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The Best Fictional Work Places: You Hate Your Boss At Your Job, Well In Your Dreams You Can Work Here

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (74)



Movi_Empi0053.jpeg

If you didn’t know, of late, when I’m not typing links or lists or terrifying puns at you, I’ve gone back to working in a bookstore. And I love it. It’s something I’ve done on and off ever since I left college and it’s the perfect place for me. I love the rando customers, I love talking all day any day about books. At one point this weekend we played 50’s music for about six hours straight and the whole store was dancing. Customers and staff alike. Literally doing the twist in the Metaphysics section. Oh sure there are days I don’t want to go. And oh yes, there are some customers who cross the line from kookily eccentric to downright rude. But I love it. I do. A good work environment, no matter what your field, is so important. Your coworkers can be a pseudo-family or, you know, they can be the other thing. The murder-death-stabbiest part of your day.

So here’s a dorky list I’ve often pondered when trapped in a job I hate. Fictional places I’d like to work. Not so much for the kind of career offered, but for the staff, the feeling. Gird your loins, all ye who enter here. There’s an estrogen bomb waiting to explode at the end of this list.

Black Books from “Black Books”
(If you want a real taste, watch the unembeddable Time Wasters scene.)

Lulu’s Pies from Waitress

WNYX from “Newsradio”

Sacred Heart from Scrubs
(And just because it’s sort of required. Here are the Turk dances.)

Empire Records from Empire Records

The Shop Around The Corner from You’ve Got Mail
(Oh, sure, tell me you don’t want to work with Steve Zahn and Jean Stapleton. Tell me to my face.)

Championship Vinyl from High Fidelity
(Sometimes I mutter “get your patchouli stink outta my store” very quietly under my breath.)

CSC’s Sports Night from “Sports Night”

The Pawnee Parks Department from “Parks and Recreation”

Sugarbaker’s from “Designing Women”
(If I could work for this woman, it wouldn’t matter what I was doing. I’d shovel dirt for this woman. ESTROGEN BOMB.)

How about you, my worker bees? Is there a place I missed?

Joanna Robinson wants to thank Jeff Davis and Rex Manning for the inspiration.









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Comments

Greendale Community College. C'mon, Jojo!

Posted by: admin at August 8, 2011 4:13 PM

I'd attend Greendale, but I'd never work there.

Posted by: coveredinbees at August 8, 2011 4:14 PM

I'm going to mildly nerd out but Warehouse 13 just looks like fun. Almost enough to live in South Dakota.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at August 8, 2011 4:17 PM

GLOBAL DYNAMICS YAAAAAAAY

(I think at this point all my posts on this site are just one big Eureka commercial. Folks, it's the only TV I watch besides Golden Girls -- I spend the bulk of me leisure time reading romance novels.

Hey! Can I do a romance-novel-themed Cannonball Read? Is that how they work?)

Posted by: Donut Plains at August 8, 2011 4:21 PM

Paddy's Pub seems like a fun place to work, somehow it stays afloat despite having no customers, smelling like trash, and having all of its inventory destroyed on numerous occasions. I like jobs you don't have really have to show up to.

/gets back to work

Posted by: LEROOOY at August 8, 2011 4:25 PM

No Initech?

Posted by: Max at August 8, 2011 4:25 PM

What about all the excitement and adventure at a place like "Torchwood"? Getting to work with Gwen Cooper and Captain Jack? Plus, they're always looking for new staff as positions seem to open up all the ti... oh.

Posted by: branded at August 8, 2011 4:35 PM

No Cheers?

Nah, no pub. I'd like to work in a bookstore, too. Just put me in the rare book apt. of Olivier Martinez from "Unfaithful." I promise to behave myself.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 8, 2011 4:38 PM

Veridian Dynamics. It would never be boring and they might make me a VP for no reason other than my name starts with a letter. And that makes me smart. Veridian Dynamics - Choice. Sometimes.

Posted by: J Byrd at August 8, 2011 4:38 PM

No Initech?

Well, you'd like to be there cause that kind of stability would be nice, but in the end, you'd end up downsized or, worse, stuck in the basement level without any cake.

I offer up two options:

1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- as long as you're not the Dark Arts teacher.

2. The Hawaiian resort from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Cool people, easy job and might snag some Mila Kunis!

