There was a CSI crossover episode on 5 last night - Vegas and Miami - I love a crossover. I think my favourite was probably Homicide and Law And Order. Or The Practice and Ally McBeal.
I wonder why more programmes don't do this. Particularly those from within the same production entity. Why weren't there more interactions between the people of Camberwick Green and Trumpton? This only really started with Chigley, probably for cost-saving reasons. And why wasn't their more inter-agency co-operation between Spectrum, International Rescue and WASP? One would have hoped more joined-up world-saving would be possible by 2065.
I like the way it suggests a bigger fictional world and it's obviously something programme makers like to do - and they're seeing opportunities to do in other places. I wonder why more brands haven't done this? Or have they and I'm missing something?
"Alas poor Warrick" and "Gruesome Grissom" my favourite ever CSI lines.
Posted by: Ben | January 07, 2007 at 11:06 AM
I guess Nike are pretty up there on the whole crossover thing - just came across these - Playstation Air Force Ones!!
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/nike-playstation-air-force-ones/
Posted by: Charles | January 07, 2007 at 04:20 PM
Not really brands (or are they?, are superheroes brands?)
The Marvel Universe is a great example of how stories and characters can cross-reference.
Spiderman might make a guest-appearence in Thor and Thor might show up in The Avengers. More, they might even show up in different historical time periods. There's more on this in Douglas Rushkoffs excellent Children of Chaos.
Posted by: Erik Larsson | January 07, 2007 at 05:33 PM
I watched the next hour which was a crossover taking Miami up to New York... think what would have happened if they had amalgamated the two plots into one episode.. that would have been a spaghetti crossover. How can we get tonight's Waking the Dead into it?
Posted by: tartle | January 07, 2007 at 06:58 PM
And let us not forget Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Though not sure if they shared plots or just B grade actors.
Posted by: Emily | January 07, 2007 at 09:13 PM
Video games are doing it :
Disney characters meet Squaresoft one's (Final fantasy..) in Kingdom Hearts.
http://www.kingdom-hearts.com/uk/index.html
Posted by: Christian | January 07, 2007 at 10:06 PM
I love the fact that the guy wears his shades in the dark. Most watched show in the world apparently!
Posted by: Richard Buchanan | January 08, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Never mind his shades, how is it Caruso always gives the impression (by relaying a pithy comment with hands on hips before the starting credits) that he's already solved the case like a ginger Columbo, and the rest of them are supposed to catch up with him?
Posted by: Pagettypol | January 08, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Holby City and Casualty did a cross over once (I don't watch either, of course - I'm always out on the razz on those nights - I must have just read it somewhere....)
Posted by: jonathan | January 08, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Favourite crossover ever: the characters Randolph and Mortimer from Trading Places making an appearance as down-and-outs in Eddie Murphy's 'Coming to America'. Prince Akeem hands two tramps a big bundle of cash; they turn out to be the guys Murphy and Dan Akroyd screwed over in Trading Places. "Mortimer...we're back!"
Posted by: Toby Southgate | January 09, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Regarding Camberwick/Trumpton/Chigley cross-over, PC McGarry the village policeman in Camberwick Green, was actually Trumpton's policeman and was a familiar face throughout the administrative district of Trumptonshire until excessive paperwork and the amalgamation of several police forces left him disillusioned. He started his own business selling security grilles to insecure shopkeepers, until he became the fourth victim of Dr. Mopp's killing spree.
Posted by: tv'srichardwilson | January 10, 2007 at 04:53 PM