Expert: Mel - 6/29/2008

Question
What did Rush Sanders do as a job?

Answer
Hi Adub,

By and large, Rush Sanders is in real estate as a high profile property owner.  It's been given various angles throughout the years, however, almost suggesting the writers made things up as they went along or at some point changed his profession.  I'll let you be the judge.  

When we are introduced to Steve's father in "Cuffs and Links", 4.24, all we know is that he's enough of a business man to use golf as a means of networking.  We don't get to hear what business he's actually in, though.  Season 5, his son convinces him to become part owner of the Peach Pit AfterDark nightclub ("The Dreams of Dylan McKay", 5.10),  where he both invests and oversees its development ("Sweating It Out", 5.17).  Steve didn't have to twist his arm and I'd assume would be more likely to suggest business ventures that are already within his father's line of work.  Furthermore, that same season sees Rush negotiate with realtor Ted Stone, father of Griffin Stone, for a way to help dismiss the charges against Steve for the rave he threw in which a house fire broke out "Injustice for All", 5.14).  At one point, Rush falsely accuses Steve of ripping off a key from Mr. Stone's office.  This also mildly supports the idea of him working within the real estate industry.  

Cut to S6, where things become more flexible.  It seems Rush is tight with the president of ITM, a media agency where he secures an internship for Steve, who's supervisor reads scripts, etc. as part of her job.  In S7, "Senior Week" (7.30), Rush tells Steve that he has to get back to the office because "they're breaking in a junior partner".  His son had thoroughly expected to carry on his father's legacy after college, but what that legacy is has yet to be clarified.  By S8, it is, though I must say it feels out of left field for me.  First, in "The Way We Weren't" (8.04), Rush decides to give his son his defunct newspaper/gossip rag business to own and operate, having fired all his employees and driven the business into the ground.  It appears that he owns the building where it was published.  Just two episodes later ("The Right Thing", 8.06), we discover some other businesses under the Sanders eye. Donna is working in the fashion industry at this point, and stumbles across a clothing factory she deems a sweat shop.  As her and Brandon investigate, they find that Sandtrap Properties is the owner of the building, Rush Sanders is the President/CEO of Sandtrap Properties, and - yes, it gets better - that company is also one of the owners of Soho Mix and Match, the business Donna works for. Same episode, we hear Steve say that his father "owns properties all over town", and Rush admit he has people under him who help manage his businesses.  

He seems like a man that acquires and possibly resells various commercial entities and/or the estates they're settled in.  But last we take an in depth look, Rush was basically a deadbeat landlord facing a multitude of legal violations.  

Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel