# Earliest/latest sitcom set in each US state **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 18, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311 "2022-03-18T20:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/201 "2022-03-28T23:39:40Z")
ABC’s currently running version of _The Wonder Years_ is based in Montgomery, Alabama. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/202 "2022-03-29T00:03:11Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I’ve left off _Frank’s Place_ and _Blondie_ for now pending resolution of the questions above. But you can add [The Haunted Hathaways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haunted_Hathaways) (2013-2015) a “supernatural sitcom” set in New Orleans that aired on Nickelodeon. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/203 "2022-03-29T01:06:08Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > _Franks Place_ was a sitcom that used the 30 minute 1 camera sitcom format. It never deviated from that format although at times it took a look a serious issues. > > Can you find any published reference to it being a sitcom? Some Google searches turn up writers calling it a “dramedy” or “comedy–drama” but I didn’t find any calling it a sitcom. By contrast, I did find _Joe Pera Talks With You_ being referred to as a sitcom. I don’t know what to tell you. I watched it and I know what I saw. In particular the episode “Where’s Ed” was one of the funniest half hours I have ever seen, although it did borrow heavily from a particular episode of _Fawlty Towers_. Another sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/204 "2022-03-29T02:03:56Z")
I found [this](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/best-tv-sitcoms-1162237/franks-place-cbs-1987-1988-1163262/) and [this.](https://www.nola.com/300/article_e7abfac0-6ce4-553f-a27d-c547aabb2f23.html). The thing with comedy-dramas or dramedies is that every list I can find includes some shows that are unquestionably sitcoms ( like _The Golden_ _Girls_ and _One Day at A Time_ ) and others that are definitely dramas ( like _Parenthood_ or _This is Us_). They mostly seem to consider every show that both has comedy and and deals with serious issues to be a dramedy, to the point where some of the lists consider either _All in the Family_ or _MASH_ to be the first dramedy. From my memory , Frank’s Place was on the sitcom side and it definitely used the 30 minute sitcom format. ( I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 30 minute network drama) ---
**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:** [March 29, 2022, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/205 "2022-03-29T02:34:17Z")
“Dramedy” was supposed to be more important than sitcom. A dramedy could do a Very Special Episode dealing with subjects like abortion (_The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd_), teen angst (_Doogie Howser, M.D._), etc. without having to deal with that pesky laugh track. Today, of course, you can have a sitcom like _Mom_ whiplash between slapstick and drug overdoses, but 40 years ago, if you wanted a serious subject in a half-hour format you had to make up a new category to sell it to a network. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/206 "2022-03-29T02:46:11Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > ( I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 30 minute network drama) I can only think of two, though there may be more: “Firehouse” and “Chopper One,” both of which were half-hour dramas. They aired in early 1974, and neither lasted very long. I watched both, and while they were entertaining, I had a feeling they wouldn’t last. One was about a fire station and firefighters (the obvious one), the other was about a police helicopter and its crew. There just wasn’t enough time in 22 minutes to develop a good dramatic storyline, and all their plots seemed rushed. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2022, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/207 "2022-03-29T05:13:16Z")
_ **The Rat Patrol** _ was a half-hour war drama on ABC. So was _ **Blue Light** _, also on ABC. The 11-year-old me was very disappointed these weren’t a full hour long like _ **Combat!