# TV show with fewest locations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261 "2016-01-26T13:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/41 "2016-01-29T13:13:30Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I don’t know why people are still answering when this was the clear answer. If there was any show that had less different sets used than the Honeymooners, it’s something really obscure and lost to time. Well, like I said earlier. It was _ **“The Smoking Room”** _. They only used one set. Whether it’s obscure or lost in time… ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/42 "2016-01-29T13:36:12Z")
The British sitcom The Royle Family was mostly contained to the titular family’s living room. The show was also mostly filmed from one angle as well, that of the family TV. Most of the cast thus staring directly into the camera. > **[The Royle Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royle_Family)** > > The Royle Family is a British sitcom produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series from 1998 to 2000, and specials from 2006 to 2012. It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, comprising family patriarch Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), his wife Barbara (Sue Johnston), their daughter Denise (Caroline Aherne), their son Antony (Ralf Little) and Denise's fiancé (later husband) David (Craig Cash). > The series features simple production val... ---
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/43 "2016-01-29T14:13:57Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Peter Kay’s British sitcom “Car Share” takes place almost entirely within the car that John drives Kayleigh to work in. There’s an exception or two for the car park at the supermarket where they work, but even there they are getting in the car. As did Marion and Geoff with Rob Brydon ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/44 "2016-01-29T14:52:30Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I don’t know why people are still answering when this was the clear answer. If there was any show that had less different sets used than the Honeymooners, it’s something really obscure and lost to time. Sorry, but just going from memory I can think of more than 30 other sets _The Honeymooners_ used: [ol] [li]Outside the front of the apartment when Ralph & Alice get kicked out[/li][li]Outside the front of the apartment when they’re sneaking away on the fishing trip[/li][li]Outside the front of the apartment when they’re going to get Ralph’s driving award[/li][li]The pool hall when Ralph witnesses the bank robbery[/li][li]The pool hall when Ralph picks a fight with Harvey’s little friend[/li][li]The gym where Ralph meets Harvey[/li][li]Ralph’s boss’ office when he’s impressing his old friend[/li][li]The restaurant they all go to at the end of that same episode[/li][li]Norton’s apartment when Ralph thinks he’s hiding from his mother-in-law[/li][li]Norton’s apartment when Ralph makes the recording to send to Alice[/li][li]Norton’s apartment’s bedroom when Norton is sleepwalking[/li][li]The raccoon lodge for the raccoon election[/li][li]The raccoon lodge for the costume party[/li][li]The Raccoon lodge for his brother-in-law’s bachelor party[/li][li]The street above Norton’s manhole when Ralph meets him for lunch[/li][li]The lawyer’s office when Ralph thinks his inheriting $40 million[/li][li]The employment office when Ralph hires a maid[/li][li]The IRS office when Ralph forgets to sign his return[/li][li]Ralph’s boss’ office when he makes him try Alice’s appetizer that’s really dog food[/li][li]The City Pound when Ralph brings back the dog[/li][li]Ralph’s boss’ mansion when he tries to teach him pool[/li][li]The train sleeper car when Norton handcuffs them together[/li][li]The TV studio when Ralph goes on The $99,000 Question[/li][li]The TV studio when Ralph & Norton do the commercial for the kitchen multi-tool[/li][li]The hospital when Ralph thinks Norton is hurt[/li][li]The apartment basement when Ralph becomes the superintendent[/li][li]The plush apartment of Ralph’s supervisor they go to with the dim-witted sexy trophy wife[/li][li]The opening scene in the gangster’s hideout where they’re making the counterfeit money[/li][li]The magazine office when Ralph sells them the story thinking he’s going to die[/li][li]The street where he gives the newspaper reporter his ‘King of the Castle’ routine[/li][li]The bus drivers’ lounge where he calls Alice to run right home and make dinner from the same episode[/li][/ol] These were all in just the ‘Classic 39’ original episodes (watched them repeatedly in syndication as a kid). _Barney Miller_ had much fewer in eight seasons\*!\* ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/45 "2016-01-29T15:36:47Z")
Ralph and Norton also went to a Racoon convention, taking the train there. At the convention they happened to run into big TV stars Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Sadly due to confusion Norton never got to meet Carney, and Ralph never got to meet Gleason. I may be wrong, but I think it’s the episode where Norton asked “Do you mind if I smoke?” and Ralph responded “I don’t car if you burn!”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/46 "2016-01-29T15:44:31Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Wasn’t Are You Being Served? mostly set in the store? > [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > With the exceptions of scenes taking place in Mr. Rumbold or Mr. Grace’s offices, yeah, you’re probably right. I don’t remember it ever being out of the store _per se_ but there are also lots of scenes in the lunch room, so even if we are only counting frequent locations, it is a three location sitcom once you include the office. Then there are infrequent or once-used locations like other floors or even the roof. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/47 "2016-01-29T15:59:09Z")
Not a tv show per say but 12 angry men. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/48 "2016-01-29T16:25:29Z")
