Hooters Girls Treated as Animals on National TV

I think it was watching the Hooters girls being treated like animals, and feeling my insides twisting into spasms of outrage, that first woke me up to the notion that this wasn't going to be just any other television show. This felt very real.

CBS' new show, Undercover Boss, is a fascinating opportunity to look behind the scenes at the people, lives and jobs that make some of America's largest businesses and corporations tick. The basic premise involves this: each week, the CEO or president of a particular company temporarily steps down from his high up position, disguises himself (they've only portrayed men as of this writing) by shaving a beard or mustache off (or just growing one), dressing "down" and entering the workplace as an entry level type position. They even stay at cheap, run-down motels to get into the part. Co-workers are told that the cameras that follow these "bosses in disguise" are part of a documentary on entry level workers. The audience is then afforded the opportunity to watch as these bosses discover both the exemplary and horrendous in their own companies.

Classic case in point, the Hooters CEO and President, Coby Brooks. It was actually the Hooters name that nearly made me miss the premier of the show. It's just not the kind of place I frequent. Imagine my surprise when Mr. Brooks tags along with two Hooters girls to advertise and promote the company out in the general public. Two different random families, when polled, said they would not visit Hooters. When Mr. Brooks, disguised as just a low-level company employee, asked why, their response: "I feel that it's degrading to women." Wow. Had I been walking on the street that day, I likely would have responded in a similar way. It's certainly not the food quality - I got to taste some of their wings when they catered a sand sculpting event that I competed in -- good stuff! As to the company's uniforms... well, how about something that doesn't look so sleazy and revealing?

The women that work there are people, not sex objects.

And that's when Undercover Boss switched locations, and a scenario began to play out that twisted my insides.

Here came the ugly.

I couldn't even believe they dared show this.

An Incredibly Awkward Moment

As the CEO uncomfortably looked on, the store manager began to round up his female employees with a call that went something like, "OK, girls, who wants to go home early?" Several flat plates of beans are brought out and placed on a tall, stand up table. "No hands!" goes out the call. With the CEO fidgeting in place, he watches as the girls lean over face first -- some holding their hair off the tables -- and clean the plate of beans, using only their mouths. It was disgusting to watch, it's disgusting just to write it again. "First one finished gets to leave early," the manager calls out.

If you were to read my true "Creepy Guy Story" that happened back in 2005, maybe you'd get a sense of how God has changed me on the inside, and why seeing this degrading scene playing out twisted me up so bad. I'm glad it has that effect on me. I really am.

When the CEO finally has a moment to speak candidly to the camera, he emotionally says that things need to change.

What Does The CEO Do With What He Sees?

To me, one of the biggest surprises in Undercover Boss is how they choose to end the show. After the boss has spent a week rubbing shoulders with the lower-level employees of his company, these same "small" employees are invited to the company's headquarters. Some are delivered in fancy limousines and then ushered into plush offices that leave them wide eyed with wonder -- and confusion. After all, why have they been summoned to such a high place? Many of them voice the concern that they're being fired.

Next, in walks the CEO or President, and they usually are dressed to the nines with crisp shirt, tie and suit. Exuding power and control they usually shake the hands of the bewildered employee and introduce themselves as who they really are. The look of shock on the employee's face is priceless, and it's almost as if you can read their thoughts as they quickly do a mental review of how they acted around the person that they now realize is their boss.

Were they in trouble? Was he going to fire them?

Rewards and Judgement

In scenes that are reminiscent of Jesus' words in Matthew 24:45-51 or Matthew 10:26b "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." -- some of the employees are rewarded, and others are reprimanded. In the case of the Hooters store manager who treated his female employees so sadly, he was firmly told that his behavior was inappropriate and needed to change. At first, this guy was defensive to the charge, but eventually (and wisely) he came around to the Boss' view. What really blows my mind is that all of this is happening on national TV! I hope that this manager truly had a change of heart and that his behavior toward women changes both on and off the workplace.

Conclusion - Give the Show a Try

Not only is CBS' Undercover Boss entertaining, you could learn a few things that might make you a better employee, maybe even a better person. Give the show a try. And be ready. For in an hour when you do not expect him... the Boss may show up!

Undercover Boss - CBS Sundays 9/8c