[TV] Undercover Boss

[Rokkit]

I'm not a big reality TV guy, but this is actually kinda interesting. And it even got a Houston (and Reliant) shout out.

I ain't gonna lie, though; I really want to see the Hooters episode next week.

[Dr of Dunk]

Yeah, I'm recording this series. It's one of the more interesting series in an otherwise garbage age for TV. I'll probably watch the Waste Management CEO episode during the week sometime.

[what]

What is the sad thing is people like Kevin who create their own rules to make their jobsite look good.

I work at a job that I can almost guarantee the exact thing happens. Lower management creating their own rules and conspiring against the hourly worker. It sucks.

[thelasik]

I'm also not a reality TV person, but this show definitely had my attention.

The Hooters episode should be worth watching.

[Major]

The concept is great, and I think it really can benefit the companies for CEOs to do this kind of thing.

But I don't understand the underlying logic. How do they explain why there's a high-tech HD camera crew following this random trainee employee around everywhere he goes? For example, when he was invited to dinner at the employee's house - why is there a camera crew following him to dinner??

[theogcasey]

What's the premise of the show? Is it a "walk a mile in their shoes" type of show?

[Rokkit]

The concept is great, and I think it really can benefit the companies for CEOs to do this kind of thing.

But I don't understand the underlying logic. How do they explain why there's a high-tech HD camera crew following this random trainee employee around everywhere he goes? For example, when he was invited to dinner at the employee's house - why is there a camera crew following him to dinner??

They tell them that it's a reality show about a guy trying out a 'first day' at different jobs, if I understood it correctly. Kind of like a Dirty Jobs sort of thing.

What's the premise of the show? Is it a "walk a mile in their shoes" type of show?

They take the heads of big companies and they work the everyday jobs of their employees.

Tonight's first episode had the President and COO of Waste Management working like five different jobs like trash sorting, riding with the trucks on their routes, etc. One of the jobs was cleaning those portable toilets at a fair in front of Reliant.

[Major]

They tell them that it's a reality show about a guy trying out a 'first day' at different jobs, if I understood it correctly. Kind of like a Dirty Jobs sort of thing.

Interesting - makes sense!

[tmactoyao]

I liked the show tonight, can't wait to see some Hooter girls

[DaDakota]

Good show, lots to see from a managers perspective about how rules implemented can somehow have an adverse effect.

DD

[SwoLy-D]

I am not a "reality TV" type guy either. *Let's admit it... we watched it because it was after the "big game." ;) I really enjoyed watching this and made Mrs. SwoLy watch it with me, too. We were glued to figure out what happened with the employees. It was a tear-jerker. Definitely will watch next week, now that there's no football. ;)

[Deckard]

I'm sorry, but it depresses me when I consider just how far network TV has fallen. In this case, right into a dumpster.

[Rokkit]

I am not a "reality TV" type guy either. *Let's admit it... we watched it because it was after the "big game." ;) I really enjoyed watching this and made Mrs. SwoLy watch it with me, too. We were glued to figure out what happened with the employees. It was a tear-jerker. Definitely will watch next week, now that there's no football. ;)

Yeah, that's pretty much the only reason I watched it. I probably would have forgotten about it if I'd just seen a commercial sometime. haha

I'm sorry, but it depresses me when I consider just how far network TV has fallen. In this case, right into a dumpster.

?
Did you find something pretty trashy about it? I thought it was all fairly respectable, unlike a lot of reality tv, which is why it surprised me.

Unless this is a ISWYDT moment. haha

[Deckard]

Yeah, that's pretty much the only reason I watched it. I probably would have forgotten about it if I'd just seen a commercial sometime. haha



?

Did you find something pretty trashy about it? I thought it was all fairly respectable, unlike a lot of reality tv, which is why it surprised me.
Sorry. What I said really wasn't a comment on the quality of this show versus the other reality shows. For all I know, it could definitely be a cut above the competition. I was making a comment about the depths network TV has fallen to. I know a lot of folks like these reality shows. My wife loves the shows on HGTV, which is another kind of reality show about the home, design, and the like. I enjoy a couple of those, like the "International House Hunters" show, where people look for homes to buy in foreign countries. We've considered retiring overseas, so I have some interest in that.

