Required Spinoff Crossover: Difference between revisions

 

A '''Required Spinoff Crossover''' is what happens when a spun-off series decides to showcase its connection to the original series in its first season, often and with great vigor at times. Sometimes it will happen when a character from the first series stops by to follow up on a plot in the second series. Other times, there will be a full-on crossover, where both series get together to follow one plot. Either way, the show is going to remind you of its pedigree as loudly as it can. Note that this is ''not'' [[Transplant|a character from the first series moving to the second series]], but rather a periodic reminder, usually through guest appearance and crossover, of the connection between the two shows.

 

* As the page quote indicates, ''[[The Simpsons]]'' mocks this idea in the ''Chief Wiggum, P.I.'' segment of "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase."

** There's also ''The Lovematic Grampa'' from the same episode, where Homer stops by Moe's Tavern, and Abe calls his son out on the manner in which he buried his corporeal body ("You buried me naked and sold my suit to buy a ping-pong table!"). Homer responds by unplugging the love tester in which his father's soul resides and telling Moe, "Call me when you get a karaoke machine."

* ''[[The Zeta Project]]'' had an episode featuring the second Batman; likewise, near the end of ''[[Batman Beyond]]'', Zeta crossed back over.

* Inverted with ''[[Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan|Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2!]]''. For a limited time in 2007, Japanese gamers could go to download stations and download the ''[[Elite Beat Agents]]'' as playable characters.

* The shows in Susan Harris' Miami sitcom universe (''[[The Golden Girls]]'', ''Empty Nest'', ''Nurses'') all featured these. There were two specific ones, specifically where events that began in ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' were brought to a close in the other two. A hurricane and a full moon began some chaos that would be fixed in the hospital where Harry Westen of ''Empty Nest'' and the ''Nurses'' worked. Might make it a [[Crisis Crossover]].

* ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'' and ''[[The Facts of Life]]'' had a number of these early in the latter show's run.

** Meanwhile, a "connection" between ''Diff'rent Strokes'' and ''Hello Larry'' was contrived after the fact (having Mr. Drummond buy Larry's radio station) for the express purpose of setting up crossovers to try and help the latter show's popularity. It didn't work.

* Just about the entire ''[[Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' cast turns up in ''Rhoda'' for the title character's wedding, eight episodes or so into the first season. This is sweet, but a bit awkward...maybe WJM's ratings were so low, no one would notice if the news took a day off.

** Hard to believe, but those who work in the news are allowed to have a day off. There is indeed a "weekend" crew at almost every local news outlet.

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[[Category:Crossover Index]]

[[Category:Characters and Casting]]

[[Category:Examples Need Sorting]]