It looks as though the well of ideas for reality television has begun to run dry or these executives are innovative geniuses.... let's say the answer falls somewhere in the middle. For a bit, one of the most popular shows was ' Undercover Boss.' A series in which bosses would infiltrate their companies in disguise to spy, I mean bond with their employees. This way they could learn about those who make their money for them. Eventually the truth is outed and there are tears and laughter and learning lessons. It's all very entertaining, well mostly.
Redditor u/poppyt123 wanted to from people who have participated on the once successful reality show by asking.... People who have been working during an undercover boss episode, is it blatantly obvious what's going on? And how does everyone act?
The Basics....
GiphyWhat is undercover boss? Pill_Boi
A basic description of the show would be a boss goes undercover as a lower ranked worker at the place they are a boss of. They experience the job, and at the end, when they reveal themselves, sometimes give money to the workers they meet while undercover that really seemed to be working hard. Overall, a pretty good show. Would recommend watching if you have never seen it. tiny_planets
Are you blind?
'Undercover Boss' ran for one season in Finland couple of years ago. It became so much of a joke I'm sure they did it on purpose just for meme material.
The makeup, wigs and clothing they put on were so ridiculous that even if you wouldn't recognize your boss, you'd instantly know something's going on. Here's couple of examples. dedbet
They Know!
I worked as a store manager for a small franchise that was featured on 'Undercover Boss.' Not our location, but all of the franchise owners & managers received an email that they would be filming the chosen locations on so & so day & the show would air on " x" date.
They know.
Also, F that show. It brought in a metric ton of dummies from the general population into my shop acting like snooty little sh**s. 0veranalytica1
It's just a movie....
My confusion comes from the fact that they're blatantly being taped. I think one episode excused it with "we're making a documentary" or some crap and everyone just believes that? tatsuedoa
Read the Warning Label....
GiphyWarning: The following reality programming may not contain traces of actual reality. Viewer derision is advised. Whackjob-KSP
That was nice. Went well with my beer and cheese. Belmish
HARUMPH!!!
We knew because everyone knew what the boss looked like. He came in wearing a dirty boiler suit and his face had grease on it. This is an upscale restaurant. He then sat at the bar and told the barmaid to give him a 'snifter of moderately priced sherry.' He then winked at the cctv camera and said 'I am a modest blue collar worker after all.' Then he ordered chicken nuggets and a bag of corn and the waiter informed him they did not have those on the menu.
Again he looked at the CCTV (I think he thought it was the tv camera) and said "Harumph! Some changes to cater for the common laborer are needed in this establishment!" Then he removed the boiler suit and he had a tuxedo underneath and said that the humble worker was the big boss all along. We acted surprised and looked with our mouth open to the cameras. They never aired the episode. computer_is_hard
Good on you America!
The good thing about the American version is the bosses are super generous to the employees they meet like "here's $50,000, I'm gonna set up a trust fund for your kids and sponsor your family to come over from Venezuela." in Britain it's like "we'd like to invite you up to HQ for the day to see how it's run from the top." jeremybearimy1
It's all in the edit...
It was probably the most agonizing job I ever worked on. Just days of filming boring people having insipid conversations. The editing team earned their pay that's for sure.
Was it real? I mean, no. No reality tv show is real. It wasn't as cynically faked like the MTV shows I worked on though. Apotropaic_Sphinx
Copycat....
I worked at a retail store where the boss did their own undercover boss scenario. Half of my store got fired, mainly for little stuff. Luckily I remained but I couldn't trust anyone anymore. brudda20
Make-Up!!!!
GiphyI have to say the disguises on the American version are terrible, stuck on moustache and a trucker hat usually. On the British version they go all out on the hair dye (not done by the boss himself from a box dye in a motel bathroom but by an actual hairdresser), prosthetics and a plausible cover story! jeremybearimy1
