Syracuse, New York in fiction

A list of mentions of Syracuse, New York popular culture.

Film and television

• The short-lived 1993 CBS Sitcom The Trouble With Larry, which starred Bronson Pinchot and Courteney Cox, was set in Syracuse. The show was cancelled after three episodes.
• The Quantum Leap episode "Catch a Falling Star" was set in Syracuse.
• In a deleted scene from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Veronica Corningstone mentions that she has a degree from Syracuse University.
• In the movie Jack the Bear (Feature film, 1993), John Leary (Danny DeVito) and his two sons moved to Oakland, CA from Syracuse, NY.
• A Clouded Name (silent film, 1923) - Starring Norma Shearer; scenes were filmed at the State Fair, the Calthrop mansion, and at the Liverpool's solar salt fields (which closed three years later).
• All the Right Moves (Feature film, 1983) - At a party, someone asks Tom Cruise's character if he had heard anything from Syracuse (Cruise is a Syracuse native).
• Big Daddy (Feature film, 1999) - Several mentions; Adam Sandler's character attended school at Syracuse University and wears various Syracuse sweatshirts and T-shirts.
• Blue Chips (Feature film, 1994) - Syracuse University men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim has a small speaking part.
• The Bone Collector (Feature film, 1999) - A character makes reference to Denzel Washington's character's past work in Syracuse which got him convicted.
• Born on the Fourth of July (Feature film, 1989 - Tom Cruise's character attends a Vietnam War protest which is held at Syracuse University.
• The Chris Isaak Show (television) - Chris Isaak's publicist, Yola Gaylen (played by Kristin Dattilo), mentions that she has a degree from Syracuse University.
• Criminal Minds - CBS drama. A reference to a criminal in his Syracuse suburban home is made.
• Enemy of the State (Feature film, 1998) - Congressman Sam Albert, a character who is murdered in the film's opening scenes, is mentioned as being from Syracuse.
• The Express (Feature film, 2008) - The movie is about Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman trophy, and a Syracuse University football player. Parts of the movie were filmed in Syracuse, and the world premiere took place at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse.
• For Love of the Game (Feature film, 1999) - Kelly Preston's character is from Syracuse.
• Freak Talks About Sex (also known as Blowin' Smoke) (Feature film, 1999) - Filmed in Syracuse; life in Syracuse is part of the plot.
• Heat (Feature film, 1995) - Detective Vincent Hanna's dossier alludes to his experience in Syracuse (shown in scene with DeNiro/Voight in Cadillac).
• Highlander (Feature film, 1986) - Connor MacLeod's modern namesake was born in Syracuse.
• The Jerk (Feature film, 1979) - When Navin (Steve Martin) asks his carnie friends to name an emotion, one of them says "Syracuse." (This scene appears in the version edited for television, but not in the theatrical or DVD version.)
• Lady in White (Feature film, 1988) - Opening sequence filmed in Syracuse Hancock International Airport; much of the rest of the movie was filmed in the villages of Lyons, Newark and Phelps, approximately fifty miles west of Syracuse.
• Law and Order: Special Victims Unit a criminal mentions intercepting a victim on their way through Syracuse.
• My Name Is Earl (television) - Syracuse is mentioned as the place where Buffalo wings do not come from.
• One Tree HIll (television) - One of the main characters attended Syracuse University and has mugs and other items with Syracuse logos.
• Slap Shot (Feature film, 1976) - One of the hockey teams is the (fictional) Syracuse Bulldogs, and parts of the movie were filmed at the Onondaga County War Memorial in downtown Syracuse.
• Snow Day (Feature film, 1998) - Syracuse is portrayed as a small village with high snowfall. The film was filmed in Edmonton and Calgary.
• Superman (Feature film, 1978) - The train scene featuring Otis in the film's beginning features Syracuse as one of the announced stops that a train is making.
• Tootsie (Feature film, 1982) - Mentioned as locale where character Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) has done some acting work. A theater in Syracuse is depicted as a rustic wooden structure.
• The X-Files (television) - Several mentions, visited by characters on more than one occasion.
• Saturday Night Live (television) - Mentioned on Weekend Update.
• The West Wing (television) - Makes several mentions of the Maxwell School, Syracuse University's renowned school of public administration (series creator Aaron Sorkin is a Syracuse University alumnus).
• The Twilight Zone (television) - Syracuse is mentioned in several episodes, especially those written by Binghamton, New York native Rod Serling.
• In an episode of NCIS, one of the characters mentions he arrested a suspect selling drugs to his frat brothers in Syracuse.

When in Rome - 2010

• In a 2011 episode of Criminal Minds, Syracuse figures prominently in the investigation. Syracuse University is mentioned many times.
• In Since You went Away (Feature film, 1944) While in the train station, Syracuse is mentioned as one of the upcoming stops.
• In "The Perfect Score" (Film, 2004) Kyle mentions attending Syracuse University for Architecture at the end.
• In Unforgettable (TV series), two of the main characters used to work for the Syracuse Police Department and flasbacks often take place in Syracuse.

Video Games

• In L.A. Noire Syracuse was mentioned as a place where someone did a crime and held a criminal record.

Literature

• Speak - The novel is set in Syracuse.
• Vampire Zero - A significant portion of the novel takes place at Syracuse University.
• Monster of the Year - This book takes place in Syracuse; the author was born and raised there.
• Most Freddy the Pig books take place on farm a few miles outside of Syracuse.