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jennifer ... jennifer ...
 
M$1 February 08, 2009 01:51 AM

Poehler's new sitcom, ''Parks and Recreation'', was first titled ''Public Service'' - thoughts on titles?

Amy Poehler is heading a new NBC sitcom that is premiering in April 2009. Originally it was titled "Public Service" but the creators changed it to not "make fun of those in the field". But isn't "Parks and Recreation" along the same lines? Hm, thoughts?
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cochese cochese
 
 February 08, 2009 02:17 AM
As someone working in public service (water purification), personally I don't see a problem with maligning those in the field of public service. The stereotypes are probably kinder than the actuality in any event. Every job has their stereotypes about its field, and if there wasn't a basis for it, then the stereotype would eventually fall into disuse.

As for the name change, while there certainly may be a political correct excuse for changing it, if the show was about someone who worked in Parks and Rec, calling it "Public Service" would be kind of a misnomer. Parks and Rec might consist of something like 1% of the people who work in a city's public sector.

Hell, nearly EVERY drama show out there nowadays is about people in public service. Every police show and every legal show out there takes place in the public sector, as police officers, prosecutors, and judges are all public servants.
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bbrookin bbrookin
 
February 08, 2009 02:06 AM
I think that "Parks and Recreation" is making fun of a more specific field - you're right! I kind of like their first choice. Public Service has its own brutal set of circumstances, and the laugh could be about the Catch-22 the public employees find themselves in. For instance, everyone wants good roads, no one wants to be held up in traffic watching the people work on a road, and everyone loses their mind when they see someone talking instead of wielding a shovel. And absolutely NO one wants to pay the taxes. But the moment a pot hole forms, the road department will get angry calls to fix it fast. I'm sure Parks and Rec has its own version.
How about "Can't Win" for a title? It's not overly clever, but it's pretty descriptive. :)
Source(s):
Years working full- and part-time for State government (no, not for CalTrans)


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coach-b coach-b
 
February 08, 2009 05:33 AM
I understand that there was a major debate among the executive producers of this program from NBC (the same guys who are doing The Office) as to what to title the show. Those against the name Public Service argued that it would sound like a "police-oriented" or "Law and Order" type of program. And I also understand that when they tested the title, this is actually what the majority of those polled responded. When they tested "Parks and Recreation," however, the responses were positive although there was a realization that the focus of the program will be self-limiting due to the title.

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