Show-within-a-show - Definition and Overview

A show-within-a-show is a fictional television show featured within the fictional universe of a real television show. It often features a frame story.

Historically, the idea of a play within a play is an ancient one, appearing in Ovid's Metamorphoses; William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, etc. Many films also feature this idea, Singin' in the Rain being one example.

List of TV shows within shows

• The Itchy & Scratchy Show (within the Krusty the Clown Show) within The Simpsons
  • also Worker and Parasite replaced the Itchy and Scratch Show in one episode
• The Valley within The O.C.
• Jerry within Seinfeld
• Terrance & Phillip within South Park
• Invitation to Love within Twin Peaks
• Tomorrow's Another Day within Generations
• Weekend Update within Saturday Night Live
• Psycho Dad within Married With Children
• Elmo's World within Sesame Street
• Rainbow Monkeys within Codename: Kids Next Door

List of TV shows about TV shows

• Grosse Pointe within Grosse Pointe
• Tool Time within Home Improvement
• The Larry Sanders Show within The Larry Sanders Show
• The Alan Brady Show within The Dick Van Dyke Show
• Garth Marenghi's Darkplace within Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
• Sports Night within Sports Night
• FYI within Murphy Brown
• The Sword of Damocles and Beaver Creek within Made in Canada