Corrections or additions?
This article by Jamie Saxon was prepared for the March 24, 2004
edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Doing the Donald Thing: A Singles Event for the Finale of
‘The Apprentice’
So many firings, so little time," crows the web site of
"The Apprentice." Over the past 10 weeks, candidates from all walks of
life have been vying for the primo job of president of one of the
Donald’s companies, with a salary of $250,000. And on Thursday, April
15, just two whippersnappers will be left on the chopping block. Which
head will roll?
The two-hour finale seemed the perfect opportunity to Donna Como for a
singles event, who says that there’s never a shortage of women, but
she wanted to do something "that would get the men out."
Apparently, the Donald will do just that. "Everybody loves the
Donald," says Como, a native New Yorker and director of community
service in Highland Park, which is hosting the event for singles in
the 40-to-50s age group at Charlie Brown’s (directions below), just a
short 20-minute drive north of Princeton. "It’s the power. He’s so
decisive, so take-charge. He’s not a good-looking man but he’s
powerful." The Donald’s power is evident — his empire earns more than
$10.2 billion in annual revenues.
Como, who recently organized another very successful singles event
with the Zimmerli Museum’s "Art After Hours," program in New
Brunswick, likens the event to the excitement and fervor surrounding
big sports events like the Super Bowl and the Final Four.
"I know that people gather for big sports games. I thought the finale
of "The Apprentice" would bring people out. Everybody watches ‘The
Apprentice’ — my peers here, the guys at my car dealer, my doctor’s
office, my son in Texas, my sister in New York — everyone’s talking
about it." To raise awareness of the event in the X-chromosome crowd,
she’s marketing to gyms, golf courses, big companies like J&J and
Merck, and even car dealers.
Como says she watches the show for the Donald’s little
"business-isms." "He’ll inject a little business sense. For example,
whenever he breaks up the teams, they always pick Amy first. And
Donald says, ‘You always pick Amy; psychologically, you’re giving her
too much power.’"
Part of the attraction of the show, too, says Como, is just to see
Trump’s gorgeous residences and real estate properties. Oh, yes, and
she’s intrgued by Carolyn, Donald’s assistant. "There’s something
about Carolyn," says Como. "I want to know why he hired her. Well, I
found out last week." She’s referring to a March 6 story in the New
York Daily News, which reported that Kempcher was running a bankrupt
golf course that Trump was interested in. Apparently he liked the way
she was operating the course despite the bankruptcy and said, "Come
work with me." She’s now COO for Trump National Golf Clubs.
You’ll be able to munch on free appetizers and chitchat about all this
and more at Charlie Brown’s on April 15, when all six TVs will be
tuned to "The Apprentice." The festivities start at 8:30 p.m. with a
voting session, "Who Gets the Job," and at 9 p.m. the show begins. So,
come swap your favorite "Apprentice" moment — was it Omarosa’s
boardroom breakdown, Troy and Heidi’s attempt to sell modern art, or
Nick and Amy’s "dirty dancing?" — and you just might make a new
friend while you’re at it.
@lt:"The Apprentice," 40s and 50s singles event, Charlie Brown’s
Steakhouse, 247 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, sponsored by the
Highland Park Department of Community Services. Directions: Take Route
1 north, pass junction with with Route 18, go over the John Lynch
bridge. Pass exit for Middlesex College, then take next exit, for
Highland Park. This will bring you to Raritan Avenue; about a mile
down the road, you’ll see Charlie Brown’s on your right.
Pre-registration required by Tuesday, April 13. $7. 732-819-0052. Ask
for Kim.
Corrections or additions?
This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com
— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
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