Posted by: Fredo at August 8, 2011 4:39 PM

Turtle Bay?! No word of a lie, Fredo, I applied there.

Posted by: coveredinbees at August 8, 2011 4:40 PM

The Record Store in Pretty in Pink (Can't remember the name at moment.)
Coyote Ugly
RST Video or the Mini-Mart (CLERKS)

And thank you for Empire Record, Open until Midnight. MIDNIGHT!!!!

Posted by: Kahntahmp at August 8, 2011 4:43 PM

coveredinbees, cool. Hey, if they got Mila Kunis' types working there, I'd want to be there too.

Posted by: Fredo at August 8, 2011 4:52 PM

The "The Shop Around The Corner" is across the street from my mom's apartment. Sadly Steve and Jean do NOT work there on a regular basis. It's quite lovely otherwise though.
Personally I would like to be the secretary for The Ghostbusters.

Posted by: JenVegas at August 8, 2011 4:52 PM

1. The ORIGINAL Shop Around The Corner (the one that Jimmy Stewart and Anne Sullivan worked in). I think it was in either Prague or Budpaest.

2. The reference department at the Federal Broadcasting System run by Katherine Hepburn in Desk Set.

3. The book shop in 84 Charing Cross Road.

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 8, 2011 4:52 PM

WNYX every day and twice on Sundays.

I'd also say Party Down Catering just to get to work with those crazy kids and The Two Windmills, the adorable cafe that Amelie was a waitress at.

Posted by: beckster at August 8, 2011 4:56 PM

Planet Express or Camp Firewood.

Posted by: SchmidtUltra at August 8, 2011 4:59 PM

I loooooved the bookstore from You've Got Mail. It was so twee and adorable, it was just the kind of place I'd dream of running. Probably completely impossible to keep, but still! One can dream.

Championship Vinyl though...I don't know. Being forced to listen to loud music, or being yelled at by Jack Black, or never seeing any costumers. Nope. No, thanks.

And Pawnee Parks? I'd PAY to work at that place.

Posted by: figgy at August 8, 2011 5:14 PM

The Muppet Theatre

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 8, 2011 5:14 PM

I could spend a summer working either in the Bushwood Country Club caddyshack or doing a little repo work at the Helping Hand Acceptance Corporation.

Posted by: Chuck at August 8, 2011 5:15 PM

RST Video but only if Randall is on the same shift.

Posted by: MonkeyHateClean at August 8, 2011 5:20 PM

The Pie Hole

Posted by: zyzzyva at August 8, 2011 5:27 PM

My picks:
The Magic Box, under Giles's management
The lounge on the Starship Enterprise, Picard edition
The Alamo Freeze (well, maybe I'd just eat there)
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (or whatever it's called these days) - I could use my psych degree and do some counseling - lord knows some of those kids could use it.

Empire Records, YES

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at August 8, 2011 5:43 PM

Coincidentally, the web-series I'm working on now takes place in a record store. We're citing both Empire Records and High Fidelity as influences, cept our record store is owned by a girl named Tommy.

Posted by: Melody Be at August 8, 2011 5:47 PM

Obvious: The Law Office of E. Edward Grey

Posted by: samantha t at August 8, 2011 5:53 PM

The Death Star. It's very quiet when the rebels aren't around, and it's easy to get promoted what with the upper management's intolerance of incompetence.

Posted by: Lucas at August 8, 2011 5:59 PM

Vandelay Industries. Plenty of room under the desks for mid-day nappy time. Unlike at the Yankees organization.

Posted by: logar at August 8, 2011 6:00 PM

Globex Corp.

Posted by: vaskark at August 8, 2011 6:07 PM

I agree with everything on this list and even some of the suggestions in the comments! What about Merlotte's? Only your boss' estranged half-brother will see you for the slouch waitress you really are, but that's okay: he's most likely going to die at the end of this season, anyways. (NOT A SPOILER, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW SHIT.)

Posted by: duckandcover at August 8, 2011 6:07 PM

Would Dustin choose Beacon Street Pizza* from "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place"? Especially once Fillion started hanging around?

* Wikipedia-assisted factoid

Posted by: branded at August 8, 2011 6:22 PM

And that, Marjorie, just so you will know, and your children will someday know...

