These popular TV shows are all set in Indiana. What's your favorite?
Indiana, according to TV, is a popular place to get lost in a parallel dimension. Or it's where you can raise a family, or lift a hammer and remodel a home, solve crimes and meet a totally not-dead Elvis Presley.
What is it about the Hoosier state that Hollywood executives find so endearing?
For gritty action movies, most film crews flock to New York City. If glamour and fame is your jam, you can find it in Los Angeles. But if you want a slice of Americana with downhome, relatable characters living in rural or suburban settings, you go to the Midwest.
Indiana is the place to be, as evidenced by the following programs:
John Green to Taylor Swift fans: Avoid hotel costs during Eras Tour; live in Irvington.
"Eerie, Indiana"
Duration: One season, 1991-92, 19 episodes.
Network: NBC.
Indiana setting: Eerie (fictional).
What's the story? Between Indianapolis and Bloomington is where TV executives imagined you'd find Eerie, Indiana, a small town where 13-year-old protagonist Marshall Teller was wise to strange things under the surface of day-to-day life. Teller sleuths through every episode trying to unravel one mystery after another — from retainers that can read dogs' minds to ghosts with unfinished business. Eerie, he finds, is the center of weirdness for the entire planet. Just ask an older Elvis Presley, who greets Teller on his daily paper route.
"The Upshaws"
Duration: Four seasons so far, May 2021 - Present. 32 episodes and counting.
Network: Netflix.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Lending extra Hoosier bona fides to this sitcom on Netflix, Indianapolis-native Mike Epps executive produces and stars as mechanic Bennie Upshaw, the father of a working-class Black family trying to manage life's everyday struggles with humor and grace. Benny is married to his high school sweetheart, Regina, played by Kim Fields (Tootie from "The Fact of Life"). They have three children together as well as a teenage son Benny fathered while he and Regina were on a break. Adding more star-power to the show is Bennie's sister-in-law played by Wanda Sykes, who co-created "The Upshaws" with Regina Hicks.
More: Season 4 of Mike Epps' Indy-based 'The Upshaws' releases on Netflix Thursday
"Good Morning, Miss Bliss"
Duration: One season, 1988-89, 13 episodes.
Network: Disney Channel.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Before the bell saved them at Bayside High, Zack Morris (portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar), Screech Powers (Dustin Diamond) and Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) attended John F. Kennedy Junior High School in Indianapolis. Yes, "Saved by the Bell" was a spin-off of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss." Lead actress Hayley Mills didn't make the transition to California, but Dennis Haskins portrayed school principal Richard Belding on both series.
“Stranger Things"
Duration: Five seasons. July 2016 - Present. 34 episodes in season four and counting.
Network: Netflix.
Indiana setting: Hawkins (fictional).
What's the story? Supernatural, other-worldly forces have beset the 1980s fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana after a secret government agency's experiments unwittingly open a portal to a darker, parallel dimension. Millie Bobby Brown stars as "Eleven" a girl with extraordinary powers who escapes the same government lab and is discovered by Mike Wheeler, played by Finn Wolfhard, and his friends while the group is out searching for their missing friend Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp. What follows is a whirlwind adventure involving monsters, mysteries, missing people and all of it wrapped in the perils of adolescence. The show is slated to end at the conclusion of its fifth season.
Nostalgia overload: How Netflix's 'Stranger Things' portrays Indiana
"One Day at a Time”
Duration: Nine seasons, 1975-84, 209 episodes.
Network: CBS.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? A single mother (portrayed by Bonnie Franklin) raises two daughters (Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli) after moving to Indianapolis from Logansport. Pat Harrington won an Emmy Award in 1984 for his portrayal of Schneider. The apartment address for "One Day at a Time" — 1344 Hartford Drive — doesn't exist in Indianapolis, but Hartford Street is found in Fountain Square.
“The Middle"
Duration: Nine seasons, 2009-18, 215 episodes.
Network: ABC.
Indiana setting: Orson (fictional).
What's the story? Middle-class, middle-aged Mike and Frankie Heck (portrayed by Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton) raise three children in Orson, Indiana, which is based on the real town of Jasper, Indiana. The oldest son on "The Middle" is named Axl, a nod to Hoosier rock star Axl Rose. By the show's seventh season, Axl and his sister, Sue, are enrolled at fictional East Indiana State University.
"Parks and Recreation”
Duration: Seven seasons, 2009-15, 125 episodes.
Network: NBC.
Indiana setting: Pawnee (fictional).
What's the story? "Parks and Recreation" may be remembered for giving Chris Pratt his start as an actor, but performances by its ensemble cast make the show unforgettable for its own delightful reasons. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe, Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, Jim O'Heir and Retta. All the actors made it to true-life Indianapolis to shoot on-location episodes in either 2012 or 2013.
