The Apprentice came back with a fresh new idea. Recruit intelligent, hard working people that had been severely affected by the recession. Donald Trump was going to put America back to work. After an entire season of watching people get into cat fights, vying for the Trumpster's attention, being disqualified for illegal use of a telephone and many fun competitions, it's come down to Brandy and Clint. The final two fought their way to the top and proved themselves more than capable to work in the tough atmosphere of the Trump organization. And on Friday at 8.00 et/pt we will find out who is fired and who is hired. We recently chatted with Donald Trump and the final two contestants on what inspired them and surprised them most, and their life as an Apprentice.

What do you see in Clint and Brandy that makes them finalists?

Donald Trump:   Well, they were tremendous competitors, both of them. And I usually find that when we get down to the finals and those final weeks, that the people that get this far are just great. Obviously they're smart and they're cunning and all of those things, but above all else, they're really great competitors. And these two have been that in spades.

Do you think there's a weakness in these two that would hinder their performance abilities in the final task?

Donald Trump:    Well, I think that's going to be shown. There was a little weaknesses on both - not as individuals, but with respect to the task. And that will be shown on Friday night, the weaknesses.

Will this be the final installment of just regular Apprentice?

Donald Trump:    Probably. We wanted to do one more. We've had such great success with The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice but Celebrity has really been a great success. And we really wanted to do one to see what it would be like in the bad economy. As an example, Clint and Brandy, both great people, but they had a hard time with what went on in the economy. Five years ago they had great jobs. They were  making a fortune. A lot of people wanted to see one more version of regular Apprentice but put into the economy that we're stuck with today, which isn't very good. So The Celebrity Apprentice, is being concluded now in terms of we're finishing up the shooting. And we have some amazing people.

What have you learned from your time on The Apprentice?

Brandy Kuentzel:  I really learned how amazing individuals, including all the contestants on The Apprentice can be in down times. I think the, you know, the resounding story among all the contestants was that we've all been hit by hard times, but we're all resilient and we remain hopeful for the future. So I guess this Apprentice for me, my personal journey, has really been a story of promise and hope.

Clint Robertson:    I've got to tell you it's really amazing to find out exactly how many folks in this world are hurting right now. And that's been a common thread in my own experience. After the show and  as the shows air each week I'm out in public. I go to the airport or the grocery store, restaurants. Everywhere I go in public, people are stopping me and telling me that they're finding hope and inspiration in this show and in what I've done on the show and what the other people are doing on the show.

How much do you weigh the concept of potential in regards to the person that you hire?

Donald Trump:       The word potential is always a word that you look at when you're looking at people. So it does weigh. It's not something that we're overly enthusiastic about with regard to picking a winner. But it does absolutely play a part in this choice and in many other choices I make.

Brandy, what made you choose Liza in the final competition?

Brandy Kuentzel:     Liza is an amazing contestant and I think that really did come through at certain points during the television program. I was very happy to work with Liza, as I was to work with Stephanie, Anand and Bill. Great contestants. And I think that in the next episode, you'll really see what our team is able to do when we pull together. And Liza was a big part of that. I don't have a lot of golf knowledge myself. I certainly have more after the final task, but she really was an invaluable resource and I was glad to work with her.

Donald Trump:    I think she picked Liza because she didn't want Mahsa. She didn't want Mahsa and that's why she picked Liza, but I think she's too diplomatic to say that, right Brandy?

Brandy Kuentzel:     Mahsa and I had a falling out in the boardroom. And it's really hard to pick up where we left off. So I didn't want a distraction. I wanted to be focused at the task at hand and the fact that Liza was on my team was just a bonus.

What surprised you the most about Donald Trump?

Clint Robertson:   The thing about Mr. Trump, you see the man on T.V. and you see this stern, man who just knows exactly where he's going. You know if you walk in that boardroom it's going to be a real tense time. Well, nothing changed about that. That boardroom is tense.  Actually, it's a lot more tense in person than even watching it in the show. But I've been asked this question a lot.  Forgive me if I miss characterize you here, Mr. Trump, but I see a guy who also  has a twinkle in his eye, has a good sense of humor. There are a lot of things you probably don't see that happen in the boardroom where you can really get a good laugh.

Brandy Kuentzel:    I would echo those sentiments. I would say that Mr. Trump has an incredible sense of humor, which I didn't fully appreciate until The Apprentice and of course he's even more handsome in person.

Donald Trump:     Well that's much more important than all the other - I was hoping somebody would say that, especially Brandy.

How have the contestants of The Apprentice inspired you?

Donald Trump:     It never ceases to fail how hard they work.  It's a very tough process to get through.  In the case of Celebrity Apprentice, we see these great athletes that are powerful athletes and hit 450-foot homeruns and after two weeks, they're just exhausted and they quit. And then you'll see a Joan Rivers win who was 76 years old when she won. Or you'll see Piers Morgan, who just got Larry King's show and America's Got Talent after he left Celebrity Apprentice. I think it's amazing the way some people have that extra sense of drive where they do so well. And the final two people are really two great examples of that. They were really terrific. There's going to be a winner and there's going to be a loser. And I feel very badly about it because they're both great.

What kind of competitor would a young Donald Trump have been on The Apprentice?

Donald Trump:    Probably the first one fired. I'm amazed at these people. I really am. Not all of them. Obviously some don't do very well but I'm amazed at Clint and Brandy. They have so many qualities and they also have patience.  I'm not sure that I have the patience, because that might be the one thing that would be lacking. The rest of those things I think I have but patience is something that you really need because it's a grueling process. So I don't know that I'd do well at all.

Why did Anand get a second chance to return to the competition after he was disqualified?

Donald Trump:    Well first of all, I think he's outstanding. He made a mistake and he redeems himself because he came back on the final episode which you'll see on Friday. Wouldn't you say that's true Clint and Brandy?  He's a fabulous guy and I would hire him in one instant.  It was a tough deal that he went through. He made a mistake.

Brandy Kuentzel:    I agree. Anand was on my team in the final task and I can attest that he is phenomenal in every sense of the word. I think you'll see that throughout the final task that he really does redeem himself as Mr. Trump said.

Are there any plans for a Canadian edition of The Celebrity Apprenticeor The Apprentice? We'd love to see some Canuck blood in the boardroom.

Donald Trump:    A number of Canadians have asked me that question. The Apprentice has a huge audience in Canada and just a phenomenal audience. And it's had great success up there.  I'd say that we have it in mind but I don't think it's necessary, But I do think we are going to plan to have some really great Canadians on the show, because the audience in Canada has been amazing.

Brandy and Clint, why did you choose Liza as the weakest member when the three of you were in the boardroom?

Brandy Kuentzel:    I actually think that I chose Clint as the strongest player. I'd like to phrase it like that because I think Liza is really a phenomenal contestant and  Mr. Trump can attest that everybody that was down to the end there really was a great contestant and it was great to work with Liza. And I think she's fabulous. I don't want her to get a bad rap here.

Clint Robertson:    Liza is probably one of the most kind people in business I've ever met. Liza is just a kind human. You can tell. Everything about her just oozes kindness. I only got the opportunity to work with her one time, and so for me it was really more of a factor of not having the requisite information to make a call on Liza because she and I worked about a half a task together, whereas I was with Brandy for three tasks

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Find out  who wins during the finale of The Apprentice  Friday at 8.00 et/pt on Global TV.