Posted by: Jerry at August 8, 2011 6:30 PM

Okay, now in answer to your question:

It may make me seem a little (okay, a lot) slutty, but I'd want to work the door at Babylon from QAFUS. I already have plenty of experience throwing attitude when working the door at gay bars, and Brian would probably pay me in sex. Just not with him is all I ask.

Posted by: Jerry at August 8, 2011 6:33 PM

Oh, and Coyote Ugly? Not a fictional workplace.

Posted by: Jerry at August 8, 2011 6:40 PM

The convenience store in Clerks, just for the conversation.

Posted by: PDamian at August 8, 2011 7:02 PM

That banner pic was a major sandwich dream in my younger years.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at August 8, 2011 7:24 PM

star gate command below norad.

Posted by: Utah Dynamo at August 8, 2011 8:14 PM

First choice--ISIS, with a desk somewhere near Pam Poovey's office, if not under Lana Kane.

Second choice--'232'...the "up-market city brothel" in Melboune. From the Australian TV series 'Satisfaction.' Thanks, Netflix!

(Since Veridian Dynamics was already spoken for.)

Posted by: gforcetwo at August 8, 2011 8:30 PM

whoops...*Melbourne*

Posted by: gforcetwo at August 8, 2011 8:36 PM

No Bartlet White House?

Posted by: Marty at August 8, 2011 8:40 PM

WKRP in Cincinnati, the night shift.

Santa's Workshop, in ten gazillion movies.

Global Dynamics, in Eureka, I'm sure you don't have to be smart to be a janitor.

The worst place to work: The terraforming colony on LV426.

Posted by: John W at August 8, 2011 8:54 PM

Sorry I take back Santa's Workshop. You said fictional.

Posted by: John W at August 8, 2011 8:58 PM

Oh, PaddyDog, I saw 84 Charing Cross Road in London when I was a teen and cried my eyes out. What a beautiful play.

I'd like to work with "those meddling kids" on Scooby Doo and drive around in the Mystery Machine solving mysteries that do not result in death for anyone---ever. Scooby and Shaggy would love me because I like to eat a lot, and am not particularly brave (although if we the three of us got in a scrape, I'd likely be the one to save us).

Posted by: Stinky at August 8, 2011 9:34 PM

The Muppet Theatre

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 8, 2011 5:14 PM

I refuse to believe that the Muppet Theatre is fictional, Mrs. J. It needs to be real.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at August 8, 2011 10:00 PM

I'd like to work at Pajiba. I bet it's all unicorns and candy and OH MY GOD. OH GOD, WHY IS THERE FIRE? Are the walls . . . moving? So much blood. SWEET JESUS.

Posted by: Lauren at August 8, 2011 10:19 PM

WKRP in Cincinnati

Posted by: Pat C. at August 8, 2011 10:43 PM

speaking of book stores, how about hugh grant's travel book
store in notting hill. and who knows, maybe a movie star will walk in and fall for you.

Posted by: snake at August 8, 2011 11:34 PM

The New Burbage Theater Festival.

But really. My favorite work experience has been with a comparable theater company, and it's just as infuriating and awesome and terrifying and fucked up as you would imagine.

That, or NORBAC. Even though I would probably die of some horrible disease there.

Posted by: That Girl at August 9, 2011 12:26 AM

I also vote for the Bartlett West Wing.

Man that Designing Women clip takes me back. I need to watch that show again, 80's hair and clothes and all.

Posted by: noo at August 9, 2011 12:40 AM

Kramerica Industries.

Posted by: SaBrina at August 9, 2011 12:48 AM

@ Donut Plains: All-romance Cannonball Read, yes please! Actually, you can read whatever you want, no? As long as it's 52? At least? I'm re-reading old-school romance novels that I get for a buck and a quarter at Saint Vinnie's. This move to Oregon has enhanced my life in oh so many ways.

@ samantha t SO OBVIOUS!

Not so much work there but hang out: the Peach Pit. And the Max.

The bookstore at which I would like to work the most is from a book: the one where Georgina works in Richelle Mead's Succubus books. And, in real life it's Hawsey's Book Index in Pensacola, FL.

