Does anybody else watch The Celebrity Apprentice?  Sunday’s episode disturbed me in several ways.  For this week’s task, the teams had to create a children’s book based on at least one member of the team.  The teams were judged on originality of concept, presentation of the story, and age appropriateness for four and five year olds.

I knew the team was doomed when Lisa Rinna became project manager against her will.  The ladies, mainly Star Jones and Dionne, came up with a story about a shy lion based on Latoya Jackson.  The title was “Why Can’t I Roar?”  I’ve read a book like that to my nephew.  Not only was the concept unoriginal and boring, they chose Latoya Jackson as a main character with the theme, “be yourself.”  How ironic. 

As an ability activist, I was horrified by Dionne Warwick’s treatment of Marlee Matlin.  Marlee and other members of the team thought Marlee should be the character.  Dionne kept pushing the group on her lame, uncreative concept.  Marlee suggested maybe the one who teaches the lion to roar is someone who cannot hear.  Dionne was hateful towards Marlee, with eyerolls and throwing her hands up in disgust whenever Marlee signed.  Anti-project manager, Lisa Rinna tried to base at least one character on Marlee, saying maybe the lion could ask another animal who is deaf to help her roar and have Marlee sign back, ”No, I can’t help you.” 

The “legend,” Dionne Warwick, responded forcefully saying, “THAT IS SAD!”  She continued, “I don’t think four and five year olds are ready for that kind of diversity.  Let’s get real here, we are looking to write a story that will make these babies smile and be happy, not walk out remorseful because they will feel sorry for her.”  I guess the informercial queen finds people with different abilities than her depressing.   

I liked what Marlee said to the cameraman.  “Dionne put up a very clear barrier right in front of my face.  That made me feel handicapped.  You have to understand, I don’t accept handicaps.  I go around barriers all the time.  What she said was completely ignorant.”

Meanwhile, the men’s group did a cute book based on Li’l John being bullied at school.  Mark Mcgrath originally wanted to make Li’l John become a superhero.  YAY!!  Superhero theme.   

Meanwhile, Star Jones was left in charge to design the whole book.  Her design job made me wonder if she’d ever even seen a children’s book.  The images had plenty of open space for the words.  The text was so small on the page, it looked ridiculous.  That is a simple fix that any person who looked at it would have noticed. 

They say “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but it’s cover looked silly too.  Who would buy a book of a lion that looked like it was crying?  Maybe it was crying because it was supposed to be Latoya Jackson.

In the end, Backbone, the men’s team won the task.  YAY!! 

The women’s team ended up in front of the Trump boys in the boardroom.  Dionne and Star were very proud of their awful, boring storyline.  I was hoping Evil Music Diva would get fired but it was Lisa Rinna.  It seemed as though she’d never seen  any Apprentice show and didn’t know what she was supposed to do in the board room.  She left them with no other choice.  Tsk, tsk. 

In other news, a lot of good things are happening with Wendy on Wheels.  Today, an article  about Eli and his mother, Amy, being cartoonized in Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day apparently appeared on the front page of the Yakima Herald-Republic Newspaper, along with a cute picture of them.  I had a great interview on Family Network Radio last week.  

Brooke and Brielle really love Wendy on Wheels!!  Read about it here.