“I was terrified of working that side of the camera. I’ve worked in TV many years, but that really pushed me out of my comfort zone. “I remember saying to my wife, Christabel, ‘Look, I’ve been asked to go and do the screen test and I’m really not sure that it’s me but I’m kind of intrigued’. “And she said, ‘No, you have to do it, you have to go and just find out’. And so she gave me the little push that I needed. You don’t grow from being comfortable.”
Supplied
Mike Pero (centre), pictured with Cassie Roma (left) and Justin Tomlinson from The Apprentice Aotearoa.
But… two days? I know. There’s something about this show, and its weird and wacky tasks that completely undermines the people who actually do this stuff for a living, working their tails off for years to make a mark. I’m sure the local fashion designers are stoked to see a bunch of personal trainers and gold investors playing pretend, and trying to shortcut their way to success, like it’s that easy. But this is reality TV, so hey ho.
Sure. Some of them know about “fashion” though, right? Technically, yes. Leader of the women’s team, Nicola, is a swimwear designer, and has got togs on the Kardashians and Hailey Bieber. She doesn’t, however, seem to know the word “hello”, as one of the outside experts brought in during the episode quickly found out.
Spy: No TVNZ party so Apprentice contestants throw their own
15 May, 2021 08:00 AM
3 minutes to read
The Apprentice party. Group shot from left: Erna Basson, Gabriel Elkhishin, Kennedy Anderson, Nicola Spicer, Stephen McDowell, Tony Collins, show worker Melissa Scurr. Photo: Norrie Montgomery.
The Apprentice party. Group shot from left: Erna Basson, Gabriel Elkhishin, Kennedy Anderson, Nicola Spicer, Stephen McDowell, Tony Collins, show worker Melissa Scurr. Photo: Norrie Montgomery.
The Apprentice contestants were at their entrepreneurial best to throw their own mega bash after broadcaster TVNZ failed to host an official party.
The glittering event was brought together by contestant Kyria Warren and her team at Luxury LAS.
It took a lot of persuasion before Cassie Roma agreed to be part of
The Apprentice Aotearoa. “As an American queer woman, to be associated with a brand that’s associated with you know who took a lot of convincing,” she says. “But, the production company and TVNZ put a lot of heart into it, saying, ‘This going to be a very Kiwi production. It’s going to have a different tone and tenor’. So I was like, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll give it a go’.”
Tom Hollow/Supplied
Cassie Roma says she took some persuading to sign up for The Apprentice Aotearoa.
The Apprentice Aotearoa: Mike Pero hits back over use of Aotearoa in show s title
11 May, 2021 02:25 AM
3 minutes to read
Mike Pero is the CEO of The Apprentice Aotearoa. Video / TVNZ
NZ Herald I m just an actor … talk to Jacinda.
That s how businessman Mike Pero responded to a viewer who wanted him to be fired as The Apprentice s host over the use of the word Aotearoa in its title.
The viewer contacted Pero directly and said he was offended at the use of the Māori name for this country on the show.
The entrepreneur wrote in response that he respected the person s views and said it was not his call to name the show The Apprentice Aotearoa.