Spin Offs

Spin Offs fascinate me. (It doesn’t take much.) I think I’m fascinated with them because I’m not usually aware that they’re a spin-off (or I don’t remember) until someone mentions it. Check out the below shows. I’ll bet you’re surprised at a few yourself.

Successful Spin Offs

• I’m going to take a guess and say that The Simpsons is the most successful spin off of all time. The Tracey Ullman Show lasted only three years but it gave us The Simpsons. Bart, Homer, and the rest of the gang started in 1989 and is still going strong today. 31-year-old adults have always had The Simpsons in their life. That’s kind of like me and The Young and the Restless. Anyway…..
• I never watched Knots Landing but it was a successful show which was a product of Dallas.
• Melrose Place came from Beverly Hills, 90210. I loved watching 90210 but never really got into Melrose Place. Still, it was very successful.
• Nanu-Nanu and Shazbot became popular words during the late 70’s when Mork & Mindy was popular. This sitcom shot Robin Williams to fame. Mork & Mindy was a spin-off of Happy Days.
• All in the Family had five spin-offs. The most popular were Maude and The Jeffersons. I didn’t watch any of those shows.

Spin Off Surprises

• Wikipedia says that Saved by the Bell is a spin-off of Good Morning Miss Bliss. I just thought the name changed after the first season. I guess the cast kind of changed too. Love me some A.C. Slater.
• Happy Days gave us a lot of spin-offs but did you know that Happy Days was a spin-off as well? I was surprised to learn that it is from Love, American Style.
• Emergency (with hunky Randy Mantooth) was a spin-off of Adam-12 which was a spin-off of Dragnet. I kind of remember watching Adam-12 and I know I watched Emergency. I didn’t know they were spin-offs of anything.
• A Different World came from The Cosby Show. That’s probably not that surprising because I think they used some of the Cosby cast to guest star on a few episodes.
• The Facts of Life came from Diff’rent Strokes. This surprised me but I do remember Mrs. Garrett being the Drummond’s housekeeper in the first season. Then she was in charge of the girls on The Facts of Life the next. The Facts of Life was one of the most successful sitcoms of the 80’s.

Failed Spin Offs

• Joey doesn’t share food! Joey, the spin-off from Friends, should have been good, but….
• I loved Happy Days and I loved the sweet relationship between Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola. What I didn’t love was how they tried to make Scott Baio sing. He doesn’t sing. Just because he looks good holding a guitar doesn’t mean he can carry a tune. Joanie Loves Chachi (Happy Days spinoff) was DOA. Chachi means something else in other cultures. Nasty.
• Booker was a short-lived series with Richard Grieco. This was a spinoff from 21 Jump Street.
• The Brady Bunch had four spin-offs, mostly all bad. The Brady Kids, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Brides, and The Bradys were all cringe worthy…..but I watched them all because I’m a Brady Whore.

Ztams Favorites

• Laverne & Shirley is one of my most favorite shows ever. Penny Marshall is one of my idols. Laverne & Shirley is a spin-off of Happy Days.
• Family Matters came from Perfect Strangers which means this probably could have been listed under the Spin Off Surprises category. If I recall, Mom Harriette on Family Matters was an elevator operator on Perfect Strangers. I love both shows, but I love love love me some Urkel.
• Young Sheldon is currently running and is very entertaining. I love all of the characters, especially sister Missy. I don’t know how long this will be successful though as the kids grow and go through puberty. This show is, of course, from The Big Bang Theory.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my blog on spin-offs. Were you surprised by any? Are there any you want to add? Leave a comment and let me know. Now go watch some TV!