Bad economy boosts CBS hit ‘Undercover Boss’
Phil Rosenthal from the Chicago Tribune shares some of his business thoughts on Undercover Boss; here are the highlights:
A significant number of the 38.6 million viewers who got a taste of “Boss” after the Super Bowl came back for more the next three Sundays. The most recent episode — featuring the head of White Castle working menial jobs in his restaurants, a company bakery and a frozen food plant — drew more than 15 million viewers opposite Vancouver’s Closing Ceremony.
But the true lure simply may be the way “Undercover Boss” demonstrates that, as hard as the executives think they work, those under them work just as hard or harder with less compensation and less support, a message that can’t help but resonate.
“The principle of the boss who doesn’t really know what it’s like on the front line is a principle that is strong,” Stephen Lambert, the show’s executive producer, told a group of reporters a few weeks back.
The most understandable but least satisfying aspect of the program is that no one has gotten fired for what they have said or done in front of the CEOs. The boss of Hooters, for example, was inexplicably forgiving to a manager who demeaned his wait staff in a variety of galling ways on camera. He wasn’t even written up on camera.
“The reward, punishment and future course of action for the employees is determined by the chief executives at the participating companies,” CBS spokesman Chris Ender explained, although producers have editorial control.
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Undercover Celebrity Boss
The SNL clip about Undercover Boss:
“UNDERCOVER BOSS” CONTINUES TO POST STRONG RATINGS OPPOSITE THE OLYMPICS
“Undercover Boss” is Sunday’s Number One Entertainment Program
“Undercover Boss” Places Second in Time Period and Tops an Original Episode of “Desperate Housewives” in Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54
“The Amazing Race 16″ Posts Across-the-Board Gains From Last Week’s Premiere
CBS’s new reality hit, UNDERCOVER BOSS, continues to post strong ratings opposite the Olympics, placing second in its time period while THE AMAZING RACE 16 posted across-the-board increases from last week’s premiere, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Sunday, Feb. 21.
UNDERCOVER BOSS was second in households (7.9/12), viewers (13.59m), adults 25-54 (5.8/12) and adults 18-49 (4.8/11). UNDERCOVER BOSS was Sunday’s number one entertainment program and topped an original episode of “Desperate Housewives” in viewers (vs. 10.85m, +25%), adults 18-49 (vs. 3.7/08, +30%) and adults 25-54 (vs. 4.5/09, +29%).
THE AMAZING RACE 16 was second in households (5.2/08), viewers (9.09m), adults 25-54 (3.7/08) and tied for second in adults 18-49 (2.9/07, with FOX). Compared to last week’s premiere, THE AMAZING RACE 16 was up +6% in adults 25-54 (from 3.5/08), +4% in adults 18-49 (2.8/07) and added +90,000 viewers (from 9.00m, +1%).
Source: CBS
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