The Hulu original show Booth at the End takes place entirely in a single restaurant booth. They did change to a different restaurant between seasons 1 and 2 though. And yeah, Jeopardy, Jerry Springer and Jimmy Fallon’s shows all take place in the same location. But I’m assuming the OP meant “fictional shows”. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/49 "2016-01-29T16:35:28Z")
Did they ever leave the ship in either _Red Dwarf_ or _MSTK3_? ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/50 "2016-01-29T16:52:47Z")
The winner has to be “St. Elsewhere,” since { SPOILER ALERT }all the action took place inside young Tommy’s head. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/51 "2016-01-29T17:38:24Z")
> [@quiltguy](#): > > The winner has to be “St. Elsewhere,” since { SPOILER ALERT }all the action took place inside young Tommy’s head. 😉 Ha! You win! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/52 "2016-01-29T17:42:03Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Did they ever leave the ship in either _Red Dwarf_ or _MSTK3_? In _Red Dwarf_, at least, they often found excuses to leave the ship and land on planetoids or visit another ship or travel through time to Earth or similar. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/53 "2016-01-29T18:27:59Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Did they ever leave the ship in either _Red Dwarf_ or _MSTK3_? MST3K, at least several times over the seasons, NOT including scenes DEEP 13 or The Ape Planet/Roman Times/Camping Planet arcs, nor Castle Forrester, nor the Hex-Viewer vistors. There was Mike’s trial for destroying those three planets, and the walk thru the “bucolic glade” during the wormhole episode, to start. Does the final scene in Mike & the Bots efficiency studio apartment after they crash count? AYBS had at least one scene in a theatre, maybe two? One where the staff end up in a “blue movie” theatre (when they filmed the store commercial, and ended up previewing it in that theatre but with no video, only sound IIRC), and another when Miss Brahms demonstrated her “making out” skills (that she learned on the streets of Catford) on Mr Humphries… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/54 "2016-01-29T18:33:26Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Friends was just the coffee shop and a couple of apartments. Even by sitcom standards Friends used a lot of sets; we regularly saw three apartments and the coffee shop, and the show was more than rich enough to set scenes elsewhere as need be. I’m hardly a Friends scholar but just from the episodes I’ve seen can think of fifteen other sets, including film sets, the inside of an airplane, and a park where they played football. WKRP also had a larger number of sets than you might think, while most of the scenes are in the radio station, it’s a medium sized office offering multiple sets; the booth, the reception area, Mr. Carlson’s office, the bullpen, Andy’s office, and they did go external on many occasions; the turkey scene, of course, but a lot of others. For modern, real-budget sitcoms I think Barney Miller has to be the winner, but Cheers gets some sort of award for doing the most with one set. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/55 "2016-01-29T18:37:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > For modern, real-budget sitcoms I think Barney Miller has to be the winner, but Cheers gets some sort of award for doing the most with one set. Cheers was pretty clever about it also. We saw the backroom and Melville’s occasionally, but mostly we only saw people as they exited and entered those locations. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/56 "2016-01-30T00:19:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Ralph and Norton also went to a Racoon convention, taking the train there. At the convention they happened to run into big TV stars Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Sadly due to confusion Norton never got to meet Carney, and Ralph never got to meet Gleason. I may be wrong, but I think it’s the episode where Norton asked “Do you mind if I smoke?” and Ralph responded “I don’t car if you burn!”. Them meeting their acting alter-egos must have been from a later special, they didn’t do anything quite that gimmicky in the original run. The _“I don’t care if you burn”_ joke on the train was from #22 I mentioned above (with the handcuffs). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/57 "2016-01-30T00:28:07Z")
Like many, Barney Miller was my first thought. Then I thought about it a bit, and remembered: [ul] [li]Barney’s apartment[/li][li]Dive hotel with Harris and Dietrich with a witness[/li][li]Wojo’s apartment[/li][li]Barney in jail[/li][li]I guess that’s about it[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/58 "2016-01-30T00:51:45Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Them meeting their acting alter-egos must have been from a later special, they didn’t do anything quite that gimmicky in the original run. The _“I don’t care if you burn”_ joke on the train was from #22 I mentioned above (with the handcuffs). Yeah, this is going to bother me now. I remember them taking the train to the convention in the episode you mention. I’m pretty sure this was before the Gleason show was in color, but having seen most of those in B&W I may have been fooled. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/59 "2016-01-30T01:04:35Z")
[Here it is - Jackie Gleason Show - 1956-57 - Episode 9 - Catch a Star](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1354319/) Alice and Trixie also meet their counterparts. I saw this years later, but before the Honeymooners were revived on videotape in the 80s, probably around 1970. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261/60 "2016-01-30T21:37:15Z")
Was Porridge only set in the jail? The Royle Family didn’t leave the house until Nana died in hospital. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-show-with-fewest-locations/744261.md?page=4)