English TV series which made cities popular

From Central Perk of New York to the huge money siphoning A1 Car Wash of Albuquerque, New Mexico — if you are an ardent viewer of some popular English TV series then these places would definitely ring a bell for you. Courtesy to these series most of us have visited the famous locales around the world and are familiar with a few cities already while sitting on our couch.

Here are some shows which have made cities and locales popular:

F.R.I.E.N.D.S : Manhattan

This American television sitcom based in Manhattan revolved around the lives of six 20-something friends—Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing, Ross Geller and Phoebe Buffay. It all started with Rachel fleeing her wedding day and becoming roommates with her childhood friend Monica, a New York City chef. Rachel is introduced to Monica’s friends—Joey, a struggling actor; Chandler, a corporate stooge; Phoebe, a musician and a masseuse; and Ross, a palaeontologist. The series shows the friends’ comic and romantic adventures, along with their career struggles. ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S.’ lasted for ten seasons and became one of the highest watched TV series in history.

Not to forget it made Central Perk Cafe, where they all used to frequently hang out, a known coffeehouse for many of us today. When not at the cafe the six usually were seen at Monica and Rachel's nearby West Village apartment. The never-die spirit of NYC is reflected in the six friends’ lives too.

How I Met Your Mother: New York City, NY

Remember MacLaren’s Pub, the bar for all the great stories of ‘How I Met your Mother’? The Pub is a frequent hang-out place for the five friends (Ted, Robin, Marshal, Barney, Lily) in the show, but did you know that it is actually based on a real bar named McGee’s in New York City? It was the place where the creators of the TV series used to drink while working together for Letterman’s ‘The Late Show’ and that’s how they got inspired and incorporated it in ‘How I met…. After the success of the show, this bar has now included food and drinks menu that are show based apart from switching off sports for half an hour on Mondays to watch the popular series. Also it’s the by lanes of NYC which take the story forward as Ted recounts to his children, his and his friends’ journey which lead him meet their mother.

Breaking Bad: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Though this series went off-air in 2013, but it definitely made a few places including Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant, A1 Car Wash and Saul Goodman's office—all in New Mexico-- well-known places to us. ‘Breaking Bad’ was based on the story of a struggling high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, who was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. Together with his former student Jesse Pinkman they turn to a life of crime by producing and selling crystallized Meth (methamphetamine) in order to secure his family's financial future before White dies.

Sex And The City: Manhattan, New York

Revolving around the lives of a columnist and author Carrie Bradshaw and her bunch of three best friends, we can’t imagine ‘Sex And the City’ series to be based in any other city than the lively Manhattan. In this case, it’s the never sleeping Manhattan which adds its charm to the plot as Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda go through various hardships in life and career in order to find true love.

Two And Half Men: Malibu

The show is about Charlie Harper, a jingle writer, his brother Alan, and Alan's son Jake. Post Alan’s divorce, Alan and Jake move to Charlie's beach-front Malibu house which and complicate Charlie's free-wheeling life. We are sure the posh beach apartments of Malibu, would make you wish to own one too.

Grey's Anatomy: Seattle

This is one exception. The show could have been based in any city as it majorly shot inside the hospital. Grey’s Anatomy’s plot is centred on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors. The show was initially named as ‘Complications’ but was later changed to ‘Grey’s Anantomy’ based on the famous anatomy book titled ‘Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body’ by Henry Gray. Nevertheless, the show has definitely made Seattle popular among the viewers.

Big Bang Theory: Pasadena, Los Angeles County, US

It’s the story about Penny who moves into an apartment in Pasadena, California across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists—Leonard and Sheldon. The show depicts how little they know about life outside their laboratory. Interestingly the apartment building or simply the building where Leonard, Sheldon, and Penny live on the fourth floor actually refers to the apartment building at 2311 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California. The building has five floors and sixteen apartments and its elevator is broken for several years which in the show is explained as being damaged by one of Leonard's experiments. In reality, the building is situated near Pasadena City Hall which is visible from Sheldon and Leonard's window.

Though the series is based in LA, it is shot in the famous Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, in California, USA. What’s more, according to a report by Dailymail.com in 2015, the apartment featured in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ tops the list of America’s most-loved TV homes - beating NYC favorites ‘Friends’ and ‘Sex and the City’.

Glee: Lima, Ohio

Gleeks aka fans of ‘Glee’ would know that this American musical comedy-drama focussed on a group of ambitious misfits who tried to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club. They found strength, acceptance and their voice while pursuing their dreams. The TV series aired from 2009 till 2015. Interestingly, the show was initially written to be made into a film by Ian Brennan based out of his own experience as a member of the Prospect High School show choir in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

The series was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. It was Murphy’s idea to set the series in Midwest as he himself grew up in Indiana. He has childhood memories of visiting Ohio and the Kings Island theme park, which are incorporated in the show. Although ‘Glee’ is based out of Lima, Ohio and is set at the fictional William McKinley High School it is originally shot at Paramount Studios and Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood.

Dexter: Miami, Florida

Set in Miami, ‘Dexter’ is an American drama series which centres on Dexter Morgan, a police forensics expert for Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret life as a serial killer of criminals whom he believes have escaped the justice system. The first series of the show was based on the novel ‘Darkly dreaming Dexter’ by Jeff Lindsay which was later elaborated independently. ‘Dexter’ is set in Miami, Florida but many of its scenes are filmed in Long Beach, California. The show has featured many landmark buildings and locations in Long Beach making the place quite popular now. It’s noted that the final episode's airport scene was shot at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California.