# How many degrees of separation between THIS show and THAT show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011 "2019-07-13T12:23:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/1 "2019-07-13T12:23:24Z")
How many can you think of? I’ll start. _ **Star Trek: TOS** _ and _ **Lou Grant** _: When Nimoy was holding out for more money between the first and second seasons, the list of potential replacements included Peter Mark Richmond… Who played reanimated millionaire Ralph Offenhouse on _ **Star Trek: TNG** _ and was… Reverend Snow, Chrissy’s father on _ **Three’s Company** _, where he was married to… Mrs Snow, played by Priscilla Morrill, who was Edie Grant on _ **Mary Tyler Moore** _, where she was married to… Ed Asner, who played Lou Grant and eventually got his own spin-off series… _ **Lou Grant** _. Five degrees of separation! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/2 "2019-07-13T12:59:20Z")
What do you mean “How many?” E.g., [Arthur Batanides](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0060701/) appeared on both _Lou Grant_ and _ST:TOS_. [Alexander Singer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0801883/) directed more episodes of _Lou Grant_ than anyone else. He also directed several episodes of _ST:TNG_, _ST: DS9_ and _ST:V_. And if you can’t connect those to _ST:TOS_ in one step you don’t belong in this thread. It seems that you are more towards the “maximizing degrees of separation” rather than minimizing. And if you’re going that way there’s basically no limit. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/3 "2019-07-13T13:25:15Z")
I can also do a closer connection between TOS and Lou Grant, although not as close as ftg’s. Lawrence Pressman was Lou Grant’s son in law on MTM, and much later Kira Nerys’s Cardassian dad on DS9; from DS9 to TOS you can make any number of connections, but the shortest would be through their respective Tribble episodes. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/4 "2019-07-13T18:08:11Z")
Star Trek: TOS -\> The Tick Ted Cassidy did the voice of Balok on TOS Ted Cassidy appeared with John Astin on The Addams Family John Astin appeared on Seinfeld Patrick Warburton also appeared on Seinfeld Patrick Warburton appeared on The Tick ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/5 "2019-07-13T18:52:27Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It seems that you are more towards the “maximizing degrees of separation” rather than minimizing. And if you’re going that way there’s basically no limit. I can do shortcuts too. Jon Lormer was in three episodes of _ **TOS** _, including “The Cage,” and later in an episode of _ **Lou Grant** _ (after making appearances in _ **MTM** _, _ **Rhoda** _, and _ **Phyllis** _). The point is to be creative. Call it “maximizing,” if you want. Use your imagination and make connections like John Burke. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/6 "2019-07-13T18:53:52Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Star Trek: TOS -\> The Tick > Ted Cassidy did the voice of Balok on TOS > Ted Cassidy appeared with John Astin on The Addams Family > John Astin appeared on Seinfeld > Patrick Warburton also appeared on Seinfeld > Patrick Warburton appeared on The Tick That’s it! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/7 "2019-07-13T18:55:52Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > John Astin appeared on Seinfeld When? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/8 "2019-07-13T19:21:33Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Star Trek: TOS -\> The Tick > Ted Cassidy did the voice of Balok on TOS > Ted Cassidy appeared with John Astin on The Addams Family > John Astin appeared on Seinfeld > Patrick Warburton also appeared on Seinfeld > Patrick Warburton appeared on The Tick Members of the\* TOS \*cast appeared on _TNG_ Members of the _TNG_ cast appeared on _The Orville_. Patrick Warburton appeared on _The Orville_. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/9 "2019-07-14T01:38:43Z")
You younguns have never heard of the [Tommyverse](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tommyverse), in which multiple shows are linked by the fantasies of an autistic boy? The last time anyone bothered to count, there were [419 TV shows linked through Tommy Westphall.](https://thetommywestphall.wordpress.com/the-master-list/) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/10 "2019-07-14T13:11:14Z")
(Re: John Astin on _Seinfeld_.) > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > When? [Never](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040014/). There’s creative and then there’s “creative”. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/11 "2019-07-14T17:42:52Z")
Harry Morgan played Pete Porter on _December Bride._ (1950’s) Harry Morgan played recurring character Prof. Suter on _Third Rock from the Sun_ (1996-1997) and a whole lot in between. He’s an obvious peg for this game. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/12 "2019-07-14T17:43:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > When? Oops:smack:Got it mixed up with Mad About You. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/13 "2019-07-14T17:56:07Z")
