# TV Shows with a strong "regional" sense **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428 "2012-02-10T16:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/1 "2012-02-10T16:52:17Z")
I’m toying with the idea of a poll to try to find how TV shows with a strong “regional” feel compare in terms of authenticity and effectiveness. The two I think of as good examples of that sort of thing are _The Sopranos_ (New Jersey) and _Justified_ (Kentucky). I know there are others where the setting is important to the mood of the show, _Dexter_ in Miami for one. But I’d like to get a good list of such shows to build a poll from. Defunct shows like _Chicago Code_ and _Detroit 1-8-7_ are worth considering, as is the current _Blue Bloods_, but my view on them is that the “regional” aspect is not as strong there. Other shows? Discussion? ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/2 "2012-02-10T16:59:28Z")
_Friends, Seinfeld, 30Rock, Rhoda, Will and Grace, Spin City, Mad Men_ all did pretty good NYC to me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/3 "2012-02-10T17:04:17Z")
> [@jali](#): > > _Friends, Seinfeld, 30Rock, Rhoda, Will and Grace, Spin City, Mad Men_ all did pretty good NYC to me. It may just be a bit of jadedness on my part, but I tend to dismiss the NYC and LA “regionalism” component, unless it’s stressed as a main feature of the show. One exception I can think of is the excellent _Southland_ where LA is essential to how the show comes across. I’m not arguing with your list, and would certainly include them in the poll, but I see them as not all that strongly tied to _place_ as other shows. Thanks for the response. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/4 "2012-02-10T17:11:07Z")
_The Middle_ takes place in Indiana. They often talk about different towns in Indiana and the dad is a huge Colts (NFL) and Hoosiers (NCAA) fan. And the title of the show refers to “the middle of the country.” _Hot in Cleveland_ is always throwing Cleveland-specific shout outs out there. From Amish Country to the Cavs. Same with _The Drew Carey Show_. It’s often said that NYC is one of the primary characters on _Law & Order_ (the original). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/5 "2012-02-10T17:16:09Z")
Hawaii 5-0 Magnum, P.I. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/6 "2012-02-10T17:18:34Z")
pawnee is pretty central to parks and rec. chicago is a new “cool” city for sitcoms now. both Happy Endings and Whitney drop chi-town references. and of course, the Office put Scranton, Pa. on the map. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/7 "2012-02-10T17:20:19Z")
The Wire. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/8 "2012-02-10T17:24:43Z")
Lots of shows are set in New York but of sitcoms I would say Seinfeld and How I met Your Mother felt the most New York. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/9 "2012-02-10T17:26:22Z")
Does _Breaking Bad_ rely on the Desert Southwest (Albuquerque to be more precise) for much of its mood and feel? Does _The Killing_ need Seattle to work? Does _Bones_ have to be set (for at least some of its inter-agency squabbles) in DC? Asked another way, if you didn’t know where the city or town in which the show is supposedly set was Town-X or City-Y, would it even matter for how the show comes across? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/10 "2012-02-10T17:27:25Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > The Wire. Got to be on the list! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/11 "2012-02-10T17:35:33Z")
_My Name is Earl_ never revealed its actual location, but it was very good at establishing a sense of place. I think it fits the OP’s “strong regional sense.” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/12 "2012-02-10T17:36:48Z")
_King of the Hill_ is very North Texas. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/13 "2012-02-10T17:39:57Z")
_Burn Notice_ definitely feels very “Miami”. Going back, both _The Waltons_ and _Little House On The Prairie_ established strong senses of place, as did the (even older) _Andy Griffith Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/14 "2012-02-10T17:49:09Z")
Although the specific town is fictional, the rural Alaskan setting is _sine qua non_ to _Northern Exposure_. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/15 "2012-02-10T17:54:26Z")
_Homicide: Life on the Streets_ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/16 "2012-02-10T17:56:01Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > _Burn Notice_ definitely feels very “Miami”. > > Going back, both _The Waltons_ and _Little House On The Prairie_ established strong senses of place, as did the (even older) _Andy Griffith Show_. Good examples. In case it wasn’t obvious in the OP, I would prefer the poll to be based on “contemporary” or “modern day” shows, thereby excluding Westerns for the most part. Present day Westerns could be included if the place is significant. _Breaking Bad_ comes as close as any show I watch regularly to be in that category, but it’s hard for me to think of it as a “western” per se. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/17 "2012-02-10T17:57:14Z")
In Life on Mars the location was almost as integral to the plot as the time. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/18 "2012-02-10T17:57:15Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > _My Name is Earl_ never revealed its actual location, but it was very good at establishing a sense of place. I think it fits the OP’s “strong regional sense.” As I have yet to watch the first episode of the show, I’ll take your word for it. ---
**Author:** ![DeweyDecibel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DeweyDecibel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeweyDecibel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/19 "2012-02-10T17:58:13Z")
Breaking Bad is set in New Mexico. I’ve spent very little time in that part of the country, but the show relies on the desert, the mexican border, and the general region quite strongly. I’m trying to picture the show set elsewhere, and it’s really a different show. That may be a way to get at your question - move the show to another setting, how much has to change? It’s also my impression that people from the area think it is quite accurate, regionally. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428/20 "2012-02-10T17:59:55Z")
_Portlandia_ may as well get a starring credit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-with-a-strong-regional-sense/612428.md?page=2)