A winter-time front view of 114 Taber Avenue, the house on which the Hanson residence, from TV's Providence is based.

Quirky drama spotlights the Renaissance City.

114 Taber Avenue, Providence

114 Taber Avenue in Providence is the original of the house featured on the hit NBC television drama Providence. When visiting, you may notice that the front of the real house is obscured by foliage while the front of the TV house is not. You may also notice that the real driveway is in the rear rather than on the side. That's because the house on TV is a replica. Melina Kanakaredes and Mike Farrell do not really live here—real people live here. Please do not bother them.

Providence was a mid-season replacement that debuted on January 8, 1999. Produced by John Masius (co-creator of Touched By An Angel, executive producer of Saint Elsewhere), Providence is the story of Dr. Sydney Hansen, a 30-ish Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. In the first episode Syd returns home to Providence to attend her sister's (Paula Cale) wedding. She soon discovers that her sister had to get married—she's pregnant. The wedding is then interrupted—permanently—when Mrs. Hansen (Concetta Tomei) dies of an ill-timed heart attack. Syd returns to LA, only to find her agent boyfriend in the shower with another man, and she flees back to Rhode Island in time to help deliver her sister's baby daughter. Feeling unfulfilled by her job and betrayed by her boyfriend, Syd makes the decision to remain in Providence (where it always seems to be autumn) to be with her quirky yet lovable family.

Subsequent episodes have revolved around Syd's new job at Saint Claire's Family Clinic, her loser brother's (Seth Peterson) many failures, her romantic entanglements with her secret high school crush, her grieving misanthrope father's (Mike Farrell) veterinary practice and her unwed sister's efforts to run a bakery for pets ("The Barkery") while raising a baby, all strung together by Sydney's nocturnal conversations with her dead, chain-smoking mother.

Many Rhode Islanders enjoy watching the show to see what the producers got wrong. None of the principal characters has a Rhode Island accent, cars are often seen driving the wrong way down one-way streets and made-up place names (like "Providence High School") are common. In one episode Melina Kanakaredes' character goes to Prospect Park for a bit of soul-searching, where she finds a seat next to a fountain—a landscape feature that, while nice, does not exist in real life. In another afternoon scene Syd is seen pensively strolling alone on the bank of the Providence River, with Waterfire burning merrily away in the foreground. This induces either giggles or indignation in those who have attended Waterfire at night and who have had to elbow their way through the dense crowds just to catch a glimpse of a flaming brazier.

The production is based in Los Angeles, but twice a year the cast and crew journey to our fair state for location footage. In October 2000, they were at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick, which was also used extensively in the 1998 film Meet Joe Black. Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci has even hosted some of the staff in his home, perhaps in return for his cameos on the show.

It's mere luck that Providence the city ended up with such a fantastic marketing tool in Providence the show. According to Mike Fresco, one of the show's executive producers and directors, the show's name was chosen "because it was a neat name," and not because anyone was thinking of the Ocean State's capital city. Location scouts who toured Providence felt it embodied many of the qualities producers wanted for the show, including a sense of "going home, warm and good feelings."

Stalking Melina

Photos Courtesy of Victoria Somlo

In the spring of 1999, the production was at 114 Taber Avenue filming the last scene of the last episode of the first season. Afterwards, Melina Kanakaredes signed autographs and posed for pictures with the children of local families. A friend of ours was there and got some pictures of her own. Check out this photo series we like to call "Stalking Melina."

[Note: Quahog.org neither condones nor sponsors stalking —ed.]

We've spotted the elusive Melina Kanakaredes, a handsome specimen of dramatis personae. Television stars can be very dangerous when cornered, so we'll stand safely behind this Providence City police officer while Victoria approaches cautiously from Melina's left.

Moving slowly and using the children for cover, Victoria edges closer to her quarry. We don't think Melina has noticed her yet.

When hunting television actresses, one must always be extra alert. Keep your eye on Melina, Victoria! Don't forget those three-inch nails can tear through plate steel!

Uh oh, it looks like Victoria has been spotted. Melina is getting ready to charge. Victoria will need some quick thinking and faster reflexes to get out of this one.

Success! A well-placed tranquilizer dart has subdued the actress enough to allow Victoria to approach safely. Victoria will now tag Melina's ear and release her back into the wild.

This article last edited August 19, 2002