15 Times Beloved Shows Switched Genres For One Episode

The Season 2 finale of 'Community' went Wild West with a paintball competition.

Do you love over-the-top crime dramas? How about cutesy animated short films? Or perhaps you’re more of a fan of heartwarming family comedies. Whether it’s a comedy show dipping its toes into drama, or a procedural incorporating elements of horror, genre crossovers provide a fresh perspective on familiar material. 

From comedies like 30 Rock and Modern Family to a sci-fi drama like Battlestar Galactica, there is probably something for everyone on this list. These are episodes that deviate from the regular format of the show in order to try something new and different. In many cases, these experiments are pretty successful and offer a refreshing change of pace for both the characters and viewers alike.

Whatever your taste, there’s probably an episode on this list for yo. From "A Fistful Of Paintballs" to "Take Me Out To The Holosuite," we’ve pretty much got something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

A show within a show in 'Stargate SG-1'

MGM Television

SGCommand

'Community' goes Wild West in the Season 2 finale.

NBC

IGN

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Paramount Pictures

Collider

Christa Miller got her kids-friendly episode of 'Scrubs'

NBC

Scrubs Wiki

The Winchesters are back, and this time they’re facing ghosts on reality TV.

The CW

Supernatural Wiki

Just another day in ‘30 Rock’ life.

NBC

Vulture

This post-apocalyptic thriller in ‘Dollhouse’ features character’s unreliable memories as flashbacks.

20th Television

Dollhouse Wiki

The Doctor becomes embroiled in old west-style shootouts.

BBC

The Avocado

Tune in to "Revenging Angel" for a Looney Tunes-style ‘Farscape’ episode.

Debmar-Mercury

The A.V. Club

Stargate Atlantis

MGM Television

SGCommand

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