The Celebrity Apprentice 4 (also known as The Apprentice 11) is the eleventh installment of the reality game show The Celebrity Apprentice, which premiered March 6, 2011. Country music star John Rich was named the winner defeating actress Marlee Matlin. Lil Jon, La Toya Jackson, Gary Busey, and Lisa Rinna all returned for All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. Jackson and Busey placed twelfth and sixth, respectively, and both won $20,000 for their charities while Lil Jon and Rinna were both semifinalists placing third and fourth, respectively; Jon raised $160,000 and Rinna raised $504,500 resulting in her improving immensely from her first season.
Candidates The candidates were divided into two teams, males versus females. The women named their team A.S.A.P., an acronym for Artists, Singers, Authors, and Professionals for a Purpose. The men named their team Backbone.
Celebrity Background Original team Age Hometown Charity Result RaisedSinger-songwriterBackbone 37Dickson, Tennessee15 (5–22–2011) $1,261,908Film & television actressA.S.A.P. 45Arlington Heights, Illinois14 Fired in the season finale(5–22–2011)$1,050,000Meat LoafSingerBackbone 63Dallas, Texas13 Fired in task 12(5–15–2011) $204,580Lil JonRapper & entrepreneurBackbone 40Atlanta, Georgia12 Fired in task 12(5–15–2011) $80,000Former The View panelistA.S.A.P. 49Trenton, New Jersey11 Fired in task 11(5–08–2011) $169,372Singer, author & businesswomanA.S.A.P. 54Gary, Indiana10 Fired in task 8 & 10(05–08–2011) $65,000The Real Housewives of Atlanta starA.S.A.P. 43Athens, Georgia09 Quit in task 10(5–08–2011)Playboy modelA.S.A.P. 26Port Lavaca, Texas08 Fired in task 9(5–01–2011) $20,000ActorBackbone 66Goose Creek, Texas07 Fired in task 7(4–17–2011) $40,000Sugar Ray singer & television host Backbone 43Newport Beach, California06 Fired in task 6(4–10–2011)Survivor winnerBackbone 49Newport, Rhode Island05 Fired in task 5(4–03–2011) Former MLB outfielderBackbone 46Havana, Cuba04Quit in task 5(4–03–2011) $25,000SingerA.S.A.P. 70East Orange, New Jersey03 Fired in task 4(3–27–2011)ModelA.S.A.P. 36Pembroke Pines, Florida02 Fired in task 3(3–20–2011) $35,000Television host & actressA.S.A.P. 47Medford, Oregon01 Fired in task 2(3–13–2011)Actor & singerBackbone 60West Orange, New Jersey00 Fired in task 1(3–6–2011)
Weekly results CandidateOriginal teamTask 10 teamFinal Task teamApplication resultRecord as project managerJohn RichBackboneBackboneBackbone The Celebrity Apprentice2–1 (win in tasks 8 & 11, loss in task 5)Marlee MatlinA.S.A.P.A.S.A.P.A.S.A.P. Fired in the season finale1–1 (win in task 5, loss in task 11)Meat LoafBackboneA.S.A.PA.S.A.P. Fired in task 122–0 (win in tasks 2 & 10)Lil JonBackboneBackboneBackbone Fired in task 122–0 (win in tasks 4 & 9)Star JonesA.S.A.P.A.S.A.P.Backbone Fired in task 111–1 (win in task 1, loss in task 8)La Toya JacksonA.S.A.P.BackboneA.S.A.P. Fired in task 8 & 101–1 (win in task 6, loss in task 10)NeNe LeakesA.S.A.P.Backbone Quit in task 100–2 (loss in tasks 4 & 9)Hope DworaczykA.S.A.P. Fired in task 91–0 (win in task 7)Gary BuseyBackbone Fired in task 71–1 (win in task 3, loss in task 7)Mark McGrathBackboneBackbone Fired in task 60–1 (loss in task 6)Richard HatchBackboneA.S.A.P. Fired in task 50–1 (loss in task 1)Jose CansecoBackbone Quit in task 5Dionne WarwickA.S.A.P. Fired in task 4Niki TaylorA.S.A.P. Fired in task 30–1 (loss in task 3)Lisa RinnaA.S.A.P. Fired in task 20–1 (loss in task 2)David CassidyBackbone Fired in task 1
La Toya Jackson was originally fired in task eight, but was brought back into the competition during the boardroom of task nine.
