An example of the type of contestant that made the Final Cut:
-A woman who worked at a brothel!!! I couldn’t believe it either.
-An unemployed loud mouthed woman who turned up half drunk to the second stage of auditions…..
-An Arts degree graduate with no work experience????

I was clearly not thinking straight when I auditioned for what I thought would be a representation of Australia’s finest business people coming together on a show for a job with Mark Bouris. I’m not sure if the best business men and women of Australia would give up their jobs for a position with a new financial planning/services company for only $100k a year, but hey you get to be on a reality TV show!!

I was also rather shocked at the whole casting process. Two auditions, lots of paperwork and an on-line personality test that you do from home. Then an e-mail saying Congrats or Sorry you have not made it. If you were chosen you would then be flown to Sydney straight away for filming which has already started. I have no idea when the casting agent would check references, criminal record checks etc…??? Not sure how Kirsty (Director) from ‘A Cast of Thousands’ can really be that thorough with only a small team of 3 working in her business???? Very interesting….This is probably why the show could be amusing to watch by putting a group of people together who have no real idea about the business world of today!!

I really hope this is not an embarrassment for Mark Bouris and his new business venture which will be advertised throughout the series. If only Donald Trump was somehow involved, then I’m sure the ratings might be very different for Channel 9.

You expect a certain type of person in the American series (i.e. Alpha males and females).

There was one person in the British series that made it compelling viewing, just to make sure he didn’t win (he was a real tosser).

It will be interesting to see what sort of person the Australian series throws up. Will we be unique in our business approach, or will we be a pale version of the Americans?

I generally get some insight into business practice, especially at the big end of town, from each episode. So count me in.

I actually recall a lot of people responding fairly well when the Australian version started this year and i think many thought it was fresh, innovative and with a good cross section of people. I accept their were critics as well.

My point about the Apprentice is that it has been tested here before. The US version was screened numerous times to dwindling ratings in this country and the UK version lasted barely three weeks in prime time before being dumped to 11pm at night…hardly a ratings winner!

I will wait and see what this version is like but can you imagine in a climate when unemployment is on the way up and people are losing their jobs that they want to be reminded of words like ‘Your fired!!!” And who wants to see people in lucrative jobs anyway, living it up in a luxury pad and vying for an even better job when a lot of people are out there struggling to gain work. The timing is all wrong.

You may have to plan and run an event, organise a team, figure out the best way to sell a product, deal with people, be creative and figure out the best way to accomplish a task.

I think it can be suitable for these times. If the contestants are genuinely talented and they have interesting tasks.

Skills like entrepreneuralism, organisation, creativity, customer service, management and strategy is still important in tough economic times. A lot of businesses have to adapt.