank's voice was fine for the announcing, but the story went on and on.

Only after buying their props and writing their script did James mention that perhaps the team's idea wasn't a good one. Since it was too late to change course, the complaint was little more than James pre-planning his own defense when they wound up in the Boardroom.

And wind up in the Boardroom they did. However, according to a fan who attended the Galaxy game, Kinetic didn't win by as big of a margin as producers would have you believe.

In the Boardroom, Surya blamed the loss on Tim's stupid idea and James's complaining. Surya railed against James for his "disloyalty" -- an argument that seemed pretty flimsy when Surya followed it up by saying he wished that he'd never left Kinetic, as they were the superior team.

Tim displayed some surprising honesty, once he realized that he was in no danger of being fired. When James attacked Surya for going with the first concept suggested, Tim backed up Surya (instead of his buddy, James) and said that the PM had actually asked several times for more ideas.

Just as it seemed he had a chance, Surya made the perfect argument for his own elimination. He proudly announced that he is a great team member, just not a great leader.

After hearing that, Trump fired Surya. And, like any true bitterman, Surya sulked, "It just shows that the best person doesn't always win." Maybe. But neither will you, Surya.

Next week, the candidates head to Hollywood and the feud between Kristy and Muna heats up.