No.Elimination chartCandidate123456789101112131John IN IN IN IN LOSE IN IN WIN IN IN WININ CA 2Marlee IN IN IN IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN LOSE INFIRED3Meat Loaf IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN BRFIRED 4Lil Jon IN IN IN WIN IN IN IN IN WIN IN INFIRED 5Star WIN BR IN IN IN IN IN LOSE BR INFIRED 6La Toya IN IN IN IN IN WIN INFIRED INFIRED 7NeNe IN IN IN LOSE IN IN IN BR LOSE QUIT 8Hope IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN INFIRED 9Gary IN IN WIN IN IN BRFIRED 10Mark IN IN IN IN INFIRED 11Richard LOSE IN IN INFIRED 12Jose BR IN IN IN QUIT 13Dionne IN BR INFIRED 14Niki IN INFIRED 15Lisa INFIRED 16DavidFIRED The contestant on the losing team. The contestant won as project manager on his/her team. The contestant lost as project manager on his/her team. The contestant was on the losing team and brought to the final boardroom. The contestant was fired. The contestant lost as project manager and was fired. The contestant withdrew from the show. The contestant did not participate in the task. The contestant winner of the competition.
Episodes
Episode 1: Pepperoni Profit Task 1 Air date: March 6, 2011 Task scope: To sell pizzas and earn as much money as possible. Backbone project manager: Richard Hatch A.S.A.P. project manager: Star Jones Judges: Donald Trump; Ivanka Trump; Donald Trump Jr. Dramatic tension: On Backbone, Jose Canseco was put off by Richard Hatch's leadership, and when Richard felt that David Cassidy was being a distraction, he practically pushed him out of the way at one point. Richard eventually apologized for the incident, even though he touched David more than once. On A.S.A.P., Star Jones and Lisa Rinna did not get along, and Dionne Warwick was slow while she was manning the register. Lisa and Marlee Matlin struggled making all the deliveries that Star had made due to New York City traffic, and they were not able to make a $35,000 delivery that was personally arranged by Curtis Stone. In the boardroom, Star blamed Lisa for not making Stone's delivery, and called Lisa a "little girl". Also, Jose spoke out against Richard, calling him a liar and a bully, and claiming that Richard struck David. Winning team: A.S.A.P. Reasons for win: Although they didn't make the $35,000 delivery from Curtis Stone, they earned $115,268 regardless, and had many celebrity donors. Losing team: Backbone Reasons for loss: Although they had received celebrity donors from Richard Hatch, Lil Jon, John Rich, Mark McGrath, and Meat Loaf, the men only earned $54,104 and lost by $61,164. Jose Canseco and Gary Busey failed to bring in any donations at all, while David Cassidy only brought in a single, small donation from his daughter Katie. Sent to boardroom: Richard Hatch, David Cassidy, and Jose Canseco Fired: David Cassidy – for not putting up a fight and not being as passionate about the task as Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch. Trump was unhappy with Richard's leadership, but fired David instead for not contributing enough to this task and for being unable to defend himself, relying on Jose to back him up against Richard in the boardroom. Although Richard was disrespectful to him, David did not take responsibility for his own actions which led to his dismissal. Cameo appearances by Russell Simmons, Wendy Williams, Heidi Bressler, Marc Ecko, Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca. Notes: Donald Trump asked Star Jones who her most valuable player was; she said Niki. Therefore, Trump gave Niki's charity the $35,000 which would have been given to Star's charity by Curtis Stone, had they made his delivery. While Trump was critical of Canseco's failure to bring in any donors, he even more heavily criticised Richard Hatch for bringing him back after claiming during the initial boardroom that Jose worked the hardest on the task. Trump hinted that Gary Busey should have been brought back instead of Jose, since he had also failed to bring in any money and his attempt to promote the sale while playing the character of the "Pepperoni Prophet" had ultimately achieved nothing. Ultimately, Richard was spared due to his having been the top fundraiser on Backbone, and Trump having a policy of never firing the top fundraiser on a task. Gary's phone went off at the start of the boardroom. Trump fired him, then less than half a second later said he was joking.
