"Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007) is a comedy series that is set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a quaint, close-knit town. The series revolves around the lives of single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her intellectually driven teenage daughter, Rory Gilmore, in the charming little town.
The town is inspired after Amy Sherman-Palladino (director and producer) visited charming towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut, particularly Washington Depot and nearby towns like New Milford, Kent, and Litchfield.
The Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, CT, is often cited as the inspiration for the Independence and Dragonfly Inns, the two pivotal locations in the fictional town.
2. Parks and Recreation
Answer: Pawnee, Indiana
"Parks and Recreation" (2009-2015) is a political satire mockumentary sitcom set in Pawnee, Indiana, a Midwestern city known for its quirky history and residents, forms the core backdrop of the show. Pawnee is largely based on Muncie, Indiana, and its city government is inspired by Muncie and Bloomington, Indiana.
The series follows Leslie Knope, an ambitious mid-level bureaucrat who focuses her efforts to "beautify" her town and navigate local government bureaucracy.
3. Stranger Things
Answer: Hawkins, Indiana
"Stranger Things" (2016-2025) is set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana. It is a small, ordinary Midwestern suburban town in the 1980s that is secretly located above the terrifying, parallel dimension known as "Upside Down".
The series begins with the disappearance of a young boy, Will Byers, which uncovers a sinister government conspiracy. Besides the government conspiracy, the town is constantly threatened by supernatural forces, monsters, and is the site of numerous paranormal and supernatural events throughout the series.
4. The Vampire Diaries
Answer: Mystic Falls, Virginia
"The Vampire Diaries" (2009-2015) is a supernatural teen drama series set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. It is a small town with a rich history of supernatural events, including a long-standing war between vampires, werewolves, witches, and other mystical creatures
The show is about a love triangle between human teenager Elena Gilbert and two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. They have to face the constant challenges of the supernatural forces in the town.
5. Dawson's Creek
Answer: Capeside, Massachusetts
"Dawson's Creek" (1998-2003) is a teen drama series that follows a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts.
The series is filmed around Wilmington, North Carolina, influenced by the show creator Kevin Williamson, who grew up there. The coastal scenery with its rivers and nearby beaches like Southport and Wrightsville Beach, made it look like a New England coastal community.
Many of the iconic spots in the series are real places in Wilmington, like the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus, which stood in for Capeside High School.
6. Veronica Mars
Answer: Neptune, California
"Veronica Mars" (2004-2019) is a mystery series about a high school student and later a private investigator. The series is set in the fictional coastal town of Neptune, California. It is a community that is sharply divided by class and wealth.
The fictional town is inspired by Orange County in California. Many of the scenes were shot in real locations. Neptune High, the school Veronica attended, was filmed at Oceanside High School in California. The Neptune Grand, a luxury hotel, uses shots of the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. The Mars Investigation office was filmed in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego.
7. Friday Night Lights
Answer: Dillon, Texas
"Friday Night Lights" (2006-2011) is a sports drama series that follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It is set in the fictional, small, and football-obsessed town of Dillon, Texas. The fictional town is based on the real West Texas City of Odessa.
The series was inspired by the 1990 non-fiction book "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream" by H.G. Bissinger and the 2004 film of the same name.
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Answer: Sunnyvale, California
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003), a supernatural drama series, is based on the 1992 film of the same name written by Joss Whedon. The show is set in the fictional town of Sunnydale, California. It is a town built on a "Hellmouth," which attracts vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces.
Buffy, who wants to live a normal life, has to juggle her supernatural duties with the typical challenges of high school and adolescence. In her struggles against the supernatural forces, she is aided by a loyal group of friends known as the "Scooby Gang".
9. Murder, She Wrote
Answer: Cabot Cave, Maine
"Murder, She Wrote" (1984-1996) is a crime series that follows the adventures of Jessica Fletcher, a retired English teacher and mystery writer who solves murders in her fictional hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine.
Most of the scenes for the show were actually filmed at Universal Studios in California. The exterior shots of Jessica Fletcher's house and the fictional town were largely shot in the real coastal town of Mendocino, California.
10. In the Heat of the Night
Answer: Sparta, Mississippi
"In the Heat of the Night" (1988-1995) is an American police procedural crime drama that was loosely based on the 1965 novel and 1967 film of the same name.
The series follows the working relationship of Police Chief Bill Gillespie and Detective Virgil Tibbs, set in the fictional town of Sparta, Mississippi, a racially-tense Southern town. Most of the filming took place in Covington, Georgia.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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