# TV series set in Chicago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733 "2013-03-23T12:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/1 "2013-03-23T12:45:58Z")
If it’s a big-city setting, whether drama or sitcom, it always seems to be NY or LA. Or sometimes Seattle, San Francisco, Miami, Philadephia, Baltimore, or Boston. But I can’t think of any set in Chicago. Can you? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/2 "2013-03-23T12:59:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > If it’s a big-city setting, whether drama or sitcom, it always seems to be NY or LA. Or sometimes Seattle, San Francisco, Miami, Philadephia, Baltimore, or Boston. But I can’t think of any set in Chicago. Can you? On network TV (not even cable) there is: Chicago Fire Happy Endings The Good Wife Mike and Molly about a year ago there was The Chicago Code and a little earlier - both ER & Chicago Hope were set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/3 "2013-03-23T13:01:43Z")
The Bob Newhart Show! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/4 "2013-03-23T13:07:29Z")
_ **Kolchak: The Night Stalker** _ Robert Stack’s \*\*\*The Untouchables According to Jim Family Matters * * * ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/5 "2013-03-23T13:22:04Z")
Married with Children (Chicago suburbia, anyway. I think one of the comics placed it in Schaumburg) Early Edition My Boys One of those current Disney tween shows is set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/6 "2013-03-23T13:28:47Z")
Oh, duh… **Boss** ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/7 "2013-03-23T13:31:12Z")
Perfect Strangers was set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/8 "2013-03-23T13:44:34Z")
Scripted stuff that was on broadcast network TV since in the last five years: According to Jim The Chicago Code Chicago Fire ER The Forgotten Friends with Benefits The Good Wife Happy Endings’ How to Be a Gentleman The Loop Mike & Molly The Mob Doctor The Playboy Club Samantha Who? Swingtown Traffic Light Whitney ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/9 "2013-03-23T14:01:40Z")
As usual, there is a Wikipedia entry for this: > **[List of fiction set in Chicago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fiction_set_in_Chicago)** > > This is a list of fiction set in or near the city of Chicago. > Although not set in the city's limits, the John Hughes directed films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink (1986) (#1 film in U.S.), and Weird Science take place in the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois, which is based on Northbrook, Illinois. > In The Matrix (1999, directed by the Wachowskis from Chicago), the subway sets were based on the CTA. One of the trains is clearly a Brown Line train, which in reality, barrin... Though including Terra Nova seems a stretch. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/10 "2013-03-23T14:04:37Z")
Huh. I didn’t realize that the first _E/R_ series was also set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/11 "2013-03-23T15:03:40Z")
Don’t forget _The Father Dowling Mysteries_, set in a magical Chicago which featured palm trees, and where Clark and State streets intersected. And nobody has mentioned \*Crime Story \*yet? Shame on us! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/12 "2013-03-23T15:17:36Z")
C’mon people, no mention of _Hill Street Blues_ yet? Let’s be careful out there! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/13 "2013-03-23T15:26:21Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > C’mon people, no mention of _Hill Street Blues_ yet? > > Let’s be careful out there! I thought HSB went out of its way NOT to mention what city it was in? Although certain exterior scenes (such as the Maxwell Street Police Station) were clearly filmed in Chicago, other scenes were clearly not. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/14 "2013-03-23T15:44:39Z")
“Mind of the Married Man” and “Cupid” (the version with Jeremy Piven) were both filmed in Chicago. I believe “Webster” took place here as well. Oh, and “Shameless” on Showtime. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/15 "2013-03-23T15:46:53Z")
The US remake of **Shameless** is set in Chicago (it’s filmed in Chicago & LA). **Still Standing** was also set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/16 "2013-03-23T15:49:00Z")
Oh and “Bosom Buddies”… Yeah, nothing is ever set in Chicago, weird right? “Roseanne” was also set in a burb of Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/17 "2013-03-23T16:04:38Z")
Good Times, with Cabrini Green ---
**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:** [March 23, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/18 "2013-03-23T16:21:53Z")
I think Lanford was supposed to be in Downstate Illinois, not greater Chigaco. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/19 "2013-03-23T16:29:22Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I think Lanford was supposed to be in Downstate Illinois, not greater Chigaco. All of Illinois is a suburb of Chicago. So is Wisconsin. And Canada. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733/20 "2013-03-23T17:18:17Z")
_The Dresden Files_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-set-in-chicago/653733.md?page=2)