Which Are the Largest Current Shared Universes in Primetime TV?
If you’re a TV fan, there is plenty to watch right now. And if you’re a fan of crossovers — even minor ones with a character or for an episode — you’re also in luck. Primetime television has been filled with shared universes, especially in recent years.
If you’re into procedurals (like the NCISes or Dick Wolf‘s extended universe), zombies (The Walking Dead universe), or superheroes (the Arrowverse), you’re covered. In fact, crossovers aren’t necessarily beholden to a network: Chicago P.D.‘s (NBC) Tracy Spiridakos went over to FBI (CBS).
See Also 7 Dream TV Show Crossovers We'd Love to See
So scroll down as we examine the shared universes currently part of primetime television. (Notes: At least two shows must currently be airing for inclusion, so Law & Order doesn’t count on its own since only Organized Crime has yet to premiere. And we’re not including any shows in development, which rules out Walking Dead spinoffs that have just been announced.)
FBI
Number of shows: 2
FBI (2018-present), FBI: Most Wanted (2020-present)
Grey's Anatomy
Number of shows: 3
Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present), Station 19 (2018-present), Private Practice (2007-2013)
The Walking Dead Universe
Number of shows: 3
The Walking Dead (2010-present), Fear the Walking Dead (2015-present), The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020-present)
NCIS
Number of shows: 4
NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-present), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-present), JAG (1995-2005)
One Chicago
Number of shows: 4
Chicago Fire (2012-present), Chicago P.D. (2014-present), Chicago Med (2015-present), Chicago Justice (2017)
Arrowverse
Number of shows: 6
Arrow (2012-2020), The Flash (2014-present), Supergirl (2015-present), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016-present), Black Lightning (2018-present), Batwoman (2019-present)
(Note: Yes, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” brought in a few more shows, like Lucifer and Smallville, to the mix, but we’re not including cameos.)
CBS Procedurals
Number of shows: 8
NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-present), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-present), JAG (1995-2005), MacGyver (2016-present), Magnum P.I. (2018-present), Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2020), Scorpion (2014-2018)
Dick Wolf
Number of shows: 16
Law & Order: SVU (1999-present), Law & Order (1990-2010), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006), Law & Order: LA (2010-2011), Law & Order: True Crime (2017), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999), New York Undercover (1994-1999), Conviction (2006), In Plain Sight (2008-2012), Chicago Fire (2012-present), Chicago P.D. (2014-present), Chicago Med (2015-present), Chicago Justice (2017), FBI (2018-present), FBI: Most Wanted (2020-present)
