Can You Name the Professions of These 2000s TV Characters?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Professions of These 2000s TV Characters?
Image: NBC

About This Quiz

After the Y2K scare from 1999, everyone let out a sigh of relief when 2000 stepped in and nothing happened. But with that nothing came something special: the great transition from millennium to millennium, century to century, and decade to decade. And with that transition, pop culture reflected these changes that the world was experiencing. This transition also meant that pop culture became more daring, more experimental, more ambitious, and more exciting. All of these things were, of course, reflected in both the big screen and the small screen.

When we say small screen, in the context of the early 2000s, that still meant television. But somehow, even smaller screens were starting to creep into the households as well, just like how the very intimate medium of television crept into the households of the 1940s, the 1950s and beyond. But before smartphones, tablets and laptops overtook our media habits and revamped the way we watch TV programs, the old reliable television set was still ever-present in the living room and bedrooms of many households during this new millennium.

This was also the time when we saw many kinds of TV shows set in different industries, and we were exposed to different kinds of professions in the process. Do you think you can name many of these characters' professions if we showed them to you? Click on the quiz and see!

1 Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City What did Carrie Bradshaw do for a living?
PR executive
Lawyer
Writer
Carrie Bradshaw sashayed out of the small screen via HBO's "Sex and the City," where Sarah Jessica Parker portrayed this columnist specializing in sex and the dating nuances of single women in New York City. This show catapulted into the global pop culture scene and produced many fans, even up to now.
Curator

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2 Don Draper Mad Men Can you guess what the dapper Don Draper did for his career?
Creative director
"Mad Men" is a great portrayal of the advertising industry during the 1960s when major changes were pivotal in how advertising is done today. Don Draper is the main protagonist here, who worked as the creative director of the advertising agency featured in show.
Copywriter
Car salesman
Soldier

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3 Derek Shepherd ABC Derek Shepherd was one of these. What's his job?
Medical intern
Lab technician
Nurse
Surgeon
Patrick Dempsey essayed the role of McDreamy, that debonair surgeon in the medical drama, "Grey's Anatomy." HIs real name was Derek Shepherd. Shonda Rhimes was the showrunner of this highly successful TV program.

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4 Gil Grissom CBS In Las Vegas, Gil Grissom headed what kind of team?
Crime scene investigators
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is a pivotal show that introduced many innovations in the TV landscape of the 2000s. It starred William Petersen as Gil Grissom, head of the CSI Las Vegas night shift team, who's also a forensic entomologist by training and trade.
Medical examiner
Coroner
Homicide detective

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5 Gregory House FOX Gregory House performed his functions with brutal honesty. What did he do for a living?
Medical student
Ambulance driver
Triage nurse
Doctor
Dr. Gregory House is the titular character of the TV series, "House," where he is the Head of Diagnostic Medicine. Hugh Laurie made this role his own and has been associated with this character ever since.

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6 Tony Soprano HBO It's not really a "job," but what did Tony Soprano do?
Longshoreman
Fixer
Street boss
From being a capo to a street boss, Tony Soprano's mob ascent was chronicled in the TV series called "The Sopranos," which featured Tony's two families, namely his mob family and his actual family. James Gandolfini played the character perfectly!
Manager

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7 Sheldon Cooper CBS Aside from teaching, what is Sheldon Cooper's other job?
Aerospace engineer
Particle astrophysicist
Neurobiologist
Theoretical physicist
"The Big Bang Theory" shone a bright light on science nerds and geeks with pride! Taking center stage is the character of Sheldon Cooper, the theoretical physicist who thinks his intellect is far more superior than the rest of his equally geeky friends.

