Which Are the Largest Current Shared Universes in Primetime TV?

Meredith Jacobs March 22, 2024, 5:50 pm

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'NCIS' Crossover, 'The Walking Dead,' 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' — Sonja Flemming/CBS; Jackson Lee Davis/AMC; Eric Liebowitz/NBC

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 united for a three-show crossover — 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 Station 19 Crossover Finale 2020 Andy Meredith — ABC/Kelsey McNeal

Grey's Anatomy

Number of shows: 3

Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present), Station 19 (2018-present), Private Practice (2007-2013)

John Boyd as Stuart Scola, Julian McMahon as Jess LaCroix, Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine, Alana De La Garza as Isobel Castille, Catherine Haena Kim as Emily Ryder and Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal in FBI Most Wanted Crossover - 'American Dreams' — Mark Schafer /CBS

FBI

Number of shows: 3

FBI (2018-present), FBI: Most Wanted (2020-present), FBI: International (2021-present)

One Chicago — NBCUniversal

One Chicago

Number of shows: 4

Chicago Fire (2012-present), Chicago P.D. (2014-present), Chicago Med (2015-present), Chicago Justice (2017)

Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover - Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom, Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Grant Gustin as The Flash, David Harewood as Hank Henshaw/J'onn J'onzz, Jesse Rath as Brainiac-5, Audrey Marie Anderson as Harbinger, Katherine McNamara as Mia, Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/White Canary, Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman and Bitsie Tulloch as Lois Lane — Katie Yu/The CW

Arrowverse

Number of shows: 6

The Flash (2014-2023), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016-2022), Batwoman (2019-2022), 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.)

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead - Season 9, Episode 1 — Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

The Walking Dead Universe

Number of shows: 7

The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023-present), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023-present), The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024-present),Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023), The Walking Dead (2010-2022), The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020-2021), Tales of the Walking Dead (2022)

Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Organized Crime — Eric Liebowitz/NBC

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)

Brian Dietzen, Chris O'Donnell, Vanessa Lachey, Wilmer Valderrama, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Noah Mills, and LL Cool J — 'NCIS' Crossover — Sonja Flemming/CBS

NCIS

Number of shows: 8

NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Hawai’i (2021-present), NCIS: Sydney (2023-present), NCIS: Origins (2024/2025 season), Untitled NCIS Tony/Ziva spinoff (TBA), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-2023), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), JAG (1995-2005)

NCIS Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Crossover — Richard Cartwright/CBS

CBS Procedurals

Number of shows: 12

NCIS (2003-present), NCIS: Hawai’i (2021-present), NCIS: Sydney (2023-present), NCIS: Origins (2024/2025 season), Untitled NCIS Tony/Ziva spinoff (TBA), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009-2023), Magnum P.I. (2018-2024), MacGyver (2016-2021), NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021), Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2020), Scorpion (2014-2018), JAG (1995-2005)

Law & Order SVU - Mariska Hargitay - Season 21 - Olivia Benson — Virginia Sherwood/NBC

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)

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