The Apprentice: Martha Pair Sing Swan Song
December 14, 2005 (TV Guide) On last week's The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, Ryan Danz and Marcela Valladolid tried to impress the domestic diva with their humorous commercial for Song airlines. Unfortunately, M. Diddy thought that they were out of tune with the company's target customer, and she sent both candidates packing. TVGuide.com caught up with Ryan and Marcela after their ouster to find out what went wrong, to set the record straight about "drinking on the job" and to uncover their big plans for the future...
...TVGuide.com: What was your goal in going on the show? What did you want to do for Martha?
Marcela Valladolid: Wholeheartedly to work for her, in her food department or on television. As long as it's food-related and it's probably not an executive job.
Ryan Danz: What really attracted me at first was the opportunity to get a top-level executive job working with her so I could be learning things that would take people years to work their way up to. I was excited about her comeback, too, and thought that she would skyrocket after her hiatus.
TVGuide.com: Marcela, are you as quiet as you seemed on the show?
Marcela: No, I am not, actually. But I think I felt out of my element, for the most part. If the task wasn't food-related, I didn't feel as passionate. I think I am, by nature, laid-back and relaxed, and I hate conflict. Most of the people who were there definitely wanted to be in the spotlight and have their ideas out there all the time. I'm just not that way.
TVGuide.com: Which task do you think best showed off your abilities?
Marcela: Absolutely without question, the salad-dressing task. And the fact that they put it on sale nationwide... are you kidding me? That's my biggest career moment yet!
Ryan: My favorite task, which was also probably my best task, was the Tide task. I came up with a great idea, I was able to become this character and brought it to life. The response and the feedback I've gotten has been awesome.
TVGuide.com: Would you ever do anything like this again?
Marcela: Only if it was something related to food and to advancing my career in this culinary capacity. I have no interest in reality television and I have no interest in acting. I just want to work in food.
Ryan: Yeah, I would do this again, for a couple of reasons. One, to meet someone like Martha Stewart is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Two, to learn the things that she has taught. And three, maybe even most importantly, to make some of the friendships and connections I made while doing this. With Marcela and Howie particularly, I've formed lifelong friendships, something you can't buy.
TVGuide.com: Regarding the other personalities that were there, is Jim really like what we've seen on TV?
Marcela: Oh, he's worse! They had to cut stuff out. He's all bark, no bite. It's so weird to watch it now, seeing some of the stuff he said behind my back, when other times he's really nice to me. It all makes sense now. He's someone I can't trust — and someone America can't trust, based on what people are saying. I don't know why he's there. I don't know if he wants to work for Martha. I think he just wants to be on TV.
TVGuide.com: What about you, Ryan? Were you surprised by Jim's behavior, or by any of his comments?
Ryan: Going into this, I thought it was going to be really hard listening to people say things about me, but I really didn't have to deal with that. Jim saying I was a "lamb led to the slaughter" doesn't really matter to me, because what Jim says doesn't really matter. He is all hot air. At the end of the day, I'll always know I had a better record than Jim did. I don't need to throw it in his face.
TVGuide.com: Marcela, in the Song competition, it looked as though you had given up. Were you just tired at that point?
Marcela: Yeah, I definitely pulled back a little bit. I think the task just had nothing to do with what I was passionate about. I guess at that point, I came to that conclusion that these tasks weren't going to be food-related. I knew the interviews were coming up next, and I just think my heart wasn't in it anymore.
TVGuide.com: How was Ryan to work with on that task?
Marcela: I haven't laughed so hard in literally years. I had so much fun. I developed an amazing friendship with him. His wife and I have become best friends and he and my husband are also friends. We live on the West Coast and we've seen each other so much. The way I see this is that I came out of this with a best friend.
TVGuide.com: Was it hard watching your final episode, since you are so close to him?
Marcela: For me, it wasn't hard at all, because as you saw, I would say, "Don't do this, don't do that," and he would do it anyway. I felt bad for him, because as a friend, I think it was hard for him to see himself depicted [as he was] — he wasn't even drinking that much. His judgment wasn't impaired, he was just a little relaxed. Nothing major.
Ryan: Who drank on the task? What are you talking about?
TVGuide.com: Ryan, they made it seem like you were going to the fridge often. Were you getting drinks for other people?
Ryan: They do make root beer in beer bottles these days.
TVGuide.com: Sure.
Ryan: In all seriousness, we were on the last competitive task, and we had literally finished shooting the video, so I started celebrating a little too early. I really didn't [consume] alcohol in the task, per se. I wouldn't have done it again. I think getting as far as we did, I just kind of took it a little too lightly at the end.
TVGuide.com: Ryan, in your bio I read you were awaiting the results of your bar exam, which I'm assuming was a while ago. Did you get the results back yet?
Ryan: Say that again, Angel?
TVGuide.com: I read that you were awaiting the results of your bar exam. Did you get them back yet?
Ryan: I'm having a hard time hearing you.... Maybe if we try another question, I'll hear you better.
TVGuide.com: You don't like that question, huh?
Ryan: [Laughs]
TVGuide.com: How about an easy one: What are you doing with Martha's letter?
Marcela: My sister is framing it for me and I'm putting it next to my Ritz Escoffier diploma.
Ryan: Martha's letter, I actually had to hide, because no one could know that I actually know that I got a letter. I haven't done anything with it yet, except show it to my wife and my mom. I think I'm going to put it in my office in a frame. It's a really nice letter. I think my favorite part of it is the last line — "You were an excellent candidate" — which is something that can't be taken away.
TVGuide.com: Marcela, do you hope to have a cooking show of your own someday?
Marcela: Absolutely. That's my goal in life, to have my own show on the Food Network, featuring Latin and Hispanic food geared toward the American household.
TVGuide.com: I can't cook, but you make it look easy.
Marcela: You know what? That would be the goal of my cooking show. Sometimes people are intimidated by the kitchen, even the appliances and the ingredients. My whole thing is to make people relaxed and not intimidated by cooking.
TVGuide.com: Was there a competition going on between you and fellow chef Bethenny?
Marcela: I think on her end there was. I think you don't need to compete — if you're good enough, it's going to show anyway.
TVGuide.com: What about you, Ryan? What's next?
Ryan: The fish are biting a little bit in terms of possibly doing some hosting stuff, whether it's because of my legal background or perhaps because I'm "up-and-coming." There are also companies out there inquiring about what I'm going to be doing after the show, so I guess there are a lot of options now. Whatever's best for me and the wifey is what I'll be doing.
TVGuide.com: Did you get bitten by the TV bug?
Ryan: A little bit. It's kind of hard not to get bitten by that bug, but I think if you keep it in context, you'll be fine. I had a lot of fun, and for the most part came off good on the show. The people who think they're the second coming of Al Pacino end up falling face first on the ground. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm just going to take whatever comes my way and enjoy it.
TVGuide.com: Maybe they'll let you throw out a first pitch at a baseball game or something.
Ryan: I would love that! I'll even be the guy at halftime who tries to shoot a basket from half-court for a car. I don't care! I'll try anything, right?
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