Undercover Boss

[GL1]

Did anyone else see this on CBS tonight?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1nct1OfdEw

It was pretty incredible, as far as documentary type stuff goes. I'm very impressed.

 

[Prison Mike]

I saw it. I enjoyed it. Next week looks good with CEO of Hooters coming in and working in the kitchen. lol

 

[carrrnuttt]

I've been watching this show, and although some of the situations seem a bit contrived (like the production company seems to have pre-screened the employees to find the tv-worthy stories), the overall theme is good. I especially liked that one kid that got a scholarship to go to culinary school in the White Castle episode.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I don't believe the premise of this show at all. It boggles the mind to think that a senior executive of a company can walk around, with a full camera crew in tow, and not be recognized by the company's employees. The very first episode with Waste Management was almost a dead giveaway.

This show is nothing more than BS propaganda on behalf of rich CEOs everywhere, to show them granting favours to a small number of needy people and expecting us to grant them moral authourity based on that.

 

[chaseter]

Exactly. I guess a full camera crew following you around is being 'undercover.'

 

[GhostPoet]

I don't believe the premise of this show at all. It boggles the mind to think that a senior executive of a company can walk around, with a full camera crew in tow, and not be recognized by the company's employees. The very first episode with Waste Management was almost a dead giveaway.

This show is nothing more than BS propaganda on behalf of rich CEOs everywhere, to show them granting favours to a small number of needy people and expecting us to grant them moral authourity based on that.

QTF. Pink Ranger you are a very wise....er...person!

 

[carrrnuttt]

I don't believe the premise of this show at all. It boggles the mind to think that a senior executive of a company can walk around, with a full camera crew in tow, and not be recognized by the company's employees. The very first episode with Waste Management was almost a dead giveaway.

This show is nothing more than BS propaganda on behalf of rich CEOs everywhere, to show them granting favours to a small number of needy people and expecting us to grant them moral authourity based on that.

The premise works for the first season, in that they are disguising the actual show within the framework of another plausible show, where failed business people or laid off workers get to start over with entry-level jobs, and get documented in regards to that.

I'll get to the point you are however, if they follow the same premise or tactic next season (with the ratings its getting, it will likely get a next season), since people will have already watched the show by then, and I doubt any CEO will get away with the same tactics without being sussed out.

I doubt this will work with the billion-dollar company I work for, since our execs are very well-known in the company. Then again, I will not be one of the entry-level people they'll be attempting to go undercover on.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Even for the first season, this show is about as real as the WWE to me. The first episode there were so many dead giveaways that the show is fake, that I was too disgusted to watch another episode. Like the lady who invites the undercover COO to her house for dinner(!), discusses in depth all of her financial problems, the neighbourhood lady on the truck driver's route who feels the need to exclaim how hard-working (wink wink) the lady truck driver is.

I'd sooner believe Tiger Woods' marriage vows than this show.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Even for the first season, this show is about as real as the WWE to me. The first episode there were so many dead giveaways that the show is fake, that I was too disgusted to watch another episode. Like the lady who invites the undercover COO to her house for dinner(!), discusses in depth all of her financial problems, the neighbourhood lady on the truck driver's route who feels the need to exclaim how hard-working (wink wink) the lady truck driver is.

I'd sooner believe Tiger Woods' marriage vows than this show.

Though I agree with you in part, I still believe that the people don't know that it's an exec they're dealing with. The "cover story" still involves a TV show, and of course, people will bring out the dramatics, especially since the premise of the cover show involves people starting over from the bottom from a rough patch. It could be explained as easily as one person who's having difficulties reaching out to someone in a similarly difficult situation (as they're led to believe).

Why do I believe that they genuinely don't know? Their reactions from meeting with the exec. These people aren't actors, and the reactions they give out after the reveal seem fairly genuine to me.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Apparently, it's generating some controversy. Except that the controversy validates my belief that the workers don't know any better: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/01/11/undercover-boss-already-causing-controversy/

...though I genuinely feel bad for the workers that AREN'T getting paid for appearing on the show on the grounds that it is simply a documentary.

 

[gary121]

I have only seen a single episode of it, but yeah i think i can spend some more time on it.

 

[RAMORE]

Good to see some CEO's doing a little good for once. Although sometimes if it's a really touching story your like yelling at the boss "you can do better than that RICH BOY!"

 

[GhostPoet]

Reality shows are not real.

I don't think anything else really needs to be said.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The only reason this is a hit show:

It's on CBS. Except on Fridays and Saturdays, any shows that CBS airs are usually hit shows. If CBS promoted the Mentalist and the Good Wife in a crossover episode to see who can go take a dump on the toilet the longest, it would be watched by 15 million people. If this was on another network, it would not be a hit show.