TV Shows That Recycled Sets into Entire New Worlds

As a TV fan, I’ve always been amazed by the creativity behind the scenes. It’s incredible how often they reuse sets from older shows! It’s a smart way to save money, since building everything from scratch is so expensive. You might not even realize it, but that high school hallway in your favorite comedy could have been used in a drama years ago. They can transform a sci-fi spaceship into a cozy living room! It’s like they’re building new stories on top of old ones, and it’s really cool to see. I’ve been looking into shows that have done this particularly well, and I’m excited to share what I’ve found about how they created their unique looks using recycled sets.

‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)

To create the look of the USS Enterprise-D, the show cleverly reused sets and props from the ‘Star Trek’ movies. This allowed them to achieve a cinematic feel despite having a limited television budget. For example, the engineering set was originally built for ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ and later updated for ‘The Wrath of Khan’. Hallways and living areas were also adapted from existing movie sets. By repurposing these elements, the series was able to feature detailed and impressive interiors that would have been far too costly to build new.

‘Desperate Housewives’ (2004–2012)

As a big fan, I always knew Wisteria Lane felt familiar, and now I understand why! It’s actually a famous street on the Universal Studios backlot called Colonial Street. It’s been used in so many shows and movies! Apparently, Susan Mayer’s house was originally built way back in 1946 for a film called ‘So Goes My Love’ and even served as the home for ‘The Munsters’ at one point. And get this – the Cleaver family’s house from ‘Leave It to Beaver’ was right there on the same block! The creators just gave everything a fresh coat of paint and updated the yards to make it look like a perfect, connected suburban neighborhood. It’s amazing how they transformed these older, mismatched sets into something so believable.

‘The West Wing’ (1999–2006)

The television drama created by Aaron Sorkin was fortunate to use sets originally built for the film ‘The American President.’ The detailed Oval Office and West Wing interiors, which had been saved after the movie wrapped, gave the show an instant look of authority and realism. By reusing these impressive sets, the show could establish its distinctive visual style without having to spend a lot of money on construction at the start.

‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)

As a total TV buff, I always noticed something familiar about Rosewood from ‘Pretty Little Liars’! Turns out, it’s because it shares the same location as Stars Hollow from ‘Gilmore Girls’. Both shows were filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot, so if you’ve seen both, you’ll recognize the town square and gazebo immediately. It’s wild how they transformed Luke’s Diner into the Apple Rose Grille and Miss Patty’s dance studio into a movie theater! Seriously, if you’re a fan of both shows, you can easily pick out the same church steeple and shops in the background – it’s pretty cool to spot!

‘Stargate Atlantis’ (2004–2009)

The large control room and gate room used in the ‘Atlantis’ expedition came from the set of the movie ‘Blade: Trinity’. The filmmakers had built a huge, multi-level set made of glass and steel, and were planning to tear it down. The ‘Stargate’ team bought the structure and changed it to match the ancient look of the new series. This saved money and gave the show a detailed, impressive environment, especially for the first episode.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

The high-tech command center of the Battlestar Pegasus, first seen in the second season of the show, actually had a surprising origin. It was originally created for a failed reboot of the classic TV series ‘Lost in Space.’ When that project was canceled, the producers of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ bought the set. They made a few small changes to match the show’s realistic and military style. The Pegasus’s command center looked very different from the Galactica’s, which helped highlight the unique characteristics of each ship.

‘That’s So Raven’ (2003–2007)

The school seen in ‘That’s So Raven’ was actually built using the old sets from ‘Saved by the Bell’. When ‘Saved by the Bell’ finished filming, the sets stayed where they were and were updated for the Disney Channel show. While they were repainted and given new decorations, the basic layout – like the lockers, stairs, and main office – stayed the same. This school set has been used for many different TV shows over the years, welcoming new groups of student characters with each one.

‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992)

The cozy kitchen where Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia enjoyed so many cheesecakes actually had a previous life! It was originally built as the set for a sitcom called ‘It Takes Two’. When that show didn’t last, the producers kept the set and gave it a makeover to become the central gathering place in the Miami home we all know. They kept the basic layout – the island and cooking areas stayed the same – but changed things like the wallpaper and appliances to fit the new characters’ styles. This clever reuse of the set ultimately created one of the most famous kitchen settings in television history.

‘Buck Rogers in the 25th Century’ (1979–1981)

To create the look of the 25th century in this series, the creators reused many props and models from the original ‘Battlestar Galactica’. Things like detailed spaceship models, control sticks, and even pilot helmets were taken from the older show and used for the new Earth Defense Directorate. This saved money on building new items and helped create a consistent visual style between the two science fiction series.

