Undercover Boss (US) is an American adaptation of the British series of the same name. The show was first aired on CBS in 2010 and has since had 12 seasons. The premise of the show involves high-level corporate execs leaving their offices to take on low-level jobs in their companies to learn how things really work. Through this process, they learn things about their companies, their employees, and maybe even something about themselves. Here we will be ranking the best episodes of Undercover Boss (US).
Each episode of the show follows a different executive as they embark on their undercover mission. The show is well known for its dramatic endings, as the execs reveal themselves to their employees and often reward them with promotions, raises, and other rewards. From the 12 seasons of the show, some episodes have been more memorable than others.
Let's take a look at the best episodes of Undercover Boss (US). We'll rank the top episodes based on their impact, the drama of the reveals, and the messages of the show. These episodes have left a lasting impression and will be remembered for years to come.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 13, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Don Fertman, the Chief Development Officer for SUBWAY restaurants, one of the world's largest food franchises, goes undercover where he learns endless sandwich combinations while being trained by one of the toughest, no-nonsense employees ever
The episode was rated 7.42 from 38 votes.
Todd Ricketts, one of the owners of the Chicago Cubs, goes undercover within one of baseball's most famous franchises and fights for the chance to redeem himself after being let go on the second day.
The episode was rated 7.48 from 21 votes.
Kim Schaefer, CEO of Great Wolf Resorts, North America's largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, struggles to keep pace working in an aquatic center and gets her hands dirty when she responds to a call no waterpark employee wants to receive.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 33 votes.
Steve Joyce hits the frontlines of his own company, which includes such popular hotel franchises as Comfort Inn, Econo Lodge, Quality and Cambria Suites, and receives an exhausting, up-close look at the industry.
The episode was rated 7.62 from 39 votes.
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The episode was rated 7.68 from 19 votes.
When Mack Trucks CEO Denny Slagle goes under cover, he accidentally brings the plant's assembly line to a halt and discovers a rumor about the company.
The episode was rated 7.71 from 21 votes.
Steven Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of Lucky Strike Lanes, one of the nation's largest chains of upscale bowling alleys, takes an emotional trip inside his own company where among other things, he hits the streets as a walking bowling pin.
The episode was rated 7.71 from 21 votes.
Ronald Croatti, President and CEO of UniFirst, one of the nation's largest producers of workwear and uniforms, dons a "hippie" look during his undercover mission, where he finds himself struggling to keep pace with the fast-moving assembly line.
The episode was rated 7.84 from 19 votes.
On the episode of Undercover Boss: University of California, Riverside, Chancellor Tim White goes undercover as a teaching assistant for 200 organic chemistry students. He also works with the track team to get an insight into what life is like for the students of the university. As one of the students, he is able to better understand the issues and everyday challenges that students face. He also gets to experience first hand the sense of camaraderie between the track team members, and how students can be driven to excel in their studies.
Throughout the episode, Chancellor White is able to observe how the students learn and interact in the classroom. He is also able to gain an insight into the track team's dynamic, and how the team works together to achieve success. In addition, he is able to see the passion and hard work that the students put into their studies, and how they balance it with their extracurricular activities. By the end of the episode, Chancellor White is able to gain a much greater understanding of the student experience, and how the university can better serve its students.
The episode was rated 7.86 from 14 votes.
Bryan Bedford, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines, goes undercover in his own company, where he "gets christened" while emptying a plane's lavatory and discovers how company-wide pay cuts are impacting his employees.
The episode was rated 7.86 from 28 votes.
In the episode of Undercover Boss (US) titled Norwegian Cruise Line, Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, faces a challenge he didn't expect. He is asked to lead nearly 1,000 party-goers in a line dance, something he has never done before. Despite his unfamiliarity with the task, Kevin manages to complete it successfully and moves on to the next task.
However, Kevin soon finds himself in an awkward situation after being recognized by an employee. With no other choice, he is forced to reveal his true identity. This episode of Undercover Boss displays the importance of remaining humble and open-minded, no matter what the situation. Kevin's willingness to take on a task outside of his comfort zone, demonstrates his admirable work ethic and dedication to his job.
The episode was rated 7.90 from 30 votes.
On an episode of Undercover Boss, John Fuller, President and CEO of Johnny Rockets, goes undercover to experience his restaurant chain from the front-lines. During this episode, Fuller gets to experience the day-to-day operations of a Johnny Rockets restaurant, from the kitchen to the customer service. As he works in the restaurant, Fuller gets to interact with employees from all levels of the business, from the managers to the dishwashers. He learns about the hardships and struggles the employees face daily, in addition to the joys that come with the job.
John Fuller's mission is to uncover the obstacles that employees face and to find ways to improve the working environment. During his undercover mission, Fuller also gains insight into the customers' experience. He discovers how important it is for the restaurant to be up to the customer's standards, and how the employees are the backbone of the business. Through his experiences, Fuller is able to make some changes to the restaurant chain, such as introducing a new employee recognition program. Overall, this episode of Undercover Boss gives viewers an inside look into the world of Johnny Rockets. Through Fuller's experiences, viewers are able to gain insight into the importance of customer service and employee satisfaction. In addition, viewers learn the importance of recognizing employees and the impact it can have on the business.
The episode was rated 7.90 from 20 votes.
In this episode of Undercover Boss, Mike White, Chairman, President and CEO of DIRECTV, goes undercover in his own company. In this episode, Mike discovers that employees are spending their own money for a specific piece of equipment. He is shocked that the employees are having to pay out of pocket to do their jobs and he gets an idea of how to better the company.
Mike uses this experience to understand the struggles his employees face and works to make the company better. He decides to reimburse the employees for the equipment they had to buy and introduces a new policy that all employees will be provided with the necessary equipment. Mike's actions not only demonstrate his commitment to providing a better working environment for the employees, but also show a great example of how a CEO can really understand the needs of their employees.
The episode was rated 7.91 from 35 votes.
In the reality TV series Undercover Boss (US), the episode BrightStar follows the story of BrightStar Care CEO Shelly Sun. She goes undercover as a new employee who is looking to make a career change. She works in the front lines of the company, from reception to working in the field, learning about the inner workings of her company. She also meets the employees, who are dedicated and passionate about their work. Through her experiences, Shelly gains a greater appreciation for her employees and the challenges they face each day.
During her undercover journey, Shelly also discovers how her company's initiatives have impacted the community. She meets a nurse who is able to take care of her elderly mother thanks to the flexible hours offered by BrightStar Care. She also visits a family that was able to benefit from the company's financial aid program. Through these interactions, Shelly discovers the true value of her company and the positive impact it has had on the lives of its employees and their families.
The episode was rated 7.94 from 17 votes.
In this episode of Undercover Boss (US), Sheldon Yellen, CEO of BELFOR, the world's largest disaster restoration company, goes undercover to get an inside look at his company. Yellen struggles to keep up with the hard labor of hanging drywall, but his dedication to the task has a profound impact on his employees.
The most memorable moment of this episode is when Yellen unexpectedly reveals himself while working alongside an employee. This moment of authenticity demonstrates how much he values the employees and their hard work. His employees were stunned and grateful for the appreciation they received. Yellen's inspiring leadership and commitment to his employees is a reminder of how important it is to recognize each individual's contributions to a company.
The episode was rated 8.50 from 18 votes.
