Did you know that Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead take place in the same universe? Or that Friends and Mad About You share a fictional coffee shop, Riff’s? In this article, we explore 10 surprising connections between television shows that you never knew existed. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel sharing a world of vampires and demons to The Simpson and Futurama sharing the same universe, these connections remind us that the world of television is much more interconnected than we might have thought. Whether it’s a simple crossover or a deep interweaving of storylines, these connections make for interesting and surprising viewing.
Surprising Connections Between TV Shows You Never Knew Existed: 10 Examples
Television shows have a way of drawing us in and capturing our attention, but sometimes the connections between one show and another can be hard to find. You might be surprised to learn just how interconnected some of your favorite television shows really are. Here are 10 examples of surprising connections you never knew existed.
1. Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead
Did you know that Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead take place in the same universe? The blue meth that Walter White makes in Breaking Bad is the same drug that Merle Dixon is found using in season 1 of The Walking Dead. Talk about a crossover!
2. Friends and Mad About You
Friends and Mad About You are both NBC sitcoms that aired during the same time period. But did you know that Phoebe from Friends appears on an episode of Mad About You as her twin sister, Ursula? The two shows even share a fictional coffee shop, Riff’s, where characters from each show often gather.
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are both set in the same world of vampires and demons, and lead character Angel even made his debut on Buffy before getting his own spinoff series. Characters from each show often crossover, and storylines interweave between the two.
4. The Office and Parks and Recreation
The Office and Parks and Recreation are both mockumentary-style comedy shows that were created by the same team. The shows even share a fictional company, Pawnee’s Eagleton Department, which is a competitor to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch on The Office.
5. Law and Order and Homicide: Life on the Street
Law and Order and Homicide: Life on the Street are both police procedural dramas that aired on NBC. The shows are set in the same universe, and characters from each show often appear on the other. In fact, one Law and Order episode even features the homicide unit from Homicide: Life on the Street.
6. Frasier and Cheers
Frasier and Cheers are both classic sitcoms that aired on NBC. Frasier Crane, the lead character in Frasier, was first introduced on Cheers as a secondary character. Both shows are set in the same bar, Cheers, which serves as a gathering place for the characters.
7. Six Feet Under and True Blood
Six Feet Under and True Blood are both HBO dramas that were created by Alan Ball. While the shows are vastly different in tone and subject matter, characters from Six Feet Under are frequently seen watching True Blood on television.
8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine and New Girl
Brooklyn Nine-Nine and New Girl are both popular Fox sitcoms that often feature crossover episodes. Characters from Brooklyn Nine-Nine have appeared on New Girl and vice versa, and the two shows share the same showrunner, Michael Schur.
9. The Simpsons and Futurama
The Simpsons and Futurama are both animated comedies created by Matt Groening. The two shows share the same universe, and characters from each show have made appearances on the other. In fact, the character Fry from Futurama is revealed to be a distant relative of Bart Simpson in a crossover episode.
10. The X-Files and Millennium
The X-Files and Millennium are both science fiction dramas created by Chris Carter. While the shows are set in different universes and have different lead characters, they both deal with similar themes of government conspiracies, mysteries, and the supernatural. Characters from each show have even made appearances on the other.
Conclusion
The world of television is full of surprises, and the connections between shows can be fascinating to discover. Whether it’s a simple cameo or a deep interweaving of storylines, these connections remind us that the world of television is much more interconnected than we might have thought.