With bucolic scenery and a host of celebrity residents, it’s likely of little surprise to know that the state of Massachusetts has played a large role in the rise of American television, with shows such as “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Cheers” and “The Last Of Us” all set in the Bay State.
Given that intrinsic connection between Massachusetts and the small screen, it’s no shocker that residents have their fair share of in-state favorites when it comes to the shows that have been set in Massachusetts over the years, with the aforementioned trio of classics leading the way in 2024.
World Television Day is November 21. To celebrate, BetMassachusetts.com wanted to break away from its typical Massachusetts sports betting coverage and find the best shows set in the state. We used IMDB ratings, Rotten Tomatoes Audience score, Rotten Tomatoes Critic score, and awards recognition to create a weighted scoring system.
Ranking Best Shows Set In Massachusetts
Rank | Show | Total Points |
1 | The Handmaid’s Tale | 413 |
2 | Cheers | 272 |
3 | The Last Of Us | 235 |
4 | Sabrina The Teenage Witch | 79 |
5 | Dawson's Creek | 52 |
6 | American Gothic | 40 |
7 | Raising Dad | 39 |
8 | Ginny & Georgia | 38 |
9 | Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard | 36 |
10 | The Girl From Plainville | 35 |
Which Massachusetts TV Show Do Residents Love Most?
Leading the way in Massachusetts in 2024 was the dystopian tragedy series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which has aired on Hulu since 2017, winning eight Primetime Emmy Awards and netting 13 nominations in total, scoring the series 413 points to take home top honors in the state.
The show beat out the 275-episode classic “Cheers,” which had 272 points in total to place second overall in Massachusetts, while “The Last Of Us” was third with 235 points, finishing well ahead of the next closest show in the state, which was “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” with 79 points.
Throw in “Dawson’s Creek” (52 points), “American Gothic” with 40 points, “Raising Dad” with 39 points, “Ginny & Georgia” (38 points), “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” (36 points) and “The Girl From Plainville” (35 points) and you have the Bay State’s full list for the year.
Still, no TV show in Massachusetts has held sway with locals the way that Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” has, with the streaming service special pulling off an upset win over NBC’s classic sitcom that ran for 275 episodes from 1982 to 1993 on TV screens across America, reminding all of us that there really is a place out there where everybody knows your name.
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Author
Christopher Boan has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
