‘Yellowstone,’ and 9 More Super Popular Shows Coastal Elites Have Never Heard Of
Reading Time: 5 minutesMy reiki treatments don’t leave me time for any of these.
There are two Americas (well, at least): the elite east coast/west coast enclaves of avocado toast, overpriced yoga pants, and artisanal sex toys; and the middle American heartland of barbecues, cattle ranches, and rabbits as big as yer head. Unsurprisingly, the two Americas have very different viewing habits—with the elites missing out on plenty of excellent and/or tolerable shows because they’re too busy fermenting edamame. This is an attempt to bridge the divide between the nation’s three billion corn farmers and the Instagram influencers on the coasts.
Now to the methodology: Demographics aren’t quite an exact science, and different outlets report ratings differently, or not at all. It’s been determined that coastal elites don’t watch these shows via ratings data, but also by Twitter trending topics, latte-fueled conversations with literally several coastal elites (mostly New Yorkers), and a single survey question along the line of: ‘Hey…you ever heard of this?’ Science isn’t easy, but the truth is worth the effort.
It’s not that you haven’t heard of Yellowstone, even if you’re one of those kombucha-swilling coastal elites (though you probably only heard about it, like, last month), but you almost certainly have no idea how popular the Kevin Costner-led series is. Somehow, despite being on a basic cable network that I didn’t even know existed, it had consistently been the top-ranked scripted series on TV for years. The fifth season premiere pulled in something like 12 million viewers per episode. Though aired simultaneously (at least as of the current season) across CMT, TV Land, and Pop, the show originates on the Paramount Network…which is not to be confused with Paramount+. That streaming service doesn’t have Yellowstone, but is the exclusive home for prequel spin-offs 1883 with Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill, and the forthcoming 1923, starring (impossibly) Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. The original series follows the Dutton family of Montana, owners of the largest cattle ranch in the state, dealing with family and political drama—a bit like a modern Dallas, but with the vibes of HBO’s Succession.
Where to watch: New episodes air on the basic-cable Paramount Network, with older episodes available for streaming on Peacock and Fubo
The first of a few shows here that are set in New York and filmed in New York, but whose viewer demographics suggest few New Yorkers watch them, typically skewing older and more middle-American than many popular shows, Blue Bloods, currently in its thirteenth season, has spent more than a decade defying the logic that only the 18-49 demo matters. Tom Selleck stars as NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, who oversees the police force of the dingy, fearful, crime-ridden metropolis with stern efficiency and an occasional prayer.
Where to watch: New episodes air on CBS; older episodes stream on Paramount+ and Hulu
Based on the Christian-themed Canadian West books of Albertan author Janette Oke, the series tells the story of big-city, high-society teacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) who is assigned to a coal town in western Canada in the early 1900s. The relatively cozy, western-esque series has been renewed for a tenth season. The spin-off When Hope Calls, about orphaned sisters who reunite as adults, is awaiting news of a third-season renewal on the Great American Family network, otherwise best known for providing a refuge for viewers who’d rather not know about gay people.
Where to watch: New episodes air on the Hallmark Channel or Hallmark Now; early seasons on Peacock and Fubo
Coastal elites sipping on their morning kombuchas might be aware of the existence of Young Sheldon, spin-off of the long-running and broadly watched (but only sporadically loved) Big Bang Theory, but might be surprised to learn that it is still on, and probably don’t understand why it’s one of the top scripted shows on television, and the best-rated sitcom by a mile. It’s not quite BBT-level popular, but nothing really is anymore. While the Iain Armitage-played Sheldon character is an outsider for his genius, the show is far folksier than its predecessor, set in a fictional small town amidst a large family of Texas-style eccentrics. The vibes are very ’90s Wonder Years, minus the sheen of nostalgia.
Where to stream: The most current episodes on CBS, but most episodes streaming on HBO Max.
If there’s a stereotype that middle-American viewers won’t watch foreign fare, this show puts the lie to it—at least when it comes to shows imported from Alberta. Based on a popular book series from authors Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers (who write under the name Lauren Brooke), the series follows the lives of a family of horse ranchers in western Canada led by sisters Amy and Lou (Amber Marshall and Michelle Morgan). The show is produced by the CBC and is syndicated in the U.S. on some CW networks and the basic cable channel Up TV, with a number of other networks airing reruns. Because of its unusual distribution scheme, it’s hard to come by solid rating numbers for the show, but it’s just aired its 16th season, with the expectation that it’ll be renewed for a 17th. That’s Law & Order-level longevity, people.
Where to watch: The most current episodes are syndicated to various local networks (so check local listings, I guess), but most episodes are streaming on Netflix and Peacock.
Another Canadian import, Northern Rescue follows the family of John West (Daniel Baldwin) as he and his children relocate from Boston to a tiny rural Canadian island after the death of his wife. The family values-heavy show, with its tried-and-true ‘big-city-to-small-town’ vibes, will be debuting its second season soon-ish, exact date TBD.
Where to watch: Netflix
Through its seven-season run, which ended in 2021, The Good Witch was consistently one of Hallmark’s most popular properties, and there’s already been chatter about a revival of some sort. The show follows the titular good witch Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell) and her daughter in the small town of Middleton. Things get complicated when the neighbors grow suspicious of the Nightingale family’s weird ways, as the show blends elements of Bewitched, Sabrina, and those Hallmark-style movies that everyone loves. Two women shared a kiss in the series finale, which was somehow the first same-sex kiss in Hallmark Channel history, and it led longtime channel staple Candace Cameron Bure to head immediately for the exit.
Where to watch: Netflix, Hallmark Movies Now
Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, leads this reality competition show that sees contestants competing at real-world construction sites to complete job tasks individually and in groups. Though the demo definitely skews older, it’s been reasonably successful, and has been renewed for fourth and fifth seasons. Coastal elites, who typically work as either baristas, lululemon cashiers, or stock traders, seem to be uninterested in shows about real jobs like construction work.
Where to watch: CBS, or streaming on Paramount+
Based on the long-running book series of the same name from romance novelist Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias revolves around the lives of three South Carolina women, friends since they were kids, as they navigate the adult worlds of family, career, and romance. It’s a sweet soap opera that eventually comes to center around the women opening a spa together. It’s been renewed for a third season, with the release date TBD.
Where to watch: Netflix
Jared Padalecki leapt right from a 15-season run on Supernatural into this reboot of the Chuck Norris series of the 1990s. He plays Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger who returns to Austin after a long time undercover to deal with crime and general shenanigans as only he can. The series has been renewed for a third season, even as its home network the CW network has been dropping its other shows left and right amidst a corporate merger and rebranding.
Where to watch: Newer episodes on the CW, completed seasons streaming on HBO Max.