Boss fools staff again
Undercover Boss is determined to disprove the adage ‘Fool me once,’ etc., in tonight’s outing, a first for the four-year surprise hit. In a twist, the program features ‘the return of a Boss,’ in which Diamond Resorts International CEO Stephen J. Cloobeck ‘goes undercover’ in his own company for a second time. Evidently Cloobeck’s employees didn’t get the memo the first time around, about what it really means when a new entry-level employee turns up for work with a TV documentary crew in tow. Either that, or there’s a great deal of suspension of disbelief going on.
Undercover Boss won an Emmy last year for outstanding reality series, which suggests it isn’t entirely trash — or faked. Cloobeck’s company, one of the largest ‘destination clubs’ or timeshare outfits in the world, has tentacles reaching into 28 countries and provides cruise itineraries through time-share exchange.
When the episode begins, Diamond has acquired a new chain of resort properties. Anxious to see how his team is handling the transition, Cloobeck goes undercover for a second time, posing as a hotel guest. As in past episodes, the boss has a pot of rewards and treasures for staff members who deserve extra praise. (CBS, CTV Two — 9 p.m.)
Pitches on Shark Tank include a family-run pretzel business owned and operated by a mom in smalltown Arizona and a furniture maker who hopes to cut into Ikea’s business. (ABC, CTV2 — 10 p.m.)
Homer Simpson presents Friday’s Top Ten list on The Late Show With David Letterman, proving that an animated character can do just about anything these days, thanks to technology. (CBS — 12:35 a.m.)
AMC presents a night-long marathon of fly-on-the-wall camera series Comic Book Men, about the cartoon-like characters who peddle comic books and other collectibles. (AMC — 9 p.m.)