| 1 | ->"''If it isn't my old friends from Springfield, the Simpsons! What brings you folks to UsefulNotes/NewOrleans?''" |
| 2 | -->-- '''Chief Wiggum''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase" |
| 3 | |
| 4 | So, the SpinOff has launched. All the requisite cast members have jumped ship, and you've got enough stylistic elements to draw at least a loose connection between the new series and its parent. But why stop there? Why not have recurring visits from members of the old series, who are just stopping in to say hi? Hell, why not have {{crossover}} events? |
| 5 | |
| 6 | A Required Spinoff Crossover is what happens when a spun-off series decides to showcase its connection to the original series frequently and with great vigor. Sometimes it will happen when a character from the first series stops by to follow up on a plot in the second series. Other times, there will be a full-on crossover, where both series get together to follow one plot. Either way, the show is going to remind you of its pedigree as loudly as it can. Note that this is ''not'' [[{{Transplant}} a character from the first series moving to the second series]], but rather a periodic reminder, usually through guest appearance and crossover, of the connection between the two shows. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | See also PoorlyDisguisedPilot, an episode of the original series that's used to test the waters for a spinoff, SpinoffSendOff, a crossover in the pilot of the spinoff to establish the connection with the previous series. Contrast LateSpinoffTransplant, where a character joins the cast permanently after the series has debuted |
| 9 | |
| 10 | ---- |
| 11 | !!Examples |
| 12 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 13 | |
| 14 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 15 | * The first season of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' easily bears the closest resemblance to the original ''Anime/YuGiOh'' and even contains {{Shout Out}}s like Sho fantasizing that he and Judai are {{reincarnation}}s of an Egyptian pharoah and high priest. Pegasus and Kaiba appear with a fair amount of frequency as well, Sugoroku (Grandpa Muto) is featured briefly when the gang visit Domino City, and an early episode focuses on Judai dueling against someone who stole Yugi's old deck and is pretending to be him. [[spoiler:Yugi himself also appears, albeit shadowed, in the first and the penultimate episode, sending Judai back in time to duel the past Yugi when he still had Atem with him, to establish a fairly ridiculous time loop.]] |
| 16 | * Episode 60 of ''Anime/YuGiOhSevens'' has the protagonist of ''VideoGame/YuGiOhRushDuelDawnOfTheBattleRoyale'' making a cameo appearance. |
| 17 | * ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'''s spin-off protagonist Mikoto Misaka will (most of the time) run into the series protagonist [[Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex Touma Kamijou]]. And most of the time, Mikoto WILL challenge Touma because of his [[{{AntiMagic}} Right hand]] cancelling her Railgun. And they'll tie. Inevitable, considering the two series run in the same timeline and several arcs connect to each other, such as the Sister's Arc. |
| 18 | ** The anime also threw in cameos of other Index characters, such as [[EmotionlessGirl Aisa]] or [[SenseiChan Komoe]]. |
| 19 | * ''VisualNovel/AoiShiro'' has the appearance of Asama Sakuya from ''VisualNovel/AkaiIto'', who turns out to be Aoi-sensei's drinking buddy. The manga [[spoiler:makes Wakasugi Tsudura and her group TheCavalry, with Hatou Kei's blood required to thwart Ba Rouryuu's plan]]. |
| 20 | * To celebrate the franchise's 15th anniversary, several episodes of ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' feature characters from the previous 14 seasons, but the most frequent characters to appear are Cure Black and Cure White from ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure''. Notably, the last of these episodes sees all fifty five Cures fight and defeat one of the show’s villains. |
| 21 | [[/folder]] |
| 22 | |
| 23 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 24 | * ''Franchise/LawAndOrder'': |
| 25 | ** ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' had Briscoe and Green from ''Series/LawAndOrder'' investigating a case that tied into Benson and Stabler's in "...Or Just Look Like One", and Abbie Carmichael served as the ADA in charge of SVU cases until they got their own ADA (first a minor character played by Reiko Aylesworth, then Alex Cabot). Furthermore, there was a crossover episode with the mothership, "Entitled", where SVU investigated the case in one episode and the DA's office prosecuted it in the next. |
| 26 | ** Also inverted in one ''Series/LawAndOrder'' episode which had Benson and Stabler showing up, given that the murder case bore considerable similarities to a series of rapes they'd been investigating and they suspected (correctly) that their prime suspect in the rapes was responsible for the recent killings. |
| 27 | ** ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' followed the same pattern, with Briscoe and Green called upon to leak info of a serial poisoner by Goren and Eames in one episode, Van Buren asked about a suspect that formerly served under her in another episode, and Skoda called in for a psychiatric opinion in yet another episode. And before ''L&O: CI'' launched, there were plans for a "mega crossover" between the three series centered around a terrorist attack...[[DistancedFromCurrentEvents but then 9/11 happened]]. |
| 28 | ** The short lived ''Series/LawAndOrderTrialByJury'' also did this, once with a follow-up on a case that had been closed on ''SVU'', and once with the prosecution of the guy who shot Det. Green on the original series. It's also noteworthy that Fred Thompson appeared on both ''Trial by Jury'' and the original ''Law & Order'' as a series regular on both shows simultaneously, a remarkably unusual occurrence in television history. |
| 29 | ** Averted with ''Series/LawAndOrderUK'', possibly because this was simply another show in the franchise rather than an explicit spin-off. |
| 30 | * ''Series/{{Angel}}'': |
