SurReality Television
The unfathomably bizarre, multi-season extension of a reality show which, with sly sleight of hand, was titled "The Apprentice", a clue so brazen that no one picked up on it.
In the first surreal season, the former "host" is targeted to become the unwitting "apprentice" to a foreign leader. Dimwitted, propped up as a hilariously unstable and unqualified presidential candidate, he actually boldly announces that the election is "rigged", then is persuaded he has "won", is ushered into office and, through his comprehensive weakness and vanity, manipulated to bring havoc to America. Four seasons later, ultimately "fired", the delusional apprentice believes he has instead triumphed. He convinces millions of others of the veracity of this delusion, dividing Americans on every significant issue. So swept up in the flash and fizz of their SurReality Television show, they don't even notice what has been taken from them, finally fulfilling the foreign leader's goal.