# Most shows set in the same "universe"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389 "2016-12-10T22:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/1 "2016-12-10T22:58:48Z")
As in the Green Acres/Petticoat Junction one; or the Adam 12/Emergency/Dragnet one … so on. Obviously spin offs count. Which universe has had the most member shows? ---
**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:** [December 10, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/2 "2016-12-10T23:02:55Z")
They just did a SUPERGIRL/FLASH/ARROW/LEGENDS OF TOMORROW crossover. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/3 "2016-12-10T23:05:26Z")
Happy Days begat Laverne & Shirley, Blansky’s Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Out of the Blue, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, and Laverne & Shirley with Special Guest Star the Fonz . The last two were cartoons. Happy Days itself started as a single feature on the comedy anthology Love American Style, so you could count all eight shows from that. All In The Family had five spinoffs and two spinoffs-from-spinoffs, although the show 704 Hauser was actually a spinoff of the Bunker’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/4 "2016-12-10T23:11:27Z")
All in the Family/Maude/Good Times/The Jeffersons/Checking In/Gloria/Archie Bunker’s Place/704 Hauser. There’s 8, though 3 of those only lasted a handful of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/5 "2016-12-10T23:25:45Z")
First in the thread to mention Tommy Westphall. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/6 "2016-12-10T23:30:46Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > First in the thread to mention Tommy Westphall. First in the thread to provide a [link.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Westphall) shakes tiny fist in impotent rage… The Westphall universe linked St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, the X-Files, and the entire Law & Order franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/7 "2016-12-10T23:36:53Z")
Star Trek has 7 TV series (TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery) all set in the prime universe. (Plus the alternate universe movies, the prime universe movies, and various spinoff games, comics, and books in both universes.) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/8 "2016-12-10T23:39:22Z")
Okay “The Tommy Westphall Universe” can be the ring to rule them all so let’s try define the question narrowly enough to avoid that mess. Let’s say in a way that could be reasonably considered (to sitcom level standard) internally consistent? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/9 "2016-12-10T23:40:47Z")
This thread can’t go on without discussion of Detective John Munch, as portrayed by Richard Belzer. Originating on Homicide: Life on the Street, he also appeared in several episodes of Law & Order, plus a number of its spinoffs. Add to that a couple of Law & Order spinoffs in which the character has not made an appearance, but which are definitely in the same universe, and several other shows which did crossovers with or featured characters from \*those \*shows, and we have: Homicide: Life on the Street The Wire St. Elsewhere Law & Order Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: Criminal Justice Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: LA New York Undercover Conviction Deadline In Plain Sight Chicago P.D. Chicago Fire …and then add in the list of apparently unrelated shows in which Detective Munch has appeared, or been referenced by name: The X-Files The Beat Arrested Development 30 Rock Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Luther ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/10 "2016-12-10T23:43:36Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > First in the thread to provide a [link.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Westphall) > > shakes tiny fist in impotent rage… > > The Westphall universe linked St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, the X-Files, and the entire Law & Order franchise. You could make a case for the Bob Newhart show since the psych ward held a patient called Elliott who said some quack from Chicago put him there. And Cheers since there was a crossover at the end of one episode. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/11 "2016-12-10T23:54:02Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > They just did a SUPERGIRL/FLASH/ARROW/LEGENDS OF TOMORROW crossover. The same universe which contains separate universes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/12 "2016-12-10T23:58:18Z")
The crossover universe sometimes referred to as the Tommy Westphall Universe (or the John Munch Universe) is the group on this page that’s called Group 2. It has (I think) 95 shows in it. Whenever a character appears on two shows played by the same actor, the shows are considered to be part of the same crossover universe: [http://www.poobala.com/crossoverlistb.html](http://www.poobala.com/crossoverlistb.html) ---