| 31 | ** Oz and Spike showed up in "[[Recap/AngelS01E03InTheDark In the Dark]]" to follow up on plot from ''Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}'''s "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E3TheHarshLightOfDay The Harsh Light Of Day]]". |
| 32 | ** Buffy showed up in "[[Recap/AngelS01E08IWillRememberYou I Will Remember You]]". |
| 33 | ** Faith fled to LA after the events of "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E15ThisYearsGirl This Year's Girl]][=/=][[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E16WhoAreYou Who Are You?]]" with Buffy pursuing in "[[Recap/AngelS01E18FiveByFive Five By Five]][=/=][[Recap/AngelS01E19Sanctuary Sanctuary]]". |
| 34 | ** Willow also showed up in "[[Recap/AngelS02E22TheresNoPlaceLikePlrtzGlrb There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb]]" to deliver news about Buffy, and again later when the AI team needed her to perform a spell in "[[Recap/AngelS04E15Orpheus Orpheus]]". |
| 35 | *** Willow was the crossover once again in the Season 9 comic series, appearing on the last page of ''ComicBook/AngelAndFaith'' #10. |
| 36 | *** Before the license went back to Creator/DarkHorseComics Willow even managed to cross over ''between publishing companies'' to appear in IDW's ''Series/{{Angel}}'' spinoff, ''Spike''. |
| 37 | ** There was also a special crossover "event" between the ''Buffy'' episode "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E7FoolForLove Fool For Love]]" and the ''Angel'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS02E07Darla Darla]]", in which several flashback scenes are seen from Spike's perspective in the ''Buffy'' episode and then again from Darla's perspective in the ''Angel'' episode which originally aired immediately afterward. |
| 38 | ** Season 6 and season 3 were the exceptions. Buffy changed networks in its sixth season and Angel's third and crossovers were banned. The reunion of Buffy and Angel after Buffy's resurrection was only visualized in comic book form. Fortunately, the networks changed the rules the next season. |
| 39 | * Consciously averted with ''Series/{{Joey}}'', the spin-off of ''Series/{{Friends}}'', if only because it didn't last long enough for them to try. The character moved from New York to L.A. so that the writers wouldn't have to explain why his best friends never visited him -- not that that worked for ''Frasier''... |
| 40 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'' occasionally does this in reverse, with Capt. Jack returning and revealing his connection to Series/{{Torchwood}} in the last three episodes of Series 3, and Torchwood and [[Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures Sarah Jane]] getting caught up in the Series 4 finale. The producers went on record to say that the Doctor would ''never'' appear in ''Torchwood'', as that would encourage ''Who'''s younger fans to watch a show which, given its DarkerAndEdgier and HotterAndSexier nature, isn't exactly aimed at them. |
| 41 | * TheBrigadier appears in the second season finale of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' spinoff ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures''. |
| 42 | ** The Tenth Doctor appears in series three ("The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith"). The Eleventh shows up in series four (''Death of the Doctor''), alongside another Classic Who companion, Jo Grant. |
| 43 | ** It also features a Sontaran, the Slitheen and a Graske as recurring enemies, with the Sontaran's story being a direct continuation of what the Doctor did on his show. |
| 44 | * In ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', ''Series/DoctorWho'' companion and Jack Harkness' ally Martha Jones appears in a few series 2 episodes. |
| 45 | ** The episode "[[Recap/TorchwoodS1E4Cyberwoman Cyberwoman]]" features a partially converted Cyberman from the aftermath of the ''Doctor Who'' series 2 finale. |
| 46 | * The pilot of ''Series/MorkAndMindy'' had a "flashback" (filmed for the show) where Mork pays a visit to [[Series/HappyDays the Fonz]] in the 1950s again. They even bring in Laverne from ''Series/LaverneAndShirley''. |
| 47 | ** Lampshaded by Mork himself as he reports to Orson after appearing as the new material holding together a "Happy Days" clip show later on in the season. |
| 48 | -->'''Mork''': Mork calling Orson....come in Orson.... |
| 49 | -->'''Orson''': Mork! This is not your usual day for reporting back to me! |
| 50 | -->'''Mork''': Ah, quite true your Immenseness! But see, I did a spin-on to pay back for my spin-off. |
| 51 | ** Of course, ''Happy Days'' and ''Laverne and Shirley'' had several crossovers themselves when both shows were set in Milwaukee. |
| 52 | * The second season premiere of ''Series/TheRopers'' featured a visit by Jack, Janet and Crissy. A later episode would have Larry Dallas dropping by. |
| 53 | -->'''Stanley Roper''': Larry! I'm glad to see you!\ |
| 54 | '''Larry''': You never were this glad to see me when I was your tenant.\ |
| 55 | '''Stanley Roper''': I was when you paid your rent on time! |
| 56 | * ''Franchise/StarTrek'', in addition to the SpinoffSendOff in every series save the first: |
| 57 | ** Creator/JonathanFrakes appeared in multiple spin-off series (as William Riker in ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]'' and as Thomas Riker in ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]''). He and Creator/MarinaSirtis have also appeared in ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' and ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks''. |
| 58 | ** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': |
| 59 | *** One episode focused on Sarek, Spock's father. A later two parter featured Spock himself and a single episode had a visit from Scotty. [=McCoy=] had a cameo in the pilot. |
| 60 | *** The show crossed over with ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' for the "Birthright" two-parter, featuring Dr. Bashir in the first part. |
| 61 | ** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': |
| 62 | *** The first season leaned heavily on this trope to woo loyal [=TNG=] fans. Beyond turning Miles O'Brien and his wife Keiko (and later Worf) into regulars, episodes after the pilot featured Lwaxanna Troi, Q, Vash, Lursa and B'etor. Later seasons brought Gowron, Admiral Nechayev, Kurn, Alexander Rozhenko, and even Kor, Kang, and Koloth from the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries original series]]. |
