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 — which just united for an event — 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).
So scroll down as we examine the shared universes currently part of primetime television. (Notes: We’re only including shows that have aired, have premiere dates, or have been ordered to series, not any in development.)
Grey's Anatomy
Number of shows: 3
Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present), Station 19 (2018-present), Private Practice (2007-2013)
FBI
Number of shows: 3
FBI (2018-present), FBI: Most Wanted (2020-present), FBI: International (2021-present)
One Chicago
Number of shows: 4
Chicago Fire (2012-present), Chicago P.D. (2014-present), Chicago Med (2015-present), Chicago Justice (2017)
NCIS
Number of shows: 5
NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-present), NCIS: Hawai’i (2021-present) NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), JAG (1995-2005)
The Walking Dead Universe
Number of shows: 7
The Walking Dead (2010-present), Fear the Walking Dead (2015-present), The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020-2021), Tales of the Walking Dead (2022), The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023), and Untitled Rick & Michonne spinoff (2024)
Law & Order
Number of shows: 7
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present), Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021-present), Law & Order (1990-2010, 2022-present), Law & Order: True Crime (2017), Law & Order: LA (2010-2011), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006)
Arrowverse
Number of shows: 8
The Flash (2014-present), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016-present), Batwoman (2019-present), DC’s Stargirl (2020-present), Superman & Lois (2021-present), Supergirl (2015-2021), Black Lightning (2018-2021), Arrow (2012-2020)
(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: 9
NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-present), Magnum P.I. (2018-present), NCIS: Hawai’i (2021-present), MacGyver (2016-2021), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2020), Scorpion (2014-2018), JAG (1995-2005)
Dick Wolf
Number of shows: 18
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present), Chicago Fire (2012-present), Chicago P.D. (2014-present), Chicago Med (2015-present), FBI (2018-present), FBI: Most Wanted (2020-present), Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021-present), FBI: International (2021-present), Law & Order (1990-2010, 2022-present), Law & Order: True Crime (2017), Chicago Justice (2017), In Plain Sight (2008-2012), Law & Order: LA (2010-2011), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011), Conviction (2006), Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999), New York Undercover (1994-1999)
