In an unusual move, CBS has given the slot immediately following February 7th Super Bowl broadcast not to a scripted series, but to a new reality show. CBS will use the high-visibility time slot to debut “Undercover Boss.”
The new CBS reality series follows high-level chief executives as they slip anonymously into the rank and file of their companies. Undercover Boss moves to its regular Sunday time slot, 9-10 pm ET/PT a week later, on February 14th.
The concept: Each week a different executive will leave the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they will see the effects their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organization and get an up-close look at both the good and the bad while discovering the unsung heroes who make their company run.
Companies whose chief executives will make the undercover journey include such corporate giants as Waste Management (Larry O’Donnell, President and COO), 7-Eleven (Joseph M. DePinto, President and CEO), Hooters (Coby G. Brooks, President and CEO), White Castle (Dave Rife, Owner/Executive Board Member) and Churchill Downs (William C. Carstanjen, COO).
The premiere episode of Undercover Boss will follow Larry O’Donnell, the President and C.O.O. of Waste Management, as he works alongside his employees, cleaning porta-potties, sorting waste at one of their recycling plants, collecting garbage from a landfill and even being fired for the first time in his life. O’Donnell’s mission is to garner an up-close look at his company and workforce to see how and where improvements can be made from both an operational and morale standpoint.
“Everyone has daydreamed about watching the boss do their job. The journey of watching a chief executive walk a mile in their employees’ shoes is always very revealing, often humorous and, in some cases, very inspiring,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment.
Stephen Lambert is executive producer for Studio Lambert Ltd., the independent production company responsible for the show.
