13. C. MONTGOMERY BURNS: Yes, in an ideal world we've be getting paid what we're worth for cross-promotional opportunities like this, but you should still name a fictional horrible boss today.
The Dabney Coleman character (according to IMDB, it was Franklin Hart Jr.) in 9 to 5. And just about everyone in "The Help," the book I'm currently reading.
President Stillson in the "Dead Zone": "Now you put your goddamned hand on the scanning screen or I'll hack it off and put it on for you! Do it!" -- How is *that* supposed to motivate your employees?
Veronica: I heard about Jenkins' death. The company feels terrible about it. Ted: People are working too hard, Veronica. We need to slow down. Veronica: Sorry, Ted. The company feels that if we ease up because someone dies, it will only encourage other people to die.
Was there anything particularly terrible about Lumberg? His character was designed to be a typical office drone, only one step higher than the other office drones who's let the power go to his head. You can make a case that he's inherently horrible, but he's not particularly horrible. Even things like bringing in the Bobs wasn't supposed to be evil, and it wasn't even depicted as such. Peter isn't a particularly sympathetic figure, for that matter.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to work for Greg House.
Oh, I loved this show. I kind of thought Veronica was an awesome boss. She pushed people to do incredibly terrible things, sure, but whenever anybody said "that's crosses my personal line," she would say "oh, all right," and figure out a work-around. Basically, she understood that fighting to get people to cross their ethical lines was inefficient; better to hire people who had few ethical boundaries and then support them on the rare occasions when they took an ethical stand. So she was loyal to her employees as much as she could be, she supported them when it mattered, she made quick and astute business decisions, she tried the things her bosses proposed but adapted when those things didn't work, she got things done, and her combination of terrifyingness and togetherness made people want to follow her. What's bad about that?
When you sign up for his personal guard, you get to check a box for how and as a result of which of your boss's idiotic mistakes you want to get butchered.
Likewise, I'm not really sure I'd call Spacey in Glengarry Glen Ross a horrible boss. Yes, he destroys Shelley Levene, and he says it's "because I don't like you," but really, what choice did he have under the circumstances? He has to answer to Mitch and Murray.
Why, yes. He was "the boyfriend" just a week or two ago and has assumed a new title. (And now I can stop refreshing obsessively to see if someone caught the hint.)
BTW, the fiance and I are hosting a Harry Potter marathon (Seven movies! Two days!) this weekend, and if anyone is interested, just let me know and I'll get you details.
Of course not. I'll stick to the first book and avoid spoiling later books. Lord Commander Mormont, the Old Bear, is a pretty good boss, flexible when he can be, all business when he can't. Tyrion accidentally is a good boss for the Hill Clans and Bronn -- pays well, encourages perks, believes in a meritocracy. Robb Stark motivated his employees and outwitted the competition. Barristan Selmy was a good boss right up until he got fired by new management.
In the case of holding back the leads, Mitch and Murray's mandate was that Glengarry leads only go to the top two sellers. So yes, I suppose a wonderful, beloved boss might disregard that edict, concede Ricky's point, and spread the leads out among everyone. But that wonderful, beloved boss would probably find him- or herself fired along with the sales staff finishing in third place and below, after a particularly vicious verbal ass-chewing from Blake.
As for sending the Machine to his doom, I don't think any boss would really feel free to do differently, given police involvement.
Okay, sure. But if we're nominating bad bosses from Harry Potter, I don't think Dumbledore's even in the top three bad bosses from that world. I'd put Voldemort, Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge all ahead of him, and something tells me Thicknesse wasn't a picnic either. Ooh, or Lucius Malfoy! Ask Dobby about that one. (yes, I'm a geek. so sue me.)
Was he Lord Commander of the Kingsguard back then? I thought it was Gerold Hightower. I can't see making Barristan Lord Commander when Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, was still alive.
Coming in late, but Captian Katherine Janeway. Kirk, Picard and probably Sisco would have have the Voyager back in the Alpha Quadrant by the end of the Pilot.
The Dabney Coleman character (according to IMDB, it was Franklin Hart Jr.) in 9 to 5. And just about everyone in "The Help," the book I'm currently reading.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Cleaver.