Episode 2: Child's Play Task 2 Airdate: March 13, 2011 Task scope: Create a children's book and perform it to a group consisting of four to five year olds. The story must also revolve around at least one team member. The teams will be judged based on three criteria: originality, age appropriateness, and creativity. Backbone project manager: Meat Loaf A.S.A.P. project manager: Lisa Rinna Result: A.S.A.P came up with a story revolving around La Toya Jackson about a lion who couldn't roar. Backbone came up with a story based on Lil Jon about him becoming a superhero. Judges: Donald Trump; Eric Trump; Donald Trump Jr. Dramatic tension: Lisa Rinna lost control of her team early on and struggled to maintain any sort of harmony, which eventually culminated in Star Jones openly ridiculing Lisa's leadership just before their performance. Dionne Warwick caused additional friction by behaving in a condescending manner toward Marlee Matlin throughout the task, and instead of speaking directly to Marlee insisted on talking to her through her assistant Jack Jason, which infuriated her. There was also a major argument over who would be credited as the author, with Lisa wanting it to be credited to "Team A.S.A.P." and Star and Dionne feeling that they were the only ones deserving of credit (despite the original concept for the book actually having come from Hope Dworaczyk). On Backbone, Jose Canseco argued with John Rich over the details of the team's book, and then got into an argument with Meat Loaf after Jose and Gary Busey got lost on their way to the venue (though Meat Loaf mistakenly sent them to the wrong address.) Winning team: Backbone Reasons for win: John Rich and Mark McGrath were able to effectively organize their book and performance, and despite criticism for Jose Canseco's wooden performance in the stage play and Meat Loaf's failure to actually show the book to the audience, guest judge Holly Robinson Peete thought their concept was very original, age appropriate and entertaining. Losing team: A.S.A.P. Reasons for loss: Even though they gave a stellar performance on stage and had showcased their actual book to the audience (unlike Backbone), Holly Robinson Peete thought that their theme of "being yourself" was too sophisticated for children. In addition, the font on each page in the book was way too small for children (and even some of the adults) to read. Sent to boardroom: Lisa Rinna, Star Jones, Dionne Warwick Fired: Lisa Rinna – for having poor leadership skills, inability to control her team, losing the respect of her entire team, and for acknowledging that she crumbled under the pressure. Notes: NeNe Leakes admitted during the episode that the team knew that Lisa Rinna would not be able to handle the role of being a project manager and that they were setting her up for failure. Trump noted the difference in how the teams reacted prior to the result when he gave the teams copies of each other's book to read. While the women all found the men's book charming and Marlee Matlin even said she'd buy it for her kids, most of the men struggled to even read the women's book at all due to the small typeface, and the ones who could read it weren't impressed by it. Meat Loaf won $20,000 for his charity. In addition, Trump told him that Backbone's story would be published as an eBook on Amazon.com, and any profits would also go to the charity.
Episode 3: Unhappy Campers Task 3 Airdate: March 20, 2011 Task scope: The celebrities must create an outdoor camping experience. Task sponsor: Camping World Backbone project manager: Gary Busey A.S.A.P. project manager: Niki Taylor Result: The men selected the two bigger tour buses, while the women picked two RVs that were more family oriented. Judges: Donald Trump; Ivanka Trump; Donald Trump Jr.