Honestly, I didn't intend a slam at your thread at all. I just have too good a memory of the days when there were 4 channels to watch... ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. Such a different TV world from today! And now I watch mostly cable shows myself, most on HBO. :)

Oh, and what does "ISWYDT" mean? :confused:

[Rokkit]

Sorry. What I said really wasn't a comment on the quality of this show versus the other reality shows. For all I know, it could definitely be a cut above the competition. I was making a comment about the depths network TV has fallen to. I know a lot of folks like these reality shows. My wife loves the shows on HGTV, which is another kind of reality show about the home, design, and the like. I enjoy a couple of those, like the "International House Hunters" show, where people look for homes to buy in foreign countries. We've considered retiring overseas, so I have some interest in that.

Honestly, I didn't intend a slam at your thread at all. I just have too good a memory of the days when there were 4 channels to watch... ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. Such a different TV world from today! And now I watch mostly cable shows myself, most on HBO. :)

Oh, and what does "ISWYDT" mean? :confused:

Oh yeah, I agree pretty much. Like I said, not a big reality show guy.

And I was thinking maybe 'I see what you did there'...you know, the show was about Waste Management, and....dumpsters.... :D

[Deckard]

Oh yeah, I agree pretty much. Like I said, not a big reality show guy.

And I was thinking maybe 'I see what you did there'...you know, the show was about Waste Management, and....dumpsters.... :D
So you picked up on that! ;)

[Smokey]

The boss was on Roula and Ryan this morning and said the managers got a raw deal through editing.

[Qball]

The boss was on Roula and Ryan this morning and said the managers got a raw deal through editing.

What do you mean raw deal through editing?

[zoork34]

The Hooters episode next week looks pretty ridiculous. From the previews they showed of it, its going to be the boss of Hooters being so appalled at how the waitresses are treated. Some paraphrasing from one clip (i dont remember the exact words):

CEO of Hooters to one of his scum-bag managers after he caught the manager doing something disrespectful to the waitresses: "We are trying to create an atmosphere of respect here at Hooters."


what the heck, your whole chain is based on disrespecting women! what does he expect?

[Another Brother]

I'm sorry, but it depresses me when I consider just how far network TV has fallen. In this case, right into a dumpster.

I actually really enjoy the emotional aspect of some of these shows. I mean, it's not like everything on TV was good even back then, we were just more tolerant because there weren't as many choices.

There are still good network shows, you gotta give them a chance...I think the same goes for reality TV.


"in the dumpster..." = scoreboard. :)

[Major]

What do you mean raw deal through editing?

That one manager that had the 2-minute / 1-minute policy came off looking pretty bad. It may have actually been something that corporate had recommended or implemented, but he turned out looking like the bad guy?

Overall, the low-level employees came out looking great while the manager looked bad and the top management team came off looking disinterested.

[Depressio]

I hope they actually implement company-wide changes instead of simply assisting the employees that got a chance to work with him. It sounds like they might have at Waste Management, but you never really know unless you work there.

I'm happy for the port-o-potty cleaner guy. He was hilarious.

[Depressio]

CEO of Hooters to one of his scum-bag managers after he caught the manager doing something disrespectful to the waitresses: "We are trying to create an atmosphere of respect here at Hooters."
I'm curious about next week's, too. How does this guy get away with demeaning his employees like that? Play his "Reindeer Games"?? Surely a girl would complain to someone somewhere and get him sued and fired...

[Raven Lunatic]

Watching last night's episode...I'm sort of doubting the authenticity of this show. I mean, they select around 4 or 5 employees for him to work with and every single one of them is this wonderful, mostly uncomplaining employee with a heart of gold and a knack for encouragement? Seemed a bit of stretch and I have no doubt that WM specifcially hand selected these people because they KNEW it would make them look good in the long run. The only person that came off bad was the low level manager who was barely featured.

In the end they make all these promises to make changes...but we get some kind of vague info on what changes really happened. The two guys that became the spokepeople for motivation/health were all well and good. The girl that got the justified promotion was nice. I guess I'm mostly talking about the woman that was pissing in a coffee can because she didn't have time to leave her route to take a bathroom break. They said she was working with the COO guy to implement changes to make things more women-friendly...what was the solution to that problem? I'm betting they still didn't want her to break off her route 3-4 times a day to take a piss.

