CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK!

Unlike other blogs and websites that explore TV crossovers, I consider connections with news programs, game shows, and infotainment series to be valid contenders... but usually only if a fictional series is included in the equation. We also accept appearances by people who are appearing as themselves as to be legitimate crossover characters, since they are appearing as fictional versions of themselves.

And so it goes for the Crossover Of The Week, in which we get a combo of both categories......

'CSI: NY'
&
'ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT'

'ET' correspondent Mark Steines was covering a fashion show in Manhattan for 'ET' when a model collapsed and died during the runway program. He was able to file a report at the scene before the cops were able to seal off the area for their investigation.

Although we couldn't see or hear her, Steines was talking to Mary Hart back in the studio.

In the quarter of a century since it went on the air, 'ET' has had a history of becoming part of the shows which they cover. The most famous example (to my mind) would be that of 'Seinfeld'. Similar to a case in real life, Kramer developed an inner ear imbalance whenever he heard Mary Hart's voice on TV.

Here are a few of the other TV shows that have "crossed over" with 'Entertainment Tonight' via appearances by its reporters and anchors:

Mary Hart
"All of Us" playing "Herself" in episode: "Sail On" (episode # 2.21) 10 May 2005
"Still Standing" playing "Mary" in episode: "Still Auctioning" (episode # 3.5) 18 October 2004
"Frasier" playing "Herself" in episode: "The First Temptation of Daphne" (episode # 9.3) 2 October 2001
"JAG" playing "Herself" in episode: "JAG TV" (episode # 6.5) 31 October 2000
"Cosby" playing "Herself" in episode: "Superstar" (episode # 4.7) 17 November 1999
"Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" playing "Herself" in episode: "And the Sabrina Goes to..." (episode # 3.8) 13 November 1998
"Coach" playing "Herself"
in episode: "Coach - The One-Hour Special: Part 2" (episode # 6.27) 24 May 1994
in episode: "Coach - The One-Hour Special: Part 1" (episode # 6.26) 24 May 1994
"The Famous Teddy Z" playing "Herself" in episode: "Bobby the Chimp" (episode # 1.3) 2 October 1989
"Moonlighting" playing "Herself" in episode: "Moonlighting (Pilot)" (episode # 1.1) 3 March 1985

John Tesh
"Bob Patterson" playing "Himself"
in episode: "Honest Bob" (episode # 1.2) 9 October 2001
in episode: "Pilot" (episode # 1.1) 25 September 2001
"The Naked Truth" playing "Himself" in episode: "We Almost Had Paris" (episode # 3.6) 10 November 1997
"The Weird Al Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Promises Promises" (episode # 1.2) 20 August 1997
"Ellen" playing "Himself" (uncredited) in episode: "Give Me Equity or Give Me Death" (episode # 4.1) 18 September 1996
"The Jackie Thomas Show" playing "Himself" (uncredited) in episode: "The Player" (episode # 1.11) 9 February 1993
"Murphy Brown" playing "Himself" in episode: "Goin' to the Chapel: Part 2" (episode # 2.27) 21 May 1990

Pat O'Brien
"The Bernie Mac Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Keep It on the Short Grass" (episode # 2.1) 18 September 2002
"Arli$$" playing "Himself"
in episode: "Hard Choices" (episode # 6.10) 12 August 2001
in episode: "The Sum of the Parts" (episode # 5.7) 23 July 2000
"Everybody Loves Raymond" playing "Himself" in episode: "Working Late Again" (episode # 2.7) 3 November 1997
"Picket Fences" playing "Himself" in episode: "Winner Takes All" (episode # 4.19) 5 June 1996
"In the House" playing "Interviewer" in episode: "Come Back, Kid" (episode # 2.12) 8 January 1996
"The Larry Sanders Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Eight" (episode # 4.16) 15 November 1995
"Murphy Brown" playing "Himself" in episode: "I Want My MTV-Jay" (episode # 7.16) 23 January 1995