‘Star Trek’ (1966–1969)

The ‘Miri’ episode features the Enterprise crew transporting to a planet remarkably similar to Earth in the 20th century. Interestingly, the streets they explore were actually the same sets used for the town of Mayberry in ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’ This saved money and time, allowing the show to film an outdoor scene without having to leave the studio lot.

‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

When the characters from ‘The Office’ needed a hospital setting, they filmed at Sacred Heart Hospital – which was actually the set used for the comedy ‘Scrubs’. This former medical center in North Hollywood had been the main filming location for ‘Scrubs’ for years. Using this existing set allowed ‘The Office’ to create a realistic hospital environment without disrupting a functioning hospital. Fans of ‘Scrubs’ might recognize the familiar layout of the nurses’ station and hallways.

‘Mannix’ (1967–1975)

Joe Mannix, a private investigator, often filmed at the iconic house from ‘The Brady Bunch’. Several episodes of his show used the recognizable floating staircase and living room as the homes of people involved in his cases. Since both shows were made by Paramount, it was simple to share sets. While filming ‘Mannix’, they used dramatic lighting and a serious style to try and hide the fact that it was usually seen as the bright and cheerful setting for the family sitcom.

‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)

For scenes taking place in the White House, the show used the Oval Office set first created for ‘The West Wing’. After that show ended, Warner Bros. made the detailed replica available for other productions. ‘Smallville’ used it to show future scenes where Lex Luthor was president, and the set’s realism helped make those scenes feel believable.

‘Ghost Whisperer’ (2005–2010)

As a movie buff, I instantly recognized the charming town square in this show – it’s actually Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios backlot! For those who don’t know, this is the very same location used as Hill Valley in ‘Back to the Future.’ They’ve given it a bit of a makeover, of course, to fit the show’s spooky vibe, but the basic layout – including that famous clock tower and park – is still instantly recognizable. It’s a classic piece of movie history that keeps popping up on our screens, and it’s fun to see it repurposed for television.

‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)

The building used for the outside of the Dragonfly Inn, a key location in later seasons of Gilmore Girls, originally served as the Walton family’s home in the series ‘The Waltons’. Situated on the Warner Bros. studio lot, the farmhouse was updated and transformed into the cozy New England inn run by Lorelai and Sookie. Its simple, country-style design was a perfect match for the show’s warm and inviting atmosphere. This clever reuse highlights how one building can become visually associated with two iconic family dramas across different generations.

‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ (1992–1997)

The first episode of this comedy was filmed on the same set as the living room from the TV show ‘Growing Pains’. They reused the Seaver family’s house layout to save money while the new show got started. Fans who remembered ‘Growing Pains’ could recognize the staircase and kitchen, even though the show later created its own unique sets. This practice of using existing sets for pilot episodes was common, helping to reduce financial risks before the network committed to a full season.

‘Mike & Molly’ (2010–2016)

The living room set for the new sitcom was originally used on the show ‘Roseanne’, with some changes. It was based on the Conner family’s home, keeping the same basic layout – like where the front door and kitchen archway were. While the furniture, wallpaper, and decorations were updated to suit the new family, the overall structure of the house stayed the same, maintaining its familiar, working-class feel.

‘Bewitched’ (1964–1972)

The Stephens’ kitchen and living room in the show were designed to look a lot like the set from ‘The Donna Reed Show’. Since both shows were made by Screen Gems and filmed on the same studio lot, Columbia Ranch, it was easy to reuse props and sets. In fact, the curved staircase and overall layout of the house were almost exactly the same in both sitcoms. This helped the studio quickly produce episodes for both shows without needing completely different sets.

‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

As a huge fan of both ‘Supernatural’ and ‘Gilmore Girls’, I always noticed something familiar about the towns Sam and Dean visited! It totally blew my mind to learn they filmed so much of ‘Supernatural’ on the same Warner Bros. backlot as Stars Hollow. That town square gazebo and the church were everywhere, cleverly disguised as different places all over the country. It’s even funnier because the characters literally take a studio tour where they point out the ‘Gilmore Girls’ set! Seriously, that backlot is amazing – it could go from spooky horror town to charming small-town America with no problem.

‘The Nanny’ (1993–1999)

The subway station featured in the show was actually the same one used for the subway scenes in ‘Seinfeld’. The studio kept this set built because it was useful for many New York-based sitcoms, letting them film scenes that took place on the subway without having to film on location. With its simple tiled walls, turnstiles, and platform design, it could be used for any story that needed a subway setting. It continued to be used in other shows, like ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’, showing how a well-made set can last a long time.

Tell us about a time you saw an old TV being reused in a creative way, or a place you recognized in a show or movie! Share your stories in the comments below.

2025-12-11 04:50