Brande Roderick led her team to victory this week on The Celebrity Apprentice. The women’s team beat the men in every way possible. They got along well, their store was beautiful and they raised a lot more money. Roderick was a surprisingly strong competitor from the start and every player is starting to take her very seriously.
Although she initially clashed with Annie Duke, things have been smooth sailing for Roderick and the women’s team. They’ve won three weeks in a row and show no signs of stopping. She alludes to the fact that the men’s team might win once before the teams get shook up. I also gather that Brande and Melissa Rivers will be on opposite teams once the change happens, but as of right now, that’s purely speculation. Check out the audio/transcript of the interview below to find out who Brande thinks are her biggest competitors and what the rest of this season has in store for us
So let’s start with the basics: How’d you get involved in The Celebrity Apprentice?
I got involved with The Celebrity Apprentice because they had called my agent and apparently Donald Trump was a fan of mine, which was exciting, and he wanted me to be on the show so I went and met with the producers of the show. I told them all about my business skills and the businesses that I run and I got the job!
Did you know whom you were going to be competing against before you started?
Well, I did know of one for sure because we have the same agent. I knew about Dennis and there were a few others that I knew about because I was friends with people before I went on the show. So there were just a few that I knew and the few that they knew, of course they told me.
Was there anyone that was sort of a surprise when you got there? Joan Rivers?
Let’s see, who was a surprise? Actually, you know what? Annie Duke. I didn’t know she was going to be on there so that was a surprise. And, who else? Brian McKnight, who I had known prior, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the show. And actually Andrew Dice Clay. I don’t know if that was a last minute thing but I didn’t know he was going to be on it until I showed up.
You and Annie didn’t really get along in the beginning. Does that change?
You know, it’s kind of funny because through everything that has happened on the show, and you guys will see a lot of ups and downs but we are like the closest out of everybody on the show.
Really?
Yeah, it’s kind of funny because we were the ones that looked like we went at it the most. But, actually we ended up being very good friends.
I think she’s incredibly impressive. If you’ve ever seen her poker tournaments, they’re incredible. I’m a big fan.
I’ve played with her. She’s amazing. Annie Duke has the whole package.
I’d think she’d be a fairly big competitor.
Oh, to say the least. Absolutely. Definitely.
Can you give us any scoop on something we should be looking forward to this season?
Well, more cat fights. I don’t know if that’s something people want to watch but there’s definitely going to be more of those on the women’s side as well as on the men’s side. I do think I get down to the nitty gritty, it becomes very competitive and the claws start coming out and then you’re also going to see a lot of laughs. You’re going to see a lot of laughs and you’re going to see a lot of heartfelt things. I think it’s the whole package. You’re going to be entertained all around.
Speaking of heartfelt, how’d you get involved with California Police Youth Charities?
Well, from my husband because he was a celebrity advisor for many years. Then he introduced me to them and then I became a celebrity advisor. The past 5 years I’ve been working with the kids. We did a program with the Chargers where we bring ten kids every single home game and we tailgate for them, play ball with them, cook for them and then we take them to the game. So we put that program together. I just get to see firsthand what this money does for these kids. They’re kids that would never have the chance to go to college or go to a Charger game or have these after school programs if it wasn’t for CPYC paying for these kinds of programs. It’s pretty exciting to see the difference in the lives of these kids.
And you delivered, what, $180,000 to them?
$167,666.
Nice. You’re keeping a tally.
Yeah. I’m excited to see next week’s episode when I hand the check over to the president of CPYC. That’s going to be exciting.
Do you watch yourself on TV? Is that weird?
Kind of, sometimes it’s a little weird. Actually, I just watched it with all the CPYC members this last Sunday because I was playing for them. It was kind of exciting and nerve-racking. They were watching it on a big huge screen at this place, you know a wide screen, and it’s kind of funny because here comes my big old butt! I was like, “What?!” My butt looked like it was the size of truck. It was a wide screen so everybody’s butt looked like that but I was like, “That is the craziest thing.” Oh, and my boobs too. My boobs look all “Woooo” on this wide screen. But I was like, “my boobs aren’t that big really.” It’s definitely exciting to watch because I’m watching it for the first time too because I don’t see anything that goes on on the guy’s side or anything that’s going on on the girl’s if I’m not with them. So it’s really exciting to watch and see what’s going on.
Last week, Melissa Rivers said that you were smart and ambitious and that’s a deadly combination when you put it with looks. That’s a fairly big compliment right there.
Yeah that was really nice of her to say that. That was very sweet especially because we’re competing against each other. But we are on the same team right now. That was very sweet of her.
Do you think the rest of the players underestimated you initially?
Oh yeah. I think that whenever I go into a situation I think I always get underestimated. Which is always to my advantage. I use that in poker as well.
So tell me about FinanciallyHung.com.
Financiallyhung.com is an online networking company, much like MySpace but it’s kind of more of a VIP version of MySpace or a sexier version. We’ve got a lot of actors, models, playmates, and athletes. It’s a lot more celebrity driven. You get to kind of mix and mingle with those people online. We also throw parties for our members offline. For instance, I just threw a big game day party at the Playboy mansion where all of our members were invited to. It’s kind of exciting because they get to mingle online as well as offline. We have live chats and stuff like that with celebrities.
Are you going to be in your own reality show? Flirty 30’s?
No, that’s not happening anymore. But that’s okay. Well, we’re doing a reality thing through Financially Hung so that will be better.
And you own your own production company? Do you have anything coming up?
Well that will be one of the shows – the Financially Hung reality show. Through She Ra Productions.
Will it be online?
No, it will be cable.
So, the men’s team is completely falling apart. How long does it take them to get split up?
Uhhhh…
You can’t say, can you?
No but you know what I always think it is? If we had lost the first time, I don’t think we’d be all buddy buddy like we are now. You know what I mean? I think it has a lot to do with whether you win or lose. I think they are fighting because they are losing. We’ll see how they act when they win. Maybe they still won’t get along, I don’t know. We’ll see. I’m excited to see because I don’t know. I can’t wait to see how it is on their side when they win.
Well, it has to happen eventually, right?
Eventually. At least once. We’ll give them one time.
Does Dennis Rodman not want to be there as much as edit him to look like he doesn’t want to be there?
I think he wants to be there.
I guess during the boardroom last week, he said that he wanted to be there but they edit it in a way to seem like Dennis Rodman doesn’t care.
From what I saw in person, he definitely wanted to be there. I think it’s his personality to just kind of do things his way and play it cool. Play mister cool guy. I think that’s just his way. But I know he wants to be there but I don’t think it comes across that way.
One last question: Besides yourself (because obviously you should win), who do you think had the best chance of winning when you first started?
When I first started, I thought it was going to be Joan Rivers because she has all the contacts in New York. She’s a New Yorker and we’re playing in New York. She has the advantage. I still think she’s a top contender but starting to play in the first three episodes, the other person who I think is very good, who shows promise is Annie Duke. She’s really working hard. She’s not sitting around doing nothing.
It’s that competitive drive. She doesn’t want to lose.
It’s kind of like playing poker. She’s just so used to it. She’s playing. She plays the game.
Cool. Thank you so much for talking to us.
Absolutely. Take care and maybe we’ll be talking again.
-Kim Wetter, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image Courtesy of NBC)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