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8 Jack Bauer FOX Jack Bauer's a toughie! What did he do for a living?
Counterterrorist agent
Kiefer Sutherland became synonymous with Jack Bauer, the role he essayed on "24." As a counterterrorist agent, a day in his life is always featured per episode, where he is shown solving cases and fighting off the bad guys.
Ambassador
Forensic technician
Homicide detective

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9 West Wing NBC What was Josiah Bartlet's huge job?
U.S. Secretary of State
U.S. President
Writer-producer-screenwriter Aaron Sorkin created and wrote of a fictional U.S. President named Josiah Bartlet in the TV series "West Wing." The title pertains to that specific area inside the White House where the Oval Office is located. Martin Sheen essayed the role of that U.S. President.
U.S. Senator
U.S. Congressman

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10 Sam and Dean Winchester The WB They don't have business cards for it, but what does Sam and Dean Winchester do?
Bartenders
Drivers
Embalmers
Demon hunters
Sam and Dean Winchester are the two brothers whose occupation is just the same: demon hunter. You could say it's hereditary, because they inherited this trade from their father, who went out to hunt the killer of their mother in the show "Supernatural."

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11 Lily Aldrin CBS Lily Aldrin had the most adorable of jobs among her peers. What was it?
News anchor
Lawyer
Architect
Kindergarten teacher
Lily Aldrin is the adorable kindergarten teacher married to Marshall Eriksen, the lawyer, in "How I Met Your Mother." Ted Mosby is the architect, Robin Scherbatsky is the news anchor, and nobody knows what Barney Stinson does for a living!

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12 Christian Troy FX What kind of doctor was Christian Troy?
Neurologist
Oncologist
Plastic surgeon
"Nip/Tuck" is the medical drama that featured a plastic surgeon named Dr. Christian Troy as the main protagonist. The role was played by Julian McMahon. The show ran from 2003 to 2010 and also featured Dylan Walsh, ​who played Dr. Sean McNamara, also a plastic surgeon.
Cardiologist

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13 Sydney Bristow ABC She really can't tell everyone what she does, but what do we know of Sydney Bristow's job?
She's a CIA spy
Jennifer Garner proved that she could hold her own, in a sci-fi espionage drama thriller to boot, when she starred as Sydney Bristow in "Alias." Created by J.J. Abrams, the show ran from 2001 to 2006.
She's a trained martial artist
She's really a lesbian detective
She's a wig maker

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14 Michael Scott NBC Initially, we got to know Michael Scott handling what corporate position?
Office supervisor
HR head
Administrative assistant
Regional manager
"The Office" was a successful sitcom that began airing in 2005 and folded in 2013. Steve Carell played the role of Michael Scott, the regional manager of a company that distributed paper products.

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15 David Fisher HBO David Fisher held what kind of deathly job?
Forensic technician
Funeral director
"Six Feet Under" began airing in 2001 and lasted until 2005. The show depicted the life of the Fisher family, the owners of a funeral home. Michael C. Hall portrayed David Fisher, a funeral director who was also a closeted gay man.
Coroner
Prison guard

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16 Veronica Mars The CW Television Network Most of the time, Veronica Mars was a student. But what did she do for a "part-time" job?
Private investigator
Kristen Bell successfully essayed the role of the unforgettable titular teen named "Veronica Mars," who also moonlighted as a private investigator from time to time. The TV series ran from 2004 to 2007. A film version was released in 2014.
Teaching assistant
Lab assistant
Supermarket cashier

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17 Melinda Gordon  CBS When Melinda Gordon wasn't busy tending to her antique shop, what was her "other" job?
Volunteer firefighter
Red Cross volunteer
A ghost whisperer
"Ghost Whisperer" is about Melinda Gordon who ran an antique shop, but who could also converse with "ghosts" who still needed to transition from their earthly attachment to the afterlife. Jennifer Love Hewitt starred as Melinda. The show was more of a drama than a thriller.
Court clerk

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18 Betty Suarez ABC Betty Suarez worked in a fashion magazine, but what position did she hold?
Graphics designer
Copywriter
Personal assistant
America Ferrera played Betty Suarez in the series called "Ugly Betty," which was an adaptation of a popular telenovela produced in Colombia. This is not the first time the series was adapted, since it also had versions in other countries, such as Belgium, Egypt and Greece.
Photographer

