Reality television junkies and poker players from around the world had their eyes focused squarely on NBC on Sunday night as the finale of Celebrity Apprentice Season 2 panned out. In the end, show host Donald Trump selected comedian Joan Rivers to become the newest Celebrity Apprentice, with poker icon Annie Duke finishing in second. The popular program concluded its eighth season overall and will return for a ninth in early 2010. Despite finishing as the runner up, Duke raised well over $700,000 for her charity, Refugees International. In addition, Rivers’ charity, God’s Love We Deliver, received over $500,000 dollars. Let’s recap the final episode of Celebrity Apprentice Season 2 in case you missed it.

Last week’s episode wrapped up with West Coast Choppers CEO Jesse James and Playboy Playmate of the Year Brande Roderick being shown the door by Trump. The two firings set up the epic showdown between Rivers and Duke, who have been archenemies throughout the course of the 11 week show. Duke and Rivers returned to their suite, where the mood was anything but amicable. The two candidates argued over previous comments, which included Rivers calling poker players “trash” and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner comparing her adversary to a “cancer.” Rivers explained, “My husband used to say, ‘You only yell at your peers.'”

The final task involved Duke and Rivers organizing VIP parties prior to an installment of the Cirque du Soleil show Wintuk. At the party, teams were asked to integrate the Kodak EasyShare digital camera and attract celebrities to bid on silent auction items. Previously fired contestants were brought in to provide support, including Joan’s daughter Melissa Rivers, Roderick, country music superstar Clint Black, NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman, comedian Tom Green, and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. A schoolyard pick was held to determine teams, with Duke selecting Roderick, Green, and Rodman, while Melissa Rivers, Black, and Walker joined Joan’s team.

Duke delegated the task of selling 80 Wintuk tickets to Green and Rodman, who hit the streets of New York City in a Kodak-themed double-decker bus. Alluding to Duke’s leadership style, Green quipped, “It’s nice to be out here not getting yelled at.” Duke opened her Rolodex and began calling fellow poker players, reminding them of degrading adjectives that Rivers had used to describe them over the course of the Celebrity Apprentice. One of her first calls went to Perry Friedman, who appeared for the third time this season; Friedman offered to donate $20,000 to charity.

Rivers became frustrated with her event planner, which ultimately led to his firm quitting the show, leaving Duke and Rivers to set up the event on their own in just 12 hours’ time. Duke told NBC cameras, “The only thing I have going for me is that I literally like know everyone on Earth.” She eventually found an independent event planner who owned her own supplies. Rivers sought the help of her charity, which dispatched its executives and volunteers to help her pull the event together. Rivers embraced a suggestion from Walker and hired celebrity impersonators in lieu of actual celebrities, whom the team was having a difficult time securing. As a result, Liza Manelli, Cher, and even Joan Rivers look-a-likes could be seen in attendance.

Rivers’ space featured the Kodak brand by having guests walk through a massive picture frame upon entering. The longtime comedian also incorporated the red and yellow Kodak colors throughout the space. Duke’s party was attended by several poker personalities, including Howard Lederer, fellow UltimateBetpro Phil Hellmuth (pictured at left), “Hollywood” Dave Stann, and Full Tilt Poker pro Andy Bloch. Also in attendance were boxers Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins as well as figure skater Oksana Baiul. “Desperate Housewives” actor Kyle MacLaughlin, comedian Kathy Griffin, and the cast of the musical “Chicago” graced Rivers’ event.

Duke’s Silent auction included a “Matt Damon Experience,” which was won by Friedman, who bet $10,000. Hellmuth bid $25,000 for a round of golf with former Celebrity Apprentice contestant Natalie Gulbis, a number that he claimed “should get it done.” On the generosity of the poker community, Duke commented, “To know how willing people were to just come to the mat for me when I needed them was a really amazing feeling to walk out with.” After the event, Duke, Lederer, Rivers, and each team member attended Wintuk.

The boardroom began with the younger Rivers explaining her meltdown after she was fired two weeks ago. She commented, “One of my soft spots was that I played the game with complete and total honor” before being cut off by Trump. Trump then asked Duke if poker was gambling, to which Duke responded that it was a game of skill similar to “investing.” Duke explained, “Joan is a very different person than I am,” to which Rivers quipped, “Thank God.”

In the end, Rivers’ team generated $150,830 for God’s Love We Deliver from the silent auction, while Duke’s team raised a colossal $465,725. In addition, Kodak executives gave the edge in charity integration, the second of five criteria the contestants were judged on, to Duke. However, Rivers won on celebrities in attendance, the Kodak brand integration, and overall experience, giving the comedian the win in the task by a three to two margin.

Trump brought back last season’s Celebrity Apprentice final two, Piers Morgan and Trace Adkins, to get their input. Adkins noted that Rivers should be hired because she has “that charitable thing.” Morgan added that Rivers won three of the five criteria for the final task and therefore, “You have your Celebrity Apprentice.” Duke retorted, “I don’t know a boardroom in the country where someone would be allowed to say that someone would spit on the ground and drown their mother in it, where someone would be allowed to say that their friends were in the Mafia, or where someone would be allow to say that they were worse than Hitler. That is not professional.” Rivers added, “You’re not worse than Hitler; Hitler never had PMS.”

Ivanka Trump commented, “In terms of playing the game, Annie was phenomenal.” However, she also admired Rivers’ tenacity at the age of 75. In the end, Trump agreed with his panel, hiring Rivers to be the second Celebrity Apprentice. God’s Love We Deliver was given an additional $250,000 as a result, raising the season-long total to over $500,000. Here is the final scene in which Trump hires Rivers:

During the program, several PocketFivers appeared in a pre-taped segment supporting Duke. Seated around a poker table where several recognizable faces including Ultimate Bet Star Player Matt mattg1983Graham, who remarked, “There’s no way she’s losing heads-up to Joan Rivers.” Adam RoothlusLevy (pictured at right) added, “The thing I love about Annie Duke is that she tells it like it is.” Peter number1pen Neff also appeared.

Congratulations from all of us here at PocketFives.com to Annie Duke for finishing as the runner up in Celebrity Apprentice.