Last week, we had the opportunity to speak with both Clint Robertson and Brandy Kuentzel, the two finalists on this season of The Apprentice, on two separate occasions. On Monday, three days before the Apprentice finale was shown, we were also joined by Donald Trump himself, who summarized his impressions of the contestants on this season. On the final task, which aired in two parts on Thursday December 2 and 9, Clint, along with his teammates, Steuart, Mahsa, and Poppy, had to organize a dinner for about 500 people along with a show featuring Liza Minnelli. Brandy, with her team of Anand, Stephanie, and Liza had to organize a golf tournament for Mr. Trump and many of his high-profile friends.
The day after the finale, and Brandy was revealed as the winner, we spoke to them again, this time without Mr. Trump, to get more insight on their feelings of the contest and where they see themselves going in the future.
Here are the facts about Clint Robertson and Brandy Kuentzel from their NBC Apprentice bios: Clint Robertson, 40 (Austin, Texas), received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Christian University and a Juris Doctorate in Law from Southern Methodist University. Robertson went on to be a successful certified public accountant, real estate attorney and developer to having an estate sale where he was forced to sell a large amount of his family's possessions due to the economy. Robertson and his family now split time between a friend's guesthouse in Weatherford, Texas and another friend's rental house in Post Falls, Idaho. Currently living off of credit, Robertson is also a strong believer in God and spends much of his free time with his wife of 18 years and their three boys.
Brandy Kuentzel, 30 (San Francisco, Calif.), received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UCLA and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School. After working as a corporate attorney for a prestigious international law firm, she co-founded a mobile cupcake business in the San Francisco Bay Area. This entrepreneur is now ready to launch a more challenging and rewarding career. Kuentzel is a vegetarian and an avid supporter of animal rights. She also loves the outdoors and runs several miles a day.
USTOWNHALL SPEAKS TO DONALD TRUMP, CLINT ROBERTSON (runner up) AND BRANDY KUENTZEL (winner) OF THE APPRENTICE 10:
DECEMBER 6:
USTH: My first question is for Donald Trump. When you sized up the contestants at the very beginning of filming, which contestants surprised you as the season went along by doing better than you thought they would, and which contestants did not make it as far as you thought they would?
DONALD TRUMP: I think Liza was a little bit of a surprise. She turned out to be very good, and a lot of people didn't think she would be. She's also a great golfer. You know, I'm a good golfer. Liza's a really good golfer. I mean, like top of the line, collegiate-type golfer and better than that.
And I was actually surprised because I heard she was, but I didn't believe it because I hear everybody's so good, and then I see them, and they can't hit the ball. But she was very impressive in her athleticism and her golf game.
I think that Clint was a little bit of a surprise to be honest with you. I think that he was somebody that was underestimated at the beginning, and he turned out to be a star. I think that to be honest, Steuart was excellent. I mean, we really had some excellent people on the show. Some excellent people. And a couple of them got in trouble, and I think they've redeemed themselves because they're back on the final episode, and they do a fantastic job.
I think Brandy was looking good right from the beginning. She was sharp. She was smart. She fought tough when she had to. She didn't waste energy. So, we really had some really great contestants, I felt.
USTH: Mahsa has gone on YouTube with a video message saying that she did not lie when she said that Clint told her what the men's team had earned on the pedicab task. First of all, did you see the message and for the final record, Clint, did you reveal to Mahsa before the boardroom sequence what the men had earned on the pedicab task?
CLINT ROBERTSON: You know, because we were not always on film, we were together beforehand, there were several conversations that people had just in talking . And I'm just going to refer you back to that boardroom. Brandy and I, I think, were both the targets of that YouTube clip you're referring to as well as Mr. Trump.
And you know, we were all there. We heard the way it went down. I'm just going to – I'm going to refer you back to that boardroom. I don't think we parsed any words in that boardroom. I know that when I was sitting in there and she told me that I – you can go back and review the episode. When she said that I had told her our numbers first to induce her to tell me her numbers, that was incorrect.
