Philadelphia Media: Swarthmore College Film and Media Studies Capstone Project

Philadelphia Television Shows

Films are only one slice of the Philadelphia Media cheesesteak. Some of the boldest, most famous television shows are set in Philadelphia. Whether as home to the dark irreverent humor of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present), the battleground of criminal justice reform in Philly D.A. (2021), or the cheery, wholesome and diverse elementary school of Abbott Elementary (2021), Philadelphia is on the cutting edge of bold television. 

Philadelphia also has a rich television history, as the original home of Dick Clark's classic show, American Bandstand (1952-1989) which American families would tune into see young people dancing to the most popular songs at the time. 

Students explored the history of Philadelphia television and network, cable, PBS, and streaming shows of recent years as a part of the course.

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