Just once I'd like to see a show about postal workers or trashmen or even construction crews. Anything but another cop/doctor/lawyer show. A truly gifted writer could make a show about almost anything interesting.
I couldn't remember any shows that centered around postal workers. Seinfeld had a regular character and a few episodes about the postal system (but then that show had an episode about almost everything). But it did make me think about "Get a Life" which starred an adult paperboy http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=76500&lid=7
Construction crews was the same, I could think of several shows off the top of my head that center around the "idea" but none that landed right on it. There's Arrested Development which centers around a land development company (but really isn't about that all that much). Home Improvement, which isn't actually about home improvement and is more about a guy who has a show about tools. You said "show" but I'm guessing you meant sitcom/drama based on context so that rules out Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, since that's really reality-vertising. No worries, I'm sure someone on HN will figure this one out.
A truly gifted writer could make a show about almost anything interesting
I totally agree, including a cop/doctor/lawyer show. :o) One of my favorites was "Ed" on NBC ... first season only, though (http://stuckeyville.com).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319690
IMHO, it was at least as good as the endless Cop permutations on the tube. Probably better. It still bombed.
People like the cop,doctor,lawyer shows because they are all the same. They don't have to trouble their brains loading a new context. Its just the same show over and over with a slight ratcheting of the shock value of the crimes and or medical problems. Toss in a "very special episode" dealing with some social problem du jour and you've got it done without much effort from viewer of producer.