Top 20 TV Crossovers of the Century (So Far)

“The Defenders” (2017)

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.

“Riverdale” (2017-)

The recipe for this potion is as follows: a mystical asteroid, an ancient ritual, and a very welcome houseguest. Trust us, the concoction is downright spellbinding. Even before Sabrina shows up, it’s a plain treat to see “Riverdale’s” ensemble flex their acting chops by portraying their own ancestors. Of course, the main event is Sabrina herself, whose snarky wit makes us wish Kiernan Shipka would become a series regular already. After all, this worthwhile adventure is basically an episode-long thesis of how Sabrina might fit into the series’ universe. Thankfully, this wouldn’t be the last time “Riverdale” needed a true witch.

“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.

“Static Shock” (2000-04)

There’s no time like the present for a good old-fashioned superhero team-up. Or, the future, if you want to get technical. When Static suits up with Batman to save a kidnapped hero, it comes with a few stipulations. For example, Terry McGinnis isthe man in the suit, not Bruce Wayne, and they're trying to rescue an aged up version of Static himself. Fortunately, even forty years in the future, both Terry and Virgil prove that youth, spandex, and crime-fighting are a heroic package. Smashing the commentary of “Static Shock” with “Batman Beyond’s” chic aesthetic is a winning combination in every way. Though, from these shows, that’s hardly “shocking.”

“iParty with Victorious” (2011)

In order to expose a cheating boyfriend, Carly Shay and the rest of her pals end up on a first-class trip to a Los Angeles house party. There, they run into a clique from Hollywood Arts, and the rest sings for itself. Even with so many characters, it feels like everyone still gets a moment to “make it shine.” Trina is still Trina, Spencer is still Spencer, but now they have more zany weirdos to bounce gags off of. By the end, it truly feels like these characters could be friends. Though, really, the entire special is worth it just to hear them blend their theme songs at the end.

“Cougar Town” (2009-15) & “Community” (2009-15)

And, the award for most subtle crossover ever goes too… these guys! In an innocuous scene, “Community” jokes that Abed’s obsession with pop culture landed him a gig as an extra on “Cougar Town.” The catch? That’s exactly what happened. In the season two finale of “Cougar Town,” Abed is sitting in the background continually pulling focus. But, hilariously, it’s never overtly mentioned. Better yet, the crossover doesn’t end there, either. “Cougar Town” alumni Dan Byrd and Busy Philipps later returned the favor by making their own cameos in “Community’s” season finale – once again, unacknowledged. This easter-egg of a crossover is just the kind of meta-humor that’s made both shows bonafide cult hits.

“Lilo & Stitch: The Series” (2003-06)

It’s a fairly normal day in Hawaii - that is, until some non-natives add kidnapping Stitch to their itinerary. Against Dr. Drakken and Shego, Lilo decides to call and beep a certain crime-fighting highschooler for backup. The flashy action and comedic character interactions are as excellent as you’d expect, but the real heart of this episode is Kim and Lilo. Namely, that they do not get along; at least at first. Instead of barreling ahead with more story, the episode takes the time to create a real sense of camaraderie between these characters. Add in Jumba hilariously mistaking Rufus for one of his creations, and it’s safe to say this experiment was a total success.

“Bones” (2005-17) & “Sleepy Hollow” (2013-17)

Fact meets fiction in this genre-defying mash-up. Even though these teams are years apart, they make a surprisingly formidable alliance. At least, once the time travel is explained. The supernatural elements, or lack thereof, is a delightful source of comedy as the casts get to know each other. The twisted mystery keeps the pace brisk as the newly formed gang navigates monsters, each other, and, of course, some bones. Our only complaint is that Ichabod and Abbie couldn’t stay longer. Though, to be fair, it’s literally a matter of time until they meet again.

“Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)

There may be a hundred and four days of summer vacation, but finding time to save the world is still a big ask, even for this pair of young geniuses! Still, they’re the only ones capable of such a feat after Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s Inator robs Earth’s Mightiest Heroes of their powers. (If it didn’t spell the end of the world, we’d almost be proud of Dr. D!) As out of left field as this crossover might seem, Marvel characters actually completely work in the zany universe of “Phineas and Ferb.” The classic, city-stomping action at the end has enough charm and gusto to make it all more than a worthy way to spend a summer afternoon. This episode could life Mjölnir, that’s all we’re saying!

“Archer” (2009-)

For fans of both shows, this is one heck of a treat. While it is an episode of “Archer,” we actually start off at Bob’s burger shop, with Bob’s family, his voice, and even his mustache! Of course, though, we quickly realize… that’s not Bob behind the grill. It’s an amnesiac Archer. Alongside the suitably hilarious “Bob's Burgers” cameos, this twist works so well because both leading men are voiced to perfection by the fantastic H. Jon Benjamin. The behind-the-scenes wherewithal that went into this gag makes it clear the show knew exactly what it was doing. There may not be another crossover… well, ever, that plays on expectations quite like this.

