"The Celebrity Apprentice": Three cheers for the jingle

Dayana Mendoza on "The Celebrity Apprentice."

/ NBC

(CBS News) The two teams competing on "The Celebrity Apprentice" this week had to create a jingle for a roadside assistance company, and the biggest surprise in the two-hour episode came at the start when the musical stars were not chosen as project managers. (SPOILER ALERT)

Pictures: "The Celebrity Apprentice"
Read more: Debbie Gibson takes us behind the scenes of "The Celebrity Apprentice"

Talk-show host Arsenio Hall led one team, which included former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O' Day. Former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza led the other team with "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken and comedian Lisa Lampanelli as her partners.

Both teams suffered as the project managers tried to exert control on a task they had no business leading. But Arsenio did it better. His team ended up winning the challenge and Mendoza took the fall for her team's failures. After setting a show record for the number of times one contestant was taken back to the boardroom, she finally was fired.

What did she do wrong? For starters, she put herself, and not her team, first by pleading to lead the task. It was clear from the start that it was beyond her. In the van after getting the task, she showed that she had no idea what a jingle was when she asked her teammates whether it wasn't a Christmas task (think "Jingle Bells").

Aiken and Lampanelli were kind when they told host Donald Trump that they has to waste precious minutes giving Mendoza a crash course in musicology. Here's some of the things they didn't mention:

But it wasn't any of these failings that caused Lampanelli's meltdown in front of Donald Trump Jr. It was because she failed to give Lampanelli credit for writing the lyrics. Their epic battle spilled over to the boardroom, even before the winners of the task were announced.

To her credit, Menoza remained calm and collected and called Lamapanelli out for inappropriate language and unprofessional behavior. Aiken told the Trumps he wouldn't use the same language but he did suffer from the same feelings as Lampanelli.

On the other team, Hall also tried to rein in O'Day but he did concede her expertise and allow her to flourish in her element. O'Day, for her part, tried not to be overbearing and to work with Hall's ideas. When her team - which also included Teresa Giudice - nixed her cheerleading idea, she wisely brought it up to the executives, who seemed to like it. And it was the cheerleading jingle and skit that won the challenge, although company executives thought O'Day's cheerleading outfit was a tad risque. No surprise there.

And for the second week in a row, O'Day took Doanld Jr. aside to complain that she was doing all the creative work for the whole team.

What did you think? Did Mendoza deserve to go? Was Lampanelli out of line? Is O'Day digging her own grave with her complaints to Donald Jr.? Take our poll, discuss in the comments below and return here next week for more commentary.

Also, get the inside scoop on "The Celebrity Apprentice" from former contestant Debbie Gibson:

18 Photos

"The Celebrity Apprentice"

[alouso]

Dayana is beautiful and the crowned queen of our universe, for a while anyway....and I adore her like my own daughter and like my own daughter she does not know that skill and experience and beauty and intelligence are not necessarily the same thing. I'm with Lisa and Clay on this one, you had the blind leading the seeing. Dayana's actions were disrespectful to what Clay and Lisa were bringing to the table. Instead of respecting what they COULD do and give them the environment to get the job done, Dayana treated them like they were computer aps for her manipulation. And then after they, with more patience than I have and, doubly so, in a time sensitive situation, explained "jingle life" to Dayana as though it were a child's lesson, she was pouty and immature. Maybe this was part of Dayana's tactic, to goad her teammates, but I don't think she is that smart. She would have done better to be a team leader and support them, and bring out the best in their creativity and experience. I am glad Celebrity Apprentice is a show that sees the crime in undeveloped real skill and appreciates qualities that only years of focus and dedication can develop; and values real work ethic and the reality that it may come with a few naughty words. I am the only American working with foreigners and have experienced those who know nothing and mock me, while I do my work and theirs; and those who know nothing but are kind and supportive. I have to say, if anyone who does not have the skill and years of experience that I do, behaved like Dayana, day after day, there would not be enough expletives in the universe.

[NBC2010]

Mr.Trump I know you would not put up with these type of employees in your work place. Why do you let Lisa and Aubrey ruin your show? You need to get rid of them. Dayana wanted to do this jingle with more modern music but your peope in the business said no. She followed what the pros recommended. Of course Dayana lost . You need to bring Dayana back, if not your show looks unreal to all us working people.

[PatriciaSujey]

Dayana had the right instincts to want to go with a contemporary jingle style music like Pink and JLo. Lisa and Clay the so-called experts wanted a 60s jingle which made no sense with the Good Sam iPhone app. Shame on Donald Jr. for not defending Dayana. The only way to stop bullying is to speak up against it. I will no longer tune in to watch Celebrity Apprentice. The show has gone down hill, it used to be about raising money for charity and now people gang up and bully.

[pattysfirst]

She didn't suggest Pink or JLo. She personally chose Frankie Valli & then said combine it with Duran Duran wearing hippie clothes & oh, could the musicians add a little pink or yellow or red to the music, please? Seriously???!!! She was USELESS. I don't condone Lisa's vitriol, but Clay was completely in his rights to lose it. NOTHING she said made sense from a performance standpoint.

[pattysfirst]

You're forgetting that Dayana was interrupting Clay during the writing, recording, & producing of the song.... ALL DAY... She then insisted on spending 2 hrs of their rehearsal time doing the signage, which she could have done herself. She wouldn't let Clay or Lisa go rehearse without her, so they only had a half hr to rehearse their presentation. And then Dayana interrupted AGAIN. That's when Clay lost it. And he had every right to do so. You can only be so patient for so long with someone as clueless as Dayana.