The Hooters episode next week looks to be more like what I would expect if the CEO went undercover. So maybe this show isn't as fake as I think it is. I mean, the companies like WM have to realize that if their employees look good, this show will basically come off as an hour long commercial for their company, right? How could they not do everything they could to take advantage of that?

[leroy]

I thought it was a good show and I plan to continue to watch.

It was something that I was interested in because the CEO of our company is someone who is so disconnected, yet he still manages to micro-manage everything...from freaking New Zealand. He needs this kind of training.

[Major]

I mean, the companies like WM have to realize that if their employees look good, this show will basically come off as an hour long commercial for their company, right? How could they not do everything they could to take advantage of that?

I was talking about this with some friends. That show was better publicity for WM than all the millions of dollars they've spent on commercials over the past few years.

To your initial question - I'm guessing it's an editing issue. My guess is that he probably worked with some other ... less good... employees, but they just didn't show them. I'd venture to guess that anyone who they show to be a jackass (like the Hooters guy next week) is someone that was fired. No way it's good morale for a company to have mocked an employee on national TV and have him/her still working there. So the show probably agrees to only show the good ones, for the most part.

[BigM]

I liked the show but some of it just seemed staged/fake... I definitely thought the girl who got the promotion was tipped off that this guy was the big boss.

[leroy]

I liked the show but some of it just seemed staged/fake... I definitely thought the girl who got the promotion was tipped off that this guy was the big boss.

That was really the only part of the show I questioned. Seemed like the manager might have let that one slip because he was probably trying to help her out as well. The others seemed legit to me.

[Faos]

Haven't we all seen enough reality tv by now to know how they (show producers) can do whatever they want with creative editing?

[justtxyank]

Haven't we seen enough reality tv to know that none of it is raw reality?

[Faos]

Haven't we seen enough reality tv to know that none of it is raw reality?

Except Jersey Shore, of course.

[Major]

I liked the show but some of it just seemed staged/fake... I definitely thought the girl who got the promotion was tipped off that this guy was the big boss.

I think no matter what, the people are going to be on their best behavior and try to make themselves look as good as possible because they know they are on TV, even if they thought the reality show was for something else.

...which makes the Hooters promo even more ridiculous.

[Smokey]

Yeah, the employees knew they were going to be on TV so it had to account for their behavior. The Hooters' "reindeer games" thing is weird. The only guy that kept it close to real was the dialysis guy but then the show was edited - we don't know how many times the boss failed at picking up trash before the dialysis guy told him to stop. He's the only one that came close to treating the boss like crap.

This morning the boss said both managers last night were good managers. The first one appeared clueless however he knew his employee's situation and was attempting to help her.

The second manager appeared to be a dick, but 1) he was told to stay in his office by the VP of communications who I think accompanied the boss and 2) the manager's plant won some award. The "did you greet your new employee?" question was a set up. Had the manager met the employee he would have know it was the boss.

PS - For a second I thought the chick was asking the boss out on a date - where are you from? do you want to come over for dinner?. I was LMAO until I saw her family. The editing was bad cause I'm sure they talked about her family which was not shown on TV. When he said "absolutely!" I was rolling.

[Qball]

That one manager that had the 2-minute / 1-minute policy came off looking pretty bad. It may have actually been something that corporate had recommended or implemented, but he turned out looking like the bad guy?

Overall, the low-level employees came out looking great while the manager looked bad and the top management team came off looking disinterested.

Oh I see what you mean. Ya, the editing did make it seem like he was your typical ebil low-level manager.

As for the show as a whole, I really liked it. I never watch reality shows (except for ESPN's 'Dream Job'). I may just start watching this one. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that they're going to trash it and create drama on purpose to up the ratings.

T minus 6 episodes before one employee ends up getting in an argument and punching the CEO or something....

[updawg]

I thought it was a great commercial for WM.

[Rocket River]

The only guy that kept it close to real was the dialysis guy but then the show was edited - we don't know how many times the boss failed at picking up trash before the dialysis guy told him to stop. He's the only one that came close to treating the boss like crap.


The Dialysis guy was by far the most entertaining and realistic.
He just didn't give a *****. Dude YOU SUCK AT THIS!
I am on Dialysis and can do more than you.

I know too many old men like him.
I was laughing and clapping when he told it like it is.

