# Largest City without a TV Show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2001, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011 "2001-08-13T09:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/21 "2001-08-13T16:03:17Z")
I searched for television/film commissions in the remaining cities - Memphis and San Jose. The [San Jose Film & Video Commission](http://www.sanjose.org/filmvideo/) lists several shows which were filmed there in part. It appears that the Mr. Wizard’s World (MWW) series was filmed in San Jose\*. That program didn’t use location shoots (IIRC) - which would disqualify shows such as Rescue 911 and Unsolved Mysteries which only filmed segments. Since San Jose didn’t figure into the show because of it’s format, I don’t think it qualifies under the OPers original question. The [Memphis Film and Television Commission](http://www.memphisfilmcomm.org/) does not have a list of shoots. So, If MWW counts, the final city is **Memphis** , otherwise, it’s still **San Jose**. [sub]\* I always thought that MWW was shot in Canada. :)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/22 "2001-08-13T16:28:08Z")
I didn’t think we were counting non-fiction shows (Mister Wizard is classified as non-fiction as is Rescue 911 and Unsolved Mysteries) in this. If we are, then both cities have local news programs. ---
**Author:** ![KeithB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@KeithB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/23 "2001-08-13T16:38:30Z")
What about “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”? Was that in San Jose or Oakland? ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/24 "2001-08-13T17:09:04Z")
“Martin” was also set in Detroit, I believe – and there was another short-lived show set here, but I don’t remember what it was called… ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/25 "2001-08-13T17:20:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KeithB \* > \*\*What about “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”? Was that in San Jose or Oakland? \*\* It was Oakland, from [Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper](http://www.norcalmovies.com/Hangin'WithMrCooper/). There is a terrific site for Film and TV shot in Northern California at [Northern California Movies](http://www.norcalmovies.com/). A few movies have been shot in San Jose (Mad City, Flubber, EDtv, What Dreams May Come) but no _fictional_ TV shows. San Jose is our winner. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/26 "2001-08-13T17:45:23Z")
No, it’s tied with Memphis, which also has never had a TV show set in it. I think we confused the issue once we started including TV shows that had been filmed (as opposed as set in) a particular city. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/27 "2001-08-13T19:28:45Z")
I don’t think so Guy. All of the shows we’ve counted so far are actually set in the location listed. Of the top 20 cities by population, only two have not had programs based on them. I’ll compile what we have so far: New York - Friends, et al. Los Angeles - Starsky and Hutch Chicago - E.R., Due South Houston - Houston Knights Philadelphia - Thirtysomething, Angie, Tony Randall Show San Diego - Harry O, Mahunt, Simon and Simon Detroit - Martin Dallas - Dallas Phoenix - Alice San Antonio - The Brothers Garcia **San Jose** Indianapolis - One Day at a Time San Francisco - The Streets of San Francisco Jacksonville - Safe Harbor, The Pointman Columbus - Family Ties Austin - Austin Stories, Lonesome Dove Baltimore - Homicide: Life on the Streets **Memphis** Milwaukee - Happy Days, LAverne & Shirley Boston - Cheers San Jose’s population is ~894,943 and Memphis is ~650,100. I’m having fun with this topic, so let’s go further down the list and find more suspect cities. It gets a lot thinner. I’ve highlighted the one’s for which I couldn’t find a TV series. Here’s 21-50. Washington, D.C - The District **Nashville** **El Paso** Seattle - Frasier Denver - Dynasty **Charlotte, NC** **Fort Worth, TX** Portland, OR - Hello, Larry Oklahoma City, OK **Tucson, AZ** New Orleans, LA - Longstreet Las Vegas, NV - CSI Cleveland, Ohio - The Drew Carey Show Long Beach, CA - Popular? Albuquerque - The Man and the City, Nakia Kansas City, MO - The Popcorn Kid **Fresno** **Virginia Beach, VA** Atlanta, GA - Designing Women **Sacramento** Oakland, CA - Hangin With Mr. Cooper **Mesa, AZ** **Tulsa, OK** **Omaha, Neb.** Minneapolis, MN - Mary Tyler Moore Show Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Five-O Miami - Miami Vice Colorado Springs, CO - Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman **St. Louis, MO** **Wichita, KS** I hope someone can come along and fill in the blanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/28 "2001-08-13T20:24:33Z")
Nashville–I’m not 100% sure, but I think “Delta”, starring Delta Burke, was set in this city. El Paso–I got nothin’. Charlotte, NC–possibly “Probe”, starring Parker Stevenson, but that’s a guess. Fort Worth–we got some people claming “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Tucson–nada Fresno–okay, I officially surrender. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/29 "2001-08-13T20:30:52Z")
If we can count miniseries, Fresno was the featured location of “Fresno!”, a spoof of Dallas and Dynasty starring Carol Burnett as the wealthy raisin-farm heiress. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/30 "2001-08-13T20:48:29Z")
I can’t believe no one has mentioned “McLoud”, with Dennis Weaver riding his horse through downtown Houston. As for St. Louis, I seem to remember Grace Under Fire was set near there. But there was a short-lived TV series based on the movie Parenthood, which was set in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood. [http://us.imdb.com/Title?0098887](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0098887) ---
