New NBC Sitcom Abby’s is set in San Diego; critics say it’s pure LA

Noted South Park cultural commentator Jessie Smoot was never that excited about his neighborhood serving as the fictional setting for a “mainstream broadcast television sitcom, even if it did boast an executive producer credit from The Good Place creator Michael Schur and a legit local connection in creator Josh Malmuth.” But now, he’s actively unhappy. “Really, it just goes to show you what LA thinks of San Diego — even when the person living in LA comes from San Diego. The U-T had a column about the show that said there’s ‘a significant plot point involving Padres season tickets’ in the third episode.’ Not just Padres tickets, mind you, but Padres season tickets. Being discussed among patrons of an illegal backyard bar in South Park. A backyard bar with maybe 5 regulars, run by a ex-Marine staff sergeant who makes enough on the operation to rent a house in South Park. Honestly, it makes the apartments in Friends look realistic. We lose Terriers, but we get this? Maybe it really is time to flee the bougie blitz.”