Who's the (TV) Boss?

BLR_Sdean

In this week's HR Strange but True! column, we wrote about a survey asking workers to identify the TV bosses who are most similar to their own boss. What TV boss reminds you of a current or former boss?  Let us know in this thread. 

 You can read the HR Strange but True! article here: 

 http://hr.blr.com/hrstrangebuttrue.aspx?id=76452

 
 

fisHRman

Hey, my boss looks and acts like Lou Grant from the Mary Tyler Moore Show down to yelling and the bottle of whiskey in the bottom drawer.  However, like Charlie, he is mostly an absentee boss in the winter, so it's tolerable.

 

 

IrisD

My boss is like Ruth, the marketing department manager, on that old Tom Hanks show, "Bosom Buddies." She is capable, knowledgeable, sophisticated and fun, but we are never sure if she is on upper management's side or on the side of her own reports in assignments, performance reviews, disputes, etc.  So we all kind of hesitant to share things with her.

dhall111

This is hard because I don't know anyone on TV even remotely like my boss.  She's probably one of the smartest people I know (she's the CFO).  And she's also amazingly funny and quick witted.  I really can't think of anyone out there like her. 

johnnyBravo

Hi--I don't have a boss that reminds me of any boss on TV either, which is probably a good thing right? 

I mean, most bosses from sitcoms are either clueless --like Michael Scott of The Office or, going back to the '80s, Mr. Carlson from WKRP in Cincinatti--or  not that nice (even while being incredibly funny), like Danny Devito's character, Louie DePalma from Taxi.

 

regdunlop

when i was in college i had a boss that was somewhat like the george steinbrenner as portrayed on seinfeld.  employees were always running around catering to his every whim. he was also told very random stories and was a big fan of firing people (and loved calzones and fancy mustard).

Kibitzer

One good TV sitcom boss was Col. Potter on Mash. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Another great boss was Lt. Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue. Hs relationship with Andy Sipowitz is an example of a boss getting the most out of a talented but difficult and troubled employee. His support of Andy's work helped Andy change and develop. By the time Fancy left, there was much mutual respect between them.

The best boss on TV now, in my opinion, is Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson on the closer. She has won the respect of many in her squad who were not happy when she first took over. She is loyal to her staff and protects them when their zeal for their work that she has instilled in them or the idiosyncrasies that make them good detectives could get them in hot water. In return, they are now loyal to her.

countrygirl

One of my old bosses reminds me of Jack Malone on Without A Trace - tough and sometimes abrasive, but only because he knows the potential of his employees (too bad he didn't look like him, too!).

SFbay

I had a boss who was as neurotic as Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

cbedal_hotmail_com

This is embarassing but I think that I work for Homer Simpson some days.

cmdove

Donald Trump--demanding, powerful, Before I even read the article I was thinking Donald Trump!

Landshark

My old boss was a pompous butt...what TV boss fits that description?