**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:** [December 11, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/13 "2016-12-11T00:01:57Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > This thread can’t go on without discussion of Detective John Munch, as portrayed by Richard Belzer. > > Originating on Homicide: Life on the Street, he also appeared in several episodes of Law & Order, plus a number of its spinoffs. Add to that a couple of Law & Order spinoffs in which the character has not made an appearance, but which are definitely in the same universe, and several other shows which did crossovers with or featured characters from \*those \*shows, and we have: > > Homicide: Life on the Street > The Wire > St. Elsewhere > Law & Order > Law & Order: SVU > Law & Order: Criminal Justice > Law & Order: Trial by Jury > Law & Order: LA > New York Undercover > Conviction > Deadline > In Plain Sight > Chicago P.D. > Chicago Fire > > …and then add in the list of apparently unrelated shows in which Detective Munch has appeared, or been referenced by name: > > The X-Files > The Beat > Arrested Development > 30 Rock > Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt > Luther IIRC, we only ever see an episode of LAW & ORDER getting filmed, or playing on a television set, or whatever, on 30 ROCK; it’s not like Munch shows up and flashes a badge and uses his police training to interrogate the regulars as a character in the same universe; it’s just Richard Belzer, an actor who sometimes plays that part. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/14 "2016-12-11T00:03:00Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > The same universe which contains separate universes. 🙂 Also, it slipped my mind that CONSTANTINE is set there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/15 "2016-12-11T00:16:19Z")
A Muppet version of John Munch also appeared in a Sesame Street episode. His character also appears in _Spider-Man/Deadpool #6_ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/16 "2017-07-14T16:23:16Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Star Trek has 7 TV series (TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery) all set in the prime universe. (Plus the alternate universe movies, the prime universe movies, and various spinoff games, comics, and books in both universes.) _Star Trek_ is now linked to the Marvel Universe: [Star Trek IV Now Exists in the Same Universe As All Marvel Films Thanks to a Special Cameo - Reactor](http://www.tor.com/2017/07/13/star-trek-iv-now-exists-in-the-same-universe-as-all-marvel-films-thanks-to-a-special-cameo/) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/17 "2017-07-14T17:23:29Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > _Star Trek_ is now linked to the Marvel Universe: [Star Trek IV Now Exists in the Same Universe As All Marvel Films Thanks to a Special Cameo - Reactor](http://www.tor.com/2017/07/13/star-trek-iv-now-exists-in-the-same-universe-as-all-marvel-films-thanks-to-a-special-cameo/) It’s already been done. > **[Second Contact (episode)](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Second_Contact_(episode))** > > Ensign Tendi has her first day of work on Starfleet's USS Cerritos, where she meets three fellow support crew members, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, and Rutherford. Meanwhile, Boimler is tasked with a secret special assignment and Rutherford attempts to... > **[Planet X (Star Trek)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_X_(Star_Trek))** > > Planet X (ISBN 0671019163) is a 1998 Star Trek novel by Michael Jan Friedman that is a crossover between the X-Men comic book series and the characters of Star Trek: The Next Generation. A New York Times bestseller, it was a sequel to an earlier crossover, detailed in the Marvel Comics one-shot Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men #1 (which was itself similar to an earlier Star Trek/X-Men crossover comic, where a slightly different team of X-Men encountered the characters of the original St > Thi... > **[Star Trek/X-Men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek/X-Men)** > > Star Trek/X-Men is a one-shot comic book crossover, written by Scott Lobdell and published in 1996. > Published by Marvel Comics as part of its short-lived Paramount Comics imprint, the book chronicles the first encounter between Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise (during the five-year mission of the original series) and members of the X-Men, who traveled through a dimensional rift chasing the mutant Proteus. The artwork was produced by Marc Silvestri, as well as several other ar... Three X-Men/Star Trek crossovers in the 1990s. ---
**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 14, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/18 "2017-07-14T17:55:08Z")
Also, Star Trek is connected to Larry Niven’s Known Space books since the Kzinti show up on the animated series. And Discord is obviously Q. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/19 "2017-07-14T18:10:11Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also, Star Trek is connected to Larry Niven’s Known Space books since the Kzinti show up on the animated series. And Niven himself wrote the episode, _The Slaver Weapon_. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389/20 "2017-07-14T18:25:59Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Also, it slipped my mind that CONSTANTINE is set there, too. The Vixen cartoon series, if we stretch it slightly. If we count Netflix then the MCU will, by the end of the year, have six Netflix series (Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Punisher, The Defenders), three TV series (the cancelled Agent Carter, Agents of SHIELD, Inhumans) and three more in development (Cloak & Dagger, The New Warriors and whatever they’re doing with Hulu. That’s twelve. Not bad. > [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > …and then add in the list of apparently unrelated shows in which Detective Munch has appeared, or been referenced by name: > > The X-Files > The Beat > Arrested Development > 30 Rock > Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt > Luther Don’t forget that The X-Files has two other series in the same Universe, the short-lived spin-off The Lone Gunmen, and there was also a one episode crossover with Chris Carter’s other series, Millenium. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-shows-set-in-the-same-universe/774389.md?page=2)