10 TV Shows That Shared The Same Sets

Introduction to Iconic Locations

Hollywood frequently takes shortcuts when it comes to television. Some well-known TV shows have shared filming locations for unexpected connections each having its unique fascinating history.

In the past, television programs were shot on a single set, but today they can be shot anywhere, even in Los Angeles.

Here are some of the most iconic TV show locations and the shows that have been filmed there, blending nostalgia and new stories in the process.

The Munsters & Desperate Housewives

Did you know the iconic house of The Munsters is featured in Desperate Housewives? Initially, The Desperate Housewives cast avoided the infamous 1313 Mockingbird Lane, however it was used later on.

After some improvements, the mansion was used in a few shots. After all, the two radically different shows shared the backlot of Universal Studios.

Arrested Development & My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life and Arrested Development, two popular TV series, have more in common than just nostalgia for the 1990s. Both of them used Balboa High School for their high school settings.

Even though Pittsburgh served as the site for My So-Called Life while Arrested Development retained the school’s name, the location still connects the two programs’ teen-focused plots.

Full House & Friends

Did you know that the busy streets of New York from Friends and the San Francisco setting of Full House share the same filming connection? Warner Bros. Studios’ Stage 24 served as the filming location for both series.

Even though they were shot in very different locations, these sitcom titans shared a platform and made their impact on television from the same location.

Saved by the Bell & That’s So Raven

Both Saved by the Bell and That’s So Raven used the same high school, even with a shared name — Bayside High. Despite the generational gap between the two shows, this school served as the backdrop for the teen dramas of the characters in both shows.

It is shown at one point when Raven kisses a character who looks like Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell. Interestingly, a character on That’s So Raven even kisses a character resembling Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell.

Beverly Hills, 90210 & Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Beverly Hills, 90210 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer might seem worlds apart in terms of genre, but they share the same high school location ‘Torrance High.’

This picturesque high school in Torrance, California, stood in for both West Beverly High and Sunnydale High, offering an eerie blend of teen drama and supernatural adventure.

The Waltons & Gilmore Girls

Though they come from vastly different decades, the Waltons and Gilmore Girls are linked by their shared location—the Warner Bros. backlot. The Waltons’ family home became the exterior of the Dragonfly Inn for the Gilmore Girls series.

The Waltons’ family home was featured in almost every episode of the historical drama set in the 1970s. Despite being burned down in 1991, it still serves as a link between these two family-oriented shows.

The Andy Griffith Show & Star Trek

One of the filming locations for both Star Trek and The Andy Griffith Show is the little town of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show. It was transformed into an abandoned ghost town for the Enterprise crew’s episode “Miri.”

The familiar yet altered environment of the two programs is showcased as the Enterprise crew explores the town’s iconic monuments and looks for missing inhabitants.

Dawson’s Creek & One Tree Hill

Although set in different fictional towns, Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill were filmed outside of Los Angeles. Though, they share the same location: Wilmington, North Carolina.

One Tree Hill’s Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek’s Capeside were brought to life in this charming Southern city, making it a hotspot for coming-of-age teen dramas.

The Office & Scrubs

Both Scrubs and The Office are sitcoms about the workplace; Scrubs is set in real-world situations, whereas The Office is mostly set in Dunder Mifflin’s offices.

Cast members Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey disclosed on an episode of The Office Ladies that the hospital they filmed in was the same one used for Scrubs, which was demolished in 2011.

Mad Men, New Girl & The People vs. OJ Simpson

What is the connection between The People vs. OJ Simpson, Mad Men, and New Girl? Nothing at first glance but they all are filmed at the same bar.

The Prince bar in Los Angeles, California, serves as a crucial filming site for all of them. The wallpaper, which is the same in every appearance, is the dead giveaway.

The bar’s timeless appearance bridges the gap between the 1960s, 1990s, and 2010s.

Uniting TV Shows through Shared Locations

TV shows often use the same filming locations without viewers even realizing it. These sets, such as high schools, homes, and even bars, are repurposed and redesigned to suit different stories and genres.

This hidden network of shared spaces binds otherwise unrelated shows together, creating unexpected links between characters and stories.

Filming in Real Locations

Many productions use real-world locations, often transforming them into fictional settings. The shared use of locations like schools or bars allows for more cost-effective production while creating a sense of continuity in the shows.

Filming in real places also adds a layer of realism, making the shows feel grounded in actual places despite their fictional elements.

Iconic Locations Shaping TV History

The backlots of Universal Studios and Warner Bros. have been essential to shaping some of TV’s most iconic shows.

Locations like the Full House stage or The Munsters House aren’t just backdrops; they are integral parts of the storytelling. These iconic places carry memories of the characters and moments they brought to life for viewers.

The Legacy of Shared Spaces

Filming locations turn into impactful legacies once the viewers relate the shows to their lives. Viewers frequently experience a sense of familiarity and nostalgia when returning to these locations, regardless of how many decades have passed.

Besides serving as a physical backdrop, these locations contribute to the collective cultural memory, much like how the Harry Potter TV series ignites casting debate, sparking discussions about legacy and authenticity.

TV’s Hidden Connections

The interwoven world of television is demonstrated by the shared filming sites, which range from famous residences and bars to high school settings. Despite the shows’ extreme differences in tone and genre, the settings are silent links between TV history’s past and present.

These settings will always be a part of television, subtly bringing the characters and storylines they helped create to life, just like Roseanne Barr’s TV Comeback: All About Her New Series proves that classic shows and stars can always find new ways to connect with audiences.

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