Why Port Washington? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 01-30-2005, 08:24 PM

I've always wondered why they picked Port Washington, WI as where they live. Most people have likely never even heard of the town because it only has like 2,000 people in it. I live in Milwaukee so I've been to Port Washington many times.

So maybe like one of the producers has some connection with Port Washington or grew up there!

hughpuppies · 01-31-2005, 04:11 AM

1990 had a population of 9338. In 2000 Port Washington had a population of 10,467 people.

You can find this information out by going here and it tells you about any city, town or place in the USA.

http://www.seta.iastate.edu/

Karen* · 01-31-2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughpuppies

1990 had a population of 9338. In 2000 Port Washington had a population of 10,467 people.

You can find this information out by going here and it tells you about any city, town or place in the USA.

http://www.seta.iastate.edu/

Cool! Maybe this show promoted life in Port Washington!

Sorry, I'm such a weirdo.

I've thought about this too and I guess the producers or creators wanted a different setting compared to the big cities most other sitcoms take place in. But of course, since Step by Step was filmed in a SoCal studio like mostly every other show out there, Port Washington seemed like every other city in TV world!

samanddiane4eva · 02-10-2007, 10:37 AM

Was an address for their house ever mentioned??

basement_artie · 02-16-2007, 09:29 AM

This thread must be the Wisconsinites meeting place. I am from central/northern WI myself. I have been passed Port Washington coming back from Milwaukee but couldn't see much from the highway.

Anyways, like you guys mentioned you get something different then all the city or suburban shows. With Port Washington you can have your country part of the show (camping, outdoors), your city stuff (near Milwaukee) and your sports (Packers, Bucks mentioned in the show a lot but not Brewers or Badgers...).

P.S. There probably isn't a lot of room for Cody's van if you live in a big city or even in the suburbs (who would let you park a van on your lawn in the burbs?).

It's similar with That 70's Show... the gang could always go to Green Bay or Milwaukee for a concert but then head out hunting near their fictional Point Place town.

Both shows pretty much have all around down to Earth, blue collar casts so Wisconsin is a fitting place.

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 03-29-2007, 11:31 PM

It is a good location for a blue collar family like that. But usually when settings on shows are in small towns, they're fictional towns (like Point Place or Lanford, IL), Port Washington is real!

Furienna · 04-13-2007, 11:15 AM

My town Örnsköldsvik is a little town too, so I like the idea of this setting. But even tiny little Örnsköldsvik have two High Schools, while Port Washington only seems to have one according to this show. (Why would they call a High School "Port Washington High" if there was more than one High School in the town?)

Furienna · 05-22-2007, 03:13 PM

That's weird... Why did that school get the honor of carrying the county's name?

But then, Port Washington only had a few thousand inhabitants. So I guess one High School would be enough for such a small place.

01-30-2005, 08:24 PM	#1
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	Why Port Washington? I've always wondered why they picked Port Washington, WI as where they live. Most people have likely never even heard of the town because it only has like 2,000 people in it. I live in Milwaukee so I've been to Port Washington many times. So maybe like one of the producers has some connection with Port Washington or grew up there!
	__________________ Kristina Thinkin' 'Bout Something Official Music Video Shout it Out- Hanson's 5th studio album in stores June 8th!

01-31-2005, 04:11 AM	#2
hughpuppies Melanie Bernhardt Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 13, 2004 Location: wished I was with the lady in the above picture Posts: 705	1990 had a population of 9338. In 2000 Port Washington had a population of 10,467 people. You can find this information out by going here and it tells you about any city, town or place in the USA. http://www.seta.iastate.edu/
	__________________ I hope to one day meet Melanie Bernhardt who played Kathy Gordon in 4 Different Strokes episodes.(girl in the wheel chair)

02-10-2007, 10:37 AM	#4
samanddiane4eva Icon credit: Me Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 476	Was an address for their house ever mentioned??

02-16-2007, 09:29 AM	#5
basement_artie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 146	This thread must be the Wisconsinites meeting place. I am from central/northern WI myself. I have been passed Port Washington coming back from Milwaukee but couldn't see much from the highway. Anyways, like you guys mentioned you get something different then all the city or suburban shows. With Port Washington you can have your country part of the show (camping, outdoors), your city stuff (near Milwaukee) and your sports (Packers, Bucks mentioned in the show a lot but not Brewers or Badgers...). P.S. There probably isn't a lot of room for Cody's van if you live in a big city or even in the suburbs (who would let you park a van on your lawn in the burbs?). It's similar with That 70's Show... the gang could always go to Green Bay or Milwaukee for a concert but then head out hunting near their fictional Point Place town. Both shows pretty much have all around down to Earth, blue collar casts so Wisconsin is a fitting place.

03-29-2007, 11:31 PM	#6
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	It is a good location for a blue collar family like that. But usually when settings on shows are in small towns, they're fictional towns (like Point Place or Lanford, IL), Port Washington is real!

04-13-2007, 11:15 AM	#7
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	My town Örnsköldsvik is a little town too, so I like the idea of this setting. But even tiny little Örnsköldsvik have two High Schools, while Port Washington only seems to have one according to this show. (Why would they call a High School "Port Washington High" if there was more than one High School in the town?)

05-22-2007, 03:13 PM	#8
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	That's weird... Why did that school get the honor of carrying the county's name? But then, Port Washington only had a few thousand inhabitants. So I guess one High School would be enough for such a small place.