When you think of TV spin-offs, what shows come to mind? Baywatch Nights, the ridiculous, supernatural Baywatch sister show that starred The Hoff as a detective? Joey, the unwatchable series about the least interesting character on Friends? How about Soul Man, the short-lived Home Improvement spin-off about Mike Weber (Dan Aykroyd, at a career low), the Taylors’ priest?
Sure, these shows were all terrible ideas, horribly executed. There are so many awful spin-offs out there that Entertainment Weekly‘s roundup of the 15 worst is just the tip of the garbage barge. Amid all the crap out there, it’s easy to forget that some of the greatest TV series of all time began as characters and concepts on other programs. Check out ten of our favorites and allow us to convince you that “spin-off” doesn’t have to be a dirty word after the jump.
Absolutely Fabulous
Most Americans don’t realize that this cult favorite BBC series — a fixture on Comedy Central in the ’90s — was born on French and Saunders, lead actress Jennifer Saunders’ sketch comedy show with Dawn French. The original Ab Fab was a recurring segment called “Modern Mother and Daughter.” While Saunders always played the debauched ex-hippie mum (at the time, Edina was named Ariadne), it was French who originally took the role of the long-suffering, uptight daughter. Julia Sawalha took over the role of Saffron in the spin-off, and certainly looked the part of Edina’s offspring — even though, in reality, she’s only a decade younger than Saunders. Of course, Ab Fab‘s greatest improvement on the sketch that inspired it was the addition of hilarious ex-model Joanna Lumley as Edina’s hard-partying, brain-fried best friend.
Comments (18)
I would add Different World, spin-off of The Cosby Show!
@Reena: Seconded.
I would also add another British series to the list – Torchwood, a spin-off (and anagram) of Doctor Who.
Daphne is English, not Irish
I know its a bit 70′s but try happy days from love american style Lavern and Shiley, Mork and Mindy from Happy Days. each a powerhouse of their own in their day
Love Frasier! Definitely one of the best. (2nd that Sucre, daphne is English, not Irish).
NCIS, a spin-off from JAG, should have made the list
More 70s: All In The Family sprung Maude (which sprung Good Times)and The Jeffersons (which had it’s own spin off…)
“The Andy Griffith Show” was a spin-off from a Danny Thomas episode. Strange thing: Andy Taylor is a more malevolent character in the episode than he was in the series. In the episode, Danny is driving through the small town and Andy is a kind of stereotypical Southern sheriff who controls the town and acts as its judge and mayor, too.
Um, how do you not have HAPPY DAYS and its family of spin-offs??
1) Laverne & Shirley
2) Joanie loves Chachi
3) Mork & Mindy
??
Wasn’t Friends a spin-off from Mad About You? Phoebe was the twin sister of Ursula, the waitress in Mad About You.
Can’t believe no one would mention “The Jeffersons”
Could you please refrain from titling these lists as “Of All Time”? I have noticed that these Best Of TV Lists that pop up on Flavorwire never include any shows pre-1980s. I realize you are probably too young to have seen many of the shows from the 1950s to the 1970s so why not title these lists “The 10 Best TV Spin-offs of the Last 30 Years” and “The Top 10 TV Grandmas of The Last 30 Years”? Or better yet, take a television history course and gain some perspective. Petticoat Junction, All In The Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Make Room For Daddy and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman all spun off wonderful shows. Also, what may be the earliest TV spin-off: The Honeymooners from The Jackie Gleason show is sadly missing here.
I think you all are forgetting the single greatest spinoff ever, “That ’80s Show.”
Along with some of the others mentioned above, what about Knots Landing the spin off from Dallas which lasted 14 seasons. Knots surely would out rank Saved By The Bell don’t you think.
Saved by the Bell is not really a spin-off. Spin-offs usually co-exist with the original shows and star a previously minor character.
Saved by the Bell just replaced some of the original characters with new ones, moved location and changed names. That’s just rebranding.
Otherwise, you could call the California episodes of Laverne and Shirley a spinoff of Laverne and Shirley.
How about The Bionic Woman… Mork & Mindy is still my favorite spin-off.
[...] Para não falarmos sempre dos piores spin-offs, aqui fica uma lista com os dez melhores spin-offs de todos os [...]
Amen, Bullwinkle. Soap – Benson. Andy Griffith – Gomer Pyle, USMC. MASH – Trapper John, MD. Bullwinkle – Dudley Do-Right.
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