OK. Let’s try again. Star Trek TOS-\> Magnum PI Ted Cassidy as voice of Balok Ted Cassidy and John Astin on Addams Family John Astin on Mad about You Lisa Kudrow on Mad About You and Friends Tom Selleck on Friends Tom Selleck on Magnum PI ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/14 "2019-07-14T18:14:09Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > OK. Let’s try again. > > Star Trek TOS-\> Magnum PI > Ted Cassidy as voice of Balok > Ted Cassidy and John Astin on Addams Family > John Astin on Mad about You > Lisa Kudrow on Mad About You and Friends > Tom Selleck on Friends > Tom Selleck on Magnum PI TOS - TNG (DeForest Kelley); TNG - Magnum PI (Marta DuBois). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/15 "2019-07-14T18:24:38Z")
AH! Dangit! Just remembered: Elisha Cook Jr: Captain Kirk’s attorney, and also Icepick! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/16 "2019-07-17T13:12:38Z")
(Was pondering ecdysiast Blaze Starr and Robert Wuhl the other day and realized this _cycle_.) \*_The Great American Dream Machine_ was an amazing public TV series back in the 70s. One segment was about … Blaze Starr. Blaze wrote an autobiography that was made into the movie … _Blaze_. The title character was played by … Lolita Davidovich whose husband … Ron Shelton wrote and directed … _Bull Durham_, one of the players in it was … Robert Wuhl, who got his first big gig in … _The Hollywood Knights_ which also had in it … Leigh French who was best known for appearing on … \*_The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour_ which had another cast member, the late great … Bob Einstein who was the brother of … Albert Brooks who did some really funny stuff on … \*_The Great American Dream Machine_. So one longish path and one short one between _TGADM_ and _TSBCH_ depending on your preference. (I think according to Bokonism this would make all these people members of a granfalloon.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/17 "2019-07-18T03:35:45Z")
The internet has made games like this a little too easy. I may not have the optimum link, but I prefer to see what solutions I can come up with from memory alone. So here’s one for y’all: **Sesame Street** to **The Rockford Files** My solution:The cast of _Sesame Street_ included Jim Henson Jim Henson was on _The Muppet Show_ The guest star on one episode of _The Muppet Show_ was Rita Moreno Rita Moreno guest starred multiple times on _The Rockford Files_ Now, for the really clever bit, what does every link in my chain have in common? Every link won an Emmy. Henson won Emmys for _Sesame Street_ (a daytime Emmy) and _The Muppet Show_; Rita Moreno won her two Emmys for her appearances on _The Muppet Show_ and _The Rockford Files_. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/18 "2019-07-18T04:02:42Z")
Trying to pull two really different titles from my head, I went with I\* Married Joan\* and _The Santa Clarita Diet_. Jim Backus starred on I _Married Joan._ Backus starred with Alan Hale Jr on _Gilligan’s Island_. Hale guest-starred on _The Andy Griffith Show_. Ron Howard guest-starred on _The Simpsons_. Drew Barrymore guest-starred on a different episode of _The Simpsons_. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/19 "2019-07-18T16:12:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Trying to pull two really different titles from my head, I went with I\* Married Joan\* and _The Santa Clarita Diet_. > Jim Backus starred on I _Married Joan._ > Backus starred with Alan Hale Jr on _Gilligan’s Island_. > Hale guest-starred on _The Andy Griffith Show_. > Ron Howard guest-starred on _The Simpsons_. > Drew Barrymore guest-starred on a different episode of _The Simpsons_. \*I Married Joan \*had 3 appearances by Sheldon Leonard. (Yes, that guy.) He had an appearance at … _The 46th Annual Director’s Guild Awards_. A winner that night was Steven Spielberg who directed … _E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial_. Starring Drew Barrymore who is in … _The Santa Clarita Diet_. (With Sheldon Leonard at one end and Spielberg at the other, you can pass thru all sorts of shows along the way. E.g., a longer path goes thru _The Don Rickles Show_ and _Night Gallery_ via Louise Sorel or some such.) ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011/20 "2019-07-19T00:46:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The internet has made games like this a little too easy. I may not have the optimum link, but I prefer to see what solutions I can come up with from memory alone. > > So here’s one for y’all: **Sesame Street** to **The Rockford Files** > > My solution:The cast of _Sesame Street_ included Jim Henson > Jim Henson was on _The Muppet Show_ > The guest star on one episode of _The Muppet Show_ was Rita Moreno > Rita Moreno guest starred multiple times on _The Rockford Files_ > > Now, for the really clever bit, what does every link in my chain have in common? > > Every link won an Emmy. Henson won Emmys for _Sesame Street_ (a daytime Emmy) and _The Muppet Show_; Rita Moreno won her two Emmys for her appearances on _The Muppet Show_ and _The Rockford Files_. That’s doing it the hard way. Lauren Bacall guest -starred on Sesame Street Lauren Bacall guest-starred on The Rockford Files. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-degrees-of-separation-between-this-show-and-that-show/837011.md?page=2)