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19 Doug Heffernan CBS Doug Heffernan worked at the International Parcel Service as what?
Driver
The working class-themed sitcom, "The King of Queens," debuted in 1998, but its popularity extended up to 2007. It featured Kevin James as Doug Heffernan who worked as an International Parcel Service delivery driver.
Mailman
Parcel master
Stamp seller

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20 Dexter Morgan SHOWTIME Dexter Morgan's day job is being a forensic technician. What's his night job?
Restaurateur
Detective
Serial killer
Frustrated by the criminals who get away with murder, forensic technician Dexter Morgan doubles as a serial killer when not analyzing blood splatters in crime scenes. He's the titular character in the series, "Dexter," which ran from 2006 to 2013.
Butler

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21 Liz Lemon NBC What is Liz Lemon's job?
Production assistant
Crowd director
Head writer
"30 Rock" refers to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the address where the TV series' show studio is located. Liz Lemon works in that TV show as its head scriptwriter, who was brilliantly portrayed by Tina Fey.
Media intern

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22 stringer bell HBO The influential Stringer Bell held which position?
Informant
Fixer
Drug kingpin aide
Idris Elba essayed the role of Stringer Bell in "The Wire." Bell was drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's right-hand​ person. The series depicted crime drama goings-on in Baltimore, Maryland, and ran from 2002 until 2008.
Undercover agent

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23 Vincent Chase HBO It's kind of meta, but what did Vincent Chase do for a living?
Actor
"Entourage" is said to have been based on co-executive producer Mark Walhberg's east coast to west coast transition as a budding Hollywood actor. The actor in the series was Vincent Chase, played by real-life actor Adrian Grenier.
Chauffeur
Lifeguard
Bodybuilder

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24 Walter White AMC The knowledgable Walter White held which position?
Custodian
School bus driver
High school principal
Chemistry teacher
​Who would have known that a chemistry teacher could also use his chemical skills in producing illegal drugs and selling them enough to become a drug kingpin. That's basically the premise of "Breaking Bad," and that teacher-turned-drug lord is Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston.

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25 Will and Grace NBC What did Will and Grace do to earn rent money?
Lawyer and interior decorator
"Will & Grace" began airing in 1998 and its successful run ended in 2006. But it got picked up again in 2017, letting newer audiences enjoy the rapport between lawyer Will and interior decorator Grace. The show was highly lauded for having openly gay characters in the lead.
Architect and baker
Author and professor
Archaeologist and investigator

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26 Eric Taylor NBC Eric Taylor held this position. What was it?
Coroner
Sheriff
Coach
Dillon, Texas, is the fictional location of "Friday Night Lights," a show that featured high school football coach Eric Taylor, played by Kyle Chandler. The show first aired in 2006, but there was a feature film version of it shown first in 2004.
Grocer

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27 Deandra Reynolds FXX Deandra Reynolds is a formidable worker at Paddy's Pub. What job does she do there?
Bartender
Paddy's Pub, an Irish pub, was the focal point of the sitcom titled "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." And since it's a pub, there should be a bartender in the cast. That was "Sweet Dee," or Deandra Reynolds, played by Kaitlin Olson.
Branch manager
Janitor
Cashier

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28 David Rossi CBS David Rossi is the head of what FBI department?
Marketing Unit
Forensics Unit
Behavioral Analysis Unit
"Criminal Minds" is about a specific group of FBI agents who work inside the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the agency. They are essentially criminal profilers, ones who tend to analyze the psychological and behavioral aspects of the criminals for which they're searching. David Rossi heads this unit.
Criminal Defense Unit

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29  Dr John Dorian ABC This person, J.D., works as what?
Medical intern
Triage nurse
Doctor
Zach Braff essayed the role of J.D., or notably Dr. John Dorian, in the show, "Scrubs." It revolved around the lives of medical interns who later became doctors in the teaching hospital called Sacred Heart.
Lab technician

