To clarify, I don’t want a job in the television industry; I want a job like the characters in TV shows portray. Admittedly, I watch way too much TV and because I’m both a career-site blogger and therapist, I’m intrigued by how certain professions are presented. Thanks to TV and movies, many of my patients think that they have to lie down on the couch in my office. Nah, not how it’s done in real life, at least in my practice. But what fascinates me is how little time they actually spend working on TV shows.
Soap operas have always been notorious for characters having professions that require almost no time at the worksite. Since most male characters historically have been doctors or lawyers, occasionally they leave the house to go to work. But there is still time to drop in on other key players on the show to chat any time – day or night. Years ago, the women characters used to have one of three jobs – “homemaker,” home-wrecker” or the more exotic “career gal.” Since I haven’t watched soaps in ages, I don’t know if these roles have changed or evolved.
[See the Worst Fictional Bosses]
Now I realize that it would be incredibly boring to watch a show where the characters work all the time – especially at an accounting firm or dry cleaners. That is unless it’s a drama that plays out in a law firm, secret terrorist-fighting unit or surgical center of a hospital. Then there’s action and intrigue galore. Sit-coms are a bit different. One of my new faves is “Cougar Town.” Two of the women are real estate agents, but they’ve only shown one house this season. That’s because it’s funnier to hang out, drink lattes and trade punch lines.
So now I have to figure out how you get one of those TV-type jobs. These careers also come with a designer wardrobe and a sexy car. Even the social worker characters get to wear great shoes…
This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.
Leave a Reply