"uhm. . . well. . . You clean up well."


Rocket River

[Rokkit]

I thought Dialysis guy seemed pretty real to me. In fact, I didn't necessarily think he had a 'positive attitude' at all. lol

And yeah, I think in the end the company is helped by this...though it doesn't necessarily make them look good to know they dock their low level employees for minutes over, spy on their drivers, and make their women drivers pee into coffee cans.

Still, it's reality tv, so I would expect some editing to be going on.

[Yonkers]

I was laughing and clapping when he told it like it is.

You actually did that? Do you really laugh out loud when you LOL? ;)

[Rocket River]

You actually did that? Do you really laugh out loud when you LOL? ;)


Yes I did and Yes I do

Rocket "Blame it on the Alcohol" River

[Manny Ramirez]

Watching last night's episode...I'm sort of doubting the authenticity of this show. I mean, they select around 4 or 5 employees for him to work with and every single one of them is this wonderful, mostly uncomplaining employee with a heart of gold and a knack for encouragement? Seemed a bit of stretch and I have no doubt that WM specifcially hand selected these people because they KNEW it would make them look good in the long run. The only person that came off bad was the low level manager who was barely featured.

In the end they make all these promises to make changes...but we get some kind of vague info on what changes really happened. The two guys that became the spokepeople for motivation/health were all well and good. The girl that got the justified promotion was nice. I guess I'm mostly talking about the woman that was pissing in a coffee can because she didn't have time to leave her route to take a bathroom break. They said she was working with the COO guy to implement changes to make things more women-friendly...what was the solution to that problem? I'm betting they still didn't want her to break off her route 3-4 times a day to take a piss.

The Hooters episode next week looks to be more like what I would expect if the CEO went undercover. So maybe this show isn't as fake as I think it is. I mean, the companies like WM have to realize that if their employees look good, this show will basically come off as an hour long commercial for their company, right? How could they not do everything they could to take advantage of that?

This is what I was thinking but you summarized it in a way that I probably never would have. I liked this show. The wife and me are going to make this our new show and we can't wait to watch the Hooters one this coming Sunday. Yet you can't help but think to yourself that some of this is staged since it is reality TV. I really want to know what is going to happen to the dude that said "Reindeer Games".

Major - I don't think Larry worked with any other people than the ones they showed him with because every day, they would show him wake up and go to his next job site. I mean they showed him working with 5 different people which would represent a normal working week. Now, of course, there is the possibility that Larry actually did this for a couple of weeks and they just edited and spliced the 5 best ones to make it look like he worked a "week" when he really worked more than a week.

[Rokkit]

Great Day Houston has the COO and also that guy who he was working with in Houston on right now.

[sbyang]

I liked the show, I liked Larry and thought he was very genuine. But this show is not what they advertise it to be. This is not an executive walking a mile in his employee's shoes and changing things for the better. It's more like a corporation putting together a commercial for their image and the image of the top level people.

As someone pointed out before, the thing that was weird is the people that Larry works with: people getting shafted by middle management and 'policy', people with health issues that put work first, people working a terrible job with a smile, someone who loves interacting with customers, someone struggling to make ends meet at home. The common thread is that these are not everyday people you see at an office, these are like the top 5% in terms of attitude and back story and dedication to their jobs. The only normal employee Larry worked with was the woman at the recycling plant, but the story of that plant was how the manager was 'changing' on his own.

[Rocket River]

Major - I don't think Larry worked with any other people than the ones they showed him with because every day, they would show him wake up and go to his next job site. I mean they showed him working with 5 different people which would represent a normal working week. Now, of course, there is the possibility that Larry actually did this for a couple of weeks and they just edited and spliced the 5 best ones to make it look like he worked a "week" when he really worked more than a week.

I suspect it was slice because they were in 5 different locations

Rocket River

[Rocket River]

I liked the show, I liked Larry and thought he was very genuine. But this show is not what they advertise it to be. This is not an executive walking a mile in his employee's shoes and changing things for the better. It's more like a corporation putting together a commercial for their image and the image of the top level people.

