40 Short Lived TV Show Spin-Offs
Characters in TV history sometimes leave a popular show to have one of their own or the show might switch networks and get 'retooled' with a new setting and new characters added. The results can either be successful or an utter failure.
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- CreatorShana Goldberg-MeehanScott SilveriStarsMatt LeBlancPaulo CostanzoDrea de MatteoIn this spin-off of Friends (1994), Joey Tribbiani moves to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
- CreatorStan DanielsEd. WeinbergerStarsCloris LeachmanHenry JonesJane RoseMary Richards' landlady, Phyllis Lindstrom, moves back to her hometown of San Francisco with her teenage daughter Bess following the sudden death of her husband, Lars.
- CreatorLarry GelbartStarsHarry MorganJamie FarrWilliam ChristopherThe Korean War has ended. Colonel Potter, Sergeant Klinger, and Father Mulcahy find themselves together once again, this time at a veteran's hospital.
- CreatorDon NichollMichael RossBernard WestStarsNorman FellAudra LindleyJeffrey TamborStanley and Helen Roper sold their apartment complex and moved into a new one. Their characteristic quirks are intact as they deal with new neighbors and frequent visits from Helen's sister.
- CreatorMike MilliganJay MoriartyStarsMarla GibbsLarry LinvilleLiz TorresThe misadventures of Florence Johnson, a hotel maid who was previously seen serving the Jeffersons.
- CreatorJoe GannonPatt SheaHarriett WeissStarsSally StruthersBurgess MeredithJo de WinterThis spin-off of "All in the Family" features the further adventures of Gloria Stivic and her son Joey. She and Mike are separated and she's gotten a job in a veterinarian's office.
- CreatorWilliam BastPaul HusonEileen PollockStarsCharlton HestonJohn JamesKatharine RossThis spin-off of Dynasty (1981) featured the adventures of Jeff and Fallon Colby and Jeff's other wealthy relatives in California.
- StarsPolly HollidayGeoffrey LewisJim BakerA former Arizona waitress buys a rundown Texas bar.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsJohn AmosLynnie GodfreyT.E. RussellA Black family, the Cumberbatches, moves into the former Queens home of Archie Bunker years after Bunker had sold the house located at 704 Hauser Street.
- CreatorEric BlakeneyStephen J. CannellStarsRichard GriecoMarcia StrassmanCarmen ArgenzianoIn this "21 Jump Street" spin-off, a rebellious young cop becomes an insurance investigator for a multinational corporation.
- StarsHarriet NelsonBrenda SykesSusan SennettAfter their two sons leave home, Ozzie and Harriet rent their rooms to two beautiful college girls.
- CreatorSimon FullerStarsRyan SeacrestDebbie GibsonGladys KnightThe creators of "American Idol" brings a new Reality-TV series called "American Juniors", which also hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Instead of teenagers and young adults auditioning for a spot, it's up to kids, between the ages of 5-13 to perform. And instead of a solo career, five kids will join in a pop group. Throuhout the season, Gladys Knight and Debbie Gibson are judges while there is a guest judge. Also, Knight would fill in as host when Seacrest is absent.
- CreatorDanny ArnoldChris HaywardTony SheehanStarsAbe VigodaFlorence StanleyBarry GordonA grumpy New York cop and his wife adopt five rowdy foster children.
- CreatorGlen A. LarsonStarsKent McCordBarry Van DykeRobyn DouglassWhen the Battlestar Galactica finally arrives at Earth, they find they must subtly raise its tech level while protecting it from the Cylons.
- CreatorDavid HasselhoffMichael BerkGregory J. BonannStarsDavid HasselhoffAngie HarmonEddie CibrianBaywatch veteran Mitch Buchannon moonlights as a P.I. with his two friends Garner and Ryan. In season 2, Diamont replaces Garner, and Mitch's cases suddenly take a hard turn towards supernatural horror.
- CreatorJerry MayerStarsLisa HartmanRobert UrichMel StewartThis spin-off of Bewitched (1964) follows Tabitha Stephens; Samantha and Darrin's daughter as an adult.
- StarsFlorence HendersonRobert ReedAnn B. DavisThe Brady family sings, dances, and performs comedy skits.
- CreatorLloyd J. SchwartzSherwood SchwartzStarsMaureen McCormickEve PlumbJerry HouserThe story of Marcia and Jan's lives as newlyweds with their husbands.
- CreatorLloyd J. SchwartzSherwood SchwartzStarsFlorence HendersonRobert ReedEve PlumbA look at the lives of the Brady family all grown up, and the next generation.