| 63 | ** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': |
| 64 | *** ''Voyager'' character Tuvok appeared in one of ''Deep Space Nine'''s MirrorUniverse episodes since the differences in the timeline meant that there was no reason for the Mirror version of the character to be trapped in the Delta Quadrant like the main universe version. |
| 65 | *** Both ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' and ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' featured season arcs revolving around the Maquis, which was created intentionally to serve as a plot device for ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'''s mission that resulted in it being stranded in the Delta Quadrant as well as its unusual crew dynamics. |
| 66 | *** Deanna Troi and Reg Barclay from ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]'' both had recurring roles on ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. |
| 67 | *** One alternate future timeline featured [=TNG=] character Geordi [=LaForge=] as a captain. |
| 68 | *** ''Voyager'''s Captain Janeway got to make an appearance in ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'', which was a ''Next Generation'' movie. A torch passed back. |
| 69 | ** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'': |
| 70 | *** This is the entire premise behind the polarizing final episode "These Are the Voyages", which features not just Will Riker and Deanna Troi (and Data's voice) from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' (i.e. an entirely different ''series'' within the same franchise), but by reusing some old sets and footage from [=TNG=] and focusing the episode around a dilemma that Riker was facing in a [=TNG=] episode ("The Pegasus") that he decided to work through by reliving some scenes from the ''Enterprise'' era on the Enterprise-D holodeck. |
| 71 | ** Spock Prime (Creator/LeonardNimoy) appears in ''Film/StarTrek2009'' and ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. |
| 72 | * ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' eventually had all his old friends (except Rebecca Howe) from ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' visit him at least once. Also, his ex-wife Lilith became a RecurringCharacter. |
| 73 | ** The creators have said that they chose Seattle specifically because it was on the other end of the country from Boston. A few thousand miles was enough to stop the higher-ups from pestering them all the time about when the Cheers gang was going to show up. It's not like Cafe Nervosa is on Cliff's mail route or anything... |
| 74 | ** The earlier (and much more obscure) ''Cheers'' spinoff ''The Tortellis'' had an episode where Cliff and Norm just happen to show up...in Las Vegas, where the show was set. |
| 75 | * ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' and ''Series/TheGirlFromUNCLE'' featured Leo G. Carroll playing U.N.C.L.E. chief Alexander Waverly in both series. In addition, Robert Vaughn appeared as Napoleon Solo in the ''Series/TheGirlFromUNCLE'' episode "The Mother Muffin Affair", while Noel Harrison appeared as Mark Slate in the third season ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' episode "The Galatea Affair". The episodes were broadcast on the same week on NBC. |
| 76 | * The shows in Susan Harris' Miami sitcom universe (''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', ''Series/EmptyNest'', ''Nurses'') all featured these. There were two specific ones, specifically where events that began in ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' were brought to a close in the other two. A hurricane and a full moon began some chaos that would be fixed in the hospital where Harry Westen of ''Empty Nest'' and the ''Nurses'' worked. Might make it a CrisisCrossover. |
| 77 | * ''Series/DiffrentStrokes'' and ''Series/TheFactsOfLife'' had a number of these early in the latter show's run. |
| 78 | ** Meanwhile, a "connection" between ''Diff'rent Strokes'' and ''Hello Larry'' was contrived after the fact (having Mr. Drummond buy Larry's radio station) for the express purpose of setting up crossovers to try and help the latter show's popularity. It didn't work. |
| 79 | * ''Series/ADifferentWorld'' featured many of these during the show's first season, usually via Denise calling home to talk to her parents. They dropped off considerably once she left the show, but a few instances still occurred throughout the series--Clair coming to Hillman for alumni weekends and/or to take Vanessa on a tour. To the point where the final season had Charmaine (introduced to ''Series/TheCosbyShow'' as one of Pam's friends) as one of the incoming freshmen. |
| 80 | * Just about the entire ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' cast turns up in ''Rhoda'' for the title character's wedding, eight episodes or so into the first season. This is sweet, but a bit awkward...maybe WJM's ratings were so low, no one would notice if the news took a day off. |
| 81 | ** Hard to believe, but those who work in the news are allowed to have a day off. There is indeed a "weekend" crew at almost every local news outlet. |
| 82 | ** ''Series/LouGrant'' averted it, however. Only one other ''MTM'' character aside from Lou himself ever appeared and she wasn't a major character. This was likely to prevent tonal dissonance, given the series' more dramatic tone. |
| 83 | * ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' has featured each member of the original cast of parent series ''Series/StargateSG1'' in at least one episode each, often to contrast their spinoff counterpart. The producers made a deliberate effort to tie ''Atlantis'' back into ''SG-1'', too - the original series got an episode set in the spinoff's location. |
| 84 | ** ''Series/StargateUniverse'' has SG-1 characters turn up often (minus Teal'c who is DemotedToExtra, for some reason). O'Neill in particular is around more now than he was in the final seasons of his own series. The first season finale, involving SG-1 bad guys trying to reach the ''Destiny,'' is set to be as much an episode of SG-1 as SGU, if the episode that serves as prelude is any indication. |
