11 Famous TV Sets You Didn’t Know Were Reused
Many popular TV shows reused the same sets, often with clever redesigns that most viewers never noticed.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Television studios often save time and money by reusing sets from older shows. These sets are repainted, rearranged, or slightly changed to fit new storylines and characters. Some of the most iconic homes, offices, and streets on TV were actually recycled from earlier productions.
1. The Gilmore Girls House in Pretty Little Liars
Chester on Wikimedia Commons
The house used as Lorelai and Rory’s home in Gilmore Girls was reused as Spencer Hastings’ house in Pretty Little Liars. It is located on the Warner Bros. backlot, a popular space for TV productions. The structure remained the same but was repainted and decorated differently. Only small changes were made to make it match the tone of the new show.
2. The Friends Apartment in Joey
O2Q357Ys on Wikimedia Commons
After Friends ended, the apartment set was repurposed for the spin-off series Joey. The producers made changes to the furniture and decorations. Despite the updates, the basic layout of the kitchen and living room remained recognizable. The reuse helped reduce production costs for the new series.
3. The Seinfeld Diner in Veronica’s Closet
Tracie Hall on Wikimedia Commons
The diner set where characters met in Seinfeld was used again in Veronica’s Closet. Its structure and layout were kept, but the visual details were changed. The booths, windows, and general shape of the space were still the same. Many viewers likely did not notice the connection.
4. The Full House Living Room in Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
Autor Desconhecido on Wikimedia Commons
The living room from Full House was reused for Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. The staircase and main room layout were unchanged. The production team swapped out props and added new furniture. The set was slightly updated to fit the look of the second show.
5. The Office in Parks and Recreation
Kristin Dos Santos on Wikimedia Commons
Some parts of the Dunder Mifflin office from The Office were used in the early episodes of Parks and Recreation. Although the set was modified, many hallways and door placements stayed the same. Lighting and camera angles helped hide the similarities. It saved both time and resources during production.
6. The ER Hospital in Scrubs
Gabel Guagliumi on Wikimedia Commons
The hospital set from ER was reused in Scrubs, which had a different tone and style. While the layout of the rooms and hallways was mostly preserved, the set was given a brighter look. New props and colors were added to reflect the tone of Scrubs. The reuse made it easier to create a hospital setting without building a new one.
7. The Smallville Street in Gilmore Girls
Joseph Gage on Wikimedia Commons
The main street used in Smallville also appeared in Gilmore Girls as Stars Hollow. It was filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot, where buildings can be reused and altered. Changes were made to the shop signs, paint, and storefronts. The central layout, including the gazebo, stayed the same.
8. The I Love Lucy Apartment in The Lucy Show
CBS Television on Wikimedia Commons
Lucille Ball’s later series The Lucy Show reused parts of the set from I Love Lucy. The living room and kitchen had the same structure. Updates were made with new wallpaper and furniture. These changes helped fit the different time periods and characters.
9. The West Wing Hallways in The Mentalist
The U.S. National Archives on Wikimedia Commons
Some hallway sets from The West Wing were used again in The Mentalist. The layout and design of the hallways allowed for smooth camera movement. The production team changed the wall colors and added new décor. The overall structure stayed the same.
10. The Batman Cave in The Monkees
The Monkees TV Series Logo on Wikimedia Commons
The Batcave set from the 1960s Batman series appeared in The Monkees TV show. The set included cave walls and a large open space. Props and set pieces were added or removed depending on the scene. The location remained part of the studio’s standing sets for years.
11. The Married… with Children House in Malcolm in the Middle
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation on Wikimedia Commons
The house used in Married… with Children was reused in Malcolm in the Middle. The exterior was changed, and the interior was updated with different colors and furniture. The layout of the rooms and structure of the set stayed the same. It was filmed on a studio lot where multiple shows have shared locations.