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30 Bette Porter SHOWTIME When their Sapphic show began, Bette Porter worked for the California Arts Center in what capacity?
Director
The pivotal lesbian-themed show, "The L Word," was set in Los Angeles and featured different women from different backgrounds bound by friendship and their love for fellow women. Film actress Jennifer Beals was one of the major leads, playing artistic director Bette Porter.
Painter
Accountant
Cashier

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31 Phoebe Halliwell The CW Television Network When she was able to work, what did Phoebe Halliwell do?
Make-up artist
Poker player
Advice columnist
The highly popular "Charmed" featured the life of initially three sisters who discovered that they were actually witches with powers. One of them, Phoebe Halliwell, later discovered that she could also dish out advice as a columnist for a local newspaper. Alyssa Milano portrayed her.
Magic conjurer

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32 Drew Carey ABC The fictional Drew Carey worked in which department of a multinational store?
Marketing
Accounting
Human Resources
Drew Carey, the actor, portrayed Drew Allison Carey, the Human Resources department worker, in his show called "The Drew Carey Show." Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the show debuted in 1995 and concluded in 2005.
Sales

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33 Martha Kent The WB Clark Kent's mom, Martha, later worked in public office under what capacity?
Mayor
U.S. Senator
"Smallville" is an interesting retelling of the Superman myth which focused on his life as a budding teenager discovering his superpowers, with the guidance of his adoptive earth parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent. In a later season, Jonathan dies and Martha runs for the U.S. Senate.
Board member
Chief of staff

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34 Leslie Knope NBC Leslie Knope held which position at the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department?
Department intern
City planner
City treasurer
Deputy Director
"Parks and Recreation" features small-town politics in its storylines, but it's a sitcom. Amy Poehler starred as Leslie Knope, the Parks and Recreation Department's Deputy Director in the town of Pawnee, Indiana. It's a fictional city, by the way.

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35 Amy Gray CBS Divorcée Amy Gray held which legal job?
Clerk of court
Judge
"Judging Amy" featured the life of Judge Amy Gray, who was also a divorced single mom. Amy Brenneman essayed the role of Amy, and Tyne Daly co-starred as her social worker mother, Maxine.
Court stenographer
Court docket keeper

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36 Alan Shore ABC The brilliant man, Alan Shore, worked as what?
Professor
Lawyer
Producer David E. Kelley produced many of U.S. television's brilliant legal dramas. "Boston Legal" was one of them. The show headlined James Spader in the role of Alan Shore. William Shatner played senior attorney Denny Crane.
Psychiatrist
Trauma surgeon

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37 Vic Mackey FX The unconventional Vic Mackey held what important position?
Detective
"The Shield" featured many notable actors in its roster, which included Glenn Close, Forest Whitaker​ and Franka Potente, to name a few. But it was actor Michael Chiklis who held the star power in this show, portraying LAPD detective Vic Mackey.
Mob boss
Drug kingpin
Capo

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38 Claire Bennet NBC Teen student Claire Bennet was still in school, but she also had a "job" there. What was it?
Cheerleader
Save the cheerleader, save the world! That was practically the motto that propelled "Heroes" into the limelight, at least for the first few seasons. Hayden Panettiere played the role of that cheerleader, one of the "ordinary" people who turned out to have extraordinary skills and powers.
Office worker
Debutante
Hospice nurse

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39 Brian Kinney SHOWTIME The handsome and unapologetically gay Brian Kinney worked as what?
Hair stylist
Accountant
Comic book shop owner
Advertising executive
In 2000, Showtime produced a U.S. version of "Queer as Folk," the controversial U.K. show. It lasted until 2005. The series was one of the pioneering LGBTQ-themed shows that focused on the lives of openly gay-identified professionals living in Pittsburgh.

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40 Alan Harper CBS Alan Harper is in the alternative medical field. What is his occupation?
Chiropractor
Alan Harper, played by Jon Cryer, is the chiropractor that made up one of the "Two and a Half Men." The other "man" was Charlie Sheen originally, who was replaced by Aston Kutcher later on. The half-man referred to Alan's son.
Psychic
Shaman
Medicine man

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