| 85 | * ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'', which got its start on a PoorlyDisguisedPilot on the regular ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', featured the DC team's Abby coming out to L.A. to investigate a serial murder case. The episode pretty much revolved around her. |
| 86 | ** Similarly, Bud Roberts from ''Series/{{JAG}}'' appears on an early episode of ''NCIS''. |
| 87 | ** Lee Wuan Kai, a Korean assassin, had a history with Leon Vance, director of NCIS. So, naturally, her first stop was Los Angeles not long after they get established, causing Leon to fly out to deal with things personally. Then she followed him back home. |
| 88 | ** Since Abby's two-episode arc, however, ''NCIS: LA'' has managed to avoid appearances by ''NCIS'' regulars other than Director Vance. It took all of ''two episodes'' for ''Series/NCISNewOrleans'' to exceed this count, with Ducky appearing in the first episode and both Abby and Tony appearing in the second. Gibbs himself appeared in the third episode and recurring character Tobias Fornell appeared in the fifth. (Director Vance also appeared in three of those episodes, but as the head of NCIS, he has reason to be in contact with the head of the branch office on a regular basis.). |
| 89 | ** Seasons 2 and 3 of NCISNOLA also had two-part episodes that began on its parent show. |
| 90 | * Episode 18 of ''Series/NCISHawaii'' has agents Torres and Knight travel to the island, while Parker and Kasie have cameos. |
| 91 | * Averted with ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' and ''Series/TheJeffersons''. Neither Archie or Edith ever actually dropped by to visit George and Louise at their dee-luxe apartment in the sky. (Although they did turn up in "flashback" as part of a ClipShow on the latter series.) |
| 92 | ** The Bunkers never appeared on ''Series/{{Maude}}'', either, although they did turn up in the [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot backdoor pilot]] for that show that aired on ''AITF'' itself. |
| 93 | *** Nor did any ''Maude'' characters ever show up on that show's own spinoff, ''Series/GoodTimes''. |
| 94 | ** Speaking of backdoor pilots, an ''Series/ArchieBunkersPlace'' episode was intended as one of these for ''Gloria'', but CBS rejected it. When ''Gloria'' was picked up, it debuted with a completely re-written pilot. (The original was eventually included in the syndication package for ''Archie Bunker's Place'', however. Confused enough yet?) |
| 95 | * [[Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys Hercules]] and [[Series/XenaWarriorPrincess Xena]] frequently crossed over into each other's shows, as did several characters of varying importance (from gods to comic relief). |
| 96 | * ''Series/BarneyMiller'''s Dietrich stopped by to visit Fish in the latter's spinoff show. |
| 97 | * ''Series/{{CSI}}'' has had several, aside from the pseudo-crossover {{Poorly Disguised Pilot}}s. |
| 98 | ** Ray Langston visited both other series during CSI's 9th season. |
| 99 | ** In ''CSI: NY'''s second season, [[Series/{{CSINY}} Mac Taylor]] went down to Miami and then returned to New York with [[Series/CSIMiami Horatio Caine]] as they tried to catch a suspect together. |
| 100 | ** The original and ''CSI: NY'' crossed over when Mac went to Las Vegas to surprise his girlfriend/future fiance and discovered she'd been kidnapped. When he and DB Russell realized she'd never left New York and was being held there, Mac returned to NY with DB in tow to find her before it was too late. |
| 101 | ** Incidentally, other than Miami's PDP, the original never crossed with the spinoffs until after Creator/WilliamPetersen's departure, because he was against the spinoffs from the start, believing it watered down the writer pool on the original. New York's PDP launched from Miami. |
| 102 | * Just after the premiere of the ''Series/{{Bones}}'' spinoff ''Series/TheFinder'', Lance Sweets appeared on an episode. Jack Hodgins also subsequently appeared in another ''Series/TheFinder'' episode. |
| 103 | * ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', the first ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' season to be a spin-off rather than a direct continuation, had the main cast and characters from previous series, ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' teaming up to fight revived PsychoRangers. Not only that but [[spoiler:Kendrix died and Karone, better known as former ''In Space'' villain Astronema, replaced her as the Pink Galaxy Ranger]]. Since then it became tradition (though one not always held to) for new ''Power Rangers'' series to have a crossover with previous one. |
| 104 | ** [[MilestoneCelebration Anniversary seasons]] (''Wild Force'', ''Operation Overdrive'', ''Megaforce'') often celebrate by bringing back Rangers from previous series for a special episode. |
| 105 | ** Besides the ''in Space'' teamup described above, ''Lost Galaxy'' also had established connections to ''in Space'' by having Bulk, Skull and Professor Phenomenous appear in the first episode and Alpha 6 and the Astro Megaship in the second one. |
| 106 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': During Mesogog's first attack, he expected people to believe that last season's villain, [[Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm Lothor]], was responsible despite it not being the same town Lothor used to attack. Later on, a two-part episode featured Lothor and the Ninja Storm rangers. |
| 107 | *** Also, [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Tommy]] was the Dino Thunder Rangers' mentor. |
| 108 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' had ''two'' crossovers with ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'', with each team getting to visit the setting of the other's show. |
| 109 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' had [[Series/PowerRangersSPD Piggy]] making an appearance and making a CallForward to [[TwentyMinutesInTheFuture events from the SPD series]]. It also stated that one minor character, Mystic Mother, was [[spoiler:a redeemed [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Rita Repulsa]]]]. |
