Boston Binge 📺 10 TV Shows Set on These Mean Streets Since the 80s.
Boston has been the setting for a ton of beloved, iconic shows. From dramas to comedies, Boston is the perfect backdrop storylines and tend to be mostly about cops, lawyers, and doctors - amiwrong?. So, let's take a little stroll down memory lane and explore some of the bingi-est TV show set in Boston.
First is the classic sitcom "Cheers." The beloved show, which ran from 1982 to 1993, followed the lives of the staff and regulars at a Boston bar. The iconic theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," is still a classic to this day.
Then, there's "Spenser: For Hire," which aired from 1985 to 1988. The show was based on the detective novels by Robert B. Parker and followed the private detective Spenser as he solved crimes in and around Boston. The show was known for its tough, no-nonsense protagonist and gritty urban setting.
Another classic Boston-based show is "St. Elsewhere," which aired from 1982 to 1988. The medical drama was set in the fictional St. Eligius Hospital in Boston that I think was based on Boston Medical Center (don’t quote me on that).
Next up, "Ally McBeal," the legal comedy-drama that aired from 1997 to 2002. While the show was technically set in Boston, most of the scenes were actually shot in Los Angeles. However, the show still managed to capture the spirit of the city with its quirky characters and unique storylines.
Moving on to "Boston Public," the 2000-2004 drama about the daily lives of teachers and students at a Boston public high school. The show tackled a number of controversial issues, including drugs, sex, and school violence, and was praised for its realistic portrayal of inner-city schools.
Another classic Boston show is "The Practice," which aired from 1997 to 2004. The legal drama focused on the trials and tribulations of a small law firm in the city. The show tackled a number of important legal and ethical issues and was praised for its intelligent writing and complex characters.
Jumping ahead a few years, we have "Boston Legal," the spin-off of "The Practice" that aired from 2004 to 2008. The show followed the same law firm as they took on a variety of high-profile cases. The show was known for its witty humor and stellar performances from its cast, which included William Shatner and James Spader.
Moving on to a more recent comedy, we have "The McCarthys," which aired from 2014 to 2015. The show followed a close-knit Irish-American family living in Boston, with a focus on the family's sports-obsessed son, who had to balance his love of sports with his desire to come out as gay.
Then, we have "SMILF," the comedy-drama that aired from 2017 to 2019. The show followed a single mother living in South Boston as she navigated the challenges of parenthood, relationships, and her own personal demons. The show was praised for its authentic portrayal of life in Boston's working-class neighborhoods.
One of the most recent shows set in Boston is "City on a Hill," which premiered in 2019 and is still ongoing. The crime drama is set in the early 1990s and follows an assistant district attorney and an FBI agent as they team up to take down a corrupt criminal justice system in Boston.
And there you have it, 10 TV show set in Boston. It’s binge time!
What’s your favorite Boston show?