"These occupations not only promise the opportunity to save and improve lives, but they pay well and there are plenty of openings and chances to advance," Gov. Rendell said in a news release touting the video, in which he makes a freakish animatronic cameo.
"And who's better than a giant rapping groundhog to get the attention of young people?"
See for yourself at http://go.philly.com/ghogvideo.
Government gone wild?
G-Hog is the brainchild of 46-year-old Shannon Powers in the Department of Labor and Industry's press office. Faced with dwindling resources to hype health careers to high schoolers, she thought a viral video campaign might reach "teens where they live - online."
The cheesier, the better. Think MC Hammer popping-and-locking in hospital scrubs, only wearing a groundhog suit with buck teeth and a giant gold "PA" keystone pendant as bling.
"We wanted to have the LifeLine helicopter land outside the Capitol and have the groundhog get out," Powers acknowledged. "But everyone told me no, that would be a security risk for legislators."
An intern suggested that the groundhog rap about respiratory therapy and the 15 other occupations crying out for new workers.
Every rapper needs backup dancers, so Powers recruited her 16-year-old daughter, two other teens and her hairdresser.
"I did the props," Powers said. "They didn't like the headbands."
Powers and another press officer, Rebecca Halton, wrote the rap, which actually includes lines like "The Commonwealth has health careers, but peeps is what we lack. So turn it up, turn it out - health careers ain't whack."
And just when you think it can't get worse, G-Hog spits out this rhyme: "I may eat trash on highways and practice hibernation. Think you should give health careers some real consideration."