| 110 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'''s crossover with ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' only barely qualifies, though - only one RPM Ranger shows up, and he was a FakeShemp to boot. |
| 111 | *** [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Bulk]] was a regular along with [[SpinOffspring Skull's son]]. Skull appears in the finale. |
| 112 | * Notably averted in ''Series/BostonLegal'', where none of the regulars on ''Series/ThePractice'' stopped by for guest spots (likely attributed to the spinoff characters having been introduced [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot as stars of the latter's final season]]). This can alarm some viewers who notice that guest stars on ''The Practice'' like John Larroquette and Rene Auberjonois ended up starring on ''Boston Legal'' [[YouLookFamiliar as completely different characters]]. |
| 113 | ** Bill Smitrovich, who portrayed Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Walsh in ''Series/ThePractice'', portrayed another prosecutor in ''Series/BostonLegal''. Smitrovich's character in the spinoff worked in a state where death penalty was an option. |
| 114 | ** The law firm of Young, Frutt and Berlutti was once mentioned in ''Series/BostonLegal''. |
| 115 | * ''Series/SamAndCat'' has Robbie Shapiro and Jade West from ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', and Freddie Benson from ''Series/ICarly'' show up in "#[=TheKillerTunaJump=]", and Robbie's ventriloquist dummy Rex Powers has a cameo in a deleted scene in the episode "#[=MommaGoomer=]" |
| 116 | * ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' shows frequently cross over with one another. ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' characters will come to visit ''Series/TheFlash2014'' and vice-versa a few times a season; and characters from both shows have appeared in ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' (where half the cast originated in ''Arrow'' or ''Flash'' to begin with), ''WesternAnimation/{{Vixen}}'', and ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}''. It's also become a tradition to have a big multi-show CrisisCrossover every year. |
| 117 | * The main field cops of ''Series/TokkeiWinspector'' returned for a three-part episode of ''Series/TokkyuuShireiSolbrain''. It was only some episodes later one of them became a regular in ''Solbrain''. |
| 118 | * The pilot of ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland'' featured ''Series/OnceUponATime'''s Cinderella and Grumpy, as well as Emma's car. Maleficent, Robin Hood, and Cora all put in appearances later in the season. |
| 119 | * This used to happen all the time in the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series starting with ''Series/KamenRiderV3''. With ''V3'', Ichigo and Nigo helped turned Shiro into the titular Rider before they were supposedly killed. Then they came back to help him and Riderman. Then, every series through the Showa era would have every previous Rider return to help the current Rider save the day. |
| 120 | ** ''Kamen Rider'''s Heisei era developed a tradition of these starting with ''[[Series/KamenRiderDecade Decade]]''. Rider A's standalone movie (which occurs late in its run), will have Rider B (star of the upcoming series) make an EarlyBirdCameo, usually appearing from nowhere to help Rider A battle some powerful enemy. Then shortly into Rider B's run, there will be a crossover film (dubbed "Movie Wars") where A and B each get their own mini-movie segment, and it all ends with the two heroes joining forces to fight the film's BigBad. These crossovers are apparently {{Canon}}, at least to each other, since when the characters meet up for the second time they'll reference the events of their first encounter. |
| 121 | *** ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' has also adopted this format, though due to the difference in the timing of new season launches between them and ''Kamen Rider'', the EarlyBirdCameo Rangers usually show up in the crossover feature, not the standalone one. |
| 122 | * ''Series/PortCharles'' was a SpinOff of ''Series/GeneralHospital'' and occasionally, characters from either show would show up on the other. |
| 123 | * ''Series/ThePunisher2017'' was greenlit after the praise for Creator/JonBernthal's portrayal of Frank Castle in season 2 of ''Series/Daredevil2015''. ''The Punisher'' therefore also features appearances from [[Creator/DeborahAnnWoll Karen Page]], who had been Frank's most vocal advocate and supporter during the second part of Frank's ''Daredevil'' story arc. |
| 124 | * Three episodes of the first season of ''Series/{{Knots Landing}}'' feature regular characters from its parent series ''Series/{{Dallas}}'': Bobby appeared in "Pilot", J.R. appeared in "Community Spirit" and Lucy appeared in "Home is for Healing". There were four such episodes in Season Two: Kristin Shepard appeared in "Kristin" ([[spoiler: coming less than month after it was revealed that she shot J.R., her appearance was no doubt designed to capitalise on the record breaking ratings experienced by ''Dallas'']]), J.R. appeared in both "A Family Matter" and "Designs" and Bobby appeared in "The Loudest Word". There were none in Season Three but it happened twice more in Season Four, which was the last time that any ''Dallas'' character appeared in ''Knots Landing'': J.R. appeared in "Daniel" and both he and Bobby appeared in "New Beginnings", the second part of a two-part crossover with ''Dallas'' and the only ''Knots Landing'' episode to feature all three of Jock and Miss Ellie's sons. |
| 125 | * Epically subverted in one episode of ''Series/GomerPyleUSMC'', where Gomer goes back home to [[Series/TheAndyGriffithShow Mayberry]] on leave, only for Andy, Opie, and Goober to be on vacation. After the episode's plot is all wrapped up and Gomer's back on the bus going back to the Marines, the three get back from vacation and the episode ends with Gomer frantically banging on the bus windows to try and get them to notice him. |
| 126 | ** However, this trope was also played straight, with both Andy and Opie, Goober, and Aunt Bee appearing in three separate episodes. |
| 127 | * From ''Series/TheGoldbergs'', Beverly Goldberg makes cameos in the PoorlyDisguisedPilot "1990-Something", which then became ''Schooled'', which also featured a cameo by Beverly in the first episode. |
