A previous thread in GQ got me thinking… and I thought I have no idea how you’d figure it out, but what’s the largest American city that hasn’t had a TV show based in it?
Houston was mentioned as a possibility… but we have some evidence. Philadelphia? I can’t remember one taking place there, but I may be mistaken.
According to the US Census, these are the top cities for 2000. Which ones haven’t had TV shows based in them?
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Philadelphia, PA
San Diego, CA
Detroit, MI
Dallas, TX
Phoenix, AZ
San Antonio, TX
Was “Matt Houston” actually set in Houston? I remember its being in Texas, and it’s an Aaron Spelling show, so I wouldn’t put it past them to do something that cheesy. Although, after looking around the internet for more info, I’m starting to suspect I didn’t give the show enough credit when it was on. Here’s from an episode guide:
“A restaurant critic’s (James Coco) dinner is disrupted when a gelatin mold brought to his table contains his partner’s severed head.”
And I can’t think of a show set in Philly yet, but I did see this announcement for this fall:
>>PHILLY From producer/writer Steven Bochco, this series stars NYPD BLUE alumnus Kim Delaney as a tough Philadelphia defense attorney.<<
Houston had the awful “Houston Knights” (1987), a cookie-cutter cop show starring the pathetic Michael Pare. Despite the name, I don’t believe “Matt Houston” was set in Houston (it was just his last name).
Philadelphia had “The Tony Randall Show”; Randall played a Philadelphia judge. Also, “thirtysomething” was set in Philly, and was ocassionally filmed there. Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine” is set in Philly.
Phoenix–“Alice” was set in and around there. I think “The New Dick van Dyke Show” (1971) was set there, too.
Chicago–“Chicago Sons” and “Due South” (though the later was mostly filmed in Canada).
New York and LA–too many to list.
Dallas–the obvious one is “Dallas”, but there’s also “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
Detroit–the short-lived “God, the Devil and Bob”, along with “Robocop–the Series”.
San Diego–“Harry O”, “Manhunt”, “Simon and Simon.”
I can’t find anything that was set in San Antonio, so I think that’s your answer.
Boston - Cheers
Milwaukee - Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days
Memphis - ?
Baltimore - Homicide: Life on the Streets
Austin - ?
Columbus - ?
Jacksonville - ?
San Francisco - The Streets of San Francisco
Indianapolis - One Day at a Time
San Jose - ?
The next contender is … drum roll please … San Jose
“That 70s Show” is set in the (fictional) Wisconsin city of Point Place. Although I can see how you might get the impression that they’re really from sunny CA, since the characters are always running around outside in the dead of winter with nothing but jeans and long-sleeved tee-shirts on.
Huh. Weird. I admit I got that from a website. I hate the show and never watch it. The list is getting smaller anyway… These are from this city’s film commission:
Doesn’t appear that any TV shows set in Memphis or San Jose. I tried both a plot and a location search at IMDB, came up empty.
Are you sure about “Walker, TR”, Fallafel? I checked IMDB and not only does the summary say he solves crimes in and around Dallas, but the locations for filming list Dallas (as well as Fort Worth).
