South Carolina is known for a significant number of classic films being shot in the state, including "Forrest Gump," "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard" and "The Notebook."
But The Palmetto State also plays host to many notable TV programs, old and new, that have garnered significant followings over the years.
With a wealth of options to rank, BetSouthCarolina.com took a beat from South Carolina sports betting and utilized a system to rank the best shows set in the state.
How did we do it? BetSouthCarolina.com considered all the television series set in South Carolina as listed on Wikipedia a starting basis for the research. We then utilized IMDb rating, Rotten Tomatoes Audience score, Rotten Tomatoes Critic score, and award recognition to create a weighted scoring system.
As you can see, there's really only one takeaway from these rankings, and that is that actor/writer/director Danny McBride over the last decade has become the king of television filmed in South Carolina.
McBride first broke onto HBO airwaves with his cult classic "Eastbound & Down," - No. 1 on our list - about former MLBer Kenny Powers and his path to redemption. With plenty of notable South Carolina touchpoints in the show, including a full season set in Myrtle Beach, McBride must have settled in nicely in the Palmetto State. He went on to set his next 2 projects in the state as well.
No. 2 on our list, "The Righteous Gemstones," cast McBride alongside John Goodman and Walton Goggins as a family of mega-church preachers. As usual, hijinks ensure when it comes to McBride's shows, and with Gemstones' current popularity (the third season just ended) it's possible the show could overtake "Eastbound & Down" in a year from now.
McBride's effort in between those two shows, "Vice Principals," tied for No. 3 with the John Lithgow-led "Trial & Error." Another collaboration with Goggins, "Vice Principals" saw McBride successfully escape the shadow of Kenny Powers and become a bona-fide go-to for HBO (which airs all of his programs).
The other constant in the HBO-McBride partnership? The state of South Carolina, where McBride clearly feels at home.
If you enjoyed this piece, check out: What Are The Best Movies Shot In South Carolina?
Author
Thomas Leary is a news editor and writer for BetSouthCarolina.com. He previously spent six years at Sports Business Journal, where he helped identify emerging sectors across sports business, such as legalized gambling, and helped launch a digital newsletter division.
