I am not a real fan of reality shows - but Apprentice is an exception. Though I don’t particularly care for Donald Trump and his atrocious hair, the show is very entertaining. And this weekend, I decided to watch the UK version. Here are a few differences between the UK and US versions:

- In the UK version, there seems to be less bickering and bitching and backbiting. Of course, theres a little bit of it, but it seems pretty natural, not overdone or overdramatised like the US versions.

- Sir Alan Sugar seems a lot less approachable and blunt than Donald Trump. And I like him for that. He seems to play less for the camera. That could be just better acting on his part, but it comes across nicer.

- Theres a whole lot of swearing that goes on in the UK show!! More entertaining, for sure. =)

- In the UK version, candidates are more polite and nicer to each other, often refusing to point fingers even to save their own arses. Quite a stupid strategy, when you are vying for one top spot. But then that is what we might all do in our daily business lives. Not run to the boss to tell tales, everytime something goes wrong.

- The men and women on the US show are, on average, better looking than their UK counterparts. I don’t know why. And honestly, I couldn’t care less.

I don’t know if I like one version better than the other. They are just different.

Also, try watching the Martha Stewart version. That, definitely is different from the Trump version. For one, she never tells anyone that they are fired. Its either, ‘We have to say good bye’, or ‘you don’t fit in’ or something else milder than you are fired. The tasks and candidate profiles are very different too. To be honest, I am not sure it will turn out to be such a great success. People who like to bake wedding cakes or set up flower shops are probably not all that interested in the nuances of a cut-throat business world. And those who like to watch the so-called simulation of the cunning, conniving corporate world might get bored with week after week of children’s stories and wedding cakes and flower arrangements. With only three episodes over, its too soon to tell. But I definitely like the more personal and down-to-earth touch of the Martha Stewart version.