Michigan is home to the Great Lakes and hit television shows like “Freaks and Geeks,” set in the fictional Motor City suburb of Chippewa, and “Martin,” set in Detroit. Many Michiganders might not even realize their favorite series or shows they’ve been anticipating are based in Michigan.
Here’s a breakdown of the best TV shows set in the mitten.
Starting the list off strong with classic sitcom “Home Improvement,” starring none other than Michigan native Tim Allen.
The Emmy award-winning series “Home Improvement” took place in the suburbs of Detroit. About Tim ‘The Tool Man’ Taylor, his family, his face-hiding neighbor, and his home improvement show co-host Al Borland (Richard Karn). Tim frequently rocked sweatshirts from colleges and universities throughout the state. This series is the most famous show set in Michigan, according to Insider. Allen’s upbringing was in Birmingham.
A hit new show, “Grosse Pointe Garden Society,” debuted last week. Set in Grosse Pointe, a luxury suburb of Detroit, the series is filled with mystery and suspense. It follows four members of a local garden club who become entangled in a scandalous murder and attempt to cover it up by burying a body in their flower beds.
New episodes air weekly on NBC on Sunday and stream on Peacock.
“Sister, Sister” is an award-winning ’90s sitcom about twin sisters separated at birth and accidentally reunited as teenagers at a mall. Set in suburban Detroit, the long-lost twins Tia (Tia Mowry) and Tamera (Tamera Mowry) were adopted by different parents. Tia lives with her seamstress mom (Jackée Harry), while Tamera grew up with her businessman dad (Tim Reid).
The series follows the girls’ lives after blending their families. Featuring singer Marques Houston as Roger the annoying next-door neighbor, with the classic catchphrase “Go home, Roger!”
“Mayor of Kingstown” is a crime drama set in the fictional town of Kingstown, where incarceration is the only thriving industry. The McLusky family are power brokers tackling themes of corruption, systemic racism, and inequality. Lead actor Jeremy Renner plays Mike McLusky, who is on a mission to bring order and justice to a town that has neither. Paramount+ ranked the series No. 1 throughout its three seasons.
Animal lovers couldn’t get enough of “The Incredible Dr. Pol” on Nat Geo Wild. The reality series focused on the patients and staff of Dr. Jan Pol’s veterinary clinic in rural Weidman, near Mount Pleasant. The practice, launched in 1981 by Pol, treats pets and large farm animals. With 24 seasons, the series had a good run from 2011 to 2024.
The success of the series ultimately led to a spinoff with his son called “The Incredible Pol Farm,” following life on the farm with a different dynamic. It streams on Hulu.
“Good Girls,” set in suburban Detroit, follows three moms who resort to theft when hit with financial struggles. A grocery store robbery complicates their lives and sends them into dangerous predicaments they didn’t see coming.
Prior to its fourth season premiere, “Good Girls” became the most-watched show on Netflix in the United States, according to Nielsen’s streaming rankings for the week of Feb. 15-21. U.S. Netflix viewers watched nearly 1.08 billion minutes of the drama that week.
Not to mention, one of the main actors, Michigan native Matthew Lillard — known for his roles in “Scooby-Doo,” “Scream” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” — played Dean Boland. Lillard was born in Lansing.
“Flint Town,” set in Flint, highlights the struggles of police officers and citizens in the city. The eight-part documentary takes a look inside Flint’s police department from 2015 to 2017.
The series follows a team of underdogs as they strive to overcome impossible odds to save the city while dealing with staff reductions, government funding issues, and citizens who don’t trust officials after the Flint water crisis.
From the creator of “Breaking Bad” (Vince Gilligan) comes a drama named after the Cereal City: “Battle Creek.”
The show follows a mismatched partnership between a police detective and an FBI agent in Battle Creek at an underfunded police station. Josh Duhamel — known for “Transformers” and “The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” — plays Milton Chamberlain, a charismatic FBI agent. Dean Winters — known for “Law & Order: SVU” and Allstate ads — plays Russ Agnew, a cynical police detective. Despite butting heads, the two form an alliance to fight crime in a series that ended way too soon.
Actor and former White House Office of Public Liaison Kal Penn, known for his roles in “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and “The Santa Clauses,” also stars as Detective Fontanelle White.
The Motor City is the setting for the four seasons of the HBO series “Titans.” The show follows Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin, who moves away from Gotham and becomes a Detroit police detective, trying to distance himself from his mentor, Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile, Traverse City high school student Rachel Roth comes home to find her mom murdered.
The duo link up in this gritty take on the “Teen Titans” franchise, following young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find their purpose.
Roth, possessed by a strange darkness, gets involved in a conspiracy that could bring Hell to Earth. Grayson, Hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy band together as a team, with Roth as heroes fighting evil.
Other notable shows set in Michigan:
- “Bob Hearts Abishola” on CBS — set in Detroit
- “8 Simple Rules” on ABC — set in Detroit
- “Escaping Twin Flames” on Netflix — set in Suttons Bay
- “American Horror Story: Cult” on FX — set in fictional Brookfield Heights
- “Hardcore Pawn” on TruTV — set in Detroit
- “Detroiters” on Comedy Central — set in Detroit
- “The OA” on Netflix — set in suburban Michigan
- “American Auto” on NBC — set in the Detroit area
- “Charmed” on CW — set in fictional college town of Hilltowne
- “Ash vs. Evil Dead” on Starz — set in Elk Grove
- “Saved by the Farm” on Animal Planet — set in rural Michigan
- “Hung” on HBO — set in Detroit
- “Low Winter Sun” on AMC — set in Detroit
- “Bargain Block” on HGTV — set in Detroit
- “Transformers Animated” on Cartoon Network — set in futuristic Detroit
- “Across the River to Motor City” on Citytv — set in Detroit
- “Joe’s World” on NBC — set in Detroit
- “Undateable” on NBC — set in Ferndale
- “Detroit 1-8-7” on ABC — set in Detroit
- “Soul Man” on ABC — set in Royal Oak
- “Rita Rocks” on USA — set in Southfield
- “Rhythm & Blues” on NBC — set in Detroit
- “The Fitzpatricks” on CBS — set in Flint
- “God, the Devil and Bob” on NBC — set in Detroit
- “Station Eleven” on HBO — set in fictional Severn City
- “Parking Wars” on A&E — set in Detroit
- “Motor City Masters” on TruTV — set in Detroit
- “Justified: City Primeval” on FX — set in Detroit
- “How We Roll” on CBS — set in Saginaw
- “Great Lakes Warriors” on History Channel — set in the Great Lakes
- “4400” on CW — set in Detroit
- “Diarra from Detroit” on BET+ — set in Detroit
- “Detroit SWAT” on A&E — set in Detroit
- “Crash Course” on ABC — set in Detroit
- “The Climb” on Amazon — set in Detroit
- “BMF” (Black Mafia Family) on Starz — set in Detroit
- “All-American Muslim” on TLC — set in Dearborn
- “Rehab Addict” on HGTV — set in and around the Detroit area
- “Run of the House” on WB — set in Grand Rapids
- “Animal Cops: Detroit” on Animal Planet — set in Detroit
- “Muddling Through” on CBS — set in rural Michigan
- “Blade: The Series” on Spike TV — set in Detroit
- “Joe Pera Talks with You” on Comedy Central — set in the Upper Peninsula
- “The Big Leap” on Fox — set in Detroit
The Wolverine State is home to lots of great shows, how many have you seen?