| 128 | * The angels from ''Series/TouchedByAnAngel'' occasionally showed up on its SpinOff "Promised Land". |
| 129 | * ''Series/CriminalMindsSuspectBehavior'' spun-off of ''Series/CriminalMinds'' in a PoorlyDisguisedPilot and went on to share a character: Penelope Garcia was the technical analyst for both teams. There were no other explicit crossovers between the two shows, but there were references. In ''Criminal Minds'', JJ encourages Prentiss to make a move on Mick Rawson from the ''Suspect Behavior'' team (which she decides against), and an episode of ''Suspect Behavior'' features a picture of JJ on Garcia's desk after [[spoiler: she was forced off the team, which serves as the only hint they might still be in contact]]. |
| 130 | ** When ''Criminal Minds'' got a second spin-off, ''Series/CriminalMindsBeyondBorders,'' they got their own technical analyst, Monty, but Garcia shows up anyway to accuse him of stealing her octopus mug even though he doesn't drink coffee[[note]]though he does enjoy some nice ''tea''[[/note]]. |
| 131 | * ''Series/MelrosePlace'': In the first three episodes, Kelly, Steve, David, and Donna from the progenitor series ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' appear because Kelly is initially dating one of the ''MP'' main characters, Jake. They cease to make appearances after Kelly and Jake break off their relationship. |
| 132 | ** Jo and Jake also appear in the spin-off of ''MP'', ''Models Inc''. That show ended after one season. |
| 133 | * ''Series/LabRatsEliteForce'' starred Bree and Chase from [[Series/LabRats the original series]], but brought back various other prominent characters from its parent series throughout its run, namely Donald, Douglas, Perry, Tasha, and Bob, but because the show was cancelled after its first season, never got to the long-anticipated returns of Leo and Adam. But that's still a lot more than can be said about ''Series/MightyMed'', in which nobody came back except for Kaz, Oliver, and Skylar. |
| 134 | * ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' has Fett and his NumberTwo Fennec Shand agree that they need some more muscle, so they decide to reach out to an acquaintance known as "Series/TheMandalorian". The next episode kicks off a three-part crossover between the two shows, each part of which even lists [[Creator/PedroPascal the Mandalorian's actor]] as the third-most important cast member in the end credits (behind the respective actors of [[Creator/TemueraMorrison Boba]] and [[Creator/MingNaWen Fennec]]). Notably, the crossover both resolves the main threat in ''The Book of Boba Fett'', and prepares Mando's clan for their own show's third season, through plot points not completely recapped in ''The Mandalorian''. |
| 135 | * ''Series/NineOneOneLoneStar'' has Buck, Hen, and Eddie of the 118 crew from the original series show up to help fight a massive wildfire, where they work with the crew of the 126. |
| 136 | [[/folder]] |
| 137 | |
| 138 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 139 | * While Wrestling/{{Toryumon}} was notorious for its isolation, IWRG wrestlers did still appear in the Mexican branch from time to time. Similarly, while EVOLVE largely showcased the non Wrestling/DragonGate regulars of DG USA, Dragon Gate wrestlers and their titles did still appear. |
| 140 | * Wrestling/RingOfHonor naturally featured wrestlers and continued angles from Full Impact Pro and Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}, although the latter isn't a spinoff per se and savagely parodied the concept on its own shows, where it would put the ROH and FIP (male) wrestlers in comedy dark matches. However, SHIMMER itself played this straight for SHINE Wrestling's first ten shows(it being another all women's promotion). |
| 141 | [[/folder]] |
| 142 | |
| 143 | [[folder:Puppet Shows]] |
| 144 | * The first season of ''Series/TheFurchesterHotel'' avoided this, with the only ''Series/SesameStreet'' characters appearing being Elmo and Cookie Monster, who are regulars. The second season included a Big Bird episode, a Count episode and a Yip-Yip Martians episode, and then had Big Bird and the Count return in the ChristmasEpisode. |
| 145 | * Characters from ''Series/SesameStreet'' made one-off appearances on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': |
| 146 | ** Bert and Ernie appeared in the second episode with Connie Stevens, where Bert sings "[[Theatre/SouthPacific Some Enchanted Evening]]" and dances with Stevens. |
| 147 | ** Big Bird made a prominent appearance with Creator/LeslieUggams. At one point, Big Bird talks to Miss Piggy, who derisively calls ''Sesame Street'' "that cute little children's show with puppets", and Big Bird laughs at the thought of her being in love with Kermit, and nearly misses a karate chop from her. |
| 148 | ** The entire cast made a cameo in the Creator/MartyFeldman episode that parodies ''Literature/OneThousandAndOneNights'', in the "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" skit, when Fozzie says "OpenSesame!", the cast comes out and sings the ''Sesame Street'' theme (sadly this is missing from the version on Creator/DisneyPlus). At the end, Feldman brings Cookie Monster on stage because they have similar eyes. |
| 149 | * An interesting example of this happens in ''Series/TheNoddyShop''[='s=] second season. Unlike other shows utilizing ImportationExpansion, Noddy, the star of [[WesternAnimation/NoddysToylandAdventures the show the series is a framing device for]], would frequently interact with the puppet and human characters created for the series. |
| 150 | * Although Mrs. C (Chica's mother) made occasional appearances on ''Series/TheSunnySideUpShow'' prior to ''Series/TheChicaShow'', she and Mr. C still made guest appearances on the block. |
| 151 | * King Friday, a character from ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood''[='s=] Neighborhood of Make Believe, is a recurring character in ''Series/DonkeyHodie''. |
| 152 | [[/folder]] |
| 153 | |
| 154 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 155 | * The Laird of the Glen's single appearance in ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'' might qualify. The Laird was created for the sitcom version of Graeme and Barry's "Hamish and Dougal" skits and played by Jeremy Hardy. So when Jeremy stood in for Graeme as Barry's teammate, it only made sense to do a "Dougal and the Laird" skit. |
