The Apprentice: Martha Stewart...

The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
Well, I pegged it. Martha chose Dawna as her Apprentice and shoved Bethenny to the side. I was somewhat disappointed in the finale of this one-and-only season of Martha Stewart's Apprentice. Overall, it left me wanting more, so I'd like to observe a moment of silence for the show's passing and a moment of mild outrage for its poorly executed ending. Believe me, I'm glad that it wasn't a big three-hour to-do, artificially inflated with season-in-review clips that signified nothing, followed by a live finale incapable of living up to its hype. But, since we'd already been mishandled by NBC's programming department hello? Up against Lost?! and then canceled? you'd think we could at least get a finale that wasn't rushed or filled with plugs for the principal's other projects. Alexis couldn't even be bothered to answer her mother's question about Dawna. She chose instead to drone on about her Sirius Radio talk show. Perhaps this was a continuation of that mother-daughter moment in the car that we were privy to.

Despite the amped-up drama surrounding the final tasks, both events went off well, even with Dawna's ugly program incident. But Bethenny's abrupt people skills cost her the position she so passionately wanted, and after the fact, she was still ungracious towards her team, so maybe Martha was right in her decision. I do wonder at the backhandedness of Alexis' comment that Dawna was "dispassionate and uncreative but better suited to be [Martha's] apprentice." I can't talk about that, though, because it's 9:48 pm, T-minus 12 minutes to that moneymaker, Law & Order. NBC's got to wrap this show up and squeeze in an awkward prerecorded moment of Dawna driving away in her new Buick Lucerne. Yeah, that sure looked live alright. Not one other car in the street during a transit strike in the city. Riiiight. I wish we could have seen more of the other candidates, and I wish there was more pomp and circumstance during the big reveal. Mostly, I wish the Peacock network and Mr. Burnett would have given this show a little more of its due. It deserved better all-around.   Rhoda Charles

Project Runway
Poor Daniel Franco: Nice guys really do finish last, or at least close to it. And he seems like the epitome of a nice guy. I'd actually like to hang out with him; he just seems cool. I mean hes a totally detail-oriented guy who focuses on the small stuff instead of the big picture, but if he were working on his own collection or a couture line, I think hed be just fine. I bet his handmade garments are just a beautiful quality. And while he was ousted, he went out with grace and charm like so few reality contestants, probably because hed already been down this line before. He played well with his team and totally took the blame for the failure on the task. Personally, I like the individual tasks, but it was an interesting exercise in seeing how well people could get along and cooperate. What I learned was that egotistical Santino is a control freak who is used to getting his way. Yeah, thats a real news flash. And Im glad that Heidi and Co. called him out on the way he, as captain, was the first to jump ship. Instead, Daniel stood gracefully and drowned while his team floated to the surface. Perhaps he overheard Kara threatening to snip off his pee-pee with her scissors if she got booted because of him, but whatever his reason, he did the right thing. Im also glad that my fave little girl Diana got to stick around. I thought for sure she was in trouble when her model didnt want to wear her strappy lingerie. I dont know why I like her, but there is something about that shy demeanor, soft-spoken tone and interesting outlook on design that is endearing to me. I doubt shell be the winner  I'm not that naïve. Winning-is-everything Santino has a better chance, but Im also secretly rooting for Nick. Especially after last weeks Barbie design. Until next week, auf wiedersehen and while I love that phrase, youd never catch me in a pair of panties that said that. Trust me, that's really best for everyone.  Angel Cohn

Christmas with the Browns
Hell to the ho-ho-ho! For those of you who were going through BBBW (that would be Being Bobby Brown Withdrawal), Bravo served up a holiday episode of this past summer's biggest reality-TV guilty pleasure. It was late August when we last saw the notorious Bobby, along with wife Whitney Houston and their extended families, acting like fools for the camera, causing lots of us viewers to not be able to look away. And this was all brand-new footage. Let's relive the magic, and for those of you who missed it, let me paint you a picture:

11:00 pm Bobby and Whitney pick out a Christmas tree.
11:01 Whitney's wig looks like it's on backwards as they discuss how to decorate the house. Whitney says "Hell to the no!" twice after Bobby suggests getting fake snow for the floors. I immediately think "Wow only a minute in and we already hear the catchphrase."
11:02 Whitney says "I have to go my chariot awaits me!" as she exits dramatically. I could already tell that they are playing to the camera more than ever as Bobby jokingly makes a "Being Bobby Brown on Ice" reference.
11:04 Bobby and Whitney stop at Puppies from Heaven and buy a puppy for daughter Bobbi Kristina. Speaking of which, she is apparently allowed to wear makeup now and has slimmed down and grown a bit. Going through puberty reality-TV style lovely.
11:05 All of a sudden, we're at Bobbi Kristina's cheerleading competition. She is surprisingly good.
11:06 Bobby and Whitney get a pedicure. I don't need to see that!
11:07 Whitney sticks a rose stem in Bobby's ear.
11:08 Bobby brushes his teeth and then gets his hair braided. I'm tellin' ya: riveting television.
11:09 The Christmas tree is being decorated and there are several close-ups of the food, as well as cute shots of their dog. Bobby and some of the guys are singing at the piano.
11:14 After the commercial break, Whitney's now at the piano and her hair is a disheveled mess.
11:15 Bobby's sister-in-law Pat Houston is saying grace at the dinner table, but Whitney is still obliviously playing the piano.
11:16 Bobby pours some booze. "Hey, it's Christmas. I need a little spirit, too."
11:17 Bobby wants to know how people can kiss a dog on the mouth and says the dog "smells like doo-doo." He then declares, "There's no such thing as Santa," which Bobbi Kris mockingly denies.
11:18 Lots of gravy spills on the floor. I told you it was riveting.
11:19 Bobby and the men sing again and Bobby strains on the high notes.
11:21 A neighborhood choir arrives and performs beautifully. Bobby dances silly, which causes Whitney to crack a smile for the first time tonight.
11:28 Bobbi Kris loves her new puppy.
11:29 Bobby, via closing voiceover, wishes you a merry Christmas. Dave Anderson, in more politically correct manner, wishes you all "Happy Holidays." Dave Anderson