There was tension in the Apprentice finale, that was the problem.

We could have used a little suspense over who would triumph, but that was mostly answered weeks ago, and put to rest last week, when he set that ghastly woman up as a finalist.

Everyone in America--everyone paying attention to this stuff--seemed to have already come to an easy conclusion, including nearly every exec that silly Regis Philbin interviewed. Boy, that sure added to the sense of mystery.

The only question looming was whether Trump would completely discredit himself and leave a terrible taste in the mouths of viewers by making such a perverted choice as Jen.

I know he took a lot of flack for his choices this season, but I was with him on nearly all of them. Except that last one. He was in a bit of a bind, because as I've written here before, they cast a lot of talented people on the show, but only one who really seemed to pull it all together. No one else was really fit for the job. Kevin, perhaps would have been a worthy competitor. Maybe even the bridal store operator--not really, but at least she wouldn't have been repulsive. She might have grown into the job.

Jen. Ugh. He just sucked all possible life out of the finale by failing to present Kelly with a worthy opponent.

And NBC got just a bit too greedy stretching it out for three hours. (That barely works for Survivor. And even though I like this show better at this point, they lack sufficient material for two.)

So it was the first dull episode of the season. Not a great way to end it.

But a nice ending.