ReplyDeleteAlbus Dumbledore. You can fight a war, or you can run a prep school, but you probably shouldn't try to do both at the same time.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Bluth.
ReplyDelete"When are we getting our fancy new offices?"
"As soon as you get your fancy new jobs!"
President Stillson in the "Dead Zone": "Now you put your goddamned hand on the scanning screen or I'll hack it off and put it on for you! Do it!" -- How is *that* supposed to motivate your employees?
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I wonder what my fiance would say about this....
ReplyDeleteVeronica Palmer.
ReplyDeleteVeronica: I heard about Jenkins' death. The company feels terrible about it.
Ted: People are working too hard, Veronica. We need to slow down.
Veronica: Sorry, Ted. The company feels that if we ease up because someone dies, it will only encourage other people to die.
Mama Rose
ReplyDeleteCosmo G. Spacely was always pretty much a dick to George Jetson.
ReplyDeleteNow I need to go watch Racial Insensitivity again.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this, I kind of have to say Don Draper.
ReplyDeleteFirst one that popped into my head? Ebenezer Scrooge.
ReplyDeleteSecond one, who might be my favorite? Craig Binky, editor of the New York Ghost in Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale."
Was there anything particularly terrible about Lumberg? His character was designed to be a typical office drone, only one step higher than the other office drones who's let the power go to his head. You can make a case that he's inherently horrible, but he's not particularly horrible. Even things like bringing in the Bobs wasn't supposed to be evil, and it wasn't even depicted as such. Peter isn't a particularly sympathetic figure, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to work for Greg House.
Gus Fring might be a good boss at Los Pollos Hermanos, but I would NOT want to work for him manufacturing / selling drugs.
ReplyDeletePlus, he never says "Thank you."
ReplyDeleteIf joint entries are allowed, Randolph and Mortimer Duke.
ReplyDeleteMel, from Mel's Diner (Alice). "Stow it, Vera."
ReplyDeleteMy argument for Santa: http://throwingthings.blogspot.com/2007/12/review-of-christmas-event-that-isnt-at.html
ReplyDeleteTheir hiring and retention policies were arbitrary, but they threw a good Christmas party.
ReplyDeleteDo I get to be the first person to say David Brent?
Dr. Daniel Craig.
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved this show. I kind of thought Veronica was an awesome boss. She pushed people to do incredibly terrible things, sure, but whenever anybody said "that's crosses my personal line," she would say "oh, all right," and figure out a work-around. Basically, she understood that fighting to get people to cross their ethical lines was inefficient; better to hire people who had few ethical boundaries and then support them on the rare occasions when they took an ethical stand. So she was loyal to her employees as much as she could be, she supported them when it mattered, she made quick and astute business decisions, she tried the things her bosses proposed but adapted when those things didn't work, she got things done, and her combination of terrifyingness and togetherness made people want to follow her. What's bad about that?
ReplyDeleteAlso: Ned Stark. [SPOILER ALERT]
ReplyDeleteWhen you sign up for his personal guard, you get to check a box for how and as a result of which of your boss's idiotic mistakes you want to get butchered.
Fictional horrible bosses.
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR!!!!
ReplyDeleteLikewise, I'm not really sure I'd call Spacey in Glengarry Glen Ross a horrible boss. Yes, he destroys Shelley Levene, and he says it's "because I don't like you," but really, what choice did he have under the circumstances? He has to answer to Mitch and Murray.
ReplyDeleteA dick, for lack of a better word.
ReplyDeleteI figured you were going to say John Lassiter.
ReplyDeleteUmm, could've sworn he was "the boyfriend" just a week or two ago. Congratulations?
ReplyDeleteGeorge Steinbrenner (The Seinfeld character. Who was probably a better boss than the real Steinbrenner.)
ReplyDeleteI was trying to figure out who would be the worst boss to have on The Sopranos -- Phil Leotardo?
ReplyDeleteWhy, yes. He was "the boyfriend" just a week or two ago and has assumed a new title. (And now I can stop refreshing obsessively to see if someone caught the hint.)
