I feel it is more of an "in the script" sort of thing. When you have someone watching a television show, especially catching someone flipping through the channels who stops for the first time, the writers/scriptwriters seem to feel some overkill is needed so that the new viewer understands what that person represents in the show. I doubt those persons in real careers are quite so covered in shirts, jackets, hats and badges displaying who they are.

I'm not a writer or scriptwriter and have nothing to do with the television industry, just my $0.02 worth.