# TV Shows that "Join up" for an episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159 "2013-12-12T15:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/1 "2013-12-12T15:30:07Z")
Was discussing twists and plots that TV shows use to boost ratings, such as vacation episodes (Brady Bunch), dream sequences (Dallas), and introduction of new characters (Happy Days). Then, tried to ID shows that joined up with other shows for an episode. There are a ton of spin-offs, but all I could think of was the cartoons Jimmy Neutron and Fairly Odd Parents joining up for the Jimmy Timmy Power Hour. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/2 "2013-12-12T15:34:29Z")
Don’t know if it is what you’re looking for - but _Petticoat Junction_, _Green Acres_ and _Beverly Hillbillies_ were all in the same universe and dropped into each other’s stories occasionally. None of them were spinoffs IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/3 "2013-12-12T15:35:39Z")
Sy-Fy did that a lot. Eureka, Alphas and Warehouse 13 all had characters do guest appearances on each others show. Eureka and Warehouse 13 did a two episode story, one episode in each show. ---
**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 12, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/4 "2013-12-12T15:37:32Z")
_Magnum PI_ crossed over with _Murder, She Wrote_ for an episode apiece. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/5 "2013-12-12T15:38:51Z")
_CSI_ showed up on _Two and a Half Men_ to investigate Teddy’s death. ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/6 "2013-12-12T16:00:18Z")
The Simpsons and Family Guy and American Dad and those Sunday night shows on Fox will have characters go in and out of each others universes once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/7 "2013-12-12T16:02:41Z")
There has been many cross-overs over the years. 6 Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman had them. CSI franchise has had several. I’m pretty sure Murder She Wrote & Magnum PI had a cross over. Simon & Simon also got involved with one of those others. Kramer showed up on Mad About You and Murphy Brown. Norm & Cliff of Cheers went on a fishing trip that was mostly about drinking beer but involved flying onto Wings. Friends & Mad About You crossed over thanks to Lisa Kudrow playing characters that were twin sisters on each show. There was some cross over between the Dick Van Dyke Show and Danny Thomas Show. It think Buddy performed on DTS and Danny on DVDS. Oh, I remember the Green Hornet & Kato showing up on Batman, I think more than once. Not sure if that counts, I think Green Hornet was a spin-off. Maybe the best on was Carl Reiner as Alan Brady on Mad About You. Basically 3 decades later. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/8 "2013-12-12T16:03:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > _CSI_ showed up on _Two and a Half Men_ to investigate Teddy’s death. Back in their glory days, there was considerable crossover between the different _ **CSI** _s, and at least once between them and _ **Without a Trace** _. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/9 "2013-12-12T16:08:14Z")
On the recommendation of Dr Erlich, Drs Craig and Westphall from _ **St Elsewhere** _ once paid a visit to _ **Cheers!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/10 "2013-12-12T16:13:41Z")
_Hawaii 5-0_ and _NCIS:LA_ had a crossover special last year (I think). I thought it was apt since they are probably the two most disconnected-from-reality cop shows on TV now (that aren’t intentionally disconnected). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/11 "2013-12-12T16:13:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Norm & Cliff of Cheers went on a fishing trip that was mostly about drinking beer but involved flying onto Wings. For that matter, one episode had Helen getting back at Frasier Crane for “wrecking her life” while he was giving a seminar on the island. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/12 "2013-12-12T16:14:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Oh, I remember the Green Hornet & Kato showing up on Batman, I think more than once. Not sure if that counts, I think Green Hornet was a spin-off. Same producer, same network, same time slot (on Fridays), but not a spinoff. In the real world, Batman is a DC hero; the Green Hornet (like the Lone Ranger, to whom he was related) originated on Detroit’s WXYZ radio. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/13 "2013-12-12T16:18:40Z")
**Homicide** crossed over with **Law and Order** a number of times. John Munch of **Homicide** became a character in **Law and Order: SVU** The [Poobah.com Crossover page](http://www.poobala.com/crossoverlist.html) is the definitive list. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/14 "2013-12-12T16:19:26Z")
_Law and Order_ and _Homicide: Life of the Street_ had a few crossovers. I know _Simon & Simon_ crossed over with _Magnum_, not sure about _Murder, She Wrote_. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/15 "2013-12-12T16:21:10Z")
And of course Bob and Emily Hartley showed up in _Newhart_. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/16 "2013-12-12T16:21:21Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Homicide** crossed over with **Law and Order** a number of times. John Munch of **Homicide** became a character in **Law and Order: SVU** Ninja’ed. Munch showed up on a lot of shows. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/17 "2013-12-12T16:27:46Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Ninja’ed. Munch showed up on a lot of shows. Came in to mention his appearance on “Arrested Development.” Would’ve been nice to have seen a GOB cameo on SVU. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/18 "2013-12-12T16:40:18Z")
From the way I read the OP, he/she’s looking for shows that crossed over to actually form a whole new show, not one-off episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/19 "2013-12-12T16:43:08Z")
[New thread inspired by this one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710267) ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159/20 "2013-12-12T16:45:06Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Friends & Mad About You crossed over thanks to Lisa Kudrow playing characters that were twin sisters on each show. It always annoyed me how _Friends_ ruined the Ursula character, who was hilarious on _Mad About You_ for her recurring bits. There was a night where a blackout started on _Mad About You_ was supposed to crossover to all the “Must See TV” shows but _Seinfeld_ refused to go along with it. I can’t recall what the fourth comedy was, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-join-up-for-an-episode/676159.md?page=2)