ReplyDeleteBTW, the fiance and I are hosting a Harry Potter marathon (Seven movies! Two days!) this weekend, and if anyone is interested, just let me know and I'll get you details.
Mayella Ewell, taking sexual harassment to a whole new level.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about Phil, though final season Tony was no picnic either.
ReplyDeleteWhile we're on the theme, how about Jimmy Conway from Goodfellas?
Congratulations to you both!
ReplyDeleteYes, but as Ricky Roma points out, his job is to help them, not to f--k them up.
ReplyDeleteMarlo Stanfield comes to mind. He'll put you in the vacants just for being brought downtown.
ReplyDeleteYay to people finding lurve!
ReplyDeleteReally, isn't this pretty much true of almost any major Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire character?
ReplyDeleteSince I'm on the Game of Thrones kick, the first one to come to mind is Joffrey Baratheon, First of His Name.
ReplyDeleteOf course not. I'll stick to the first book and avoid spoiling later books. Lord Commander Mormont, the Old Bear, is a pretty good boss, flexible when he can be, all business when he can't. Tyrion accidentally is a good boss for the Hill Clans and Bronn -- pays well, encourages perks, believes in a meritocracy. Robb Stark motivated his employees and outwitted the competition. Barristan Selmy was a good boss right up until he got fired by new management.
ReplyDeleteWOOHOO! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIn the case of holding back the leads, Mitch and Murray's mandate was that Glengarry leads only go to the top two sellers. So yes, I suppose a wonderful, beloved boss might disregard that edict, concede Ricky's point, and spread the leads out among everyone. But that wonderful, beloved boss would probably find him- or herself fired along with the sales staff finishing in third place and below, after a particularly vicious verbal ass-chewing from Blake.
ReplyDeleteAs for sending the Machine to his doom, I don't think any boss would really feel free to do differently, given police involvement.
I see your point - maybe more of a tough boss than a horrible boss? I really just wanted an excuse to troll through Better Off Ted quotes.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'll be spending my day tomorrow re-watching season 1 and 2 while folding laundry.
Barristan Selmy was a good boss right up until he got fired by new management.
ReplyDeleteHis allocation of human resources during the latter stages of Robert's Rebellion was questionable at best.
Hey - congratulations! Much happiness to both of you.
ReplyDeleteOkay, sure. But if we're nominating bad bosses from Harry Potter, I don't think Dumbledore's even in the top three bad bosses from that world. I'd put Voldemort, Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge all ahead of him, and something tells me Thicknesse wasn't a picnic either. Ooh, or Lucius Malfoy! Ask Dobby about that one. (yes, I'm a geek. so sue me.)
ReplyDeleteMazel tov!!
ReplyDeleteDr. Daniel Craig.
ReplyDeleteHUZZAH!
ReplyDeleteIsaac, we may disagree on things like the entire structure of post-1973 baseball, but wow is this a great analysis of Veronica.
ReplyDeleteAnd hopefully [SPOILER]
ReplyDeleteDr. Robert "Rocket" Romano
ReplyDeleteMallory Archer. Especially if you're related to her.
ReplyDeleteRoma said that when Williamson opened his mouth without knowing what the shot was.
ReplyDeleteDr. Gregory House, of course.
ReplyDeleteWas he Lord Commander of the Kingsguard back then? I thought it was Gerold Hightower. I can't see making Barristan Lord Commander when Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, was still alive.
ReplyDeleteSheriff Lamb! (Oh, Veronica Mars, I miss you.)
ReplyDeleteI thought we weren't allowed to accuse our bosses of acting like a dick?
ReplyDeleteFor my sanity's sake, I've been assuming Charles Dolan is fictional. Right?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both, my dear!
ReplyDeleteColonel Barnfather from Homicide.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the Friday playlist - the obvious Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It".
Congratulations!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAh, you are right. Just saw that in the third book.
ReplyDeleteComing in late, but Captian Katherine Janeway. Kirk, Picard and probably Sisco would have have the Voyager back in the Alpha Quadrant by the end of the Pilot.
ReplyDelete