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TV LAND — Utah offers a wide range of geographic locations to help set the scene for a number of shows — the southern region’s picturesque landscapes have been used for many old Westerns and, more recently, for HBO’s “Westworld.”
But beyond the mountains and valleys, the Beehive State has gotten a reputation for being a great place to work, thanks to state-of-the-art studios, great talent and a cheery, can-do attitude from the cast and crew.
Here are some of the recent TV shows created in Utah in the past few years:
The CW — Premieres July 10
This fantasy show revolves around Talon, whose entire family has been killed, and her quest for vengeance. Along the way, she discovers she has powers she must learn to use.
"The Outpost" itself is located in and around Springville, where cast and crew gathered to create the dangerous, central location of the gritty series.
Disney — Streaming on DisneyNOW
The story of a girl who discovers her older sister is actually her mother, "Andi Mack" is a tween show for a modern age. Featuring diverse characters and storylines, it has won praise and awards for painting an accurate picture of what it's like to grow up in the U.S. today.
Using local homes and schools (like Wasatch Junior High in Salt Lake City) to set the scene for the Disney Channel show, many locals have been able to be involved in the production.
Paramount — Streaming on Paramount Networks
The story of the Dutton family, who have a huge ranch outside Yellowstone, shows a Wild West in the modern age. Starring Kevin Costner, the show has cinematic depth and beauty.
Some exteriors are shot in Montana, but much of the work takes place in Utah. The show premiered to a record 5 million views, proving that the efforts around Salt Lake City, Park City and inside the massive Utah Film Studios (where the interiors of the Montana house are re-created with painstaking detail, including paintings of the foliage hung in front of the windows) were well worth it.
"Granite Flats" ===============
BYUtv — Streaming on Netflix
Set in in the 1960s with a backdrop of the Cold War, "Granite Flats" tells the story of a small town involved in MK Ultra experiments — among other suspicious behavior.
Created entirely in Utah (a rarity), the show is written very explicitly for all ages, with much of the usual content for a show in the post-World-War-II-era removed. Nonetheless, it contains mysteries and dark moments that keep it from being overly cheesy.
Editor's note: This article initially said the Park City Film Studios, when the correct name of the organization is the Utah Film Studios.
