SUPER recently got to catch the first episode of “The Apprentice Asia,” along with members of the local and regional press at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Because it was a sneak preview, we still don’t know who got fired first, but watching the events unfold was thoroughly entertaining in more ways than one. Here’s why:
There are two Pinoy candidates. Food and beverage consultant Celina Le Neindre and top marketer Jonathan Yabut proudly raise the Filipino flag while raising the bar for the rest of the contestants. Needless to say, they’ve already made a very strong impression in the first episode alone.
It’s highly educational. As an entrepreneur himself, Tony Fernandes gave a lot of interesting (and very helpful) pointers even as he was evaluating the performances of the candidates during boardroom sessions. You might even pick up a thing or two about starting your own business; we sure did.
It’s accurate. Board members and contestants alike can attest to that, and it’s not because they’re making a sales pitch. Like the other guests at the premiere, it was the whole cast’s first time to see the finished product, and they were pleasantly surprised at how well it was edited. More than the production, it portrays the contestants in a much more relatable light.
“I was very, very impressed by how much emotion it captured. I expected it to be very businesslike, but I’m glad it had a lot of human elements,” said Singaporean candidate Andrea Loh.
It’s unpredictable. Twelve candidates from seven countries. Because the candidates have diverse yet impressive portfolios, any one of them could easily land the job. On the flip side, they could make a mistake just as easily and get fired in the process. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess.
It’s funny as heck. Even when they’re trying hard to look serious, the cast members could barely stifle their grins throughout the show, which made the atmosphere somewhat less stuffy. “I’ve seen a lot of ‘The Apprentice’ shows and this is way, way funnier,” says Yabut. After all, seeing high-powered yuppies and former beauty queens selling fish at a Malaysian wet market is bound to give us a few laughs. Who does Tony brand as a “sales ninja” or “a weapon of mass destruction”? We’re not giving any clues, so you have to watch the show to find out. Angela V. Ignacio, Contributor