** _ and other WWII series. I remember when _ **Lou Grant** _ debuted. _ **TV Guide** _ didn’t know how to categorize it, because it was nothing like the show from which it was spun off (_ **MTM** _). It eventually settled on “comedy–drama,” and I think the word “dramedy” was coined soon afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/208 "2022-03-29T05:29:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Rat Patrol** _ was a half-hour war drama on ABC… D’oh! Good call. I loved _The Rat Patrol_ when I was a kid. And it was certainly no comedy. > [@](#): > > I remember when _ **Lou Grant** _ debuted. _ **TV Guide** _ didn’t know how to categorize it, because it was nothing like the show from which it was spun off ( _ **MTM** _ ). It eventually settled on “comedy–drama,” and I think the word “dramedy” was coined soon afterward. As I recall, nobody (critics, audiences, other industry folks and organizations) quite knew what to make of _Lou Grant_ (the show) when it came out. Wasn’t Lou Grant (the character) supposed to be a cantankerous old cuss, who kept a bottle of whiskey in his desk, provided a comedic foil to news people, and hated spunk? And now, we’re all supposed that Lou is a serious newsman, who is the city editor at a major newspaper in Los Angeles? There was some confusion, while the show found its footing. But find its footing it did, and Lou Grant came to be regarded as a serious dramatic character. He had a backstory that came out over time, and included his experience as a TV news producer in Minneapolis, though it was made clear that he began his journalism career in the print medium. Thus, he was completely at home as city editor in the _Los Angeles Tribune_’s city room. Great show. One of my all-time favourite dramas. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/209 "2022-03-29T06:28:13Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I can only think of two, though there may be more: “Firehouse” and “Chopper One,” both of which were half-hour dramas. They aired in early 1974, and neither lasted very long. Well, speaking of emergency services _Adam-12_, and _Dragnet_ come to mind, both half-hour dramas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/210 "2022-03-29T09:35:21Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > > [@doreen](#): > > > > ( I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 30 minute network drama) > > I can only think of two, though there may be more: “Firehouse” and “Chopper One,” both of which were half-hour dramas. _Have Gun – Will Travel_ ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/211 "2022-03-29T12:42:53Z")
> [@Tusculan](#): > > I did find a few, going by the description on Wikipedia: > > - Iowa: > [Nancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_(TV_series)), 1970-71 > [Double Trouble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Trouble_(American_TV_series)), 1984-85 > [Julie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_(TV_series)), 1992 > [Drexell’s Class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drexell%27s_Class), 1991-1992 I find it interesting that two of the four shows set in Iowa involve an outsider getting involved with a veterinarian (the First Daughter and a vet in _Nancy_, a TV personality and a vet in _Julie_). I also find it interesting that as a person who’s lived in Iowa most of my life, I have zero recollection of any of these shows. ---
**Author:** ![thdudescar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thdudescar/32/4638_2.png) [@thdudescar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thdudescar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/212 "2022-03-29T18:49:49Z")
Oklahoma - Reservation Dogs 2021 > **[Reservation Dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservation_Dogs)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Reservation Dogs is an Indigenous American teen comedy drama television series created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi for FX Productions. It is the first series to feature all Indigenous writers and directors, along with an almost entirely Indigenous North American cast and production team. It is also the first series to be filmed entirely in Oklahoma. The series premiered on Hulu under FX on Hulu branding on August 9, 2021 (International D... ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/213 "2022-03-29T19:04:14Z")
> [@thdudescar](#): > > Oklahoma - Reservation Dogs 2021 Looks like another “comedy drama” that emphatically isn’t a sitcom. But then again, I haven’t seen the show myself, so if you have and want to dispute Wikipedia’s categorization, feel free to make your case here. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/214 "2022-03-29T19:08:33Z")
_Reservation Dogs_ is in the same vein as _Atlanta_, _Baskets_, _Search Party_, etc. That weird place between sitcom and drama. ---
**Author:** ![thdudescar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thdudescar/32/4638_2.png) [@thdudescar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thdudescar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/215 "2022-03-29T19:12:10Z")
What Zipper JJ said. And I wouldn’t say it’s emphatically not a sitcom. They’re only 30 minute episodes. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/216 "2022-03-30T02:12:37Z")
_ **The Green Hornet** _ (1966) was another half-hour series on ABC. So was _ **Batman** _, though the two parts of each story were shown back-to-back on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the first year and a half. Of course, opinions vary as to whether these were “dramas.” As far as _ **TV Guide** _ was concerned, _ **Batman** _ was definitely a “comedy,” which annoyed 11-year-old me no end. 😠 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/217 "2022-03-30T20:20:46Z")