- CreatorJames BurrowsGlen CharlesLes CharlesStarsDan HedayaJean KasemTimothy WilliamsNick Tortelli, "Cheers" barmaid Carla Tortelli's loutish husband, moves to Las Vegas to try to reconcile with his bimbo second wife Loretta, who now lives with her more sensible divorced sister Charlotte and nephew Mark.
- CreatorRichard Alan SimmonsStarsKate MulgrewHenry JonesLili HaydnMrs. Kate Columbo, wife of the famous lieutenant, solves crimes as a reporter, while raising her little daughter.
- CreatorSteve AntinStarsMark FamigliettiKate BosworthRodney ScottPortrays life at Rawley Summer Academy, an elite school in Connecticut where boys with a bright Ivy League future spend the summer industriously in classes and rowing training on the lake.
- CreatorGy WaldronStarsSonny ShroyerSamuel E. WrightJohn DehnerThe big-city adventures of Officer Enos Strate of Hazzard County.
- CreatorSusan HarrisStarsBetty WhiteRue McClanahanEstelle GettyAfter Dorothy remarries and moves away, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia open a hotel called The Golden Palace.
- CreatorJack MillerStarsJeanette NolanDack RamboJohn McIntireCrotchety old lady Sally Fergus roams the Old West with young companion Cyrus.
- CreatorBob BrunnerGarry MarshallArthur SilverStarsNancy WalkerCaren KayeEddie MekkaGruff but loving Nancy Blansky is busy housing, mothering, and even choreographing for a hotel's showgirls--while providing a home for her nephews, dancer Joey and 12-year-old junior-womanizer Anthony.
- CreatorRobert L. BoyettThomas L. MillerStarsJimmy BroganTammy LaurenHannah DeanAn angel is sent to play nanny to a gaggle of children whose parents have died.
- CreatorLowell GanzGarry MarshallStarsScott BaioErin MoranAl MolinaroThe romantic adventures of Joanie Cunningham and Chachi Arcola as they pursue music careers in Chicago.
- StarsBilly ConnollyMarie MarshallClara BryantA Scottish teacher named Billy MacGregor moves to the United States to build a new life for himself.
- CreatorCarmen FinestraDavid McFadzeanMatt WilliamsStarsDave ChappelleRichard RoundtreeJudith IveyTwo friends decide to start up a film company.
- CreatorRon LeavittArthur SilverStarsJoseph BolognaMatt LeBlancJoey Lauren AdamsA spin-off with characters from the "Married...with Children" series. Intellectually-challenged Vinnie and his chronically-unemployed father share an apartment. Re-worked the following year as "Vinnie and Bobby."
- CreatorRedd FoxxBernie OrensteinSaul TurteltaubStarsWhitman MayoCarol ColeJoe MortonThe solo adventures of Fred Sanford's pal Grady, who has moved on up to Los Angeles.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsTeddy WilsonTina AndrewsJohn EarlA widower with two children buys the Sanford Arms rooming house.
- StarsRedd FoxxDennis BurkleyMarguerite RayThe further adventures of Fred Sanford, featuring the old cast, except for Lamont; Fred has a new partner and a new girlfriend.
- StarsPriscilla PresleyBurgess MeredithJim StaffordA show focusing on various animals both in the studio and in nature footage.
- CreatorGeorge BurdittMartin RipsMichael RossStarsJohn RitterMary CadoretteAlan CampbellJack Tripper's co-habitation with Vicky Bradford is complicated by her hostile father's interference as Jack's landlord.
- CreatorJames KomackStarsSusan BlanchardJune AngelaGene ProfanatoTaro, a single father, relocates because of business from Japan to Chicago. Conservative Taro wants a traditional nanny for his children Aki and Sachi. But he gets Nebraska born Tina, who challenges his orthodox ways.
- StarsErnest ThomasHaywood NelsonShirley Hemphill"What's Happening Now!" is a sequel to "What's Happening!," a TV series about the adult main characters (Raj, Dwayne, Rerun, Shirley, and Dee) as teenagers/children.
- CreatorPeter S. FischerStarsJerry OrbachBarbara BabcockJuliana DonaldHarry MacGraw is a private investigator who appeared three times in the television series, Murder, She Wrote. He now stars in his own series, wherein he is still a private investigator in Boston. Who always seems to lose all of his money betting. Across the hall from him is the office of Ellie Maginnis, an attorney. It seems that Harry did some work for her late husband, and it seems he swore by Harry, so she uses him though he usually goes through the wringer to solve the case. Helping him out is his niece, who is the receptionist in his office, and also lending a hand is Maginnis' nephew, who is an associate in her office.
- CreatorCharles Pratt Jr.Frank SouthStarsLinda GrayCameron DaddoDavid GoldsmithHilary Michaels, the estranged mother of Amanda Woodward, is the owner, president and CEO of Models Inc, a major Los Angeles modeling agency.