Now for the conclusion of our Apprentice 3 wrap-up. I was a little harsh on the show’s editors earlier this year, but they returned to my good graces last night by featuring a completely random shot of a squirrel at about this point in the proceedings. As I asked when they did the same thing last season: coincidence or secret IAAFOTS shout-out? Since the television often broadcasts coded messages just for me and I don’t know why this show should be any different, I choose the latter. The funniest part of this week’s episode occurred when the overly confident Alex and Bren were presenting their innovative “desk” idea to the Staples team and Alex told us in voiceover how excited and blown away the execs, George, Caroline, and focus group were when they saw this awesome product. How he managed to interpret the same look a person might have if they entered a cafeteria only to find a buffet table filled with trays of poop as “stoked” mystifies. Anyhow, Net Worth lost again, the Desk Apprentice is now on sale at Staples, and Magna’s reward was breakfast with George and Caroline at the Rainbow Room. Two things of note there: 1) George’s question about whether Craig had knocked over his pencils on purpose during the presentation, desperate attempt to find something to say to these people or just confirmation that he’s the stupid sidekick? 2) Anyone else notice that sweet Caroline was enjoying a tasty Scootosa with her meal? Predictably, the losers over at Net Worth had yet another ‘just us guys’ moment before the boardroom, and Bren was sick and tired of having his ass chewed (do you really need my help anymore?). “I don’t want my kids to see me roll over and be meek and quiet,” he proclaimed, he was gonna stand up to those impertinent Yankees and tell them that desk was awesome and Staples’ decision was simply wrong. When Alex told him that this was a great idea, he was going to say the same thing I was sure that we were about to see Bren go off and basically commit show suicide while Alex remained quiet and did not back him up at all. But no! Instead Alex really did back him up and say the same thing, while Bren shut up and showed his kids that when it comes time for action Daddy doesn’t deliver on his tough talk. Which was especially weird because when he was talking the talk in the coffee shop I started thinking that he was about to take a dive for his buddy, and it’s pretty clear that he did, just not in the blaze of glory he had been boasting about. Instead he decided to spotlight the fact that he was not a risk-taker, risks scare him but he is trying to get better at that – I think Bren has to be well aware that this is not a trait that is going to land you a job in the Trump organization. Like he said during his cab ride, he had found out that this world was not for him and he was ready to go home (again, the similarities between this and the scene where Count Cupcake pawns his tiny spurs and heads back to Transylvania to become a pastry chef are hard to overlook). Next week: the final four, and Craig and Alex get fired.