Touring movie and TV sites

So this being my 4th trip to NYC I thought it might be a good idea to take in some tours to see where things have been filmed over the years.

The first tour was in Manhattan started at the Starlight Diner near Times Square, went downtown to Soho and the meat packing district before coming back up the west side and over to 55th.

Friends Apartment Block

The coolest thing on the tour probably was seeing the Friends apartment block (having been a big fan back in the day). As ever with the wonders of TV, none of Friends was shot in NY, but all on sets in LA! And the actual apartment didn't have a balcony, and was a one bedroom apartment - currently renting out for $4000 per month!

Other than that it was a bit disappointing. When I think about all of the movies that have filmed on Manhattan, it seemed strange to see some really rather odd locations from rather minor movies. the stop in Soho was great for me to take photos, but from a movie and TV perspective it wasn't all that. I wouldn't recommend the tour, and I would probably say better to plan it out yourself and walk through different neighbourhoods yourself...

Will Smith's house in 'I am Legend'

Men in Black Headquarters

Ghostbusters fire station

The Sopranos Tour was also disappointing. We met Vito (Joseph R. Gannascoli) before the tour started and he signed some autographs and had his photo taken. But then it seemed to go downhill. 

The driver got lost a number of times. Now I don't know about you, but one thing I am looking for in a tour driver, is that he knows where he is going!!! It meant we were 1.5 hours late back to the city. I was not impressed!

Some of the stops were a bit lame. Places that had only been seen perhaps once in the entire series! I wish we had seen the house that Tony, Carmela and family lived in, but apparently it is much further in New Jersey. We didn't see any of the houses that any of the characters lived in, or Vesuvio. The diner was good, and the Bada Bing as sleazy as you would expect. So again, wouldn't really recommend this tour either! 

The Diner where the final meal was held... ahead of the rather abrupt ending

The Bada Bing!