Ever since Donald Trump named former Apprentice contestant Omarosa Onee Manigault as his presidential campaign’s African-American Outreach Director in July, the pair’s televised past has come under renewed scrutiny. And no, The Apprentice wasn’t the only reality television show the two worked together on. Then again, if you were one of the (un)lucky few who had access to TV One in 2010, when the first season of Donald Trump Presents: The Ultimate Merger aired, then you already know about the Republican nominee’s attempt to find his infamous apprentice a date.
As The Daily Beast reports, however, The Ultimate Merger wasn’t just about Trump setting up Omarosa (and Toccara Jones in the second, and last, season). It was also about the 12 contestants selected, half of whom were wealthy while the other six were not — and only Trump knew which was which. Per an application obtained by Daily Beast, the series’ main focus was obviously money — specifically how much money potential contestants made. And, of course, how much they’d owe Trump and his team if they ever broke the required non-disclosure agreement:
I agree to pay Producer and the Network the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) per breach plus disgorgement of any income that I may receive in connection with my breach as liquidated damages in the event I breach any of the confidentiality provisions of this Application and Agreement prior to the initial exhibition of the final episode of the Program.
There are obvious dating-related questions, like “Describe your perfect date” and “Describe your ideal woman,” as well as a litany of financial inquiries. Things like “What is your annual income?” and a series of options ranging from “0 – 50K” to “500K & UP,” as well as a space for applicants to describe their “current occupation” in detail. Yet it’s the inclusion of Trump that seems to make things weird, especially regarding its precise placement in the question order:
- How would your best friends describe you?
- What do you think of Donald Trump?
- Why do you think you would make a perfect mate for Toccara?
In other words, Toccara (and Omarosa before her) are great and all, but are you willing to bow down to Trump?
(Via The Daily Beast)