Posted by: Az at August 9, 2011 1:34 AM

QUICK STOP

Posted by: miscellaneous_d at August 9, 2011 1:43 AM

The IT department at Reynholm Industries, it's geek heaven..and the relationship manager is such a classy broad!

Posted by: Lauwer at August 9, 2011 4:56 AM

Fangtasia- I'd do anything to raid Pam's wardrobe (I mean anything). I'm surprised no-one has said Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, though I suppose that would be a better work environment for the boys.

Posted by: SAS at August 9, 2011 4:57 AM

I agree with the Bartlett West Wing for sure!

Posted by: Nimue at August 9, 2011 8:23 AM

cigar roller at Crane Poole & Schmidt

Posted by: cinekat at August 9, 2011 8:39 AM

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at August 9, 2011 9:43 AM

The Peach Pit!

Posted by: Foder at August 9, 2011 9:53 AM

Engulf and Devour.

At least your boss would never talk to you.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 9, 2011 10:09 AM

Wernham Hogg. Because David Brent was an AWESOME boss.

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at August 9, 2011 10:43 AM

I would say Empire Records, but I feel like eventually the drama would get to me (you know, because I'm too old for that sort of shit now.)

Definitely the Quick Stop after Randall and Dante's take-over. That would be both hilarious and probably not especially taxing.

The other option would be Pierce & Pierce. Yes, okay, it's an investment firm, but nearly everyone is a vice-president and NO one seems to do anything except compare business cards and make reservations at Dorsia.

Posted by: Siege at August 9, 2011 12:00 PM

Baby, if you ever wondered,
wondered whatever became of me.
I'm living on the air in Cincinatti,
Cincinatti WKRP.

Posted by: wsapnin at August 9, 2011 1:35 PM

"The Looooooove Boat"

And maybe the law firm of Dewey, Cheatum and Howe.

Posted by: , at August 9, 2011 2:41 PM

I worked in a video store for many years, and Empire Records pretty much depicted that workplace...hence the many years.

If the damn instore video rental industry wasn't in its death throes, I'd love to have made good on my dream store, incorporating the You've Got Mail cute style with the Empire vibe...damn you netflix!

Another pick- Wet Hot American Summer. Worked a couple of summers at the camp where it was filmed, and much of it was not far off the film...worrisome? nah....

Posted by: Scratch McGee at August 9, 2011 5:02 PM

WKRP in Cincaniti, although its probably a conservative talk format now.

Posted by: geddy at August 9, 2011 6:57 PM

Massive Dynamics...especially in their R&D Dept

Posted by: Casa Gomez at August 9, 2011 10:28 PM

@wsapnin,

"As god as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

I'd love to work at WKRP. Others include NORBAC, the Muppet Studio, the SG-C, and the starship Enterprise (I'm not even a Trekkie, I just want to hang out with Q). Clearly I called myself GeekChic for a good reason.

Posted by: GeekChic at August 9, 2011 10:52 PM

S-Mart. For the groovy factor.

Posted by: Forward Observer at August 9, 2011 11:07 PM

Bartlett White House would not be a great place to work - sorry people. Horrible stress, mediocre pay, and death threats.

Working in the west wing of any Whitehouse is the most amazing, exhilarating and draining experiences you can have; and it always gets better with the retelling. But while it's taking place, it's a 24-7 ulcer generating stress fest.

Posted by: Pragmatist at August 10, 2011 2:26 PM

Buy More anybody? Serenity could be fun too.

Posted by: tjc84 at August 10, 2011 4:17 PM

Luke's Diner or The Dragonfly

Mars Investigations

p.s. totes agree about The Pie Hole

Posted by: Jo at August 11, 2011 12:04 AM

Pysch Detective Agency/Santa Barbra PD. The show does not get enough love and Shawn and Gus would be a blast.

Posted by: tawnia at August 11, 2011 12:34 AM

Besides Empire Records, there are two ships I'd love to be a crew member on; The Belafonte, and possibly the most egregious (and surprising) omission from the comments...Serenity.

Posted by: Bert at August 11, 2011 3:55 PM

No Bartlet White House?

Yeah, baby. Or even the Santos White House!

Posted by: aud at August 14, 2011 2:56 AM

The sandwich shop in Ten Inch Hero.

Posted by: Ozpinhead at August 16, 2011 8:10 AM