| 156 | ** The ''Radio/HamishAndDougal'' Hogmanay Special was a straighter example. ''Hamish And Dougal'' was spun off from ''Radio/ImSorryIHaventAClue'', and the Hogmanay Special brings in all of Clue's regulars. |
| 157 | * A unique case happened on the old-time radio show ''Radio/FibberMcGeeAndMolly''. [[WrittenInAbsence Both leads were absent from a 1944 episode while Jim Jordan recuperated from pneumonia]]; this was cleverly dealt with by having ''Radio/TheGreatGildersleeve'' (who had departed for his own show) returning to Wistful Vista with his nephew to visit his old neighbors, finding them away from home, and interacting with the various DropInCharacters while waiting for the [=McGees=] to return. (It eventually emerges that they ran for the hills as soon as they found out he was coming.) |
| 158 | [[/folder]] |
| 159 | |
| 160 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 161 | * Inverted with ''[[VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2!]]''. For a limited time in 2007, Japanese gamers could go to download stations and download the ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' as playable characters. |
| 162 | * In the very first ''VideoGame/WarioLand'', a statue of [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]] is the game's MacGuffin. Mario himself appears at the end of the game to take the statue away from Wario. |
| 163 | * ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'' has it both ways. The spinoff ''VideoGame/BadPiggies'' features a cameo from the Blues in the episode "When Pigs Fly", and the birds themselves can be found sleeping in "Flight in the Night". Meanwhile, ''Angry Birds'' itself debuted a new episode entitled "Bad Piggies", which features the same setting and characters as the game it is named after. |
| 164 | * Is there a song that's popular on just one VideoGame/{{Bemani}} game (i.e. ''VideoGame/{{Beatmania}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Jubeat}}''. ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'')? Expect to see it on ''every other sister game'' during the next cycle of releases. The most infamously wide-spread examples of this have included "Rin to shite saku hana no gotoku" (a.k.a. "Nadeshiko Rock") and "FLOWER"; the latter even made it onto ''VideoGame/{{Gitadora}}'' too, in the form of a one-to-one rock remix, and also ''VideoGame/SoundVoltex'' in the form of a [=REDALiCE=] remix (until the advent of ''SOUND VOLTEX II''[='=]s POLICY BREAK event, Konami orignials were not allowed in the game). Just to milk "FLOWER" even further, the song is also included whenever Konami does a crossover event with other companies' music games, and as such the song also appears in ''VideoGame/{{maimai}}'', ''VideoGame/GrooveCoaster'', ''Videogame/TaikoNoTatsujin'', ''Synchronica'', and ''VideoGame/{{CHUNITHM}}''. |
| 165 | ** Many other rhythm games also do crossovers with each other, sharing songs between them. This leads to some songs ending up in a lot of games, with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M41FHCuQMP4 conflict]] by Siromaru & Cranky taking the crown by appearing in ''22'' rhythm games. |
| 166 | * One ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' Challenge Path is an avatar of ''VideoGame/WestOfLoathing'', a sister game to KOL with a parodic WeirdWest setting rather than a parodic high fantasy one. The three classes you can play as in the path are the same three in that game. |
| 167 | * ''VideoGame/UmJammerLammy'': If the main setting isn't any indication, one of Lammy's bandmates is Katy Kat, who is recognized from ''VideoGame/ParappaTheRapper''. After beating the game, the player will unlock Parappa, having him being played through the same stages in this game, albeit with a different music style to accommodate his rapping style. |
| 168 | * ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' had Aika from ''Anime/PhantasyStarOnline2TheAnimation'' appear sporadically throughout the Earth Arc to close some lingering plot holes regarding the connection between the anime's plot and the game. Later story arcs had a few more character appearances from the show, such as Rina appearing in the Omega arc as a reference to the show and later all three main characters from the show reuniting in the final arc for a battle sequence. |
| 169 | [[/folder]] |
| 170 | |
| 171 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 172 | * ''Webcomic/EerieCuties''[=/=]''Webcomic/MagickChicks'': The latter began as a SpinOff of the former and eventually took on a life of its own, with a greater emphasis [[DarkerAndEdgier on drama]], [[CharacterDevelopment character development]], and overarching storylines. Meanwhile, ''Eerie Cuties'' remained a lighthearted comedy/horror series. Despite this, [[CrossoverCameo characters from both series often make appearances in the other]] and there's been two major crossover mini-arcs. |
| 173 | ** The first had [[AloofDarkhairedGirl Layla]] from Eerie Cuties meet [[SmugSuper Faith]], who's one of the main characters from MC. Since the former is a vampire with the dormant soul of [[spoiler: an ancient vampire queen]], and the latter is a monster hunter in training ''and'' an abnormally powerful [[PsychicPowers esper]], you can guess [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/like_an_amateur how that]] [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/my_life_is_in_your_hands went down.]] |
| 174 | ** The other had [[SugarAndIcePersonality Brooke]], a lamia, run into Faith's boyfriend, [[LovableRogue Ash]], which lead to an impromptu sparring match that soon escalated into a fight, when Ash made the mistake of [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/then_do_something_about_it provoking her]] - [[BullyingADragon not knowing]] what he was [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/pretty_faces_are_people_too getting himself into.]] Which he almost didn't live to regret. |
