Central Oregon Made A Deal ABC Couldn't Refuse: Chad Everett's TV Series To Be Filmed In Northwest

BEND, Ore. - Central Oregon will be the backdrop for a television series this fall starring Chad Everett as the leader of a family that outfits people for outdoor adventures.

This is the first time a U.S. prime-time series has selected Oregon as its permanent location.

Filming on "McKenna" will begin next month in Bend, ABC Productions announced recently. The network has commissioned 13 episodes.

"`We're in competition with the rest of the world in trying to get exposure for the state," said Joe D'Alessandro, director of the Oregon Tourism Division.

"We do not have a budget to buy TV advertising, so this is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase some great parts of the state at no cost."

Everett, who is best known for his role on "Medical Center," will play the head of a family coping with the death of one son and the unexpected return home of another.

The series originally was set in Idaho, and the pilot was shot in New Zealand.

"Everybody wanted us to go to Canada because of the favorable economic considerations there," said Deirdre Paulino of ABC Productions.

"But because I was raised in central Oregon and read the script, I thought `Aha!' Oregon is a natural for us.

Paulino said cooperation with the area's trade unions made the deal possible.

"Everybody jumped in and made good deals for us so we could afford to do it," she said.

"McKenna" will be in a tough time slot opposite NBC's "Seinfeld," one of the highest-rated shows on television.