So it would seem Kansas City (and its suburban sprawl) are enjoying 15 minutes of pop culture fame right now. The new American Idol hales from the area. The reality show High School Confidential on WE was filmed at a suburban high school. And in the upcoming fall remake of Beverly Hills 90210, instead of moving from Minnesota (as the Walshes did), the new girl at West Beverly High is from... you guessed it... Kansas City.
Some of this is purely happenstance, since the new idol could have just as easily been from Utah, but coincidentally or not, I do think it reflects Kansas City's place as Middle America. Geographically, it's pretty close to the centre of the US. And imaginatively as well. Cool is not what comes to mind when people think about KC, if they think of it at all. Although, it is intriguing that during the jazz age, it was known as the "Paris of the Plains." Or someone called it that once at least.
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