Just the same, I’m still holding off on adding it to the table, as there appears to be no consensus here yet. And besides, things often get changed when adapting a work to the small (or big) screen. Has anyone here actually seen either of the two _Blondie_ TV shows? If so, maybe they could enlighten us as to whether the location was ever mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/218 "2022-03-30T20:22:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > _Best of the West_ (1981-1982) was set in the Montana Territory, if that counts. Sure, as long as it’s set in a location that is within the modern borders of Montana, I think it’s allowable. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/219 "2022-03-30T20:27:59Z")
Updated table. I’ve added _Frank’s Place_ per the discussion and references here, but still holding off on _Blondie_ pending better evidence. I’ve also added an entry of my own—_[Napoleon Dynamite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Dynamite_%28TV_series%29)_ (Idaho, 2012). | State | Earliest sitcom | Starting year | Latest sitcom | Ending year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Alabama | Hart of Dixie | 2011 | The Wonder Years | ongoing | | Alaska | The Last Frontier | 1996 | The Great North | ongoing | | Arizona | Alice | 1976 | The Last Man on Earth [first season only] | 2015 | | Arkansas | Evening Shade | 1990 | Evening Shade | 1994 | | California | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | 1950 | Grown-ish | ongoing | | Colorado | Mork & Mindy | 1978 | South Park | ongoing | | Connecticut | I Love Lucy [last season only] | 1956 | B Positive | ongoing | | Delaware | Whatever Happened to… Robot Jones? | 2000 | Whatever Happened to… Robot Jones? | 2003 | | Florida | I Dream of Jeannie | 1965 | Fresh off the Boat | 2020 | | Georgia | Carter Country | 1977 | Designing Women | 1993 | | Hawaii | The Little People | 1972 | Big Wave Dave’s | 1993 | | Idaho | Napoleon Dynamite | 2012 | The Grinder | 2016 | | Illinois | The Chicago Teddy Bears | 1971 | The Conners | ongoing | | Indiana | One Day at a Time | 1975 | The Middle | 2018 | | Iowa | Nancy | 1970 | Drexell’s Class | 1992 | | Kansas | The Phil Silvers Show | 1955 | The Phil Silvers Show | 1959 | | Kentucky | Call Me Kat | 2021 | Call Me Kat | ongoing | | Louisiana | Frank’s Place | 1987 | The Haunted Hathaways | 2015 | | Maine | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | 1968 | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | 1970 | | Maryland | Hot l Baltimore | 1975 | Cuts | 2006 | | Massachusetts | Cheers | 1982 | Wings | 1997 | | Michigan | Home Improvement | 1991 | Bob Hearts Abishola | ongoing | | Minnesota | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | 1970 | The Louie Show | 1996 | | Mississippi | Tammy | 1965 | Tammy | 1966 | | Missouri | AfterMASH | 1983 | The John Larroquette Show | 1996 | | Montana | Best of the West | 1981 | Best of the West | 1982 | | Nebraska | Bless This Mess | 2019 | Bless This Mess | 2020 | | Nevada | Blansky’s Beauties | 1977 | LA to Vegas | 2018 | | New Hampshire | Willy | 1954 | Ichabod and Me | 1962 | | New Jersey | Charles in Charge | 1984 | Bob’s Burgers | ongoing | | New Mexico | Guestward Ho | 1960 | Guestward Ho | 1961 | | New York | Mary Kay and Johnny | 1947 | Ghosts | ongoing | | North Carolina | The Andy Griffith Show | 1960 | Bless the Harts | 2021 | | North Dakota | | | | | | Ohio | Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | 1976 | United States of Al | ongoing | | Oklahoma | The Torkelsons | 1991 | Center of the Universe | 2005 | | Oregon | Delta House | 1979 | Everything Sucks | 2018 | | Pennsylvania | The Tony Randall Show | 1976 | The Goldbergs | ongoing | | Rhode Island | Doctor, Doctor | 1989 | Family Guy | ongoing | | South Carolina | | | | | | South Dakota | | | | | | Tennessee | Filthy Rich | 1982 | Still the King | 2017 | | Texas | The Rounders | 1966 | Young Sheldon | ongoing | | Utah | | | | | | Vermont | Newhart | 1982 | Newhart | 1990 | | Virginia | American Dad! | 2005 | American Dad! | ongoing | | Washington | Here Come the Brides | 1968 | Tacoma FD | ongoing | | West Virginia | The Real McCoys | 1957 | The Real McCoys | 1963 | | Wisconsin | Happy Days | 1974 | That '70s Show | 2006 | | Wyoming | | | | | ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311/220 "2022-03-30T20:56:51Z")
Sorry, not in the spirit of the original question, but I had to mention _It’s About Time_ (1966-1967) by Sherwood Schwartz (the fine person who brought you _Gilligan’s Island_). The first episodes were set in prehistoric times. If you can accept that the modern people sent back in time were shifted in time but not place - it would be a VERY early Florida sitcom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-latest-sitcom-set-in-each-us-state/961311.md?page=12)