“Mr. Robot” (2015-19) / “ALF” (1986-90)

Puppets and cyber-crime don’t usually go together, but that’s kind of the whole point of this trippy sequence. A comatose Elliot hallucinates himself inside a 90s sitcom, complete with a stage-like setup, a laugh track, and, of course, an appearance from Alf himself. But, there’s nothing nostalgic about this childhood favorite’s cameo. The off-kilter tone of the scene makes even this furry rodent feel deeply unsettling. And this bizarre crossover somehow manages to justify the absurdity without abandoning it either. It gets major props for tying this weird excursion into the main story but, more than that, for also making Alf, of all characters, relevant in a gritty crime show.

“That’s So Raven” (2003-07), “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08), & “Hannah Montana” (2006-11)

To say the Tipton Hotel has some VIP guests would be a massive understatement. There’s just an undeniable novelty about seeing Raven Baxter, Hannah Montana, and Zack and Cody all interact under the same roof. Naturally, it leads to visions, music, and hijinks galore, but without ever getting too crowded. It helps that each episode still feels like a part of its parent show, foregoing the baggage of a typical bloated crossover. Now, that’s the best of both worlds! The story gets time to breathe and let the characters naturally bond with each other, too. By the time it checks out, this three-part stay at the Tipton has definitely earned five stars.

“Scandal” (2012-18) & “How to Get Away with Murder” (2014-20)

Kerry Washington and Viola Davis have proven time and time again to be some of the most capable actors in the whole business. So, it was a stroke of sheer luck that they both starred in legal programs at the same time on the same network. That all led to a crossover event that’s practically award-winning on principle alone. The juicy story involving prejudice, deception, and even the Supreme Court is just the kind of high-stakes case worthy of two characters of this caliber. But, really, it all feels like an excuse to get these two immaculate actresses in the same room, and no one can complain about that.

“The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour” franchise (2004-06)

The stars of these beloved animated shows jumped through hoops, universes, and even visual dimensions to finally meet. The superb commitment to each series’ art style is just one of the many examples of why this TV-movie works so well. It truly seems to understand the unique zest that made both of its properties popular in the first place. So, even though Jimmy and Timmy look a little different, their banter still rings totally true to their characters. If you need more convincing of this collab’s quality, it proved successful enough to kickstart a whole trilogy of wacky adventures.

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-21) & “New Girl” (2011-18)

The only unanswered question from this comedic mash-up is how no one thought to do it sooner. It’s almost scary how well Jake Peralta and Jess Day share a scene, and don’t even get us started on Boyle and Winston finally meeting. But, probably the best part of these charming cameos is that they don’t detract from what are, overall, pretty normal episodes. The tidbits enrich the story without overtaking it, which makes the shows feel more like organic parts of the same world. It’s a refreshing reminder that crossovers don’t have to be grand, they just have to be entertaining. And that’s something both of these shows definitely have down pat!

“The Simpsons” (1989-)

To prevent a future overrun by radioactive bunnies - just roll with it - the Planetary Express Delivery crew knocks on the door of a certain dysfunctional family. Not even Bender’s metal heart can resist the zany fun of meeting the Simpsons! Despite its scant twenty-two minute runtime, the story manages to squeeze in all of the fun character interactions you’d want from this union. Even better, the time-traveling plotline somehow meshes the absurdist tone of both series perfectly. In the end, it’s honestly just surprising the Simpsons aren’t the cause of more global cataclysms.

“Supernatural” (2005-20)

Even though they both follow detectives investigating the unknown, these two brands are otherwise about as far apart as you can get. One proves monsters are real, the other does the opposite… And is, you know, animated. But, against initial judgments, this is a delightful ride in the Mystery Machine. Both the onscreen “Supernatural” cast and the veteran “Scooby-Doo” ensemble deliver pitch-perfect vocal performances fitting the wacky tone of the episode. The zany mystery represents the most fun parts of both series, and includes plenty of hilarious moments like the Scooby gang realizing they can’t unmask these monsters. This is one collaboration worth a whole box of Scooby snacks!

“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!

“The X-Files” (1993-2002; 2016-18)

From the shaky opening moments to the somber closing credits, this is unlike any other case Mulder and Scully have ever investigated. After all, nothing grounds the world of “X-Files” more than actual cops. Shot in the style of the police enforcement docu-series, the grainy quality transforms what could’ve been a simple monster-of-the-week into a visceral experience that you can’t take your eyes off of. It’s hilarious, political, and tragic, often all at the same time. Because of that, it’s still regarded as one of the best episodes of “X-Files” ever made. If that’s not high praise, we don’t know what is.

“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)

There may never be two shows that feel as primed for a crossover as these two. Their familiar brands of crude humor make the Griffin’s stop in Springfield feel less like a gimmick, and more like a natural extension of the series. Homer meeting Peter is long overdue and, quite frankly, we could say the same about most of these characters. The way they interact is so natural that it’s almost easy to forget they’re not all in the same show to begin with. It’s a tour-de-force of comedy that encompasses the reason these two shows are still on the air today. It’s got heart, family, and, of course, a heaping dose of vulgarity.