A few years ago, the BBC tried a new comedy show centered around a the staff of a city planning department. I don’t think it ever took off, and I guess I can understand that. It’s the TV equivalent of watching paint dry. But still.
I had a conversation with the co-chairs of the Planning Department at local university just before the BBC show came out. They were bemoaning the fact that enrollment was down, that they couldn’t seem to get enough young people interested in the field. It’s not a particularly high-profile profession, not very sexy in the traditional sense. Where would young people learn about what planners do?
I have a theory that there’s a relationship between the most popular professions and what’s showing on TV. Think about it: cop, lawyer, doctor. Actor, model, chef. Rich housewife. So what does it mean that my newest favorite shows are so fringe-y? Can we expect kids growing up hoping to be a sister wife, a pot-dealer, gigolo, a serial killer with a conscience? A vampire? If our future workforce degrades any further, I’m going to blame HBO and Showtime. Amazing how they can make those lives just so darn interesting to watch, isn’t it?
image from: www.nataliedee.com
