# Any Professions NOT Used In Films/TV Shows For Lead Characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442 "2011-08-20T17:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/161 "2011-08-22T11:41:07Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Mark Zuckerberg was not a UX designer and Facebook’s first UX designer, Aaron Sittig, was not present in the film. User experience design is currently such a nebulous concept that a few people aren’t even sure it can be considered it’s own job title. It seems to fall under so many umbrellas (and its so new) that it doesn’t seem fair for this thread. > **[User experience design](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience_design)** > > User experience design (UX design, UXD, UED, or XD), upon which is the centralized requirements for "User Experience Design Research" (also known as UX Design Research), defines the experience a user would go through when interacting with a company, its services, and its products. User experience design is a user centered design approach because it considers the user's experience when using a product or platform. Research, data analysis, and test results drive design decisions in UX design User ... > **[10 Most Common Misconceptions About User Experience Design](https://mashable.com/archive/user-experience-design)** > > 10 Most Common Misconceptions About User Experience Design That said, Sittig didn’t join Facebook until after the events of The Social Network, so someone had to do the user interface design before him and that someone was likely Mark Zuckerberg. And on the third hand, just browsing a few articles on Sittig, nearly all of them refer to him as just the “designer,” a much more broad job title. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/162 "2011-08-22T12:04:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > [Bicycle Repair Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxfzm9dfqBw). > [@SciFiSam](#): > > Funny sketch, but I don’t think one sketch counts as a lead character in a TV show. The Jeff Bridges character in _Seabiscuit_ was a bicycle repairman & a bicycle shop owner before moving on to automobiles. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/163 "2011-08-22T12:23:39Z")
The Wright Brothers were bicycle repair men before they started working on flying machines. There must be at least one movie based on their story, surely. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/164 "2011-08-22T12:33:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Has there ever been a prison movie where the guard is the main character. In every one I can think of, the main character was a prisoner, with the guards being secondary characters. Billy Bob Thornton in _Monster Ball_ > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > … > Mobile food vendor > … Michelle Rodriguez’s character was a food truck vendor in \*Machete. \*It is debatable whether she or Jessica Alba is the female lead in that one though. ---
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/165 "2011-08-22T13:17:22Z")
Air Traffic Controller? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/166 "2011-08-22T13:18:42Z")
Pushing Tin…I think that’s the one I’m thinking of. Where John Cusack stood out on the runway to ‘understand’ aircraft turbulence. ---
**Author:** ![KellyCriterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/167 "2011-08-22T13:24:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Pushing Tin…I think that’s the one I’m thinking of. Where John Cusack stood out on the runway to ‘understand’ aircraft turbulence. [Yep](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120797/): > [@](#): > > A feud develops between two air traffic controllers: one cocky and determined while the other is restrained and laidback, which inevitably affects their lives ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/168 "2011-08-22T13:28:47Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Pushing Tin…I think that’s the one I’m thinking of. Where John Cusack stood out on the runway to ‘understand’ aircraft turbulence. I just checked the youtube clip, right movie, wrong person. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/169 "2011-08-22T13:32:51Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I just checked the youtube clip, right movie, wrong person. They both do it over the course of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/170 "2011-08-22T13:39:16Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > They both do it over the course of the movie. Ahh, I have seen the movie in a long time, I just remember someone bouncing around on the runway and someone else saying (paraphrased) “We have to allow 5 miles between planes for turbulence and he stands on the runway” ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/171 "2011-08-22T13:55:39Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The Wright Brothers were bicycle repair men before they started working on flying machines. There must be at least one movie based on their story, surely. I bet there are at least two. If only someone would post a link to them… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/172 "2011-08-22T14:01:07Z")
> [@II\_Gyan\_II](#): > > Parking meter inspector Showtime’s Dead Like Me. Roxy Harvey (Jasmine Guy) was a meter maid. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/173 "2011-08-22T14:15:43Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Game warden > Forest ranger The female lead in Broken Arrow > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Professional hunter (or poacher) Michale Douglas in The Ghost and the Darkness > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Fishing guide Jaws > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Mobile food vendor DB Sweeny’s character in Entry Level ends up starting his own food cart business. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Ticket scalper > Panhandler Not really a “profession”. But can probably be included under the umbrella “profession” of “street hustler”. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/174 "2011-08-22T14:16:07Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Gynecologist The Cronenberg film _Dead Ringers_ was about twin gynecologists (with growing mental problems). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/175 "2011-08-22T14:18:55Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > > [@II\_Gyan\_II](#): > > > > Parking meter inspector > > Showtime’s Dead Like Me. Roxy Harvey (Jasmine Guy) was a meter maid. There is also a reality TV series called Parking Wars on A&E that features parking enforcement officers. (I fully expect that every profession and job will be featured in a reality series sooner or later.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/176 "2011-08-22T14:25:43Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Ticket scalper Chris Rock, in Bad Company. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/177 "2011-08-22T15:06:43Z")
Panhandler. Eddie Murphy’s character in “Trading Places” starts out as a panhandler/street hustler. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/178 "2011-08-22T15:37:14Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Personal Care Attendant. _Dolores Claiborne_. I don’t think she called herself that, but it was clearly at least a major part of her job. New one: entomologist (I’m sure it’s covered, but I can’t think of one offhand.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/179 "2011-08-22T15:40:08Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > New one: entomologist > (I’m sure it’s covered, but I can’t think of one offhand.) Gil Grissom, on CSI, was a forensic entomologist played by the top-billed actor. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-professions-not-used-in-films-tv-shows-for-lead-characters/593442/180 "2011-08-22T15:50:43Z")
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