# Where do TV shows take place? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882 "2006-07-17T17:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/21 "2006-07-17T19:47:06Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] Dramas, you have the various _Law & Order_ shows, _Third Watch, NYPD Blue, CSI: New York, and The Sopranos_. [/QUOTE] No, _The Sopranos_ is set in New Jersey – Jersey City, I think. It’s something of a plot point. The New York guys of the Lupertazzi family seem to kind of look down their noses at the Jersey guys. (Not that they’re not entitled to. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/22 "2006-07-17T20:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] Full House was in San Diego [/QUOTE] For some reason I hate being the one to correct this, but “Full House” was set in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/23 "2006-07-17T20:18:23Z")
The Simpsons is set in Springfield. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/24 "2006-07-17T20:37:09Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] The Simpsons is set in Springfield. [/QUOTE] Yes, but what state? ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/25 "2006-07-17T20:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=Cardinal] Yes, but what state? [/QUOTE] All of them! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/26 "2006-07-17T21:12:00Z")
_Eight is Enough_ was set here in Sacramento. I don’t know of another show set here. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/27 "2006-07-17T21:27:57Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] Full House was in San Diego [/QUOTE] Actually it was San Francisco. But there was a short-lived sitcom on ABC about 10 years back called Phenom that was set in San Diego. I think the daughter played tennis. Mary Tyler Moore Show was in Minneapolis/St. Paul. WKRP in Cincinatti was probably in Saginaw. Home Improvement was set either in or near Detroit. Empty Nest was in Miami. Where was Roseanne supposed to take place? ---
**Author:** ![Mnemonic\_Obstruction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@Mnemonic\_Obstruction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemonic_Obstruction)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/28 "2006-07-17T21:45:27Z")
Dan and Roseanne Connor lived in Llanford, Illinois. “Cagney and Lacey” – I believe the 13th Precinct was in Manhattan, which is where Christine Cagney’s apartment was, but Harvey and Mary Beth Lacey lived in Queens. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/29 "2006-07-17T21:56:24Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sunnydale, CA (fictional) Angel: Los Angeles, CA Veronica Mars: Neptune, CA (fictional) The Shield: Los Angeles, CA (specifically the Farmington district, which is also fictional) 24: Los Angeles, CA Arrested Development: Orange County, CA Was it ever revealed where Scrubs takes place? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/30 "2006-07-17T22:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] Was it ever revealed where Scrubs takes place? [/QUOTE] I was just reading up on this an hour ago- _[Scrubs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrubs_%28TV_series%29#Location)_ may very well take place in Springfield… there’ve been hints, but they contradict each other, so it’s kind of everywhere and nowhere. [The last bit a of trivia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_%28TV_series%29#Trivia) regarding Lanford, IL reminds me that there was a tornado in one episode in which they listened to radio reports warning residents of Fulton County to prepare or shelter or whatever it is you do when a tornado comes your way. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/31 "2006-07-17T22:26:53Z")
[QUOTE=Rhiannon8404] _Eight is Enough_ was set here in Sacramento. I don’t know of another show set here. [/QUOTE] You _used_ to not know of another one. [Now you can say you know of two.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206511/) ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/32 "2006-07-17T22:27:06Z")
I think Scrubs has concsiously not stated a location, but it does look a lot like Los Angeles, doesn’t it? They actually shoot it in a decomissioned hospital in North Hollywood, which is why it looks so much like a hospital, and they’re able to show all the parts and the ceilings, etc. They’ve even had people come in looking for treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/33 "2006-07-17T22:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=Khan] Actually it was San Francisco. But there was a short-lived sitcom on ABC about 10 years back called Phenom that was set in San Diego. I think the daughter played tennis. [QUOTE] There was also a detective series with two brothers, the name of which I forget, which was set in San Diego. The Dick Van Dyke show was not set in NYC (well, the office was) but they lived in Scarsdale, I think. Maude was set somewhere up there too. Bonanza was set in Virginia City, Nevada. Gunsmoke was set in Kansas. Reno 911 is in Reno, Nevada, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/34 "2006-07-17T22:36:27Z")
[QUOTE=aldiboronti] _Happy Days_ was set in Milwaukee. … [/QUOTE] As was _Laverne and Shirley_ _Mork and Mindy_ I think was supposed to be in Boulder, CO? _Family Ties_ was Columbus, Ohio IIRC. _Wings_ was the island of Nantucket. ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/35 "2006-07-17T23:04:58Z")
[QUOTE=Cardinal] Yes, but what state? [/QUOTE] Call me crazy, but I seem to remember an episode in which we’re told that they live in Northern Kentucky. Mind now, there’s a very strong chance that I just dreamed that up-- I do stuff like that _all_ the time. So, yeah. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/36 "2006-07-17T23:15:02Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] - snip - _Good Times_ -snip - [/QUOTE] [Nitpick] Actually, Good Times was Chicago. IIRC, they lived in Cabrini Green. [/NP] > [@Khan](#): > > Where was Roseanne supposed to take place? Lanford, Illinois, a [fictional town.](http://www.pubquizhelp.34sp.com/ent/places.html) ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/37 "2006-07-17T23:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=Clockwork And Candy] Call me crazy, but I seem to remember an episode in which we’re told that they live in Northern Kentucky. Mind now, there’s a very strong chance that I just dreamed that up-- I do stuff like that _all_ the time. So, yeah. Whatever. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that was in the Behind the Music episode. I think that was part of the joke of them never revealing what state Springfield was in. So, in that episode they revealed it, explicitly but in passing. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/38 "2006-07-17T23:34:21Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] There was also a detective series with two brothers, the name of which I forget, which was set in San Diego. The Dick Van Dyke show was not set in NYC (well, the office was) but they lived in Scarsdale, I think. Maude was set somewhere up there too. [/QUOTE] “Simon and Simon” and New Rochelle, respectively, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/39 "2006-07-18T01:05:16Z")
NYC, but not Manhattan: **All in the Family** , Queens **King of Queens** , ditto **Grounded for Life** , Staten Island **Welcome Back, Kotter** Brooklyn **Good Times** , Bronx Some others: **Northern Exposure** , fictional town of Cicely, Alaska **Lone Gunmen** , Takoma Park, MD **Grace Under Fire** , fictional town of Liberty, Missouri **I Dream of Jeannie** Cocoa Beach, Fla. **The Guardian** Pittsburgh, PA **Adventures of Zorro** , Ciudad de la Reina de los Angeles, California, Mejico ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882/40 "2006-07-18T01:46:46Z")
[QUOTE=DxZero] Yeah, that was in the Behind the Music episode. I think that was part of the joke of them never revealing what state Springfield was in. So, in that episode they revealed it, explicitly but in passing. [/QUOTE] From [Answerbag Resource Busy -- Start a conversation. Have some fun.](http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/5280:) “Behind The Laughter” did state that it was in Kentucky in the first airing. However, the second and subsequent airings state southern Missouri. There is a Shelbyville and Springfield in Kentucky but they are 42 miles apart with two other towns between them. This page also details how the information about the location is deliberately contradictory: [snpp.com - Virtual market | Domain name](http://www.snpp.com/guides/springfield.list.html#behind) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-tv-shows-take-place/364882.md?page=3)