Is The Apprentice some show from another reality?

So, the thing I absolutely do not understand about The Apprentice is.... there have been SEVENTEEN SEASONS.

And - apparently - nobody who ever appears on the apprentice has ever watched an episode of the Apprentice. Or of television. Or an advert. Or bought any products. From anywhere.

Ever.

Do they keep all applicants from Season One in a cryogenic vault somewhere? These people allegedly - and I do mean allegedly - have actual businesses now. That must presumably advertise, and have - potentially - staff. Why do none of them ever display ANY aptitude on costings, or advertising? In business we ALL HAVE TO DO THIS.

Their businesses presumably have logos. Their actual businesses presumably generate some semblance of repeat customers and some semblance of profit for some of them to afford quite that level of fake tan and lip filler.

And all the time real businesses are struggling with real issues. Lets have an episode where they have to deal with actual suppliers, or an episode where they have to not just sell buns for a day but draw up an actual business plan to sell buns for a month as an actual business.

Or - god forbid - find a utility contract that won't put them out of business.