10 TV Crossovers That Fans Coulndn't Believe Actually Came True
Top 10 TV Show Crossovers That Fans Waited Years For
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the crossovers satisfied TV viewers after years of anticipation. For this list, we’ll be taking a look at TV show collabs that fans theorized would eventually happen due to similar themes, shared universes or the shows airing on the same network.
#10: “The Defenders”
Marvel Cinematic Universe Television Series (2013-) One episode just isn’t enough to do this team-up justice, so they got a whole series instead. As the culmination of the Marvel Netflix shows, this miniseries took the stars of four different shows and put them into one action-packed sucker punch of a season. That’s right, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil, and Iron Fist, all in one. Since the characters were already developed, “The Defenders” hits the ground running with some extraordinary fight scenes and dramatic plotlines. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Sigourney Weaver play a villain? The excellent cast chemistry and higher stakes meant this mini-Avengers team truly assembled.
#9: “That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana”
“That’s So Raven” (2003-07) / “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08) / “Hannah Montana” (2006-11) Long before the Avengers assembled on the big screen, this was the Disney crossover that had every kid talking. The Disney Channel’s first live-action crossover commenced with “That’s So Raven,” as the titular psychic drops by the Tipton Hotel. She naturally crosses paths with Zack and Cody, who help Raven pull off a photoshoot. Raven tries to return the favor in the crossover’s second act, although her visions can’t prevent a disastrous surprise party. The crossover ends with Hannah Montana checking into the Tipton, rounding out an awesome ensemble piece with no shortage of laughs and music. The Disney Channel Universe continued to expand three years later when the Wizards of Waverly Place wound up on deck with Zack, Cody, and Hannah.
#8: “CSI: Trilogy”
“CSI: Miami” (2002-12), “CSI: NY” (2004-13), & “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000-15) Across three shows, three cities, and one very nasty homicide, this multi-part case proved nothing’s more gripping than a fictional crime scene. Though it aired as one continuous story, the most impressive aspect of this crossover is how well each show managed to sustain its own unique relationships and conflicts. The distinct visual identity and flashy transitions from each episode are all still intact; it’s just that the case doesn’t wrap up in tidy fashion like you’d expect. Instead of going for bigger, this keeps things intimate by almost solely relying on Laurence Fishburne to hold the sprawling cold case together. As expected, he does it without breaking a sweat.
#7: “Stephanie Gets Framed”
“Full House” (1987-95) / “Family Matters” (1989-98) Steve Urkel not only stole the show on “Family Matters,” but also this episode of “Full House.” In San Francisco for a science fair, an unwelcome Urkel visits the Tanner household. It only takes a couple of minutes of cheese talk until Jesse and Danny decide that they’ve had enough. After he teaches Michelle about money matters, Urkel does pass on some insightful advice to Stephanie, who’s insecure about her new glasses…which she never wears again anyway. The only downside: Why didn’t Urkel and Kimmy Gibbler share any scenes? They were totally meant for each other!
#6: “I, Done”
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96) / “Diff’rent Strokes” (1978-86) / “The Jeffersons” (1975-85) The final episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” not only saw the departure of the Banks family, but also the return of some other beloved TV families. With the Bel-Air mansion up for sale; several familiar faces drop by for the Banks’ open house in the episode “I, Done.” Over ten years after going off the air, Arnold Jackson and Mr. Drummond from “Diff’rent Strokes” reappear to check out the home and deliver some classic one-liners. The Banks residence ultimately goes to George and Louise Jefferson, though, who are ready to move on up again.
#5: “Crisis on Infinite Earths”
“Arrow” (2012-20), “The Flash” (2012-23), “Supergirl” (2015-21), “Legends of Tomorrow” (2016-22), “Batwoman” (2019-22) & More Phew, talk about a lineup. The CW spent nearly a decade assembling a“Justice League” of sorts on the small screen, and it paid off with one of the most ambitious crossovers of all time. A staggering five shows joined forces for one epic, super-sized saga – and they weren’t even the only ones. The multiversal storyline allowed cameos from every corner of the DC universe, and the scale of the conflict is totally worth the effort. High-stakes action and a truly outstanding roster of characters makes this feel like a comic book in the best way possible. This is more than a love-letter to the “Arrowverse,” it’s a celebration of everything DC does best!
#4: The Time Ball Saga
“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (1996-2003) / “Boy Meets World” (1993-2000) / “You Wish” (1997-98) / “Teen Angel” (1997-98) For the ’97-’98 season, ABC was desperate to carry over the success of “Sabrina” and “Boy Meets World” to its new TGIF shows. That’s how this four-way crossover originated. The story saw Sabrina’s black cat swallow a time-ball in the first show of the night. For the rest of the evening, Salem ran through the other sitcoms, thrusting them into new and exciting eras. “Sabrina” traveled to the ‘60s, “Boy Meets World” went to WWII, “You Wish” was in the ‘50s and “Teen Angel” ended up dancing disco. An ambitious crossover, yes; it’s up to you to decide if it succeeded.
#3: “Shell Shocked”
“Power Rangers in Space” (1998) / “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation” (1997-98) In the ‘90s, the Power Rangers and the TMNT were two of the most marketable kid-friendly franchises. And these martial-arts series finally collided in the sixth season “Power Rangers” episode “Shell Shocked,” where the heroes in a half shell are brainwashed by Astronema and turn evil. As you can imagine, they come out of it and partner with the Rangers to battle the manipulative Princess of Evil. Through adult eyes, this crossover might seem bizarre, cheesy, or just dumb. But the 8-year-old in us all can’t help but be sucked in, seeing two of the defining things from our childhoods kicking ass side by side.
#2: “The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones”
“The Jetsons” (1962-63; 1985-87) / “The Flintstones” (1960-66) While Hanna-Barbera wasn’t the first studio to experiment with crossovers, the 1987 TV movie “The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones” certainly popularized the concept. It’s actually surprising Hanna-Barbera took so long to bring television’s definitive prehistoric family and ultimate futuristic family together. They completely delivered, however, in a blast from the future and the past made possible by Elroy Jetson’s time machine. This union of cartoon royalty offers a lot of the creative comedic scenarios both shows were known for, as well as loads of heart. Over thirty years later, it’s still the crossover to beat all crossovers.
#1: “The Simpsons Guy”
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-) / “The Simpsons” (1989-) There was so much hype leading up to this “Family Guy” episode that it’s not surprising the initial viewer response was mixed, but “The Simpsons Guy” is truly a classic in the making that delivers everything one could want from a “Family Guy”/“Simpsons” crossover. The Griffins’ trip to Springfield provides one great laugh after another, full of awe-inspired animation and ingenious references. The best part is just seeing these classic characters interact, as Bart raises hell with Stewie, James Woods meets James Woods and Homer chicken fights Peter. Oh, and Fred Flintstones calls everybody out as a rip-off. Which current shows do you most want to see cross over? Let us know in the comments!