# The American setting requirement for TV shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310 "2009-06-01T02:17:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/1 "2009-06-01T02:17:04Z")
I was discussing old movies with someone and we were noticing that many American movies of the 30’s and 40’s were based in other countries, often without the American starring role required today. But back to TV, I don’t recall any TV shows set in other countries, except American GIs in Stalag 17, MASH, and McHale’s Navy. And a couple like I Spy that traveled a lot. I must be forgetting some that were simply non-military series outside the US, Other than imported British series originally aired there. What others were there? Do you think anyone would dare that today? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/2 "2009-06-01T02:24:33Z")
You occasionally get a show that’s set in a medieval or other historical setting, or otherwise non-modern, such as Xena or The Tudors. And of course many science fiction shows aren’t set on Earth at all, much less America. But if you don’t have any particular reason to make a show _not_ be set in America, then why not go with what’s easiest? Your filming locations are in America, most of your stars have American accents, most of your audience identifies most closely with America, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/3 "2009-06-01T02:33:52Z")
American movies in the 30s and 40s were shot on sound stages (Humphrey Bogart made his first 39 films – out of 77 – without going on location for **High Sierra** ). So it was easy to set something in another country. If you wanted Paris, you did an establishing shot of stock footage of the Eiffel Tower and the rest in the studio. Early TV was studio-based, too, but there were fewer films and less reason to set them outside the US. You could fake Paris for a two-hour movie, but an ongoing series wouldn’t look much different than one set in the US – and US audiences could relate to US actors in US locations. Another show set outside the US was **Daktari** , set in Africa. There was also **Cowboy in Africa** and **Born Free.** The exoticism of Africa made it a good location (even though the shows were shot in the US). **I Love Lucy** had a series of shows where they traveled in (soundstage) Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/4 "2009-06-01T02:35:33Z")
There was _Daktari_ in the '60s, set in Africa. And _Tales of the Gold Monkey_ in the '80s, set in the South Pacific. EDIT: Dammit, **RealityChuck**! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/5 "2009-06-01T02:41:11Z")
_Mission: Impossible_ took place in a variety of foreign (often fictional) countries. I’m guessing _The Man from UNCLE_ (which I’ve never seen) was probably the same. _Tarzan_ and _Bring 'em Back Alive_ were also African adventures. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/6 "2009-06-01T02:50:59Z")
Short-lived but amusing, [Cafe Americain](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105967/) was set in Paris. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/7 "2009-06-01T02:51:09Z")
> [@TheMadHun](#): > > …Do you think anyone would dare that today? **Flashpoint** is a Canadian series _set in Canada_ currently airing on American network TV. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/8 "2009-06-01T03:09:12Z")
Looking at the description of Flashpoint on IMDB, is it a US-Canadian joint production? If so, that would explain the Canadian setting. Another foreign-set series is the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, which aired recently on HBO and was set in Botswana. (I watched it partly for the exotic setting.) ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/9 "2009-06-01T03:13:18Z")
Yes, now that you mention Canada I recall one set in Vancouver about a forensics team, although undoubtedly an import but I watch it on the Chicago’s WGN America channel. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/10 "2009-06-01T03:22:50Z")
The short-lived ABC show Covington Cross was set in England. It was actually a U.S./U.K. co-production filmed in the Britain with British actors, but an American company was pulling the strings (and pulled the plug after airing about a dozen episodes). ETA: The Red Green Show is set in Canada and has aired in the U.S. - but it seems kind of silly to count Canadian imports and not British ones. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/11 "2009-06-01T04:01:56Z")
How popular (or known, for that matter) is _Corner Gas_ in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/12 "2009-06-01T04:37:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > How popular (or known, for that matter) is _Corner Gas_ in the U.S.? It’s syndicated down here; I know that the WGN superstation carries it – or, at least, did a few months ago. I watched it then when I was visiting my parents up in Wisconsin (I live in Chicago, where we get the non-superstation WGN, which **doesn’t** carry it). I suspect that it’s got its fans down here, but, generally speaking, I don’t think it’s well-known. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/13 "2009-06-01T10:33:35Z")
The Simpsons have traveled to numerous other countries during the course of their show. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/14 "2009-06-01T10:57:33Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The Simpsons have traveled to numerous other countries during the course of their show. I think they used a sound stage though. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/15 "2009-06-01T11:01:55Z")
_Alias_ has taken place in every country that can be semi-plausibly faked in southern California. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/16 "2009-06-01T11:04:23Z")
[Q.E.D.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083468/) was another short-lived show that was set and filmed in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/17 "2009-06-01T12:14:45Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > Short-lived but amusing, [Cafe Americain](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105967/) was set in Paris. “I do not know what is wrong with me. I’m looking at this busboy and I am in love. And now it is gone. And now I am in love again. And now it is gone. Oh, is my pager.” ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/18 "2009-06-01T12:29:12Z")
To Rome, with love. Set in Rome, filmed in Cali. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/19 "2009-06-01T15:30:46Z")
> [@Booker57](#): > > To Rome, with love. Set in Rome, filmed in Cali. Well, and there’s HBO’s _Rome_, of course. P.S. ^5 @KneadToKnow ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310/20 "2009-06-01T15:34:26Z")
Let us not forget Gardner McKay in _Adventures In Paradise_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-setting-requirement-for-tv-shows/498310.md?page=2)