5 Shows That Took 'New York As Character' Trope To The Next Level

It has long been a tradition for TV shows set in New York City to present the city not as a mere backdrop to the action on screen, but as a full-fledged character in its own right.

Often, this leads to a romanticizing of New York as the city that never sleeps and the dream destination for millions of people. But there are also projects where NYC shows its ugly side, almost acting as an antagonist.

Either way, these stories always provide a unique perspective on the Big Apple as a central character. Here are five examples.

Sex and the City (1998-2004)

This may be too obvious of an answer, but it is impossible to leave out Sex and the City when making a list about New York as a character.

The show did it really well by placing the fashionista best friends in different locations around the city, often reflecting their mood, and referencing the love of the city in basically every episode. To this day, the show makes even those who have never been to NYC feel nostalgic for it.

How To with John Wilson (2020-2023)

The masterful and wacky documentary-style show where John Wilson gives tutorials on the streets of New York City is hands down the best at capturing the strangeness that is this weird, wondrous city and its inhabitants.

If you are thinking of moving to NYC, How To with John Wilson is the mandatory watch for you. If you are a resident, it is guaranteed to bring many laugh-out-loud moments to your life with its accurate depiction of the city's quirky character.

30 Rock (2006-2013)

Tina Fey's sitcom about the showrunner of NBC's fictional sketch comedy based on Saturday Night Live does a brilliant job of satirizing the entertainment industry as well as life in New York. Fey's character Liz says in one episode that she likes to think of the city as a character on her show, and that is certainly Fey's position.

Though it's comically exaggerated, 30 Rock's portrayal of a poor neighborhood in New York City is truly one-of-a-kind and hits close to home.

Broad City (2014-2019)

Created by and starring Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, Broad City is the show that captures the lives of young women determined to make it in New York better than other similar shows that ran in the 2010s.

It is a more accessible view of NYC than the projects that featured rich, spoiled protagonists and romanticized the city.

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Although Seinfeld is set mostly in an apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is a small-scale show, and was actually filmed in Los Angeles, it captures the character of the city perfectly.

Not only is the city referenced and used as a huge part of the sitcom, but the characters have an accurate interaction with the city and the humor is just very New York style. A truly unique take on urban living.