Who Would You Play on TV?

In our house, the end of daylight savings time marks the start of TV-serial season. We just started watching Mad Men. It’s got snappy dialogue and complex characters, and I think I’m going to like it. Several people have recommended it to us, partly because I do some advertising copywriting, so they figure that I will take a professional interest in this seamy and glamorous world.

And it’s true—I do find it more engaging than shows about cops and doctors and other things far removed from my identity. From time to time I imagine taking on all those ad men at their testosterone-fueled game. (My character is, of course, ravishingly beautiful, dazzlingly smart, tough as nails, and funny besides.)

But I must confess that when it comes to TV fantasies, my true heart lies elsewhere.  I am, and will forever be, a speechwriter for President Josiah Bartlet. We watched all seven seasons of The West Wing last winter, and at one point I went so far as to do some internet research about speechwriting careers. I realize that it is probably not quite like it looks on TV. (It doesn’t help, though, that President Obama’s main speechwriter is a brilliant young phenom and something of a celebrity besides.)

Who would you play on TV? And what does it reveal about what you want in your real-world career?