# What's the largest US city that's never had a TV show/movie set there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2015, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170 "2015-04-21T09:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/1 "2015-04-21T09:31:51Z")
Going by the list of [Largest US Cities by Population](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population), how far down the list do you have to go before you can’t find any TV show or movie set there? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/2 "2015-04-21T10:09:13Z")
Houston? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/3 "2015-04-21T10:46:06Z")
Houston was home to sitcoms like _Brothers_ and _Reba_, plus cop show _Houston Knights_. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/4 "2015-04-21T11:18:39Z")
I’m going to guess Jacksonville, Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/5 "2015-04-21T11:31:22Z")
Rochester, NY? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/6 "2015-04-21T11:49:35Z")
Perhaps I need to spur my memory, but what was set in San Antonio? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/7 "2015-04-21T12:02:46Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Perhaps I need to spur my memory, but what was set in San Antonio? [The Night Shift](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2477230/) is set in San Antonio. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/8 "2015-04-21T12:10:45Z")
Also, if you count reality TV shows, some episodes of “Flip This House” was set in SA. > **[Flip This House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_This_House)** > > Flip This House is an American television series that aired on the A&E and Bio television networks from 2005 to 2009. Each episode spotlighted the purchase and renovation of a single unit. All episodes included listing the price of the purchase, the cost of renovation, and the market value (including potential profit) of the "flipped" property. > In season one, the series followed the activities surrounding the Charleston, South Carolina-based Trademark Properties, founded by Richard C. Davis. > D... ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/9 "2015-04-21T13:22:40Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’m going to guess Jacksonville, Florida. I think this is correct unless one of these shows was in Jacksonville. > **[Category:Television shows set in Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Television_shows_set_in_Florida)** > > This category is for television series set in Florida: > This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total. > The following 88 pages are in this category, out of 88 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/10 "2015-04-21T15:16:25Z")
[Last time we did this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=440027), the winner was San Antonio. But that was 7 1/2 years ago and a zillion new series ago. In addition, they used a list of city populations instead of metro populations. People live in metro areas. City border lines only matter for elections. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/11 "2015-04-21T17:18:22Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I think this is correct unless one of these shows was in Jacksonville. > > [Category:Television shows set in Florida - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Television_shows_set_in_Florida) That list includes POINTMAN, which was filmed in Jacksonville, though despite all the shots of the beach they never actually _said_ where that little resort was. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/12 "2015-04-21T17:35:15Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Last time we did this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=440027), the winner was San Antonio. > > But that was 7 1/2 years ago and a zillion new series ago. In addition, they used a list of city populations instead of metro populations. People live in metro areas. City border lines only matter for elections. [Night Shift](http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/entertainment_columnists/jeanne_jakle/article/Night-Shift-creators-Why-series-is-set-in-S-A-5499483.php) is set in San Antonio so that knocks that off the list for now. I guess the next candidate on the list is San Jose. My favorite nothing of a city. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/13 "2015-04-21T17:41:14Z")
This doesn’t really count, but I was recently surprised to read that Traverse City, MI has been mentioned in only one movie ever: [Winter Passing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Passing). Granted, it has a small population of 14,000, but it’s quite the tourist town, and known for its cherries, grapes and wine. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/14 "2015-04-21T17:46:16Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Rochester, NY? Part of Alfred Hitchcock’s **Spellbound** (which we discussed recently in the “Dreams” thread) took place in Rochester, NY. I was watching the film with a bunch of Rochesterians, and we had to laugh when the train pulls into Rochester – it’s snowing. If there’s anything more characteristic of Rochester than the damned near perpetual snowfall, I don’t know what it is. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/15 "2015-04-21T17:52:42Z")
San Jose, Ca. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/16 "2015-04-21T18:03:20Z")
Well, the OP says tv show OR movie. I’m fairly certain that every movie about the Alamo was set in San Antonio. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/17 "2015-04-21T18:04:27Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I’m going to guess Jacksonville, Florida. I thought The Devil’s Advocate had scenes in Jacksonville. I know Fringe had flashbacks to Olivia’s childhood in Jacksonville. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/18 "2015-04-21T19:29:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > San Jose, Ca. There is a direct to video film called the Haunting of Winchester House that may qualify. I haven’t seen it so can’t vouch for it being specifically ‘set’ in San jose. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/19 "2015-04-21T19:40:18Z")
Years ago I would’ve said Cleveland, but now we’ve had _The Drew Carey Show_ and _Hot in Cleveland._ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170/20 "2015-04-21T19:43:35Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > There is a direct to video film called the Haunting of Winchester House that may qualify. I haven’t seen it so can’t vouch for it being specifically ‘set’ in San jose. Well, since the WMH is technically in San Jose, then I guess, yes, but at a certain point we have to exclude films in a very small release. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-us-city-thats-never-had-a-tv-show-movie-set-there/718170.md?page=2)