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The birthplace of Gatorade, air conditioning, and key lime pie.
Perhaps its when I hear a good old-fashioned Floridian twang or a thick Cuban accent.
The women of these shows aspire to something better than what they were born into.
They may end up in comical situations, but they are not the butt of any Florida jokes.
I was that roommate who got away.
I grew up watching TV shows and movies that treated Florida like a novelty.
When it was the setting, shows likeGolden Girlsbarely engaged with the Florida outside their home.
Films likeMiami Viceand the 1983 remake ofScarfaceshowed off the darker side of the Sunshine State.
However entertaining, thats not the Florida of most locals.
One visitors escapism is another persons reason to escape.
Florida Girlstakes the Florida jokes to the next level and revels in the minutiae of the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater area.
Its the recognition of a coastal audience thats not always elite.
Theres also a subplot about the shows pyramid schemetargeting the Latino community, much likeHerbalife.
On that front, theres still progress to be made.
We are richer for visiting characters and places outside of the standard tourist traps.
