My Town Will Be on TV!!!

[Speedy Boris]

This was quite interesting news- the A&E show "City Confidential" will be having an upcoming episode on July 31st at 10 PM/9 PM central that focuses on a murder in my own hometown of Darlington, WI! It happened in 1985, so I was only two, but I've heard stories told about the infamous small town judge who murdered the wrong man, thinking it was a competing judge. They're gonna have testimonies and eye-witness reports from a few people that I know! Apparently they filmed the episode last August. So if you want to see a footnote in Darlington's history (albeit an unfortunate one), make sure to watch A&E in a couple of Saturdays!

P.S.: I know some of you are from big cities like New York or L.A., so don't even try to say the whole, "Oh I'm from NYC, you can see my hometown any night of the week if you turn on the TV!" ;)

[Speedy Boris]

Perhaps this thread would better fit on the Entertainment Board?

Nah.... it'd probably die there, too. :p

[Eddie G.]

P.S.: I know some of you are from big cities like New York or L.A., so don't even try to say the whole, "Oh I'm from NYC, you can see my hometown any night of the week if you turn on the TV!" ;)Actually once the street my friend lived on was in a movie and I thought that was cool. I know Brooklyn in general is in a lot of movies, but it was still pretty cool. Speaking of movie shootings in NYC I've actually walked through two movies this year.

[True Noir]

That's interesting. I might watch. So what channel will City Confidential show on?

[Jerry Mouse]

It happened in 1985, so I was only two
My, what a clever alibi you have. :D :D

[Master Moron]

Is this news really that exciting? I mean, the city I went to college at was where part of Jumanji was shot, but it's really not something that I get excited about.

[Sora Takenouchi]

I'll tune in. Maybe I'll spot ya.:p

[TimTwoFace]

Is this news really that exciting? I mean, the city I went to college at was where part of Jumanji was shot, but it's really not something that I get excited about.
Really? You went to school in Vancouver? Coolness. :) My house is about two minutes away from the now-destroyed mall that housed "Sir Saves-A-Lot".

Then again, it seems that nearly every fourth movie you see on TV or in the theatres...such as this week's recent CATWOMAN debacle...was filmed in Vancouver, so it isn't really that exciting any more. :p

My town will be on TV during 2010 plenty, though. :)

-Tim

[Speedy Boris]

Is this news really that exciting? I mean, the city I went to college at was where part of Jumanji was shot, but it's really not something that I get excited about. For me it is. I live in a town of only about 2,400 people, so for a major cable network to highlight it is quite amazing. And then there's the fact that people I know will be on TV.

But maybe I'm a simple man. :p

[True Noir]

My town has a little over 25,000 people but I doubt it will ever be on tv.

[Nick K.]

I live in NY so there are Movies here like everyday and stuff. :p

[wrenchien]

there's always about a 1 in 17 (or so) chance my town will be on tv.

more than likely, sadly, it'll just be on the local news.

unless a hurricane comes.. then i won't want to be in town for those anymore.

[Speedy Boris]

Just a reminder for those that are interested: My town will be on TV TONIGHT on A&E at 10 PM/9 PM central. The show is "City Confidential", and here's a description of the episode from www.aetv.com:
Darlington, Wisconsin
Bad Judgment. A conservative town with strong law-and-order values is shaken up when its tough county judge is charged with killing his political rival's law partner. So if you're willing to give up an hour of Toonami ( ;) ) and want to see a fellow TZ-er's hometown highlighted, give it a watch. :)

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

My town was on TV all over our great nation a few months back about the TCE. We have less than 5,000 people (less than 4,000) here.

I may catch the repeat. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" is on at the same time, so sorry.

[Speedy Boris]

I may catch the repeat. "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" is on at the same time, so sorry. I taped Whose Line? while I watched "City Confidential". ;) Anyway, there should be a repeat sometime.

Here's a brief synopsis of the events that unfolded: In the early '70s, a man named Dan MacDonald ran for the position of Judge for Lafayette County, WI. He won. Over a period of a good decade, he presided with an egotistical, uncaring, almost king-like attitude- not lenient, drunk with power, and carrying his political opinions to the courtroom to influence his decisions. In short, he let the position of county judge go to his head.

In 1985, an election between Judge MacDonald and new candidate William Johnston took place, and Johnston won (though the results were as close as the 2000 election!). This devastated MacDonald- his power had been stripped from him. Over the next two weeks, two things began to happen: Not only did he become a nervous wreck, losing allies right and left, but he began to plan his revenge against the man who took his precious position: Judge Johnston. He stalked him for a good two weeks, noting the times when he would be in his office. Bystanders said he would make dozens upon dozens of laps up and down Main Street in one morning!

Finally, on a beautiful morning in 1985, MacDonald broke into the law office of Johnston and scrambled the halls with a knife and lead pipe looking for him. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't there. The only person in the office was an attorney, James Cline. Cline was stabbed a good 7-8 times and hit repeatedly with the pipe by MacDonald- he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Realizing he made a mistake in his killing, MacDonald fled the building. Luckily, eye witness reports were available, and cops arrested MacDonald later that day at his home.

Because of the bias of the small town against this monster, the case was taken to Milwaukee, WI. The original defense strategy for MacDonald was one of self defense (that Cline attacked him), but that was thrown out, because nobody would stab a man 7-8 times in self-defense. Then they tried the insanity stuff, but that was also thrown out, because he obviously had pre-meditations with the murder- his obvious target was Judge Johnston (NOT Cline) and he had stalked him weeks before the murder, and had purchased the lead pipe from a local store. MacDonald was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. While in prison, he committed suicide by overdosing on medication pills.

I mean you hear this kind of stuff from friends and family, but this show had SO much more information, and being able to see footage from MacDonald's trial in 1986 gave it a Court TV feel.

Only one fault: They didn't exactly paint a flattering picture of Darlington. Sure, it DOES sit in the poorest county in Wisconsin, and true, we have NO stoplights, but we're not all farmers struggling to get by, and we're not like hillbillies in Appalachia or something. :p But then, I guess that was to be expected. P.S.: Don't worry, our family is well-off. ;)

[TimTwoFace]

My town was on TV all over our great nation a few months back about the TCE. We have less than 5,000 people (less than 4,000) here.
TCE? Uhh...I'm in the same country and unless I'm dumb (and don't rule that out!) I don't know what that is. Help! Aidez-moi!

-Tim

[Kurtman]

That sounds interesting. Last time I saw you,you said you lived in Minnesota. Did you move?

[Speedy Boris]

Last time I saw you,you said you lived in Minnesota. Did you move? No, my home is in Wisconsin, but I go to college in Minnesota. So I'm basically in WI for 3 or 4 months out of the year.

[Master Moron]

Really? You went to school in Vancouver? Coolness. :) My house is about two minutes away from the now-destroyed mall that housed "Sir Saves-A-Lot".



Nah, actually Jumanji was shot in more than one city. Guess again. Hint:the city where I went to school was pretty small and you probably wouldn't have heard of it if you're not from the region.

[guinaevere]

Thought it was Keene, New Hampshire. I certainly recognized some of the scenery when visiting a friend at university.

[Master Moron]

Thought it was Keene, New Hampshire. I certainly recognized some of the scenery when visiting a friend at university.

Bingo, you win the prize. The prize of which is nothing. Who do you know who went to Keene? I wonder if I know them?

[guinaevere]

Who do you know who went to Keene? I wonder if I know them?This was ages ago. And we should probably stick to the topic at hand... :sweat:


So. Who else lives in or near a town that's been in film/video/tv production?