# Biggest city without a TV show based in it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086 "2003-01-01T20:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/41 "2003-01-04T11:57:15Z")
The list I posted was from the 1990 census; I couldn’t find such a list from the 2000, but, fortunately, others could. Fresno had a mini-series set there called, hmmm, let me think, it’ll come to me in a minute. Oh, yeah, _Fresno_. It looks like the winner is San Jose. ---
**Author:** ![thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@thirdshiftgrottoslack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdshiftgrottoslack)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/42 "2003-01-04T14:14:13Z")
the original “saved by the bell” was set in indianapolis. somehow everyone moved together to bayside in the second incarnation of this execrable show. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/43 "2003-01-04T19:13:36Z")
Was there ever one in San Diego? _CPO Sharkey_ perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/44 "2003-01-04T19:22:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flowerchild \* > \*\*I though, in the sense of land area that Jacksonville is like the biggest city in the country. They should have a show by now, shouldnt they? \*\* Jacksonville is a banking and insurance town. Those are two gripping potential dramas, eh? We’ve got the ocean, but not worthy of a Baywatch scenario. There’s the Naval Air Station but none of the sexy airplanes fly outta there - no one cares about P-3s and S-3s. There are ships at Naval Station Mayport - can we try for a rehash of McHale’s Navy? Doubtful. The land is being over-developed. It’s all flat and sand. Nothing exciting happens here. I live here and I don’t think I’d watch a show about anything local. Does that answer your question?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/45 "2003-01-04T22:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harvey The Heavy \* > \*\*Was there ever one in San Diego? _CPO Sharkey_ perhaps? \*\* _Simon & Simon_ was set there. CPO Sharkey too, but S&S was probably the longest lasting San Diego series. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/46 "2003-01-05T00:09:31Z")
Was there ever a show set in Pittsburgh? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/47 "2003-01-05T00:15:18Z")
I hope whatever city it is will put up a welcome sign that says “Welcome to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ The largest city without a TV show based in it.” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/48 "2003-01-05T02:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*Jacksonville is a banking and insurance town. Those are two gripping potential dramas, eh? . . . > > It’s all flat and sand. Nothing exciting happens here. I live here and I don’t think I’d watch a show about anything local. > > Does that answer your question?? 😃 \*\* Maybe so, but didn’t _The Creature From the Black Lagoon_ take at least part of his rampage through Jacksonville? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/49 "2003-01-05T03:05:53Z")
Pittsburgh: _Mr. Belvedere_ ---
**Author:** ![JaxBeachBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JaxBeachBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaxBeachBoy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/50 "2003-01-05T04:41:17Z")
It’s all flat and sand pretty much describes all of Fla though, that’s not much of a Jacksonville only trait. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/51 "2003-01-05T05:19:41Z")
Houston had _Houston Medical_, which no one outside of Houston watched. Meh. Tulsa is definitely in the running, but what about Denver or St. Louis? Baltimore? ---
**Author:** ![OrganicMatter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/898d66/32.png) [@OrganicMatter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OrganicMatter)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/52 "2003-01-05T06:05:51Z")
Baltimore: Homicide ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/53 "2003-02-08T03:26:35Z")
I have been thinking about this since we were discussing it and I offer Malcolm in the Middle as taking place in the great state of Alabama. Francis’ Military School was in Alabama. That was a major setting for the show. I think it should bump Bama from the list! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/54 "2003-02-08T08:01:24Z")
Hmm… anyone know of any shows set in Atlanta? Which isn’t a large city (by the numbers), but a pretty damned big metro area. ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/55 "2003-02-08T08:08:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > \*\*Hmm… anyone know of any shows set in Atlanta? Which isn’t a large city (by the numbers), but a pretty damned big metro area. \*\* Designing Women ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/56 "2003-02-08T14:33:58Z")
or Matlock… ---
**Author:** ![Realhoops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8dc957/32.png) [@Realhoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Realhoops)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/57 "2003-02-08T20:57:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > \*\*I have been thinking about this since we were discussing it and I offer Malcolm in the Middle as taking place in the great state of Alabama. > > Francis’ Military School was in Alabama. That was a major setting for the show. I think it should bump Bama from the list! \*\* … well, except that the question was largest _city_ without a show, not largest _state_. Unless I misunderstood the OP, which wouldn’t be the first time … ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/58 "2003-02-09T00:22:57Z")
So, are there any shows in Tampa, then? I go by metro area, as no one really believes Boston is smaller than San Antonio. San Antonio’s city limits include suburban areas, where Boston’s do not. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/59 "2003-02-09T14:44:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Realhoops \* > \*\*… well, except that the question was largest _city_ without a show, not largest _state_. Unless I misunderstood the OP, which wouldn’t be the first time … \*\* No, you are correct, but there is a second list either in this thread or the other that has largest STATE without a show. That was listed as Alabama! I should have been more specific! ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086/60 "2003-02-09T14:46:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alphagene \* > OK, for those of you who didn’t see or won’t click the link **hajario** has kindly provided, we came to the following conclusions: > … > > \*\*The most populous state without a show is Alabama. \*\* The largest metropolitan area without one is Tampa-St. Petersburg [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-city-without-a-tv-show-based-in-it/146086.md?page=4)