By Matthew Nankin
This season marks the return of the Fox television network's, Andy Richter Controls the Universe. The show is of particular interest to technical writers as the main character (Andy Richter) is employed as a technical writer at a large corporation.
Although some technical writers might be encouraged that the profession is finally gaining some long overdue attention, a closer examination of the show reveals that the role of technical writing is no more than background for typical situation comedy antics.
For example, when the department needs to hire a new technical writer, any mention of qualifications or experience is omitted. The manager of the department, Jessica (as played by Paget Brewster), hires a new writer based strictly on a review of resumes without any interview. Instead of learning how a newly hired technical writer adjusts on the job, we spend the rest of the show with Andy at a sensitivity training class due to an inappropriate remark made to the new hire.
In another episode, Andy is scheduled to go to the company's offices in France. Although this would be an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast the different working conditions of American versus European technical writers, we spend most of the show in the air ducts of the office building as Andy chases after Jessica's lost cat. Andy's irresponsibility with the cat costs his trip to Europe.
When Andy's closest co-worker and illustrator, Byron (played by Jonathan Slavin) must leave early several days in a row, the show has an excellent opportunity to showcase the tribulations of a technical writer left alone on a project. Instead, we are left to explore the reason for Byron's excessive absenteeism—-his newly adopted cult religion.
Beyond these inane plot lines, the basic working tasks of a technical writer are completely ignored. Andy has yet to use the keyboard or mouse on his laptop computer, send or receive email, attend any type of project meeting, or meet with a subject matter expert. Well into the second season, Andy has not produced any type of hard copy document or online help system nor even written a project outline (although he did once sabotage Byron's illustration of a torpedo).
For technical writers, the show is a major disappointment. For the more general audience, Andy Richter Controls the Universe has the potential to set the public perception of our profession back twenty years. An effort should have been made to contact a local chapter of the STC and request assistance with an accurate depiction of technical writers. Instead, millions of people remain ignorant regarding the field of technical communication and a chance to enlighten them has been squandered for some cheap laughs and silly story lines.
Matthew Nankin is a Senior Member of the STC and television critic. You can reach him at mmgnankin@yahoo.com.