Over the decades, Long Island has been the inspiration for many scripted TV series, occasionally the scene of them too. From a network TV perspective, LI's got it all: The suburbs, the beaches, the Hamptons, the middle class, that iconic Lawn Guyland accent, all combining together for a special slice of American life next to America's greatest city. Most of the shows were never filmed here, because as LIers know so well, Long Island can be expensive.
But there remains regional pride years — decades even — after each of these aired. A few are now almost entirely forgotten, a few others fondly remembered, while a couple (you can easily guess which ones) rose to the level of TV classic. Here's the complete list (so far): In "The Pruitts of Southampton" (ABC, 1966-67) Phyllis Diller starred as Phyllis Pruitt, head of an old-line Long Island family that has no money.
Credit: ABC via AP Photo Over-the-top comedian Phyllis Diller starred in this sitcom as the widowed matriarch of a once-wealthy Southampton family. They owed $10 million to the IRS, but were allowed to continue living in their 60-room mansion and perpetuate the illusion they were still loaded. The Don Rickles Show (CBS, 1972) Mr.
Warmth played a Manhattan ad-agency exec who lived with his family in Great Neck in this long-forgotten sitcom where plots shifted between work — where he was aggravated by clients — and home — where he was aggravated by his wife and daughter (played by Erin Moran, the future Joanie.
