There is no shortage of fictional representations of New York in the movies or on satellite TV shows these days, but natives of the City that Never Sleeps can still get a kick out of watching their hometown depicted on the silver screen. It can be fun to debate whether or not the way that the city is represented is accurate or not when compared to your own personal experiences. And seeing the famous New York skyline in high definition never gets old. Here are some of New Yorkers favorite satellite TV shows that take place in their hometown:
Law & Order
What would this famous NBC detective and courtroom drama be without NYC as its backdrop? In 2010, NBC tried to debut a West Coast version, Law & Order: Los Angeles, but the ratings simply did not compare with the three versions of the show that take place in the Big Apple: the original, Special Victims Unit, and Criminal Intent. Though the show was canceled after 20 seasons last year, to the surprise of its many loyal fans, it still broadcasts all of the time on satellite TV in the form of never-ending reruns. For this reason, it has long been the friend of the night-shift worker and the unemployed. Depending on which season you happen to catch, you might see Jill Hennessy in an early-90s power suit playing the ADA Claire Kincaid, or the British actor Linus Roache playing the new male lead ADA Michael Cutter in the late aughts. The detectives were played over the years by such greats as Jerry Orbach (Lenny Briscoe), Chris Noth (Mike Logan), and Jeremy Sisto (Cyrus Lupo). The show's style, in which the detectives interview different people around the city in order to solve murders that have been committed, allows viewers to get glimpses of a whole cross-section of New York life, from construction workers to top-level financial gurus to school teachers to drug addicts.
Gossip Girl
Most shows about the scandalous lives of spoiled rich kids take place in sunny California, where the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and Spanish-style mansions broadcast in high definition continue to fascinate middle Americans. But it is no secret that the East Coast has its fare share of trust fund kids whose allowances are higher than many Americans' salaries. The Manhattan-based Gossip Girl zones in on this world, featuring actors like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, and Chace Crawford who play Upper East Side prep school kids with black American Express cards. The show has grown in infamy for its nonchalant portrayal of teen drinking, drug use, and sex, which is also why it probably remains so popular!
30 Rock
Saturday Night Live veteran Tina Fey created this satellite TV show in 2006, in which she plays the head writer of an SNL-style comedy show that is filmed in Manhattan. 30 Rock has only grown more popular with each passing season. This is partially because it brings to light the behind-the-scenes world of the New York television scene, which is smaller than that of Los Angeles but still incredibly fascinating for average viewers.
Law & Order
What would this famous NBC detective and courtroom drama be without NYC as its backdrop? In 2010, NBC tried to debut a West Coast version, Law & Order: Los Angeles, but the ratings simply did not compare with the three versions of the show that take place in the Big Apple: the original, Special Victims Unit, and Criminal Intent. Though the show was canceled after 20 seasons last year, to the surprise of its many loyal fans, it still broadcasts all of the time on satellite TV in the form of never-ending reruns. For this reason, it has long been the friend of the night-shift worker and the unemployed. Depending on which season you happen to catch, you might see Jill Hennessy in an early-90s power suit playing the ADA Claire Kincaid, or the British actor Linus Roache playing the new male lead ADA Michael Cutter in the late aughts. The detectives were played over the years by such greats as Jerry Orbach (Lenny Briscoe), Chris Noth (Mike Logan), and Jeremy Sisto (Cyrus Lupo). The show's style, in which the detectives interview different people around the city in order to solve murders that have been committed, allows viewers to get glimpses of a whole cross-section of New York life, from construction workers to top-level financial gurus to school teachers to drug addicts.
Gossip Girl
Most shows about the scandalous lives of spoiled rich kids take place in sunny California, where the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and Spanish-style mansions broadcast in high definition continue to fascinate middle Americans. But it is no secret that the East Coast has its fare share of trust fund kids whose allowances are higher than many Americans' salaries. The Manhattan-based Gossip Girl zones in on this world, featuring actors like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, and Chace Crawford who play Upper East Side prep school kids with black American Express cards. The show has grown in infamy for its nonchalant portrayal of teen drinking, drug use, and sex, which is also why it probably remains so popular!
30 Rock
Saturday Night Live veteran Tina Fey created this satellite TV show in 2006, in which she plays the head writer of an SNL-style comedy show that is filmed in Manhattan. 30 Rock has only grown more popular with each passing season. This is partially because it brings to light the behind-the-scenes world of the New York television scene, which is smaller than that of Los Angeles but still incredibly fascinating for average viewers.