The Good Place showrunner Michael Schur insists that he didn’t name Michael, the bowtie-wearing architect of the afterlife played by Ted Danson, after himself. But you don’t have to squint too hard to see the similarities between the two.
Ultimately, for the first season-and-a-half of The Good Place, Michael (psychopomp edition) is a man who pitches a big idea to his bosses and, after it gets off to a difficult start, lands a second chance by reimagining his creation. As the co-creator of Parks & Recreation – a show which only really blossomed after its first season, when it was given a not-so-soft reboot – Schur might be able to relate.
Source: IGN.com Why The Good Place's Season 3 Twist May Be Its Best Yet