Flyover States refer to all the states in between California and New York, which typically are just “flown over” by industry businessmen and actors. 

 

With Hollywood and New York as the entertainment capitols of the United States, the rest of America is viewed as an alien land by industry insiders (although assuredly, many of them originally came from that world below the airplane). The industry is very concerned about these states and trying to figure out what the constituents will pay to watch. Just as the politicians cannot ignore this huge expanse of land and inhabitants if they want to win the elections, Hollywood must also pay its respects to the region. Unfortunately, it often underestimates what the people want.

 

Ironically, in 2004, a series called “Flyover States” was pitched to an interested ABC. The drama revolved around a New York woman who moved back to her Arkansas hometown, with her two teenage kids, after her husband died. The show was supposed to be akin to “Desperate Housewives,” but it seems that “Flyover States” never got off the ground.