Location, Location, Location

A famous quote (I forget the source) from a film reviewer defending Hollywood's poor opinion of the audience for their films: "Producers don't think Americans are stupid, they just don't think Americans are any smarter than they are."

It was obvious to me even at a young age: A TV movie about killer bees invading New Orleans had the populous seek refuge in the mountains outside of town.  Or Murder She Wrote, where EVERY city in America seemed to have the San Gabriel mountains in the background. Smokey and the Bandit II, where the border between Texas and Louisiana is stark and dry, eerily reminiscent of southern California.  Even today, Psych tries to make British Columbia (wet and green) be Santa Barbara (arid California coastline). Everything is geared for cheap production in or around LA, whether or not it looks silly.

Of course, a few times they really tried to get it right.  Walker Texas Ranger was filmed, in all places, Texas.  And I Spy filmed on location in exotic places like Hong Kong, Italy, etc.  So somebody had to be aware that the little things count.

But it really makes a difference when they go the extra mile and shoot the show where it makes sense.  Burn Notice actually films in Miami, and The Good Guys actually shoot in Dallas.  Memphis Beat gets an honorable mention for being on location, just not in the right city (NOLA for Memphis, but its still the same river, right?)  Both of these shows are not only enjoyable, but have an extra sense of depth.  Not to mention the boost to the local economy these productions bring (NOLA could use it).  And in an age where people take everything on TV for the gospel truth, they won't be fooled into thinking Dallas is in a desert or Miami is near a mountain range.

Just thought that these shows deserved to be singled out for letting us have a brian.

kgh

P.S. The list of atrocities goes on and on. Don't get me started on Aaron Spelling and his warping of geography.