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Have you seen CBS's Undercover Boss?
- Thread starter recto101
- Start date
recto101 said:
Well, apparently, CBS thinks so... The show has been renewed for a second season:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/03/09/undercover-boss-renewed-for-second-season-by-cbs/44394
Not bad for a show that was widely panned due mostly to the fact that it was an unproven reality show debuting after the Super Bowl. Would it be fair to call this the first post-Super Bowl-premiered show to be successful in a long time? (FYI: "Family Guy," while it debuted on a Super Bowl Sunday, followed a new episode of "The Simpsons," which aired after the Big Game on Fox that year.)
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
for the first episode next season they should send Les Moonves into Black Rock on the day they announce their final cuts to the news division. I'd make a definite viewing appointment for that!
A slight variation last night. It was a COO, not a CEO, but they still got a man who makes decisions for the company.
I liked the behind-the-scenes stuff at the tracks. I thought the Triple Crown race coverage had shown as everything it was possible to show.
I noticed the bugler never got sent to headquarters. That's a first. The whole thing seemed pointless to me, except she was beautiful and an excellent bugler.
I'm curious, though. For one race the date was in October 17. For another it was September 12. Going undercover is supposed to take one week.
I liked the behind-the-scenes stuff at the tracks. I thought the Triple Crown race coverage had shown as everything it was possible to show.
I noticed the bugler never got sent to headquarters. That's a first. The whole thing seemed pointless to me, except she was beautiful and an excellent bugler.
I'm curious, though. For one race the date was in October 17. For another it was September 12. Going undercover is supposed to take one week.
This week's episode has actually started to turn me against the show. I've seen every one, but now that I know the entire pattern I'm really losing interest. What got me especially this week was the big employee roundup they always do at the very end. Once again, all the peons in the crowd tear up and applaud when the big boss has his "come to Jesus" moment and admits that he's learned so much from them. It's like they're all saying "he gets us now!" and "we've made him a better person, so our job is done!"
Meanwhile, none of the little people got any money (a few of them got new and/or better jobs), but Churchill Downs got an hour of free advertising--which should help them immensely since all gambling operations (including those in Las Vegas) have taken a huge hit thanks to the recession. Call me cynical, but I start to feel manipulated when the CEO/COO makes out better than his employees.
Meanwhile, none of the little people got any money (a few of them got new and/or better jobs), but Churchill Downs got an hour of free advertising--which should help them immensely since all gambling operations (including those in Las Vegas) have taken a huge hit thanks to the recession. Call me cynical, but I start to feel manipulated when the CEO/COO makes out better than his employees.
raptusregaliter said:
I guess I'm just not cynical enough. I find the show addresses well the recently-widened disconnect between workers and bosses and has some good lessons on management that are simple, but lately forgotten. Overall, this is one of the few positive shows out there, and I think before we criticize it, compare it to the junk shows filling network schedules that are much more deserving of criticism.
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
raptusregaliter said:
I know, I had the same feeling when I met Rhonda the Rabbit Lady from Michael Moore's "Roger and Me' film.
That film had made Moore a wealthy man and propelled him to international prominence.
Despite playing a critical role in the film, when I met her she was working in a Kmart cafeteria in Michigan.
You'd think for all the success he achieved by exploiting her poverty, he could have taken better care of her.
We didn't get a Donald Trump-style "You're Fired!" last night. I was surprised he gave the woman another chance. I guess she finally decided she couldn't deal with it, or she was told "Your services are no longer required."
If this show is in its normal slot, it's Trump's competition!
It was interesting to see the call center. I almost always get what I want from these people, and I am rarely rude because I know this. Sometimes I don't deserve what I'm hoping for and I know this, but it felt good just to comment. Yes, I generally call these numbers about something negative.
One time I was really mad because my grocery store had a deal with the company that when I bought their products I'd get savings. But for some reason I couldn't get the program to work for me. I threatened not to buy from the company any more, and the person, who was very polite, eventually did something to get me the equivalent of what I would have gotten.
This woman on the show seemed unprepared to do that. Perhaps the procedures weren't there, but in the boss' opinion, she was rude. I guess she was. I would have only seen it as she had little ability to get things done, but that too would have been wrong.
If this show is in its normal slot, it's Trump's competition!
It was interesting to see the call center. I almost always get what I want from these people, and I am rarely rude because I know this. Sometimes I don't deserve what I'm hoping for and I know this, but it felt good just to comment. Yes, I generally call these numbers about something negative.
One time I was really mad because my grocery store had a deal with the company that when I bought their products I'd get savings. But for some reason I couldn't get the program to work for me. I threatened not to buy from the company any more, and the person, who was very polite, eventually did something to get me the equivalent of what I would have gotten.
This woman on the show seemed unprepared to do that. Perhaps the procedures weren't there, but in the boss' opinion, she was rude. I guess she was. I would have only seen it as she had little ability to get things done, but that too would have been wrong.
recto101 said:
It's propaganda and PR all rolled into one, all in the guise of a reality show.
Sooner or later people will catch on to a new employee being followed around by a camera crew and then being driven to coporate headquarters. The good thing about Candid Camera was exactly that.....candid. The show, however, is an enjoyable experience seeing the little guy get some appreciation.
They always make it look like it was the CEO's idea.Nate Wesley said:
One thing I don't get is all the crying. Thats one thing I hate about "Extreme Makeover". I suppose I could watch it but it's so touchy-feely.
I need Roto-Rooter. I don't want to pay their prices, so I'm waiting on a couple of guys who don't charge a whole lot, one of whom has done the job before. I know why the one guy isn't calling; his son had surgery on Easter and the woman who answered the phone says he's bewen in the hospital more than a week. She didn't say the man wasn't taking jobs, though, but I sure feel bad for the family. At the same time, I never get anything but voice mail for the other man, and he's the one who has done this before.
Last night's episode didn't really show any changes were needed at the company. They helped some individuals a lot, but if you weren't lucky enough to be one of the big boss' co-workers, too bad.
Last night's episode didn't really show any changes were needed at the company. They helped some individuals a lot, but if you weren't lucky enough to be one of the big boss' co-workers, too bad.
The announcer created drama where none really existed. But there were several fresh ideas, including one man recognizing his boss but keeping it quiet. And then the boss' boss showing up and sort of pranking him! 
So, with the gimmick of a documentary on entry level jobs now revealed to be this show, wonder what the chances are for season 2?
So, with the gimmick of a documentary on entry level jobs now revealed to be this show, wonder what the chances are for season 2?
So I got the repair done on Wednesday, plus needed repairs on my toilet. By having two jobs done at once, I saved money. And I didn't have to call Roto-Rooter. It turned out the son who was sick is the plumber who came before.vchimpanzee said:
One of the things I noticed was that just about ever episode I've seen was shot in early to late fall so the co-workers had no idea about the show and they could actually believe it was a documentary on entry-level workers. It's going to be difficult for that premise next season unless they shot another season worth of this before the first episode aired.vchimpanzee said:The announcer created drama where none really existed. But there were several fresh ideas, including one man recognizing his boss but keeping it quiet. And then the boss' boss showing up and sort of pranking him!
So, with the gimmick of a documentary on entry level jobs now revealed to be this show, wonder what the chances are for season 2?
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