TV Spin-Offs We Love and Hate

When a television show becomes a hit, it’s not uncommon for studios to try and capitalize on its success by creating a spin-off. While some TV spin-offs have been successful and become fan favorites, others have failed miserably. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best and worst TV spin-offs.

Successful Spin-Offs

Family Matters

One of the most successful TV spin-offs is “Family Matters,” which spun off from the show “Perfect Strangers.” “Family Matters” introduced audiences to the Winslow family and their nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel, who quickly became a fan favorite. The show ran for nine seasons and 215 episodes, making it one of the longest-running sitcoms in TV history.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” was a spin-off of the original “Star Trek” series and is widely considered to be one of the best TV spin-offs of all time. The show introduced a new cast of characters and took place 100 years after the events of the original series. “The Next Generation” ran for seven seasons and won 18 Emmy Awards.

Law And Order: Special Victims Unit

“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” is a spin-off of the original “Law and Order” series and has become one of the most successful spin-offs in TV history. The show focuses on a unit of detectives who investigate crimes of a sexual nature. “Special Victims Unit” has been on the air for over 20 years and has won multiple awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Mariska Hargitay.

Young Sheldon

“Young Sheldon” is a spin-off of the hit CBS show “The Big Bang Theory” and focuses on the childhood of Sheldon Cooper. The show has been a hit with audiences, and its success has led to it being renewed for multiple seasons. “Young Sheldon” has been praised for its nostalgic feel and strong performances from its cast.

Laverne & Shirley

“Laverne & Shirley” was a spin-off of the hit TV show “Happy Days.” The show focused on the lives of Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, who worked at a brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Laverne & Shirley” became an instant hit with audiences and ran for eight seasons, making it one of the most successful TV spin-offs of all time.

Failed Spin-Offs

Sabrina’s Secret Life

“Sabrina’s Secret Life” was a spin-off of the hit show “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and focused on Sabrina’s life as a teenager attending high school. The show was a critical and commercial failure and only lasted one season.

The Cleveland Show

“The Cleveland Show” was a spin-off of the hit animated show “Family Guy.” The show focused on the life of Cleveland Brown, who moves to Virginia with his son. While the show had a strong start, it quickly lost viewership and was canceled after four seasons.

Joey

“Joey” was a spin-off of the hit show “Friends” and followed the life of Joey Tribbiani as he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. The show was a commercial failure and only lasted two seasons.

Checking In

“Checking In” was a spin-off of the hit show “The Jeffersons” and focused on the life of Florence Johnston as she became a hotel owner. The show was canceled after only four episodes due to poor ratings.

The Golden Palace

“The Golden Palace” was a spin-off of the hit show “The Golden Girls” and followed the lives of the remaining characters after Dorothy left the show. While the show had a strong start, it quickly lost viewership and was canceled after only one season.

Tabitha

“Tabitha” was a spin-off of the hit show “Bewitched” and focused on the life of Tabitha Stephens as an adult working in television. The show was a commercial failure and only lasted one season.

Gloria

“Gloria” was a spin-off of the hit show “All in the Family” and followed the life of Gloria Stivic after she moved to New York City. The show failed to capture the same success as its predecessor and was canceled after only one season.

The Finder

“The Finder” was a spin-off of the hit show “Bones” and focused on the character Walter Sherman, a former military man who had a talent for finding things. The show failed to capture the same audience as “Bones” and was canceled after only one season.

Baywatch Nights

“Baywatch Nights” was a spin-off of the hit show “Baywatch” and focused on Mitch Buchannon as he investigated paranormal and supernatural cases. The show failed to capture the same success as “Baywatch” and was canceled after two seasons.

AfterMASH

“AfterMASH” was a spin-off of the hit show “MAS*H” and followed the lives of three of the main characters after they returned from the war. The show failed to capture the same success as its predecessor and was canceled after only two seasons.

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

“Saved by the Bell: The New Class” was a spin-off of the hit show “Saved by the Bell” and focused on a new group of students attending Bayside High School. While the show lasted for seven seasons, it was not as successful as the original and was criticized for its lack of originality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TV spin-offs can be hit or miss. While some shows have successfully carried on a franchise and become fan favorites, others have failed miserably. Shows like “Family Matters,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Young Sheldon,” and “Laverne & Shirley” have been successful TV spin-offs, while shows like “Sabrina’s Secret Life,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Joey,” “Checking In,” “The Golden Palace,” “Tabitha,” “Gloria,” “The Finder,” “Baywatch Nights,” “AfterMASH,” and “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” have failed to capture the same success. Ultimately, the success of a TV spin-off depends on factors such as the strength of the original show, the quality of the writing, and the chemistry of the cast.