The spinoff is a time-honored TV custom that’s met with combined outcomes by way of the years.
Each success — “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” — has been matched by a dismal failure. Anybody else bear in mind the “Buddies” spinoff “Joey,” starring Matt LeBlanc or “Beverly Hills Buntz,” spun off from “Hill Road Blues” and starring Dennis Franz? Didn’t assume so.
Right here’s a snapshot of a number of the extra memorable spinoffs with differing observe data.
Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors)
Unique present: “The Andy Griffith Present” (1960-68)
Spinoff: “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” (1964-69)
The way it went: Lights out. It’s one of many most-watched spinoffs in TV historical past, ending within the Prime 10 in every of its 5 seasons.
Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper)
Unique present: “The Mary Tyler Moore Present” (1970-77)
Spinoff: “Rhoda” (1974-78)
The way it went: Good, at first, however petered out after Mary’s former neighbor Rhoda — who moved again to New York Metropolis — married, then divorced, Joe (David Groh). Nobody needed to see Rhoda single (once more).
Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer)
Unique present: “Cheers” (1982-93)
Spinoff: “Frasier” (1993-2004)
The way it went: Nice. “Frasier” ran for 11 seasons, turned Grammer into an enormous star and is being revived on Paramount+ with Grammer returning to the position.
Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
Unique present: “Gray’s Anatomy” (2005-present)
Spinoff: “Non-public Apply” (2007-13)
The way it went: OK, however was by no means an out-of-the-box hit and averaged simply over 6 million viewers in its ultimate season — a far cry from the 14 million-plus who watched Season 1.
Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk)
Unique present: “Breaking Unhealthy” (2008-13)
Spinoff: “Higher Name Saul” (2015-present)
The way it went: Extra of a crucial darling than a ratings-grabber, incomes almost 40 Emmy nominations (however no victories). By the point Season 6 premieres in 2022, it should have been two years because the final new episode. Not good.
