# Shows inhabiting a common TV universe **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2000, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648 "2000-08-01T02:38:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/1 "2000-08-01T02:38:58Z")
What about TV shows that were not necessarily related to one another, but had common characters appearing as either guests or regulars? Or perhaps simply references to features of the other show? You could say that these shows inhabited a common TV “universe”, kind of like Castle Rock and Derry would serve as a common backdrop for some of Stephen King’s stories. Off the top of my head, I’d mention: [ul] [li]The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. I remember there was at least one Love Boat episode in which two characters’ problems were unresolved, and Captain Steuben mentioned that the troubled love birds would be giving it another try on Fantasy Island–which picked up the thread of the story when it came on right after the Love Boat that night.[/li] [li]A similar two-part story between Magnum P.I. and Simon and Simon.[/li] [li]Spinoff “siblings” Petticoat Junction and Green Acres had common characters appearing on a semi-regular basis.[/li] [li]Ally McBeal and The Practice–one of the lawyers in the latter show was featured in the former.[/li][/ul] Can you think of other examples? Spinoffs and siblings automatically qualify, of course, but I think common references between unrelated series are even more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![pLt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eb9ed0/32.png) [@pLt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pLt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/2 "2000-08-01T02:50:34Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel ---
**Author:** ![agent\_cockroach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@agent\_cockroach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agent_cockroach)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/3 "2000-08-01T02:59:35Z")
not a spin off but it shares characters: mad about you’s waitress that was perpetually stoned/stupid was played by lisa cudrow before she appeared on friends and since it was a semi-recurring character they made it her twin sister and during sweeps week one year they had jaime and fran go to the central perk and confuse pheobe for ursela. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/4 "2000-08-01T03:00:49Z")
Ursula, the dim waitress from _Mad About You_ appeared on _Friends_, where it was revealed she was Pheobe’s twin sister. Jamie and Fran from _M.A.Y._ also visited Central Perk once. On another episode of _M.A.Y._, we discover that Paul’s old apartment is being rented by Kramer from _Seinfeld._ But in another episode of _Seinfeld_, George complains that he has to watch _Mad About You_ with his fiancee. Weird and inconsistent. Why do I know these things? –John ---
**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/5 "2000-08-01T03:04:56Z")
Last season the X-files did a Cops episode. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/6 "2000-08-01T03:28:36Z")
Green Acres and Pettcoat Junction shared a universe, as did all the spin-offs we’ve mentioned in other threads (All in the Family spinoffs, Andy Griffith, Mary Tyler Moore, etc.) All the Star Trek shows clearly share the same Universe. Bck in the '60’s Batman and The Green Hornet shared the same Universe. That sn’t he way it originally was – in radio das The Geen Hornet and The Lone Ranger, I believe, shared the same universe – same creator, a la Ally McBeal/Practice. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/7 "2000-08-01T04:01:34Z")
How about the TV Universe of John Munch? He appeared in \*\*five \*\* shows: - Homicide Law and Order Law and Order: Special Victims Unit X-Files The Beat \* There are shows in the similar genre in which recognizable people play different roles. Kathy Baker and Tom Skerritt, the doctor and sheriff team from \* Picket Fences\*, took turns playing different characters as defendants in _The Practice_. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/8 "2000-08-01T04:04:51Z")
The _Law and Order_ cops handed over a prisoner(played by Roger Walters) to the _Homicide_ cops at the beginning of a _Homicide_ episode. Some of the charcters on _90210_ turned up on _Melrose Place_ :o The _Star Trek_ characters constantly jump between all shows. The Frank Black character on _Millenium_ turned up in a episode of _The x-files_ I know I have a lot more just can’t think of them at the mo. I’ll try to remember and check back . ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/9 "2000-08-01T04:25:50Z")
