Government Cheese: Are Rocketcorp and Evan Rush Designs Real Companies?

Apple TV+’s ‘Government Cheese’ follows the story of a man trying to reform his ways, but meeting several challenges along the way. The protagonist is Hampton Chambers, who has spent his time in prison for cheque fraud, but now, he is focused on inventing something that will change his and his family’s fortunes. The invention in question is a self-sharpening drill, and he wants to sell it to a company called Rocket Corp, which mainly works in space tech. Meanwhile, his wife works as a receptionist for a company called Evan Rush Designs, but her talents are wasted there, partly because she, too, hesitates to take the initiative.

The Fictional Companies Highlight the Chambers’ Aspirations

‘Government Cheese’ is a majorly fictional story, which is loosely inspired by the show’s co-creator, Paul Hunter’s life and family. He wrote about the character of Hampton Chambers with his father in mind while also integrating some of his experience working as a drill salesman. The company’s headquarters are in Chatsworth, which also serves as the major setting for the show. In real life, there is a space-based company called Rocketdyne, which also has a building in Chatsworth’s hills. Established in 1955, it used to be a rocket engine design and production company and functioned as a part of North American Aviation. However, over the years, it was acquired by other companies.

In 2013, it came under the ownership of GenCorp, Inc., and was merged to form Aerojet Rocketdyne. Due to Hunter’s upbringing in the San Fernando Valley in the 70s, it is fair to assume that Rocketdyne would have been a prominent thing for the neighbourhood he lived in. It is possible that he based Rocket Corp on it, but there is no official confirmation of it. In the same vein, Evan Rush Designs is also a fictional company that was created to serve the plotline of Astoria Chambers, who has been trying to find her own identity since her husband’s imprisonment.

Astoria clearly has a talent for interior design and wishes to have a career in it, but she is limited to the position of receptionist because her boss sees her as such and nothing more. Over time, she realises that she may have been limiting herself by seeing herself with the same mindset. Thus, the company becomes a tool for her to come into her own and create the life for herself that she has always dreamed of. As for bringing both companies to life, the show was filmed in and around the San Fernando Valley to bring more character and authenticity to them.