After getting fired from NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” contestants Lorenzo Lamas and Shawn Johnson named their favorites to win the 14th season of the overall competition.
“I bet Leeza Gibbons will win. I put my money on her,” Johnson told TheWrap. “She’s a class act and a brilliant businesswoman.”
On Monday’s episode, Gibbons led Team Infinity to a victory by creating a viral video to market coffee brand Chock full o’Nuts. The win forced the dismissal of competing project manager Lamas, who’s fate was sealed when he declined to pick two other teammates for potential elimination.
Despite the loss, Lamas praised Gibbons.
“I’m really pulling for Leeza. She’s such a classy, noble and intelligent woman,” the actor said. “She has the financial resources to go all the way and the creative ability to take her to the finish. I was only sorry we didn’t get a chance to be on the same team.”
But while Lamas is pulling for Gibbons, that’s not the same as picking a winner.
“It’s going to be Geraldo. Do I think Geraldo should win?” he asked with a sigh. “He wouldn’t listen to anybody and the only idea he would support was his own. He’s not a team player.”
Lamas and Johnson not only agreed on who should win, but with Trump’s decisions to fire them. Johnson was let go after Trump and teammate Vivica A. Fox noted her hesitancy to step up as project manager.
“I understand why, but I do feel like I had more to offer and was one of the hardest working ones on there,” Olympic medalist Johnson said. “I stood true to who I am, which I was proud of, in a vicious setting. I’m not that kind of person and kept my dignity about me.”
Lamas said, “As shocked as I was to lose, it wasn’t based on someone messing up on my team. I do think it was the right decision. Ultimately, the responsibility of the task lies with the project manager … In this case there’s nothing I would have done different.”
“The Celebrity Apprentice” airs Mondays at 8 p.m.