On The New Celebrity Apprentice episode ‘I’m Going Full Ballmer’, the teams meet NBA Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. They face the challenge of creating “a high-energy presentation” to promote a basketball team brand and to design t-shirts to giveaway to fans. Ballmer is known for being high-energy but he may have met his match in Celeb Apprentice contestant Mike Iseman (former doctor turned host of American Ninja Warrior). Upon meeting Ballmer, Iseman delivers his best Ballmer impersonation. He yells at Ballmer: “I have four words for you, we love this team!”
Ballmer initially laughed and said “nice” and the two men roughhouse a little and then Ballmer says, “You know, if I didn’t know better, I would say that was a little shameless what you did right there.” He added, “A little pandering, can I say that?” Iseman also has the right answer. “Absolutely, it is. But that’s one of the reasons why we go to sports. It’s not for entertainment it’s for passion.” Ballmer lets Iseman off the hook and gives him “a high five anyway.” Once Ballmer left, Iseman said: “He [Ballmer] might have thought that some of my enthusiasm was a little bit artificial, but I do genuinely get excited when I feel like we have an idea that really resonates.” Hey, Iseman took a risk – isn’t that what business is all about? The New Celebrity Apprentice airs Mondays at 8pm on NBC.
