History Main / BusinessOfGenericImportance

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch'': The main location where the show takes place is called "Wonderland Zoo", and in one episode, a one-off character, a gorilla named Arnie, is taken to "University Hospital" after one of Bubi Bear's concoctions, a perfume, causes him to shake uncontrollably.

* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'': The office that the titular Stanley works at has no name, nor is specified what is actually done there [spoiler:except for one ending, which suggests it's a BigBrotherIsWatching operation on him and his co-workers]], apart from Stanley following commands on his computer's screen. The rest of the office is generic, with cubicles, break rooms, meeting rooms, paperwork, office supplies, and warehouses.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]

* ''Film/NineToFive'' takes place in the Consolidated Companies; when the CEO visits towards the end of the film, several employees are freaking out because they're completely unclear as to what it is the company even does.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch'': The main location where the show takes place is called "Wonderland Zoo", and in one episode, a one-off character, a gorilla named Arnie, is taken to "University Hospital" after one of Bubi Bear's concoctions, a perfume, causes him to shake uncontrollably.

* ''VideoGame/BackyardSports'': Some of the various professional fields in the Backyard Sports series are generic locations, such as "Pro Sports Arena" and "University State College", "Parks Department #2", and "Big City Stadium". However, others, while still generic, avert the trope and have a more child-like flair to them, such as "Super Colossal Dome", "Phillips Field", or "Estadio Estupendo". ("Stupendous Stadium")

* ''VideoGame/{{Obsidian}}'': Played with, as the Bureau Realm that the player, Lilah, experiences, mirrors the hindering culture that she and her partner, Max, had to endure in bringing their ''Ceres'' satellite project to fruition. Nothing about what is done in the Bureau Realm is specified; everything is generic, down to the filing of paperwork, the existence of job positions, and the soul-crushing office culture involved.

* Parodied on early ''Series/MadTV'', with the game show sketch "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anAVostohHU Vague]]", which is exactly how it sounds. No information beyond the fact that it's a game show, that there are players, and there are prizes, are given. Even the theme song is vague and not so unique, and the set is gray and drab, with some chintzy decor. Doubly parodied with the real guest appearance of Jamie Farr, who did play Maxwell Q. Klinger on ''Series/{{MASH}}''; the host doesn't know who he is until he makes it intentionally vague. Parodied again, when the winning player is left standing in the empty, quiet studio with no guidance on what to do when the game is over.

Other times, the name and/or the exact venture the business performs may not be described, just that they perform business (e.g.: "Business, Inc."), or the business may not have a unique trait (e.g.: a restaurant with a gimmick or offering flame-broiled burgers with a specific spice or recipe, a college that has been esteemed as providing the best education in the world, a bank that is lenient on account holders, etc.).

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Played with, as the main setting itself of the series is "Free Country, USA", and the locations in the series are just as generic. For a few examples, Homestar has a show called... ..."The Show", which seems to be a mix of a comedy talk show, game show, and interview program. Another animation, a Strong Bad Email titled "business trip", takes place at the "Annual Symposium Conference Lecture Seminar Series". And finally, Homestar, Strong Bad, Pom Pom, and Bubs all work at a nondescript, no-name generic cubicle office. Averted with Bubs, who works at a concession stand.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7a7fe364_acc2_4702_9f85_860b8a652868.png]]]]

If your setting takes place in a nondescript town, city, or other location, your production may not be important enough to require specific details for that location, building, or company, such as using the name of a famous enterpeneur, a unique, grand sounding name, or a name that ties it to the state or city. So what do you do? Well... one standby is to give them one that makes them sound important at first glance, but may actually be just as generic as the city itself, if its name wasn't given before; the MathematiciansAnswer of a business name.

* In ''Animation/{{Lamput}}'', the laboratory where the docs work doesn't seem to have a name ''at all'', with its exterior sign simply saying "LAB" and all mentions of it in official materials calling it "the lab/laboratory".

** In ''Literature/JohnnyAndTheDead'', United Holdings (Holdings) PLC is the company behind the real estate development project that drives the plot. Several people ask what the company actually does, and nobody ever gets an answer.

* In ''Series/GoodOmens'', Newt Pulsifer starts his new career as a witch-finder after his status as a WalkingTechbane brings an end to the prospect of an ordinary job at the very ordinary United Holdings (Holdings) PLC.

Related to BlandNameProduct, NoNameGiven, EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep, ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, AcmeProducts, and TropeCo/TropeCo. For the superhero version, see EvilInc. May cross over with WhereTheHellIsSpringfield, if the business takes place in a city that is [[EverytownAmerica also nondescript]].

If your setting takes place in a nondescript town, city, or other location, your production may not be important enough to require specific details, such as using the name of a famous enterpeneur, a unique, grand sounding name, or a name that ties it to the state or city. So what do you do? Well... one standby is to give them one that makes them sound important at first glance, but may actually be just as generic as the city itself, if its name wasn't given before; the MathematiciansAnswer of a business name.

* ''VideoGame/BackyardSports'': The various professional fields in the Backyard Sports series are all generic locations, such as "Pro Sports Arena" and "University State College", "Parks Department #2", and "Big City Stadium".

Other times, the name and/or the exact venture the business performs may not be described, just that they perform business (e.g. "Business, Inc."), or the business may not have a unique trait (e.g. a restaurant with a gimmick or offering flame-broiled burgers with a specific spice or recipe, a college that has been esteemed as providing the best education in the world, a bank that is lenient on account holders, etc.)

[[AC:Asian Animation]]

[[AC:Film - Live-Action]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Web Original]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'': The companies/businesses in the "Frogger" segment are always vague, i.e. "Big City College", "City Bus Co."

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Played with, as the main setting itself of the series is "Free Country, USA", and the locations in the series are just as generic. For a few examples, Homestar has a show called... ..."The Show", which seems to be a mix of a comedy talk show, game show, and interview program. Another animation, a Strong Bad Email titled "business trip", takes place at the "Annual Symposium Conference Lecture Seminar Series". And finally, Homestar, Strong Bad, Pom Pom, and Bubs all work at a nondescript, no-name generic cubicle office.