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Tales of the City

Tales of the City

Naivety and mystery, hilarity and sobriety, grass and arse!

19937.71 Season5 EpisodesEnded

Overview

Mary Ann Singleton, a naïve young secretary from the mid-west, tumbles head first into the colorful world of San Francisco, where carefree chaos revolves around the funky old apartment house at 28 Barbary Lane.

Created by Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Written by Armistead Maupin, Richard Kramer
Produced by Antony Root, Alan Poul
NetworksPBSChannel 4

Top Cast

Olympia Dukakis

Olympia Dukakis

Anna Madrigal

Donald Moffat

Donald Moffat

Edgar Halcyon

Chloe Webb

Chloe Webb

Mona Ramsey

Laura Linney

Laura Linney

Mary Ann Singleton

Marcus D'Amico

Marcus D'Amico

Michael "Mouse" Tolliver

Thomas Gibson

Thomas Gibson

Beauchamp Day

Paul Gross

Paul Gross

Brian Hawkins

Barbara Garrick

Barbara Garrick

DeDe Halcyon Day

Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell

Jon Fielding

Nina Foch

Nina Foch

Frannie Halcyon

Themes & Keywords

san francisco, californiabased on novel or book1970sminiseriesdrug uselgbttrue lovegay theme

About Tales of the City

Tales of the City is a drama, mystery series that first aired in 1993 exploring themes of san francisco, california, based on novel or book, 1970s, miniseries, drug use, lgbt. Created by Sigurjón Sighvatsson, it stars Olympia Dukakis, Donald Moffat, Chloe Webb. Mary Ann Singleton, a naïve young secretary from the mid-west, tumbles head first into the colorful world of San Francisco, where carefree chaos revolves around the funky old apartment house at 28 Barbary Lane.

Shows Similar to Tales of the City

Discover shows like Tales of the City — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 shows similar to Tales of the City

If you enjoyed Tales of the City, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, creator filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Tales of the City.

Tales of the City
38% Match

Mary Ann returns to present-day San Francisco and is reunited with her daughter and ex-husband, twenty years after leaving them behind to pursue her career. Fleeing the midlife crisis that her picture-perfect Connecticut life created, Mary Ann is quickly drawn back into the orbit of Anna Madrigal, her chosen family and a new generation of queer young residents living at 28 Barbary Lane.

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Fingersmith
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Fingersmith(2005)

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Queer as Folk
29% Match

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TV Show7.8/10

Stuart Jones has got it all. He's rich, drop-dead gorgeous and always the centre of attention. He can be forgiven the arrogance because he's pretty close to perfection. His best mate Vince Tyler is funny, adorable and definitely a babe but, unlike his friend, has zero confidence in himself. Since time began, Vince has carried a torch for Stuart but his love remains firmly unrequited. They're both 29, hitting Canal Street every night, stalwarts of the scene but just starting to wonder where else their lives may be going. Then along comes Nathan Maloney. Young, wild and coming out with a vengeance, he crowbars his way into their world and once he arrives, nothing is ever the same again.

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Death Comes to Pemberley
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A British television drama based on P. D. James' novel of the same name, a murder mystery sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Six years after the union of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Lydia Wickham barges into Pemberley screaming that her husband has been murdered.

The Haunting of Bly Manor
27% Match

After an au pair's tragic death, Henry Wingrave hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the estate's chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. But all is not as it seems at the manor, and centuries of dark secrets of love and loss are waiting to be unearthed in this chilling tale.

The Survivors
27% Match

The Survivors(2025)

TV Show6.6/10

Fifteen years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.

Mary & George
26% Match

Mary & George(2024)

TV Show7.1/10

In 17th century England, Mary Villiers molds her beautiful son, George, to seduce King James I, intending to gain riches and influence through outrageous schemes.

Obsession
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Obsession(2023)

TV Show6.5/10

A respected London surgeon's affair with his son's fiancée turns into an erotic infatuation that threatens to change their lives forever.

Run Away
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Run Away(2026)

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A desperate father searching for his runaway daughter gets caught up in a murder case — and stumbles upon secrets which could destroy his family for good.

Disclaimer
26% Match

Disclaimer(2024)

TV Show7.4/10

When an intriguing novel appears at the bedside of a journalist whose career has been built on revealing transgressions, she is horrified to realize she's a key character in a long-buried story—one that exposes her darkest secret.

Harlan Coben's Shelter
24% Match

Follow Mickey Bolitar after the death of his father leads him to start a new life in suburban New Jersey. When another new student disappears, Mickey finds himself tangled in a web of secrets. With the help of two new friends, Spoon and Ema, they reveal a dark underground that may hold the answers to decades of disappearances.

Missing You
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Missing You(2025)

TV Show6.1/10

When Detective Kat Donovan matches on a dating app with the fiancé who disappeared years before, she learns that some secrets are best left in the past.