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So in this topic, we're going to do city vs city via tv shows. You can use any rubric (you simply liked the show or you felt the show was an accurate depiction of the city, etc., though please state why). Even better if people can chime in with just how "accurate" the shows are.
Frasier and Seattle always appealed to me, even though I probably wasn't the demographic they were going for. It was smart and hopelessly neurotic with the mundane and cosmopolitan happening all at once.
Sesame Street! I grew up watching the show in the late '70s and early '80s, and I know it's shaped my perception of city life. It's a very Jane Jacobs-esque show. Obviously parts of it are very unrealistic (never had a talking grouch in my trash can, and it's a highly romanticized view of city life - in their case NYC life) overall it does give a flavor of why people like to live in a city environment. I wish I lived on Sesame Street, although my current street is pretty nice, too, despite the lack of chatty monsters. I especially appreciate it because so many other children's shows seem to assume a middle-class suburban (or at least not extremely urban) lifestyle. Variety is good.
It's not a TV show, but I think the movie Swingers captured a fairly realistic slice of life in Hollywood.
It's an interesting question, though, and reminds me of a book I recently read where the author suggested that perhaps shows such as Seinfeld and Friends helped spur the movement of people back into the cities.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Frasier, and Seinfeld. Interestingly enough I have yet to meet anyone who likes Frasier and not Seinfeld or vice-versa.
Sesame Street! I grew up watching the show in the late '70s and early '80s, and I know it's shaped my perception of city life. It's a very Jane Jacobs-esque show. Obviously parts of it are very unrealistic (never had a talking grouch in my trash can, and it's a highly romanticized view of city life - in their case NYC life) overall it does give a flavor of why people like to live in a city environment. I wish I lived on Sesame Street, although my current street is pretty nice, too, despite the lack of chatty monsters. I especially appreciate it because so many other children's shows seem to assume a middle-class suburban (or at least not extremely urban) lifestyle. Variety is good.
It's not a TV show, but I think the movie Swingers captured a fairly realistic slice of life in Hollywood.
It's an interesting question, though, and reminds me of a book I recently read where the author suggested that perhaps shows such as Seinfeld and Friends helped spur the movement of people back into the cities.
I had the same thought for a while--can you gimme the name of that book?
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Seinfeld is pretty accurate to what it's like living in NY. I agree with Hoarfrost. A lot of the jokes us NYers can really relate to; that's why it's so funny. Unless you live here, you won't quite fully understand the jokes. One example I can think of is a joke they made about the Van Wyck. Only a NYer would understand that.
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Originally Posted by Hoarfrost
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Frasier, and Seinfeld. Interestingly enough I have yet to meet anyone who likes Frasier and not Seinfeld or vice-versa.
I hate Sex and the City and Friends.
I always thought that SATC was, if anything, a great love letter to NYC. It always made me miss living there when I watched it.
I had the same thought for a while--can you gimme the name of that book?
It was "The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream" by Christopher B. Leinberger.
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