It may be surprising to learn that some of the small screen’s most memorable television shows are actually spin-offs of other popular programs. Over the decades, a wide variety of TV genres have led to the creation of exciting and extremely entertaining companion series, not only making a name for themselves in show business but also further elevating the status of its predecessor. Some of these fascinating shows have even gone on to surpass the original in fame and success, with many garnering immense praise and numerous accolades during their exceptional tenures on television.
From iconic classic sitcoms likeLaverne & ShirleyandFrasierto edgy crime dramas such asBetter Call SaulandLaw & Order: SVU,spin-off shows have been and continue to be a highly-lucrative endeavor in Hollywood. The late and great Robin Williams first gained recognition with his hilarious and over-the-top performance in the ‘70s stapleMork & Mindy,captivating audiences everywhere with his show-stopping humor and improvisational skills. Steven Colbert had previously delivered his amusing commentary onThe Daily Showbefore nabbing his own groundbreaking program, one ofthe funniest Comedy Central shows,The Colbert Report.These are some of the best spin-off TV series.
Following the experiences of the cynical and sharp titular character Daria Morgendorffer as she navigates teenage life in Lawndale, the MTV adult animated sitcomDariais a spin-off of the epic Mike Judge comedy seriesBeavis and Butt-Head,with the angsty girl having been a recurring character on the program. Judge gaveDariacreators Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn permission to craft the show, though he did not have any involvement in the production of the sitcom himself.
Dariawould go on to attract a faithful following and run for five seasons, establishing Daria as an admirable female cartoon character and influencing snarky television ever since. Following its series finale,Slatemagazine went on to praise the MTV classic, writing that “the show is biting the dust without ever getting the credit it deserved: for social satire, witty writing, and most of all, for a truly original main character.”
8Mork & Mindy
Legendary comedian andimprov superstar Robin Williamsappeared alongside Pam Dawber in the 1978 sitcomMork & Mindy,in which the late performer hilariously appeared as an alien from the planet Ork who finds friendship and later love with the kind Mindy McConnell. The character of Mork first appeared in a 1978 episode ofHappy Daysin an homage to the ‘60s comedyMy Favorite Martian,with the beloved sitcom wanting to capitalize on the success of the recently releasedStar Warspicture. At the time, Williams was an unknown actor who impressedgifted producer and writer Garry Marshallwith his sidesplitting quirky humor and his exceptional skills at improv and physical comedy; the show helped catapult the comedian to superstardom and was a pivotal project in his exceptional career.
Related:These Are Robin Williams' Best Performances, Ranked
7The Facts of Life
Following the life and efforts of Edna Garrett as she takes on a position as housemother and dietitian at an all-girls boarding school in Peekskill, New York, the long-running 1980s sitcomThe Facts of Lifeis a spin-off fromDiff’rent Strokeswith the character of Edna first being introduced as the housekeeper for the Drummonds’ family. Actress Charlotte Rae proposed the idea for a companion show centering on Edna, which was swiftly approved by NBC with the hopes thatThat Facts of Lifewould address the various issues teenagers face such as dieting, drugs and alcohol, depression and dating life. The success of the sitcom during its tenure led to three popular made-for-television movies and in 2011 it was the recipient of the TV Land Award for Pop Culture Icon for its impact on the small screen.
6Better Call Saul
Serving as a spin-off, prequel and sequel to Vince Gilligan’s groundbreaking creationBreaking Bad,the AMC crime dramaBetter Call Saulcenters on reformed scam artist and passionate lawyer Jimmy McGill as he sheds his past persona and transforms into the self-absorbed criminal defense attorney Saul Goodman.The brilliant Bob Odenkirkreprises his scene-stealing role from the original series, which chronicles the character’s evolution and rise to prominence over the six years prior to the events ofBreaking Bad.
Related:How Better Call Saul Mastered the Art of The Spin-Off
The drama also features many familiar faces that were prominent in the companion show, with characters like Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring popping up and both Walter White and Jesse Pinkman set to make appearances.Better Call Saulhas garnered critical acclaim throughout its six season run, with many calling it just as good if notsuperior to its predecessor.
5Law & Order: SVU
A companion series to thelong-runningLaw & Orderprogram, the outstanding crime drama seriesLaw & Order: SVUfeatured the talent of stars like Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, with the duo portraying partners and detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler. Its creator and executive producer Dick Wolf was initiallyinspired to make the showafter learning about the 1986 “preppie murder” case of Robert Chambers, who strangled and killed a woman he was dating in Central Park; Wolf was interested in diving deeper into the psychology of crimes and the role human sexuality plays within it.Law & Order: SVUhas gone on to produce 23 seasons (and counting) and over 500 episodes, earn numerous accolades like Golden Globes and Emmy Awards, and spawn its own spin-off series starring Meloni’s Elliot Stabler withLaw & Order: Organized Crime.
4Good Times
The first television spin-off from another spin-off, the 1970s classic sitcomGood Timeswas formed from the showMaude,which itself was created fromAll in the Family,and follows the lives of Florida and James Evans and their three children as they grow up in a poor, black neighborhood in Chicago. The parents were initially introduced inMaude,with Esther Rolle’s Florida having been employed as the housekeeper for the titular character; Rolle became so popular on the sitcom that creators wanted to produce a show around the strong and loving Florida.Good Timeswent on to be lauded for its representation of 1970s progressivism and its depiction of the family’s efforts to overcome poverty, and became television’s first African-American two-parent family sitcom.
3The Colbert Report
The hilarious and astuteStephen Colbert (of theLate Shownow) hosted the Comedy Central late-night talk and news satire showThe Colbert Report,in which the funnyman portrays a fictionalized version of himself as an anchorman while providing colorful commentary on current events. Colbert first served as a correspondent onThe Daily Show,finessing his on-screen persona for a few years on the program.
The character actually made his very first appearance in 1996 onThe Dana Carvey Show,andwas described as“a self-important, trench-coated reporter who does on-location stories in a way that suggests his own presence is the real scoop.”The Colbert Reportdebuted to widespread acclaim and ratings success, becoming a beloved fixture for the network and winning two Peabody Awards for its excellence in news and television.
2Laverne & Shirley
Starring the charming Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams, the 1976 sitcomLaverne & Shirleychronicles the lives of close pals and roommates Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney in 1950s Milwaukee, showcasing their many misadventures with their jobs, various romances and friendship. The revered series is a spin-off fromHappy Days,with the two lead protagonists first being introduced as acquaintances of Fonzie.
Both sitcoms had a crossover episode in which Richie and Fonzie get in trouble for courting a farmer’s daughters and Lavern and Shirley attempt to help them out. The show went on to become the most-watched American television program by its third season and gained appreciation for its physical comedy and knockout performances by Marshall and Williams that are some of the small screen’s finest.
Kelsey Grammer reprised his role as psychiatrist Frasier Crane for the 1993 sitcomFrasier,which focuses on the character as he returns to his hometown of Seattle to become a radio host, reconnecting with both his father Martin and younger brother Niles in the process. Frasier was a prominent presence on the comedy seriesCheers,with the psychiatrist becoming a permanent fixture amongst his fellow bar patrons over the course of the show.
Creators were initially hesitant to create a spin-off from the predecessor due to concerns it would fail, but ultimately decided to relocate Frasier from Boston to Seattle in an effort to avoid any resemblance toCheers;they decided to depict his private life and work at the radio stationwhile making the character“haughty, disdainful and exceedingly uptight.”Frasierwas a knockout program, going on to win a whopping thirty-seven Primetime Emmys during its eleven seasons. Arevival is currently in the worksat Paramount+.
