A bit of mental masturbation here, akin to the now imponderable question, “where in the hell is Springfield?”
We can tell by the clues given on King of the Hill, that it’s in the Texas hill country - north of San Antonio, but west of Dallas. And it’s (egad!) within commuting distance of Houston.
As well, as we see little of governance or university activity, we can be reasonably sure it’s not in the vicinity of Waco or Austin.
So, I repeat: where in the Texas is Arlen?
Actually, Arlen is Garland, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth “Metroplex.” Mike Judge grew up there and has based both Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill on people in his life. Having been in Garland and the surrounding area (and a native Texan) I can attest to the general accuracy of the show. Scary, eh?
Comment by elgato — 20050131 @ 1455
I’ve been in Garland as well… in fact.. ummm… a lot.
And Elgato speaks the truth.
Comment by obershyster — 20050131 @ 1522
Yep. Definately Garland. Also, given the large Laotian population in Garland, Khan might be modeled after a real neighbor of his.
Comment by Phelps — 20050131 @ 1637
It’s Garland, hubbub of the Metroplex, and Dallas is, technically, within commuting distance of Houston, 3.5 hrs one way.
Comment by Cass — 20050131 @ 1731
Egad! I used to know a guy that commuted from Apple Valley (just in the desert) to Fountian Valley (center of OC). In light traffic, it would take him 2.5 hours! Egad!
Comment by Kevin L. Connors — 20050131 @ 1757
And then there are the questions: “Where in Maryland is Arcadia?” and “Where in California is Sunnydale?” There HAS to be a website somewhere devoted to these questions.
Comment by James Agenbroad — 20050201 @ 0751
I can’t say as I know where Springfield *is*, but I know where it began… it actually doesn’t take much detecting. (The cartoon Springfield may very well be on a piece of land that moves, for all I know.)
Groening had access to (basically) the West Coast before and during his formation of the Simpsons, and the city of Springfield, Oregon, was certainly in his way. This city is a companion to Eugene (named for Eugene Skinner, and there are geographical features such as Skinner Butte), and is as diametrically opposed as possible. It IS generic America.
If you’ve ever doubted that cities have a feel of their own, Springfield, Oregon will disabuse you. Physically, it’s just across the interstate from the Berkeley of the Northwest. Mentally, it’s in a whole different world. It’s freaky weird how much it feels like the cartoon.
(Oh, and there is no nuclear power plant in the Oregon Springfield. However, there’s one in Washington, just off I-5, that could very well fit the bill.)
Comment by B. Durbin — 20050201 @ 1645
Although I was unaware of the Arlen/Garland connection, I’m quite sure “Sunnydale” is a fictionalization of Sunnyvale, in the Silicon Valley. As for Arcadia, MD: what - is that where Joan of Arcadia is set?
Comment by Kevin L. Connors — 20050201 @ 1646
Oh, and for Sunnydale, look up Torrance— and if you think that’s too close to LA, put it near San Luis Obispo.
Of course, now it’s a bay.
Comment by B. Durbin — 20050201 @ 1648
Kevin— you’ve obviously never been to Sunnyvale.
Comment by B. Durbin — 20050201 @ 1649
No, I’ve been to the Silicon Valley hundreds of times - dozens to Sunnyvale in specific. And my information of the Sunnyvale/Sunnydale connection comes from an interview of Joss Whedon I read during the launch of Buffy. Further, your “Torrance” theory doesn’t hold, as when Angel and Cordelia left it was stated they were moving “south to LA.”
I think your Springfield story works though. I’ve also been to the Wilamette Valley a few dozen times. And I know exactly what you are talking about with the Eugene/Springfield contrast. LOL.
Comment by Kevin L. Connors — 20050201 @ 1737
Torrance is where they actually filmed it, hence the ref— sort of an in joke. My sister lived in Sunnyvale for years and I never got the feel from it that I got from Buffy; YMMV. Of course, it’s all Bay Sprawl anyway, which is why I put it further south (which is easy to do, since there’s a LOT of coast between the Bay and LA.)
Comment by B. Durbin — 20050203 @ 1233
LOL. And they film The OC (at least the residential scenes) in Pacific Palisades.
But frankly, despite the fact that the Frozen Banana stand looks more like it’s at Venice Beach than Newport, Arrested Development is a far closer depiction of life in Orange County.
Comment by Kevin L. Connors — 20050203 @ 1706