[wonder55]

Lisa has a foul mouth - right. She throws temper tantrums - right. But...I think Dyana knew exactly which buttons to push to bring this on and then sat back and smirked while watching the implosion. She has the Donald drooling (of course) - that's why she lasted as long as she did. It was very uncomfortable to watch. As for Aubrey - all I can say is the poor girl needs a little more confidence- HAH!

[todtown]

I work in a typical office environment. My work involves interaction with everyone from administrative assistants to executive directors. If ANY of them carried on the way Lisa Lampanelli does (throwing hissy fits and calling others a *****), no matter how much talent or how valuable they may be, they would be out the door. And probably with a police escort to make sure they don't slap somebody on the way out. That's why the Donald hasn't fired her. He's scared!

[bandbullies]

At the start of the show Audrey's cherity was against bullying however no one including Audrey or Thrump spoke up. In fact, Audrey defended Lisa. Lisa's fowl intimating mouth and calling Dayana out in front of Thrump shows how low this show has gone. This has gone on since Cheryl Twiggs left.
Thrump tonight on the news stated he felt he was treated with respect with the remarks during the Presidents roast. It is a shame Thrump and his kids allow their guest and viewers not to be. Cele App and the contestants left are bullies. Shame on you all. There is a documenty just released which they all need to watch. America stand againist bullying in the work place and change your channel.

[brattyzs]

I think when Cheryl Tigg was fired, she said it right, "this venue is not for me"...she knew what ugly people she would be up against and was glad she got out of there. She's another beauty they couldn't take...Also think these women may have future contestants think twice about going on. Wish Gotti would have stayed on and made life miserable for those ugly women.

[ttbird-gto]

How bad is Lisa Lamponelli. VERY BAD, low class guttersnipe fat-assed old hag, common and ignorant. Devoid of human grace.
Trump clan discraced themselves by letting them (Troy Akin + Lamponelli)treat the young lady with such gross disrespect.
I do admire Dayana for not breaking under the pressure applied by such an insulting degrading Aiken-Lamponelli performance.

Don't know if I can stand watching that Trump show again.

Aiken cannot sing worth a crap and is a nasty little self proclaimed ***. Lamponelli makes a living by talking about her private parts and how she has gross sex. These two slandering demons can go back to the hell they were farted from.

[cvlhs]

Yes!!!

[pattysfirst]

I don't condone Lisa's behavior & incidently, neither does Clay, but Clay did not name-call, insult, degrade, etc. poor little Dayana. Perhaps she was disrespecting him by horning in on the composing, recording, producing, staging, ect. when she hadn't a clue what she was doing. A competent P.M. would have delegated to the pros & left them alone to do their work. She could have spent her time doing the signage, costumes, whatever. But no, she had to try to prove something & all she proved was that she had no head for entertainment. And you're the one who sounds like a demon with all your hatred of people you don't even know & have judged from seeing a few minutes of a 32-hr task.

[lbrown326]

I think it's sad and embarrassing the way Lisa and Aubrey treat other women. Why are they not supportive of others? Lisa was so incredibly rude and didn't allow Dayana to say a word. Clay certainly wasn't supportive of Dayana, but he was a bit more professional. Truly - is Lisa someone you'd want to work for you? Or have to work with? Doubtful she would survive in a real work environment. I've never had a desire to see her in person, but I certainly will boycott her now.

[jestomba]

I was apalled that Tromp Jr. , did not say a word to Lisa when she attacked Dayana viciously w/ her repertore of vulagarities.
As a corp manger for 30 years, a true executive would have fired Lisa
w/o any doubt. You cannot allow this type of person to exist for any entity. She is filthy , malicious , etc.

Tromp is sending a horrible message to young people that will be entering as employess in the business world, that a person like Lisa
can get away w/ such unprofessional & degrading behavior.
Again do that in the real world & you are gone immediately - Guaranteed. I wish I could contact the Donald or a CBS executive , for them to realize the harm that the episode last night didi in sending a complete false message to the viewers of the code of conduct run by True Executives.

[pumpkin1532]

I was disgusted at how Lisa and Clay treated Dayana. Lisa should have been fired for bullying and abusive behavior. I am disappointed that Lisa did not get fired and will not watch celebrity apprentice again because Donald Trump accepted this kind of abuse on his show.
Dayana you are a person with class. Too bad, I used to like clay but I have lost respect for him for also accepting this abuse and contributing to it.

[cvlhs]

A-M-E-N!!! Large Lisa and Fruitcake Clay are a couple of beeotches. Why in sam-hill does Trump put a beautiful, sweet, PATIENT, and composed woman (Dayana) on this show?? To humiliate her? To make her lose her composure? What an a**!! Dayana never received the human respect and compassion just for being a human being, if she had, maybe she could have been more effective, but who can perform under such duress? I think that Lisa, Clay and Aubrey should have made up team #1 together and Arsenio, Dayana and Teresa team #2 together and let the best team win. I also believe that Trump loves the drama and dissention created by the three butt*****, and that makes him one. I've already stopped watching ABC daytime, looks like CBS primetime is in line for the same.

[brattyzs]

DITTO........!! When are they going to dump Lisa and Aubrey, they're all afraid of those ugly women. Lisa just can't take the beauty of Dayana, poor girl couldn't get a word in without one of them jumping down her throat...