# American Sit-coms that never took place in America. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342 "2016-01-16T19:38:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/81 "2016-01-17T04:20:40Z")
I found one other sitcom with a WWII setting, **Ensign O’Toole**. **Far Out Space Nuts** , yet another attempt by poor Bob Denver to have a career, has him accidentally launched into space, so I assume that part of the first episode is set in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/82 "2016-01-17T04:33:29Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > St:tos Not a sitcom. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Not quite. Even if you don’t count the occasional subspace video chat with an admiral back at Starfleet HQ, there was also that episode with Teri Garr in it that took place in modern-day USA (_Assignment: Earth_). > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > And the one where Edith Keeler Must Die. There was also “Tomorrow is Yesterday,” which was the first time the Enterprise traveled back in time. Kirk and Sulu beamed down to the air force base to retrieve film of the Enterprise taken by Capt. Christopher’s wing cameras. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/83 "2016-01-17T04:34:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There was the occasional scene of characters on leave in Tokyo. it wasn’t seoul? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/84 "2016-01-17T04:40:26Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > On Earth okay, but was it in America? (It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the series.) I just saw this one last month. Yeah, it was in Vermont. Will tried to get in touch with Alpha Control to launch a rescue mission for his family, but couldn’t get anybody to take him seriously. He managed to get back to his beamdown point in time to return to his point of origin. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/85 "2016-01-17T04:41:29Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > it wasn’t seoul? That’s what I thought. I think they only show the characters going to Seoul. In the episode, “For Want of a Boot”, the dentist wants a leave to go to Japan, but I think that’s the closest any of the characters get to Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/86 "2016-01-17T04:43:39Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yeah, it was in Vermont. Will tried to get in touch with Alpha Control to launch a rescue mission for his family, but couldn’t get anybody to take him seriously. He managed to get back to his beamdown point in time to return to his point of origin. I think there’s another episode (it’s in color, so it’s either 2nd or 3rd season) where they get back to Earth, somewhere in America, but the locals form a mob to get rid of the aliens. Of course Smith joins the mob. I forgot how it ended. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/87 "2016-01-17T04:49:02Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I think there’s another episode (it’s in color, so it’s either 2nd or 3rd season) where they get back to Earth, somewhere in America, but the locals form a mob to get rid of the aliens. Of course Smith joins the mob. I forgot how it ended. That is the one I’m thinking of. It’s been a long time since I saw that. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/88 "2016-01-17T06:20:13Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Outsourced was a sitcom on NBC a couple of years ago about an American guy managing a call center in India. The first episode might have started in the US; I can’t remember. But the majority of the episodes were set in India. That was the first one I thought of. I liked that show! ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/89 "2016-01-17T06:57:06Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The UK comedy Allo Allo (85 episodes) was set entirely in WWII-era France. It did include a few scenes in London though, disqualifying it. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/90 "2016-01-17T07:41:26Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There was the occasional scene of characters on leave in Tokyo. Still outside the United States, though. If you want to get really, _really_ nitpicky, there was the episode in which Hawkeye and BJ (or maybe it was Trapper; I can’t remember if it was one of the earlier episodes or not) find and watch Frank’s wedding home movie. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/91 "2016-01-17T12:02:44Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > **Red Dwarf** had at least a couple of flashback scenes that took place in England, such as the opening of “Ouroboros.” Heck, one episode was partly set in Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/92 "2016-01-17T12:06:51Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Still outside the United States, though. If you want to get really, _really_ nitpicky, there was the episode in which Hawkeye and BJ (or maybe it was Trapper; I can’t remember if it was one of the earlier episodes or not) find and watch Frank’s wedding home movie. Well, now that you mention it, Henry Blake and Radar O’Reilly also got movies from home, but I’d be willing to give that a pass since there were other episodes where the characters watch commercial films like _The Moon is Blue_ and _History is Made at Night_ but I wouldn’t consider the episodes “set” where those movies were. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/93 "2016-01-17T12:29:20Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Still outside the United States, though. If you want to get really, _really_ nitpicky, there was the episode in which Hawkeye and BJ (or maybe it was Trapper; I can’t remember if it was one of the earlier episodes or not) find and watch Frank’s wedding home movie. Yep, Radar, Henry and BJ had shown home movies too. Gary Burghoff was dressed as Radar’s mother. Henry’s had some sort of back yard BBQ. Neighbor was a gynecologist. BJ was when he was obsessing over his anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/94 "2016-01-17T13:19:02Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Still outside the United States, though. If you want to get really, _really_ nitpicky, there was the episode in which Hawkeye and BJ (or maybe it was Trapper; I can’t remember if it was one of the earlier episodes or not) find and watch Frank’s wedding home movie. Ultimate nitpick: On his way home, Radar struck up a romance with a cute WAC while waiting for his flight somewhere in the continental US … Oklahoma? (I haven’t watched _MAS_H\*\*\* for at least 20 years now.) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/95 "2016-01-17T13:22:55Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > That’s what I thought. I think they only show the characters going to Seoul. In the episode, “For Want of a Boot”, the dentist wants a leave to go to Japan, but I think that’s the closest any of the characters get to Japan. Charles Emerson Winchester was stationed in Tokyo when they first introduced him, if I’m not mistaken. Didn’t Hawkeye’s court martial for leading a mutiny against Frank Burns also take place in Tokyo? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/96 "2016-01-17T13:29:11Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Depending on the definition of sitcom, **Lillyhammer** would qualify. It is more comedy than anything else, though it’s a hour long. The first episode had scenes set in the States (NYC, IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/97 "2016-01-17T13:32:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Conreid was also on \*\*\*Gilligan’s Island \*\*\*as the aviator Wrong Way Feldman. And Vito Scotti played the Japanese sailor with the miniature submarine who didn’t know WWII was over! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/98 "2016-01-17T20:42:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And Vito Scotti played the Japanese sailor with the miniature submarine who didn’t know WWII was over! He was also mayor of the tiny Italian town of Voltafiore in the final season of _ **McHale’s Navy** _. Now I’m wondering if he was ever a guest star on _ **F Troop** _. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/99 "2016-01-17T20:49:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > He was also mayor of the tiny Italian town of Voltafiore in the final season of _ **McHale’s Navy** _. > > Now I’m wondering if he was ever a guest star on _ **F Troop** _. 😕 IMDB doesn’t list him for F Troop. Hard to believe there was a 60s sitcom he wasn’t in. F Troop was a real showcase of 60s stars, you’ll find Henry Gibson, J. Pat O’Malley, Julie Newmar, Jamie Farr, Lee Meriwether, Vic Tayback, Harvey Korman, and Don Rickles in that lot. I think Storch played a dual part in at least one episode and he may have looked and sounded much like Scotti doing that. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342/100 "2016-01-17T21:23:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think Storch played a dual part in at least one episode and he may have looked and sounded much like Scotti doing that. Yes … he was the Bandit of Banff-ff! :eek: Paul Lynde was, I think, “The Singing Mountie” in one episode (maybe the same one?), but turned out to be an impostor. Who was the real “Singing Mountie” who turned up at the end of that episode? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-sit-coms-that-never-took-place-in-america/743342.md?page=6)