"Bust Down"
Duration: One season and counting. March 2022-present. Six episodes
Network: Peacock
Indiana setting: Gary.
What's the story? Four friends employed in low-wage, dead-end jobs at an Indiana casino are trying to navigate life's obstacles and doing a spectacular job of screwing it up. From bosses with boundary issues to domestic blowups, this irreverent comedy stars Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Jak Knight and Chris Redd trying to make the most of it in middle America.
"Hang Time”
Duration: Six seasons, 1995-2000, 104 episodes.
Network: NBC.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? As part of NBC's Saturday morning lineup, "Hang Time" centered on a co-ed basketball team at fictional Deering High School. Former NBA star Reggie Theus initially coached the team, followed in the role by NFL icon Dick Butkus.
"Garfield and Friends”
Duration: Seven seasons, 1988-1994, 121 episodes.
Network: CBS
Indiana setting: Muncie
What's the story? Garfield, everyone's favorite fat cat, jumped from the comic strip into Saturday morning television on CBS in "Garfield and Friends." The animated misadventures included familiar characters, such as hapless owner Jon Arbuckle and Odie — Garfield's annoying but loveable canine companion.
While the Indiana connections might not be readily apparent, Jim Davis grew up on a dairy farm in Muncie where his parents raised cows and lots of stray cats. Garfield was introduced to readers in 1978 and is syndicated presently in about 2,100 newspapers. At age 45, the orange tabby is still hating Mondays and loving lasagna from his home in Muncie.
More: Garfield: Nine lives of Indiana’s top cartoon cat
"Teen Mom”
Duration: Six seasons, 2009-16, 75 episodes.
Network: MTV.
Indiana setting: Anderson.
What's the story? Reality TV wasn't a dream come true for Anderson's Amber Portwood, who made her debut on "16 & Pregnant" in 2009. That led to her participation on "Teen Mom," which chronicled her struggles to raise her daughter with the girl's father, her sometimes-boyfriend, Gary Shirley. Portwood made headlines when she attacked Shirley, leaving scars. She received a two-year suspended sentence and probation. But during that time, probation officers discovered she was abusing prescription drugs, and she agreed to go to rehab to avoid jail. Portwood opted for a jail sentence in 2012, and she was released from Rockville Correctional Facility in November 2013. She became engaged to Matt Baier, an aspiring professional poker player from Boston.
"The Shift"
Duration: Three seasons, 2008-10, 26 episodes.
Network: Investigation Discovery.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Reality series "The Shift" chronicled the "middle shift" of 2-10:30 p.m. for Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives. The show's cast included John Beach, Jeff Breedlove, Tom Tudor, Christine Mannina and Jesse Beavers.
"The Ms. Pat Show"
Duration: Three seasons, August 2021-present. 29 episodes and counting.
Network: BET+.
Indiana setting: Plainfield.
What's the story? After moving from Atlanta, Georgia with her family to Plainfield, Indiana, Patricia Carson (portrayed by Patricia Williams, whose stage name is "Ms. Pat"), adjusts to life in a mostly suburban, mostly white, mostly conservative Middle American town. The comedy streaming on BET+ includes stars J. Bernard Calloway as Ms. Pat's supportive husband, and includes actors Tami Roman, Vince Swann, Briyana Guadalupe and Theodore John Barnes.
"Close to Home"
Duration: Two seasons, 2005-07, 44 episodes.
Network: CBS.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Annabeth Chase (portrayed by Jennifer Finnigan) works as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County. Co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Fort Wayne native Jim Leonard, "Close to Home" drew inspiration from the real-life experiences of local prosecutor Barb Trathen.
"Men Behaving Badly"
Duration: Two seasons, 1996-97, 28 episodes.
Network: NBC.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Widely panned by TV critics, "Men Behaving Badly" attempted to bring a British sitcom concept to the Midwest. Rob Schneider and Ron Eldard delivered raunchy lines during the show's first season, and Ken Marino replaced Eldard for the second. Why Indianapolis? "Obviously, we hope to land some of those hard-to-get Colts tickets," Schneider joked at an NBC news conference in the days before Peyton Manning came to town.
"Good Bones"
Duration: Eight seasons, 2016-2023, 100+ episodes.
Network: HGTV.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? "Good Bones" follows mother-and-daughter duo Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk as they renovated run-down homes for their Fountain Square business, Two Chicks and a Hammer.
"My goal after graduating (from Indiana University) was that I wanted to keep wearing yoga pants and hoodies — I don't want a desk job, I don’t want to wear a suit, I don’t want a 9 to 5," Starsiak Hawk told IndyStar in an earlier interview.
After eight seasons, Starsiak Hawk decided to end the series. The show became one of HGTV's most popular programs, attracting an audience of more than 21.7 million total viewers by its seventh season in 2022, according to audience figures from Nielsen.
