‘Apprentice’ project managers doomed?

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updated 10:32 a.m. ET Nov. 15, 2004

NEW YORK - Maybe it doesn’t pay to be a project manager on “The Apprentice.”

Chris Russo, 31, is the latest to be fired by Donald Trump on the business-themed NBC reality show. On Thursday’s episode, Russo led the Apex team to a big loss during a bridal store task. Apex made a profit of $1,060.47 selling wedding gowns and accessories while the Mosaic team banked $12,788.94.

“I can’t believe you led the team so badly,” Trump told Russo before firing him.

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The stockbroker from Long Island followed in the footsteps (out of Trump Tower and into a waiting taxi) of Jennifer Crisafulli, Pamela Day, John Willenborg, Elizabeth Jarosz and Raj Bhakta, who stepped up to lead and were then booted. That’s six project managers out of the 10 fired candidates so far this season.

“The project manager is supposed to delegate the tasks,” Russo told The Associated Press Friday. “But when (competitors) see one of the (managers) falter, they just swoop over them like vultures.”

During the second season of “The Apprentice,” most project managers have been selected at random by team members. However, Russo was picked by Trump to lead Apex after Russo told the real-estate mogul during the previous week’s boardroom scene that his team didn’t gel.

Much more about this week's 'Apprentice'

“My big mouth was a ploy to become the project manager,” he said. “Obviously, if I knew it was a wedding task, I would’ve kept my mouth closed.”

Russo chalks up his unmotivated leadership — he told his team the task was “impossible” — to illness.

“The truth is I was sick,” he said. “On the previous task, we had been working in the rain. That’s not an excuse. That’s just the reality.”

Russo is feeling much better now. He’s gained an apprentice of his own. Russo and his wife had their first child nine weeks ago.