When you think of locations that TV shows are filmed, you probably think about Hollywood first. It’s an obvious spot, but did you know that many popular TV shows have been filmed around Santa Monica?
Some famous TV shows have been set in Santa Monica, while others only use specific parts of our beautiful city, like the Santa Monica Pier. The Santa Monica Pier is one of the most filmed locations in Los Angeles. Check out the long list of films and TV shows filmed at the Pier.
Whether you’re a TV buff or not, you might be able to guess a few popular picks off the top of your head. Do you know which ones they are?
Baywatch
The ever-popular 12-year long TV series, Baywatch, was filmed at spots along the Santa Monica Beach during the first 10 years of the show, which makes it one of the most well-known beaches in California.
Three’s Company
In Three’s Company, Janet, Chrissy, and Jack lived in a Santa Monica apartment together that was within walking distance from the beach. They filmed much of the series in actual spots around Santa Monica, such as the Santa Monica Pier, the Ocean Front Walk, the Gingerbread Court, and beyond.
Pacific Blue
Perhaps one of the more obvious choices, the five-season-long Pacific Blue was about a group of police officers within the Santa Monica Police Department. It was filmed in Santa Monica, as well as in Venice, Redondo Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, and Hawaii.
Private Practice
The Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, aired for six seasons and used Santa Monica for many of its exterior shots. You can find the Oceanside Group building at 4th and Wilshire in Santa Monica.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was frequently filmed in a parking lot on Santa Monica’s Olympic Boulevard. The funeral and cemetery scenes were shot at both this location and at an actual cemetery, the Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery.
NCIS: Los Angeles
Santa Monica is a filming location for a few episodes of the TV show NCIS: Los Angeles, including the Santa Monica Ocean Front Walk in the pilot episode and the Santa Monica Pier Pier in season 1 episode 21.
Check Out The TV Show Locations Around Santa Monica
If one or more of these shows is a favorite of yours, be sure to remember the spots where they were filmed, visit them, and rewatch the show(s) to check them out again. It would be a fun weekend activity with friends or family.
If your favorite show used the Santa Monica Pier, be sure to also stop by Big Dean’s Ocean Front Café on the East side of the Boardwalk, across from the Merry Go Round for an excellent array of food and drinks. There’s something for everyone on our dining menu, like a classic fish and chips, cheeseburger, or chili cheese fries.
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