And so, I felt like I had an obligation to clear my name. But I'd – you know, let me just tell you this. Mahsa is on my team this week, and you saw the work she did last week. I think you'll see more of her this week. And let me just tell you, I have nothing bad to say about anybody on my team. They all left it on the field for me, and I hope that comes across this next episode in the actual footage.
DECEMBER 10:
USTH: First of all, Brandy, congratulations on your win. I just want to clarify something first. Clint, you mentioned that you just found out with America last night who became the apprentice. So I'm confused about the timeline and about when exactly that final boardroom sequence was filmed. So can you just give us a little insight as to how long it's been in real-time since the final boardroom and did you guys film two alternate endings – one where you won, one where Brandy won – and then you didn't find out which one got aired until last night or how did that all work?
CLINT ROBERTSON: Well, without going into how sausage was made just suffice it to say that there was plenty of footage to where we could actually be with Mr. Trump and find out yesterday and at the same time have a real ending that we could all have some sense about. So actually yes, we were finished filming just as the rest of the show was filmed. And Brandy and I, it was yesterday when we found out.
USTH: Going into the final boardroom, how confident were each of you that you would be the apprentice? We'll start with Brandy this time, and then we'll go to Clint for that answer.
BRANDY KUENTZEL: Well, I was confident in the job that my team had done. I had some great teammates – Anand and Liza and Stephanie – and they really did step up to the plate and went to bat for me. It was great to have them behind me. That being said, Clint's an amazing competitor. I think all of America has had the privilege of watching him throughout the season. He's done a wonderful job. And you never know [how things will turn out] in the boardroom. So, I was confident with the job that my team and I had done, but I give an enormous amount of credit to Clint. I knew that he had done a great job as well. And, I think this is a testament to Clint's strengths: Mr. Trump pulled us aside before we watched the show yesterday and said, "You know what? This has been the toughest decision that I've had to make on The Apprentice since it started. And at this point it could really go to either of you." So, we were neck and neck. I would like to say that I was extremely confident, but Clint is an amazing competitor, and I knew that he had a great chance as well.
CLINT ROBERTSON: Well, to answer that question, and this probably alludes to why we're sitting here and Brandy is the apprentice, and I'm the runner-up, but I had a little bit [of a] different outlook. I had zero doubt since the day I walked off that final task of [the] outcome...which didn't occur. This takes nothing away from Brandy at all. I just feel like from day one, I left it all on the field, and I was confident in my ability. I was confident in what I had done. And, that's probably one of the reasons we're having this conversation today – maybe I overlooked something. And I can't take anything away from Brandy. She absolutely is going to be an amazing spokesperson for Mr. Trump in whatever capacity they put her in. But, yes I – just in all honesty – I really felt like I had walked away with it. But then again, things sometimes don't turn out the way you expect. And I got to tell you, those blessings you don't expect are sometimes the best ones. So, I'm waiting to see what the Lord has in store for me.
USTH: Brandy what are your goals long term? Do you want to find a permanent place within the Trump organization or pursue something outside eventually?
BRANDY KUENTZEL: Well, I think in true apprentice style, this is a several weeklong competition. And now, the prize is obviously getting the opportunity to work with the Trump organization for a guarantee of one year.
USTH: Right.
BRANDY KUENTZEL: So, I sort of take this next year as an extension of the interview process. And hopefully if Mr. Trump continues to like what I've done, and continue to do, then he'll keep me around for longer.
USTH: Okay great. Clint, were you surprised in the boardroom when Anand said that he would pick Brandy as the apprentice over you? And, did you get a sense of why he felt that way because that part wasn't shown in the edit.
CLINT ROBERTSON: I think you might recall that right before Anand got fired that crazy week – that would have been built up for the cheater and all that – I think you recall Anand and I had a tiff in the war room that was probably a little more in-depth than just the few lines that were shown. He and I had a disagreement over his performance, and I think that probably carried over to the end. I also didn't hide my disappointment in the way the cheating part went down. So, I'm sure there were probably some sour grapes there. From what I understand Anand did a good job in that finale. So hopefully he has moved on beyond that cheater label.
USTH: Thanks to both Clint Robertson and Season 10 Apprentice winner, Brandy Kuentzel, for taking the time to speak with us today.
Use the image gallery below to read the other interviews in this series
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