**Author:** ![gorewonfla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@gorewonfla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorewonfla)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/31 "2001-08-13T20:52:53Z")
Well, take off Fort Worth, because it was already revealed that Walker, Texas Ranger took place there. There was a TV show called “Nashville 99” that lasted about a week in the 70s, so you can cross of Nashville. If variety shows count, there’s always the Grand Ole Opry. I’m not sure if miniseries count here, but there was a mini called “Fresno” that was a spoof of “Dallas.” It was a riot, as we learned about the scandalous raisin industry. Wichita managed to snag a series. “Wichita Town” was a series for a year 1959-60. Thank god for IMDB. Also, it’s offensive that you use “The District” as the series representing DC when “The West Wing” is readily available. Inspired, I put together a list of states with TV shows taking place in them. Many of these came through the IMDB search of plot keywords, so I may not be totally correct for some. In order of population: California: Starsky & Hutch Texas: Dallas New York: Friends Florida: Miami Vice Illinois: E.R. Pennsylvania: thirtysomething Ohio: WKRP Cincinnati Michigan: Martin New Jersey: The Sopranos Georgia: Designing Women North Carolina: The Andy Griffith Show Virginia: Another Life Massachusetts: Boston Public Indiana: One Day at a Time Washington: Frasier Tennesee: Grand Ole Opry Missouri: Grace Under Fire Wisconsin: Happy Days Maryland: Homicide: Life in the Streets Arizona: Alice Minnesota: Mary Tyler Moore Show Louisiana: Longstreet Alabama: Colorado: Dynasty Kentucky: The Wonderful John Acton South Carolina: American Gothic Oklahoma: Cimarron City Oregon: Hello, Larry Connecticut: Who’s the Boss Iowa: Apple’s Way Mississippi: Kansas: Witchita Town Arkansas: Evening Shade Utah: Nevada: CSI New Mexico: The Man and the City West Virginia: Hawkins Nebraska: Cool Million Idaho: Maine: Murder, She Wrote New Hampshire: Willy (part) Hawaii: Hawaii Five-O Montana: Buckskin Delaware: South Dakota: Little House on the Prairie North Dakota: Alaska: Northern Exposure Vermont: Newhart DC: The West Wing Wyoming: Laramie Alabama, Mississippi, Utah, Idaho, Delaware and North Dakota were the only ones I couldn’t find. If only we knew where Hazzard County was. ---
**Author:** ![gorewonfla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@gorewonfla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gorewonfla)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/32 "2001-08-13T21:00:10Z")
oops, I left out Rhode Island and “Family Guy.” ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/33 "2001-08-13T21:04:04Z")
I know there’s some show that’s currently out that’s set in Sacramento, CA (although it might actually be set somewhere nearby like Rancho Cordova). I think it’s on Disney or Nickelodeon, in fact I’ll check. Actually, it’s probably Disney’s “Even Stevens”, for which I found a few quick references. I figured “Small Wonder” was set somewhere like San Jose, but I couldn’t find out quickly where it was set, although I did find mention that the parents (that would be Vicky’s ‘grandparents’) lived in Omaha, also on the list. I don’t think the whole show was set there, however, so it probably doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/34 "2001-08-13T21:05:10Z")
**St. Louis, MO** – _The John Larroquette Show_. Great show. A lot of Doper fans as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/35 "2001-08-13T21:05:13Z")
_maybe_ Dweebs? [http://www.i-wish.org.uk/dweebs/detroit95.htm](http://www.i-wish.org.uk/dweebs/detroit95.htm) I couldn’t find anything about where it was set, but Silicon Valley seems likely. Don’t worry if you don’t remember ‘Dweebs.’ Cancelled after 6 shows. ---
**Author:** ![altor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@altor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/altor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/36 "2001-08-13T21:05:56Z")
For the expanded cities list: Sacramento – Eight is Enough ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/37 "2001-08-13T21:13:18Z")
Mississippi had _In the Heat of the Night_, with Carroll O’Conner. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/38 "2001-08-13T21:19:00Z")
Fox Family Channel’s _State of Grace_ is set in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is somewhere around the 402nd biggest “city” in the US. Cross it off the list when the list gets that big. ---
**Author:** ![SolomonGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SolomonGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolomonGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/39 "2001-08-13T21:21:44Z")
While you guys are changing “The District” to “The West Wing” to represent DC, please change Atlanta, Georgia’s entry from “Designing Women” to “Matlock.” I’ve already gone on about it in another topic, but “Designing Women” makes me even more ashamed to be a Georgian than that whole confederacy business. And the question of “where is Hazzard County” came up – I don’t remember if they ever said explicitly in the show, but much of it was filmed in GA, as a matter of fact in my hometown of Conyers, GA. Sah-loot! I seem to remember hearing that they intentionally never named the state in the series though – I don’t remember if that was to let all southern states share in the pride, or so as not to offend any of them. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011/40 "2001-08-13T21:27:37Z")
**Tucson** _High Chaparral_. The show was mostly set on a ranch, but when they went to town, the town they went to was Tucson. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-city-without-a-tv-show/76011.md?page=3)