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‘Unreality TV’ that distorts job duties and pay

October 7, 2009 on 5:04 am | In All categories, pop culture | No Comments

When I began my career in journalism, I secretly hoped to find a newsroom that resembled the one on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

The camaraderie with coworkers, the breaking-news excitement, and the pleasant communal atmosphere seemed so attractive. And though I knew nothing about the show was real, I still longed for a similar sense of fun and purpose.

Today I wonder how many budding police detectives feel the same about “The Closer” or magazine editors about “Ugly Betty.”

PayScale.com has done some interesting research on how these and other popular shows distort the realities (often unflattering) of certain careers. My favorite is the analysis of “Ugly Betty,” where junior staffers at the fashion mag Mode live lifestyles that aren’t possible on real starting salaries in New York.

Also, PayScale took a fascinating look at “Mad Men” and how the fictional salaries of the various characters stack up against today’s advertising professionals.

Of course we don’t watch sitcoms for guidance in our professional lives, but who can help wishing? If you want TV with accuracy about the working world, try “Dirty Jobs.”