Posted on 08/31/2006 6:36:01 AM PDT by khnyny
August 31, 2006 -- CAROLYN KEPCHER, Donald Trump's co-star on "The Apprentice," has heard him say "You're fired!" for the last time - because this time he said it to her, sources told The Post. The icy, 36-year-old blonde - who was running the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff in Westchester and helping supervise the Trump National in Bedminster, N.J. - was let go earlier this week.
"She became a prima donna," said one insider. "Being on 'The Apprentice' went to her head. She was no longer focused on business. She was giving speeches for $25,000 and doing endorsements."
Kepcher - who is married and has a son, Connor, 6, and a daughter Cassidy, 4 - had agents at ICM handling book and TV offers, and Westport Entertainment weighing speaking engagements and endorsements. She came out two years ago with a book, "Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from 'The Apprentice's' Straight Shooter."
Insiders say that when Trump tried to reach her recently, she was off on a trip to make a speech. Another time, while giving a tour of the pro shop at the Briarcliff club, she didn't seem to know the prices on any of the merchandise.
Trump has been in Los Angeles for five weeks filming the next season of "The Apprentice." His daughter, Ivanka, has replaced Carolyn as one of Trump's two on-air sidekicks, while son Don Jr. is the successor to gruff real-estate lawyer George Ross, 78.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Thanks for the interesting background info. I knew Trump got his start because of his dad, but was not aware of the casino anecdote, lol. If Trump wanted Carolyn off the show, fine. If he wanted her to stop being a "prima dona", fine. Talk to her about it, but to fire this woman completely after ten years just makes Trump look bad. From a PR standpoint, it may have been better to let Carolyn find another position before making this public. It almost makes me think there is more to this story, perhaps it is personal.
I agree with you, to an extent. While she isn't quite as business-savy as Carolyn appears to be, she certainly isn't a ditz either. She seems to know her stuff, for the most part.
Plus, she is very pleasant on the eyes!
I can't believe that he is hiring his two kids. I mean now it is three people in the same family. Oh well the show jumped the shark two years ago anyway. I can't believe that Carolyn is only 36. She looks so much older. I guess she had a rough life (possibly childhood).
daughter, Ivanka, has replaced Carolyn as one of Trump's two on-air sidekicks, while son Don Jr. is the successor
[Trump's turned the show into an info-mercial. Now it looks like he wants a family cash cow:]
When Trump showcased "Trump Bottled Water" on his show, that really made me laugh. Also, the endless payola for featuring products on the show is a little much. This is just one more nail in his coffin of greed.
Two good examples. He seems determined to find out how blatantly he can sell out the show until it dies.
He's and example of a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
If you ever get a chance watch this:
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/born_rich/
Very eye opening. The ONLY kid on the film that had it "together" was Ivanka.
Only room for one prima donna in the organization.
If you have a product that sells it's called capitalism...not greed.
My list of priorities as it pertains to TV shows:
1. 24
2. Rescue Me
3. Prison Break
4. My Name is Earl
5. Futurama
I stopped watching "The Apprentice" after the first season. Vanished seems to be an okay so too thus far, nothing spectacular though.
Glad my job is secure here at Enron.
Well,
For all we know, he may have given her warnings in the past. Remember, this is a press report, who knows what really happened.
From a PR standpoint, Trump is a master of PR... if there is one thing to admire him for (while I think he's an OK businessman) its his ability to self promote... he is definately a modern guy with the PT Barnum flair.
After everything that Trumps been through, from the Ivana divorce, etc etc etc I don't think an employees termination is going to have much negative impact on Trump or his companies.
What I think Trump has been good at is attracting good people around him... which is indeed the sign of a good leader. I know if I had the opportunity I'd probably be willing to do a stint at Trump, not so much to be around "the donald" as I've been in many situations where I've been around the "poster boy" for a particular field, and often have been less than impressed with the guy who gets the media focus... but have found that the people around them are often very very good and I have learned a lot from.
And I'm not trying to take away what Trump has accomplished, even with the backing he had, most would not have been able to turn that into what he has. I'm just saying if I was going to pick a business leader to be my mentor, I don't think I would pick Trump.
only room for one hen in that house. i like them both, and i know she will land on her feet making tons of dough.
Apparently the advice she peddles didn't do her a bit of good:
"But if anyone knows what to do to impress Donald Trump, it's Carolyn, his longtime employee and trusted adviser. In Carolyn 101, she reveals the secrets of her own success and provides listeners with guidance for their professional lives. She tells listeners how to:
• Deal with a difficult boss"
But Trump is an ego maniac. The only person I know that can lose millions and millions of other peoples' dollars and still be considered a success by some parts of this nation. He builds one ice rink in New York and people think he is some contracting god. Let us count all the projects he has blown, marriages that have failed, and basically utter waste of nice suits. He needs to be blasted off to space to a super nova and disappear.
That's a good list. You should add House to it this season.
Probably this scenario:
She is getting her own press, Trump doens't like it.
She is making money outside of his operations, he doesn't like it.
Andrew Carnegie taught his employees how to become millionaires and many did so.
Much of Donald Trump's successes are due to his father, who handed him a spectacular fortune. He is not the business leader I would pic as a model, as I think he is entirely too arrogant.
The comment about hiring good people is a very good one, although Trump has not done as well as others in this regard. I have worked for a number of wealthy people who have no talent for business other than hiring good employees. It appears that this type of talent is the only one you need.
I like House, I watch it most of the time but towards the end of last season there was something running parallel to it that drew my attention away, can't remember what it was though.
My guess is that people took Carolyn more seriously than Donald.
He has a huge ego, and he doesn't want anyone else to get the limelight.
So maybe he will fire "George" so he can replace him with his Dorky son..?
sw
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