From "Always Sunny" to the "Anchorman" Zoo, here are a few of our favorite TV and film locations. Lights, camera, action!
LessIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Sorry "Sunny" fans, but the building used for the exterior shots of Paddy's Pub (meant to be in a "scary alley" in South Philly) is actually in L.A. Word is, though, that the bar may be inspired by an actual South Philly waterhole called the Shamrock Pub.
True Blood: The dank and sultry vampire bar of HBO's was set in Shreveport, Louisiana, but the filming location was in the seaside city of Long Beach. Alex's Bar is known as a local small venue for punk rock and other genres. You can buy tickets for different events on the website. While they don't serve Tru Blood, you can get your choice of 21 beers on tap.
Blade Runner: Legend has it that Architect George Wyman initially refused mining tycoon Lewis Bradbury’s offer to design this iconic building. That is, until the ghost of Wyman’s late brother Mark intervened by telling him to take the job. What the specter probably knew is that this Italian Renaissance Revival masterpiece would eventually be a prime shooting locale for dozens of films (Blade Runner, Chinatown, Lethal Weapon 4, etc.), TV shows, and music videos.
Pretty Woman: In real life, Vivian's apartment is the Las Palmas Hotel, a cheap place to stay if you're in the L.A. area. You might remember the scenes - Julia Roberts' character sneaks out the fire escape to avoid paying the rent. At the end of the movie, Edward climbs in for the big romantic finish - EVEN THOUGH HE'S AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. It's a far cry from where her beaux is staying - at the Regent in Beverly Hills.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy: The abandoned zoo is a popular place for Angelenos to stroll about and have a picnic. You might recognize the fake caves in a few scenes from the blockbuster "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" when Brian Fantana (played by Paul Rudd) delivers his famous "Panda Jerk" line and the final scene when the title character played by Will Farrell is saved from a savage bear by his fluffy terrier, Baxter.
Reservoir Dogs: Pat & Lorraine's Coffee Shop in Eagle Rock not only serves up a killer breakfast, it's where the opening scene (a.k.a. the Mr Pink tipping scene) from Reservoir Dogs was shot.
Superbad: McLovin illegally tries to buy alcohol in this liquor store and gets knocked out cold! It's located in real life on a main thoroughfare in the San Fernando Valley. Victory Blvd. is one of the most popular routes stretching from West Hills to Griffith Park, almost 25 miles.
Clueless: A giant clown either invites or scares off would-be patrons depending on one's view. Situated in North Hollywood both the liquor store and the clown have survived since the 1960s. Being so close to Tinseltown the liquor store and its clown have made a brief appearance in "Clueless." The liquor store has t-shirts with its cheerful/frightful mascot emblazoned on the front in case you want a souvenir to take with you.
Planet of the Apes: In the final scene of the 1968 film "Planet of the Apes" Charlton Heston devastatingly bemoans his fate that he is stuck on a ruined Earth, poignantly shown when the camera moves to the mutilated top-half of the Statue of Liberty rising out of the beach next to a rocky promontory. During filming the scale replica of the Statue of Liberty was planted in the sand for the entire summer.
Set in Korea, shot in Calabasas, the iconic TV series MAS*H lives on in the hearts of fans as well as this lovingly reconstructed set where the original once stood. Alas, the famed mobile army surgical compound set was destroyed by a fire during the filming of the final episode in 1982.
The Office: Chandler Valley Center Studios in East San Fernando Valley is also known as the fictional paper company from the hit TV comedy series. While you won't see any celebrities here, you'll probably meet up with plenty of like-minded folks, other "The Office" buffs who want to take selfies in front of the locked gate.
Pulp Fiction: Longtime residents of the San Fernando Valley might not realize that just a short distance away the most emotionally disturbing scene in Quentin Tarantino's most famous film was filmed. This very unassuming, nondescript strip mall at the corner of Roscoe and DeSoto makes the unsettling events of this particular scene all the more horrific.
Good Burger: Known currently as Peter's El Loco this brightly painted restaurant is where movie character, Ed, was so proud to work. In fact, he never took off his uniform even to shower! The real-life restaurant is a Mexican food restaurant but they also serve burgers!
Star Trek: This 932-acre park located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains is known for its spectacular rock formations. It's also the home well over 100 movie and TV film locations like "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," "Joe Dirt," "Friends," "The A-Team," and countless "Star Trek" episodes - including the rocky spot where Captain Kirk battles a reptilian Gorn in what might be the most painfully slow ass-whooping in TV history.
Kill Bill: Volume 2: Lancaster is one of the most inland cities of Los Angeles County, a dry and hot area on the edge of the Mojave Desert. In this dusty region, the wedding massacre of "Kill Bill" was filmed. The Spanish-style chapel is still standing although it is just as run-down as in the movie. Interestingly, this is an operating facility known as the Sanctuary Adventist Church.
Pee-wee's Big Adventure: Dinny and Mr. Rex are billed as the World's Biggest Dinosaurs and possibly the most famous. They made their silver-screen debut in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" in 1985. Now they are joined by a few dozen other fake prehistoric creatures and the establishment charges $12 per person for admission. If you want to skip the fee, snap a few pics from outside the grounds where the dinosaurs are still highly visible.