| 175 | * ''Webcomic/ParanormalMysterySquad'' and ''Webcomic/VampireCheerleaders'' were two separate comics with [[SharedUniverse a shared universe]], before they were finally merged during their respective third volumes (the ''"Vampire Cheerleaders Must Die!"'' arc). During which, [[HeroAntagonist the PMS crew]] was pitted against [[VillainProtagonist the cheerleaders]], to save the students of Bakertown High by exposing Lori and her Coven as vampires. It was a decision that ultimately caused half the comic's fanbase [[BrokenBase to drop the series]][[note]]see the RootingForTheEmpire entry on [[YMMV/VampireCheerleaders the YMMV page]][[/note]]. |
| 176 | * Several major characters from ''Webcomic/TheWotch'' make significant or cameo appearances in ''{{Webcomic/Cheer}}''. For example, the arc where Alex tries to find new cheerleaders has Wolfie and Ming try out and make the cut, while Jason is bribed into helping with the tryouts. |
| 177 | [[/folder]] |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 180 | * While they never acted like it was just a SpinOff, WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic popped up a lot more in WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick's show than anyone else's. [[spoiler: Not even his death could stop it.]] |
| 181 | [[/folder]] |
| 182 | |
| 183 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 184 | * As the page quote indicates, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' mocks this idea in the ''Chief Wiggum, P.I.'' segment of "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase". |
| 185 | ** There's also ''The Lovematic Grampa'' from the same episode, where Homer stops by Moe's Tavern, and Abe calls his son out on the manner in which he buried his corporeal body ("You buried me naked and sold my suit to buy a ping-pong table!"). Homer responds by unplugging the love tester in which his father's soul resides and telling Moe, "Call me when you get a karaoke machine." |
| 186 | --->''"That's the second time he's pulled the plug on me."'' |
| 187 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject'' had an episode featuring the second Batman; likewise, near the end of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', Zeta crossed back over. |
| 188 | * [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 He-Man]] would often show up on ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower''. |
| 189 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'', one one-off gag features Chris appearing in Cleveland's house for no reason. ("Go back to Quahog!") Another episode features the death of Cleveland's ex-wife as an important plot point, giving an excuse for Quagmire and Peter to show up. Cleveland and his family also reappeared in a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode. And following the cancelation of their own show, Cleveland and his family moved back to his old place in Quahog. |
| 190 | * Done frequently with ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer'' and its spin off ''WesternAnimation/GoDiegoGo''. |
| 191 | * In ''WesternAnimation/ThePerilsOfPenelopePitstop'', there was a scene where the Hooded Claw asked Penelope if she was expecting [[WesternAnimation/WackyRaces Dick Dastardly]]. |
| 192 | * {{Averted}} with ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}''. While there were plans to do a crossover, it quickly became apparent that the drastically different tones of the two shows meant there was little audience overlap, and thus not much to gain from doing one. Nowadays, many people don't even realize that the shows are related -- the only reference to ''B&B'' in ''Daria'' is from the first episode, when Helen mentions that they moved to Lawndale from Highland, the fictional Texas town where ''B&B'' took place. Even {{Flashback}}s to Daria's childhood don't make the connection. |
| 193 | * After its second season began with a crossover episode between the two, ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw'' would have Perry the Platypus from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' make regular appearances. Meanwhile, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz would become a full-on {{transplant}}, even moving into the main character's home. |
| 194 | * ''WesternAnimation/BluesCluesAndYou'' makes Steve and Joe, the hosts of [[WesternAnimation/BluesClues the original series]], recurring characters. |
| 195 | * Arthur, D.W. and other regular ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' characters would appear time to time on ''WesternAnimation/PostcardsFromBuster'', usually by phone, due to the premise of the show being that Buster is traveling across the world. |
| 196 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheCasagrandes'' has had [[WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse Lincoln]] make cameos several times throughout the show. Most notably, "Cursed!" involved the Casagrandes visiting the Loud family. |
| 197 | * WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob|SquarePants}} and Squidward occasionally show up on ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow''. [=SpongeBob=] is younger, although mostly the same; he's still Patrick's friend, still has Gary, still likes watching Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy... the only difference is that it's unclear if he has a job (this is contradicted a few times). Squidward is a "neighborhood rando" (as identified by Patrick in "Pat-a-thon") who tries to collect money from Patrick's family as a newspaper deliveryman. As of "Super Sitters", they have four appearances each. Other main series characters like Mrs. Puff, Plankton, Mr. Krabs, and Pearl have each shown up once or twice. |
| 198 | * In ''The Wisdom of the Gnomes'', a follow-up series to ''WesternAnimation/TheWorldOfDavidTheGnome'', both David and Lisa appear in the series finale in a flashback as David tends to the injuries of Judge Klaus's wife, Agnes. [[spoiler: Sadly, this was a life David wasn't able to save as she was too badly wounded.]] Pit, Pat, Pot and Holler also occasionally make appearances, still causing trouble for the gnomes. |
| 199 | * ''WesternAnimation/RubbleAndCrew'' has had appearances from Rubble's [[WesternAnimation/PAWPatrol other teammates]] Marshall and Chase. Meanwhile, Charger has appeared in two episodes of ''PAW Patrol''. |
| 200 | [[/folder]] |
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