Bob Goen
"I'm with Her" playing "Himself"
in episode: "The Peck-Peck" (episode # 1.18) 16 March 2004
in episode: "The Last Action Queero" (episode # 1.7) 11 November 2003
in episode: "Pilot" (episode # 1.1) 23 September 2003
"Robbery Homicide Division" playing "Host" in episode: "In/Famous" (episode # 1.6) 1 November 2002
"Cosby" playing "Himself" in episode: "Superstar" (episode # 4.7) 17 November 1999
"Chicago Hope" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Other Cheek" (episode # 5.8) 18 November 1998
"The Nanny" playing "Himself" in episode: "Once a Secretary, Always a Secretary" (episode # 6.3) 14 October 1998
"Style and Substance" playing "Himself" in episode: "Do Not Go Squealing Into That Good Night" (episode # 1.13)
"Veronica's Closet" playing "Himself" in episode: "Veronica's Husband Won't Leave" (episode # 1.3) 9 October 1997
"L.A. Law" playing "Himself" in episode: "Vowel Play" (episode # 5.6) 29 November 1990
"Freddy's Nightmares" playing "Reporter" (as Robert Goen) in episode: "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (episode # 1.1) 9 October 1988

Leeza Gibbons
"Just Shoot Me!" playing "Herself" in episode: "The Boys in the Band" (episode # 6.22) 2 May 2002
"Six Feet Under" playing "Herself" in episode: "Someone Else's Eyes" (episode # 2.9) 28 April 2002
"The Geena Davis Show" playing "Herself" in episode: "Motherly Advice" (episode # 1.5) 14 November 2000
"Home Improvement" playing "Herself" in episode: "Home Alone" (episode # 8.14) 19 January 1999
"Veronica's Closet" playing "Herself" in episode: "Veronica's Husband Won't Leave" (episode # 1.3) 9 October 1997
"Something So Right" playing "Herself" in episode: "Something About Leeza" (episode # 1.17) 25 February 1997
"Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" playing "Herself" in episode: "Lord of the Flys" (episode # 4.1) 22 September 1996
[That was an alternate dimension televersion of Leeza.]
"Murphy Brown" playing "Herself" in episode: "If You're Going to Talk the Talk" (episode # 8.13) 15 January 1996
"Cybill" playing "Herself" in episode: "Cybill's Fifteen Minutes" (episode # 2.5) 15 October 1995
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" playing "Herself" in episode: "Reality Bites" (episode # 5.3) 26 September 1994
"The Jackie Thomas Show" playing "Herself" (uncredited) in episode: "The Player" (episode # 1.11) 9 February 1993
"Murphy Brown" playing "Herself" in episode: "Goin' to the Chapel: Part 2" (episode # 2.27) 21 May 1990

Best of all, Rob Weller made an appearance on one of the most important hubs in the TV Universe, through which more than 120 shows are connected alone:
Rob Weller
"St. Elsewhere" playing "Himself" in episode: "Getting Ahead" (episode # 5.15) 28 January 1987

And finally, there is the reporter responsible for this week's major Crossover:
Mark Steines
"The Practice" playing "Reporter" in episode: "The Verdict" (episode # 6.22) 19 May 2002
"Dave's World" playing "Himself" in episode: "Playdate with a Playmate" (episode # 4.13) 10 January 1997

Some of the featured reporters above have also made their presence felt in the animated TV Universe known as the Tooniverse:

THE TOONIVERSE
John Tesh
"Pinky and the Brain" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween" (episode # 3.18) 19 October 1997
Pat O'Brien
"Robot Chicken" playing "Himself" (voice)
in episode: "Atta Toy" (episode # 1.13) 22 May 2005
in episode: "Badunkadunk" (episode # 1.10) 24 April 2005
"God, the Devil and Bob" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "Bob's Father" (episode # 1.11) 2000
"The Simpsons" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder" (episode # 11.6) 14 November 1999 Bob Goen
"Space Ghost Coast to Coast" playing "Himself" in episode: "Suckup" (episode # 4.19) 21 November 1997
Leeza Gibbons
"The Simpsons" playing "Herself" (voice) in episode: "Lisa the Tree Hugger" (episode # 12.4) 19 November 2000
"Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man" playing "Herself" in episode: "My Feral Lady" (episode # 4.20) 21 June 1997

I didn't even bother to include these people's appearances on sketch comedy/variety shows like 'In Living Color', 'Dolly', or 'Tracey Takes On....', and I excluded their appearances in other factual infotainment shows, including those that they hosted. Nor did I include appearances on self-help talk shows where they go to make amends. (You know who you are, Cuz!)

So many of the shows listed above go on to connect to other shows themselves, and 'CSI: NY' itself is a spin-off from a spin-off, connecting to the original 'CSI' as well as to 'CSI: Miami'.

Is it any wonder then that this crossover should garner the accolade of Crossover Of The Week?

BCnU!
Tele-Toby