Universal Television
Universal Studios
Universal Studios is the entertainment company and production facility that co-produced the television series Quincy, M.E. alongside Glen A. Larson Productions. The series was filmed primarily on the Universal Studios Backlot in Universal City, California, where both interior and exterior sets—such as the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, Quincy’s sailboat, and Danny’s Place—were constructed or staged.
As a major player in American television production during the 1970s and 1980s, Universal Studios was instrumental in bringing Quincy, M.E. to life, contributing studio space, backlot environments, and production support.
Filming Stages and Sets
- Stage 25 – Served as the primary soundstage for interior sequences. This included detailed sets for the Coroner’s Office, Quincy's sailboat cabin, and frequently used locations such as Danny’s Place (the bar/restaurant).
- Colonial Street – Featured in multiple episodes for exterior suburban homes. It is part of the Universal backlot and was also known for housing the Munster house, which appeared in at least one Quincy episode.
- Denver Street – Used frequently for downtown and apartment building exteriors.
- Brownstone Street – Provided urban backdrops for scenes meant to reflect denser East Coast-style environments or back alleys.
Universal Studios Backlot
The Universal City backlot stood in for a variety of Los Angeles city locations, allowing Quincy, M.E. to simulate numerous civic and residential settings without leaving the studio lot.
- New York Street – A curved façade street used in several episodes to mimic large urban sprawl and gritty downtown neighborhoods.
- Courthouse Square – Occasionally seen in episodes requiring government or civic buildings; the same iconic set used in other Universal productions like *Back to the Future*.
- Colonial Street – Used for its quiet suburban look and accessible layout for staging emergency vehicles, press scenes, or neighbor interactions.
On-Location Filming
In addition to studio shooting, Quincy, M.E. made frequent use of Los Angeles-area locations for realism:
- Marina del Rey – Quincy's home was a sailboat docked here, and many waterfront scenes, including romantic and social moments, were shot on-location in this harbor community.
- City Hall (Inglewood) – Used in civic-themed episodes for courtroom steps, press conferences, and local government offices.
- Larchmont Boulevard – Real-world L.A. street where drive-by and vehicle scenes were staged, including ambulance routes and pursuit scenes.
Production Notes
Universal Studios' backlot was specifically designed to offer flexibility and realism in television production. For Quincy, M.E.:
- Street façades like New York Street were curved at both ends to create the illusion of longer streets on screen.
- Wet-down techniques and nighttime lighting setups were commonly used to enhance visual drama during forensic investigations or late-night crime scenes.
- The ability to quickly redress façades and reuse streets allowed for a variety of looks within a single production day.