'Smallville,' 'Supernatural,' 'Gunsmoke' are among these 17 TV series with Kansas settings

Where do superheroes grow up, humans battle demons, lawmen keep order in frontier towns and regular folks fight to survive after an apocalypse?

The answer is "Kansas" — at least in several of these 17 TV series in which the Sunflower State is either the setting or plays a key role.

Below is a list of those shows, which also portray Kansans coping with grief, mental illness and the devastation left by a tornado.

The newest programs are listed first, while the oldest dates back to 1946. Miniseries aren't included.

'Twisted Metal'

Main bad guy Agent Stone maintains his headquarters in Topeka during the 10-episode first season in 2023 of "Twisted Metal," a post-apocalyptic series streaming on Peacock. Stone is played by Thomas Haden Church, with Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz being the other main stars. "Twisted Metal" was renewed for a second season in December.

'Somebody Somewhere'

This semi-autobiographical comedy/drama series, set in Manhattan, premiered in January 2022 on HBO and was renewed for a third season last June. It stars comedian and Manhattan native Bridget Everett as a singer in her 40s who is coping with a midlife crisis after the death of her sister, whom she had returned to her hometown to care for. The show has a 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It can be streamed on Max.

'Superman & Lois,' 'Smallville' and 'Superboy'

"Superman & Lois," a superhero series that premiered on 2021 on the CW, was renewed last year for its fourth and final season. The show focuses on the adventures of Superman and Lois Lane — played by Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch — after they return to Superman's fictional Kansas hometown of Smallville with their twin sons. It can be streamed on the CW website.

"Smallville," a series that's also set in the fictional community that goes by that name, aired from 2001 to 2006 on the WB and from 2006 to 2011 on the CW. It focuses on the teenaged experiences of future Man of Steel Clark Kent, played by Tom Welling. "Smallville" can be streamed on Hulu. Each June, Hutchinson in south-central Kansas becomes known for a day as "Smallville" when it holds its annual "Smallville Festival."

The community of Smallville was also a part of "Superboy," a syndicated series that aired from 1988 to 1992, featuring John Haymes Newton and later Gerard Christopher in the title role. "Superboy" can be streamed at www.justwatch.com.

'Supernatural'

"Supernatural" follows brothers and Lawrence natives Sam and Dean Winchester — played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively — as they travel the country hunting down monsters, demons and other evil beings. The superhero series aired from 2005 to 2006 on the WB and from 2006 to 2020 on the CW. Its storyline has links to other Kansas communities that include Stull, Lebanon, Wichita, Dodge City, Junction City and Topeka. "Supernatural" can be streamed on Netflix.

'Switched at Birth'

Set in the suburban Johnson County community of Mission Hills, this ABC Family drama series aired from 2011 to 2017. The show focuses on two teenage girls, one of them deaf, who learn they were switched at birth. "Switched at Birth" became the first mainstream television series to have multiple deaf and hard-of-hearing series regulars and to show some scenes that were shot entirely using American Sign Language. The show can be streamed on Hulu.

'United States of Tara'

Set in Overland Park, this comedy/drama series was created by Diablo Cody and aired from 2009 to 2011 on Showtime. Its main character is Tara Gregson, an artist and married mother of two, played by Toni Collette. Gregson stops taking the medication she's been prescribed for dissociative identity disorder because it makes her feel depressed, though she realizes that move will cause multiple personalities to reemerge. "The United States of Tara" can be streamed on Paramount+.

'Greensburg'

This reality TV series, broadcast from 2008 to 2010 on the Planet Green TV network, focuses on how residents rebuilt the city of Greensburg in south-central Kansas in an environmentally sustainable manner after an EF-5 tornado leveled that community and killed 11 people in May 2007. The show can be streamed at thestreamable.com.

'Jericho'

Set in the fictional northwest Kansas town of Jericho, this post-apocalyptic, action/drama series aired from 2006 to 2008. The show focuses on a character played by Skeet Ulrich who steps up to become a leader in his community after 23 major U.S. cities are hit by nuclear attacks. "Jericho" was canceled after its first full season because of low ratings, brought back in response to a publicity campaign by fans, then canceled again after seven more episodes. It can be streamed at roku.com.

'Courage, the Cowardly Dog'

Set in the fictional Kansas town of Nowhere, this animated comedy/horror series aired from 1999 to 2002 on Cartoon Network. The show focuses on Courage, an amiable but easily frightened dog voiced by Marty Grabstein, who lives with an elderly couple in a farmhouse. Courage and his owners find themselves dealing with bizarre situations brought about by potential threats that include monsters, aliens and other supernatural beings. "Courage, the Cowardly Dog" can be streamed at justwatch.com.

'Gunsmoke'

Set in the 1870s in Dodge City, this popular western series aired for 20 seasons, from 1955 to 1975, on CBS-TV. The program focuses on Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, as he works to preserve law and order in the Old West. "Gunsmoke" was the longest running prime-time live-action series on American TV until its record was broken in 2019 by "Law & Order: SVU." It can be streamed on Paramount+.

'Paper Moon'

This comedy series, based on the 1973 movie of the same name, aired from 1974 to 1975 on ABC. It featured actor Christopher Connelly as a con man and Bible salesman traveling through the plains states in the 1930s accompanied by an 11-year-old girl played by future movie star Jodie Foster. She thinks he is her father, though he says he is not.

'Dennis the Menace'

Set in Wichita, this sitcom — based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name — aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS-TV. It focuses on the antics of Dennis Mitchell, a trouble-prone but well-meaning boy played by Jay North. Dennis brings considerable aggravation to his neighbor — George Wilson, played by Joseph Kearns — who prefers peace and quiet.

'The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'

Set first in Ellsworth, then in Wichita, then in Dodge City and finally in Tombstone, Arizona, this ABC-TV western aired from 1955 to 1961. Hugh O'Brian starred as Earp, a lawman in the Old West. The show was loosely based on Earp's experiences in those cities. "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" can be streamed on Peacock.

"The Phil Silvers Show"

Set at Fort Baxter, an Army post in the fictional Kansas town of Roseville, "The Phil Silvers Show" aired from 1955 to 1959 on CBS-TV. The sitcom focused on the antics of Master Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko, played by comedian Phil Silvers, who runs the fort's motor pool. A movie adaptation of the series — "Sgt. Bilko," starring Steve Martin as Bilko — was released 1996.

'Faraway Hill'

The fictional Kansas town of Faraway Hill was the setting for the first soap opera broadcast on American TV. That series, "Faraway Hill," aired for 12 weeks in 1946 on the DuMont Network, which was launched that year and shut down in 1956. The program focused on a wealthy, widowed New York City socialite — played by Flora Campbell — who goes to spend time with relatives who live near Faraway Hill and falls in love with a man who is engaged to marry another woman.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here are 17 TV series where Kansas is the setting or plays a key role