As someone pointed out before, the thing that was weird is the people that Larry works with: people getting shafted by middle management and 'policy', people with health issues that put work first, people working a terrible job with a smile, someone who loves interacting with customers, someone struggling to make ends meet at home. The common thread is that these are not everyday people you see at an office, these are like the top 5% in terms of attitude and back story and dedication to their jobs. The only normal employee Larry worked with was the woman at the recycling plant, but the story of that plant was how the manager was 'changing' on his own.

I figure. . . If you a manager at a branch
Someone says. . . LOOK THIS TV THING IS GOING ON . . .pick someone
to represent the plant in this job . . .

I don't think you pick some disgruntled so and so

I am sure that there were selected. . . esp if there chosen by the local
management.


Rocket River

[thelasik]

missed the hooters episode because of the ASG!!

[Smokey]

The Hooters episode was lame. I'm done with UB. Post when something exciting happens. Jimbo the manager was a HR nightmare but he didn't get fired. If the boss wanted to change his company's culture, he would have started by getting rid of this guy.

[DaDakota]

The Hooters episode was lame. I'm done with UB. Post when something exciting happens. Jimbo the manager was a HR nightmare but he didn't get fired. If the boss wanted to change his company's culture, he would have started by getting rid of this guy.

Legally he could not do that, it is a franchise, and the owner would have to make that call.......but I am sure Jimbo knows his career at Hooters is done.

If you miss an episode, you can watch it online :

Right here (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/undercover_boss/)

DD

[Smokey]

Legally he could not do that.......but I am sure Jimbo knows his career at Hooters is done.

If you miss an episode, you can watch it online :

Right here (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/undercover_boss/)

DD

What do you mean legally? If Jimbo wasn't breaking federal/state law, he was pretty close.

Perhaps he couldn't fire Jimbo on TV, but there was no note at the end of his termination.

Also, did you notice when they showed clips at the end, they didn't show anything from the day at Jimbo's restaurant?

[Raven Lunatic]

The thing at the end said that after the talking to, Jimbo apologized to his staff and changed his managerial style. I say BS. You finally see a problem on this show that really needs to get taken care of. A guy that needs to be fired and who could potentially cause huge problems for Hooters the company (sexual harrasment lawsuits)...and they just call him into a room and talk to him a bit? Bull****.

It's all very heart warming seeing the waitresses get put on some promotional video and the manager woman seemed nice and probably could use the vacation (although she didn't seem anywhere near as weighed down with duties as the girl at Waste Management last week who got promoted) but ultimately most of what the CEO dude did really didn't solve any problems. I don't care how many promotional videos you make, the people that find the idea of Hooters offensive are going to continue thinking that until the women start wearing more reserved clothing. They promote their product around the sex aspects, so they have to understand that a certain portion of the populus won't approve of that. Quit pretending like you actually believe you are going to solve that problem.

This show is a sham. Too much stuff is obviously a setup from the get go and one time when it seems like a real problem is unearthed, they take the weakest possible route to solving it. I don't care if Jimbo has to be fired by the owner of that franchise...if the President/CEO of the company says he thinks you need to fire your manager because he is a serious risk of lawsuit, I'm fairly positive that owner will get rid of the dude.

Also, despite all the big talk and tears over no one at the production factory knowing who he was or caring (and his perceived disappointment in his dad's eyes) I didn't see anything at the end mention that he was visiting the factory more often or increasing bonuses or any of that. This CEO was all talk.

[juicystream]

What do you mean legally? If Jimbo wasn't breaking federal/state law, he was pretty close.

Perhaps he couldn't fire Jimbo on TV, but there was no note at the end of his termination.

Also, did you notice when they showed clips at the end, they didn't show anything from the day at Jimbo's restaurant?

Because he does not employee him. Some guy pays Hooters royalties to be called a Hooters. The guy who pays the royalties is Jimbo's boss.

[SirCharlesFan]

As someone that has worked in a franchised location of a chain restaurant, it's hard to emphasize how independent the franchisee can be from the franchisor.

I suspect in some very large companies, such as McD's, Burger King, Subway, there's a lot of control, but in a relatively small chain, there seems to be a LOT of independence. I don't recall ever coming in contact with a single representative of the franchisor in 3+ years.

[g1184]

Hooters girls aside, that last episode was pretty weak. The CEO wasn't very impressive. It seemed like his gameplan was to not fu*k up his late fathers legacy, and we all know what happens when you play not-to-lose.