_The Simpsons_ and _The Critic_ had a crossover episode. Who could forget the _Happy Days/Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley_ crossovers, the battles between Mork and the Fonz… And I’m sure I’m leaving out a few shows, but a lot of Norman Lear’s 70’s sitcoms crossed characters quite a bit: _All In The Family, The Jeffersons, Maude_…like I say, I’m sure I’m forgetting one or two, because Lear was the Sitcom King in his heyday. Are we counting spinoffs? If so, then things like _Cheers_ and _The Tortellis_ would count. ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/10 "2000-08-01T04:56:28Z")
Well these two shows may not be as old as all the others but Hercules and Xena are in the same universe and whenever necessary they swap characters. The king of theives guy shows up all the time in both shows, as do all the assorted gods and goddesses ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/11 "2000-08-01T05:02:12Z")
Picket Fences crossed over to Chigago Hope crossed over to Early Edition Homicide: Life on the Streets crossed over to Law & Order Law & Order: Special Victims Unit The Beat St. Elswhere crossed over to Cheers crossed over to Frasier The Tortellis Strange Luck VR5 Millenium I am pretty sure I am missing one or two at least. I don’t know if there have been any crossovers from The Beat to anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/12 "2000-08-01T05:12:23Z")
A few non X-Files crossovers. Martial Law & Walker: Texas Ranger Pretender & The Profiler Now if we could just get Sammo or Walker to visit Gary in Chicago, and Jarod to visit Law & Order, the X-files universe would be huge. There was a blackout night on an NBC Thursday night that hit all four of the sitcoms that were on that night. I know it included Friends, Mad About You and Seinfeld, but I don’t know the fourth show at that time. And CBS did something similar a famous actress appearing on several of their sitcoms in search of her necklace. That included Murphy Brown and The Nanny, but I am not sure what the others were. It is really depressing how many brain cells I have taken up with worthless information. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/13 "2000-08-01T05:36:02Z")
The fourth one was likely either (gag) Veronica’s Closet, or (gag) that one show with uh… that girl, and the guy who killed himself… and the guy from Breakfast Club. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/14 "2000-08-01T05:37:10Z")
I don;t know if this technically counts, but “The X-Files” has had two episodes with Darreb McGavin, of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” fame, as the originator of the x-files. (Chris Carter has cited Kolchak as the inspiration for “The X-Files”) ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/15 "2000-08-01T05:44:49Z")
The Simpsons and The Critic inhabit the same universe. Jay Sherman once visited the Simpson family for some reason…it was the same night The Critic premeired on Fox I believe. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/16 "2000-08-01T06:03:40Z")
I saw Mel Gibson on The Simpsons once so that means… _mind boggles_ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/17 "2000-08-01T06:23:56Z")
Adam-12 and Dragnet. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/18 "2000-08-01T06:27:10Z")
No, dpr, Jay Sherman is a character! Jon Lovitz is the actor. Jay Sherman, a fictional character created by Jon Lovitz was on The Simpsons. Not Jon Lovitz. See? ---
**Author:** ![Mustapha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mustapha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustapha)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/19 "2000-08-01T07:02:50Z")
_The Pretender_ and _Profiler_ _The Simpsons_ and _King of the Hill_ _Married With Children_ and _Top of the Heap/Vinnie & Bobby_ (with Matt LeBlanc before Friends) _Family Matters_ and _Step by Step_ _Home Improvement_ and _Soul Man_ * * * In an episode of _Homicide_, the heart of a victim was sent to _Chicago Hope_ where it was received by Dr Jeffrey Geiger. Also indirectly on the _Picket Fences/Chicago Hope_ X-over, Adam Arkin had already appeared on PF, but playing a different character, a lawyer I think. * * * \*\* Not in the same universe\*\* _Chicago Hope_ and _Ally McBeal_ (and thus _The Practice_) Richard Fish and Ling were in bed, and Ling turned on the telly so she could watch CH _Chicago Hope_ and _ER_ On the face of it, this seems blindingly obvious. But remember the episode of CH where they had the PR guys in to make an ad for the hospital, and the results were very similar to the opening credits for “the other show”. Acknowledging the competition must count for something in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648/20 "2000-08-01T07:33:58Z")
The A-team and the man from U.N.C.L.E. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-inhabiting-a-common-tv-universe/27648.md?page=2)