TV pilots will convince you that the recession is pretty hilarious

Getting pinkslipped is funny. Or rather, these days, it's relatable, which in Hollywood is the most reliable litmus test for whether something gets made. Various upcoming films deal with evil financial institutions, and now television is getting in on the recession act, with comedy pilots in the works that reflect high unemployment, money worries, white-collar crime and other painfully current issues.
  Don't look for a lot of well-heeled beautiful singles, à la Friends and its many clones, which dominated TV comedy for years. Think more blue-collar, like Roseanne. There are even several shows in development about rent-a-cops, which we'll chalk up to the Paul Blart effect. Expect more home and family settings and fewer office-based shows because, well, no one wants to be reminded of a place they don't go anymore. 
  These shows will live next to more of the medical and police procedurals that continue to rate well on network schedules. So, where does the escapism come in? There's always reality TV.

—Posted by T.L. Stanley