More: 'Good Bones' is ending after eight seasons on HGTV
"The Jeff Foxworthy Show"
Duration: Two seasons, 1995-97, 40 episodes.
Network: ABC, NBC.
Indiana setting: Bloomington.
What's the story? Popular stand-up comedian Jeff Foxworthy struggled through two different experiences on "The Jeff Foxworthy Show." The first season was set in Bloomington, aired on ABC and featured Anita Barone in the role of Foxworthy's wife. The second season was set in Georgia, aired on NBC and featured Ann Cusack in the role of Foxworthy's wife. "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" is one of two set-in-Indiana sitcoms on the resume of child actor Haley Joel Osment.
"The Five Mrs. Buchanans"
Duration: One season, 1994-95, 17 episodes.
Network: CBS.
Indiana setting: Mercy (fictional).
What's the story? This short-lived series featured two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and Oscar winner Eileen Heckart in a contentious daughter-in-law/mother-in-law relationship. As envisioned by TV executives, Mercy was a small town on the outskirts of Indianapolis, where "The Five Mrs. Buchanans" visited when seeking diversions such as shopping malls and touring Broadway plays.
"Maggie Winters"
Duration: One season, 1998-99, 16 episodes.
Network: CBS.
Indiana setting: Shelbyville.
What's the story? After a successful run on "Murphy Brown," actress Faith Ford portrayed a newly divorced, jobless woman who returns to her hometown of Shelbyville on "Maggie Winters." Why Shelbyville? "We really like the idea of a place where people can go to things like boat races and monster truck pulls and have barbecues and picnics at the lake," Ford once told IndyStar.
"Alpha Dogs"
Duration: One season, 2013, 16 episodes.
Network: Nat Geo Wild.
Indiana setting: Denver (Miami County, 90 miles north of Indianapolis).
What's the story? Reality-TV series "Alpha Dogs" peeked inside Vohne Liche Kennels, a company known for training dogs to pinpoint bombs, drugs and dead bodies.
"Porter Ridge"
Duration: One season, 2013, 13 episodes.
Network: Discovery Channel.
Indiana setting: Spencer.
What's the story? This reality-TV series unfolded as a self-made sideshow for Country Auto Parts owner Terry Porter, bear whisperer Jeff Watson and a band of bearded outsiders. "Porter Ridge" aimed for backwoods comedy, a modern-day "Beverly Hillbillies" that never relocated to Los Angeles.
"American Crime"
Duration: Three seasons, 2015-17, 29 episodes.
Network: ABC.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? For anthology series "American Crime," each season brings a new story arc and new locale. The second season examined the accusation of sexual assault toward a male classmate at fictional Thurgood Marshall High School in Indianapolis.
"Glory Daze"
Duration: One season, 2010-11, 10 episodes.
Network: TBS.
Indiana setting: Hayes University (fictional).
What's the story? Before quickly disappearing from the pop-culture landscape, "Glory Daze" focused on a group of college freshmen who pledged a fraternity in 1986.
"Thunder Alley"
Duration: Two seasons, 1994-95, 27 episodes.
Network: ABC.
Indiana setting: Indianapolis.
What's the story? Similar to "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," "Thunder Alley" was only half-Hoosier. After an opening season set in Indianapolis, the Ed Asner vehicle shifted to Detroit for its second season. Coincidentally, Haley Joel Osment portrayed an irresistible youngster on both "Foxworthy" and "Thunder Alley."
"Breaking Away"
Duration: One season, 1980, seven episodes.
Network: ABC.
Indiana setting: Bloomington.
What's the story? With an iconic film as its source material and heartthrob Shaun Cassidy as leading man, "Breaking Away" appeared to be a can't-miss proposition for ABC. It missed.
"Armed & Famous"
Duration: One season, 2007, six episodes.
Network: CBS, VH1.
Indiana setting: Muncie.
What's the story? Reality-TV series "Armed & Famous" starred Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Trish Stratus, and Jason "Wee Man" Acuna as the quintet trained for gigs as reserve police officers in Muncie. Nine years after "Armed & Famous," former "CHiPs" star Estrada became a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Special mention: Origin stories
Without Indiana, "The Fugitive" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" wouldn't be the shows that captivated viewers in the 1960s and present day. Dr. Richard Kimble (portrayed by David Janssen) lived in fictional Stafford, Indiana until he was accused of killing his wife and became "The Fugitive" (four seasons, 1963-67, 120 episodes, ABC). Kimmy Schmidt (portrayed by Ellie Kemper) was held captive for 15 years in an Indiana bunker before embarking on exciting New York City adventures in "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (two seasons, 2015-present, 26 episodes, Netflix).
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Norman Lear's 'One Day at a Time' and other shows set in Indiana
