Undercover Angel

There’s a TV show we watch regularly that ends with nearly everybody on screen, and in our living room, with tears in their eyes. And the other night, I figured out why I like it so much. It’s because it shows the way I think wealthy people should behave. Instead of accumulating more stuff than they could ever use, they could spread a little of it around and improve the lives of those who need a hand up. 

It’s Undercover Boss. The CEO of a company wears a disguise and shadows or interns with their employees to get the real story on what’s happening inside their company. The story is that they’re a contestant on a reality show where the prize is their own business, so the employees have to rate their work. Sometimes it’s painful for the boss. They hear unflattering things about themselves. Sometimes the employee is a total jerk and gets fired. Sometimes the boss’s cover gets blown. But there’s always a new connection made between the executive offices and the shop floor. It’s endearing and funny to watch a CEO screw up the simplest task that his or her workers can do with their eyes closed. Remember Lucille Ball in the chocolate factory and you have a good idea of how far wrong it can go.

There’s a Canadian version as well, and it’s probably been franchised all over the world.

Something the boss learns, if he or she doesn’t already know, is that it’s hard work on the lower rungs of the ladder and people get the lowest compensation and perks. At the end of the show, the employees are called to a meeting to rate the contestant and that’s the big reveal. They’re told that their shadow was actually the person who runs the company. Sometimes it’s excruciating. In one episode a rude and obnoxious food server was called on her bad behavior. They kept her and sent her for retraining but in the end-of-show recap, they said she had quit. Most times, it’s a chance for the boss to see how good it feels to give. With a wave of their hands they eliminate debts for worried employees, send them on trips, promote them – whatever works best for the situation.

And why shouldn’t they? With the swipe of their debit card they can truly change the lives of people who have helped make them rich. And they won’t even feel it. It’s real-life good works that makes good entertainment. Everybody wins.