The announcement of a spinoff normally triggers feelings of euphoria among fans as it means they get to see more of the fictional universe they adore. This year, a couple of spinoffs of popular shows are expected to premiere too, with the most anticipated one being Game Of Thrones.
Even though spinoffs create excitement, many often struggle to hit the heights reached by the original. However, a few have managed to do so over the years by maintaining the quality and lasting longer. As such, some of the spinoffs have become even more appreciated than the original shows.
NCIS (2003 - Present)
Stream On Paramount+
The Navy-themed legal drama JAG aired a backdoor pilot for NCIS during season 8 and, after a good reception, the show was ordered to series. So far, 19 seasons of NCIS have aired while JAG lasted for 10 seasons.
The spinoff's 19-year run means NCIS is now one of the longest-running TV shows of all time. While it has naval themes like its predecessor, it distinguishes itself by delving more into fieldwork and investigations than the justice system. And thanks to the variety of stories in each episode, viewer appetite has remained. Further proof of the spinoff's success lies in the fact that it has led to its own three spinoffs too.
The Jeffersons (1975 - 1985)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
The original show, The Jeffersons ended up lasting 11 seasons, beating All In The Family's 9 seasons.
Many spinoffs tend to set themselves up for comparison by using the same location as the original show. The Jeffersons avoided that by making the titular characters move to a different neighborhood. And the sitcom wasn't just about longevity, the quality was undeniable too. It frequently addressed topics such as alcoholism, gun control, racism, and suicide, leading to a whopping 14 Emmy nominations during its run.
Better Call Saul (2015 - Present)
Stream On Netflix
Breaking Bad. As a prequel, background stories of several fan-favorite characters are explored while new ones are introduced too.
Legal dramas aren't known to be heavy on action but Better Call Saul gladly goes down that route in an effort to satisfy fans of the original show. As such, the alternation between chaos and tranquility has become the norm. One moment the cameras are on boardrooms of prestigious law firms and the next, they are following gun-totting cartel .
Law & Order: SVU (1999 - Present)
Stream On Hulu
Law & Order: SVU. The spinoff has 23 seasons whereas the original has recently been revived for its 21st.
The spinoff mostly shines by being more grounded. Instead of focussing on all kinds of cases, murder and sexual assault are given a priority. Above all, its greatest asset is Captain Olivia Benson who has never had a bad day in office as the main character. Proof that she is indeed the pillar lies in the fact that the procedural drama continued to be successful even after her partner Stabler was written off.
Happy Days (1974 - 1984)
Stream On Netflix
Happy Days focuses on the Cunningham family as well as Fonzo, one of the best "cool guys" in sitcom history. The parent show, Love, American Style, was a collection of shorts about love in America. Happy Days lasted 11 seasons, six more than the parent show.
While the original show thrived on summary and quick conclusions, the magic of Happy Days simply lay in fleshing out the characters more. Most of the minor characters got to have their own arcs, involving their own families, hence blessing viewers with plenty of sub-stories to follow.
The Facts Of Life (1979 - 1988)
Stream On Pluto TV
Never has there been a smoother transition to a spinoff. After doing a great job as the widower Philip Drummond's maid in Different Strokes, which lasted for 8 seasons, Edna Garett gets employed in a boarding school as a housemother and gets her own show, The Facts Of Life, which aired 9 seasons.
The Facts Of Life appeals to viewers by not just focussing on laughs. Each episode highlights the importance of morality, with Ms. Garett doing everything in her power to ensure none of the students she is in charge of goes astray. A couple of rivalries help pump up the tension and most importantly, the dialogue remains as witty as possible.
The Simpsons (1989 - Present)
Stream On Hulu
Despite hitting the 26-season mark, Homer and his family don't look likely to settle for a quiet life any time soon. The Simpsons is an offspring of the variety-sketch comedy, The Tracey Ullman Show, which only lasted for 4 seasons.
A major reason the animated series has remained fresh is that it has relied on a wide pool of behind-the-scenes talent to keep things going. Over 50 different writers have worked on the show over the decades. There's been a large showrunner turnover too, something that has led to concerns about declining quality. Even though it can be argued it's one of the shows that got worse after changing showrunners, the demand is still there, so the Springfield residents are here to stay.
Diagnosis Murder (1993 - 2001)
Stream On Pluto TV
Diagnosis Murder was born out of Jake & The Fatman, and it focused on Dr. Mark Sloan, who had made his first appearance on the parent show's 4th season. The spinoff ran for 8 seasons, suring the 5 seasons that McCabe and his buddies were on air.
Great TV shows lay the foundation for others to follow and Diagnosis Murder did just that. As a result, crime dramas such as House and Doctor Blake were born. One of the best characters in Grey's Anatomy is also named Dr. Mark Sloan and thee's no doubt where the inspiration came from.
Benson (1979-1986)
Stream On Fubo TV
Most spinoffs start after the end of the original show, but Benson started while Soap was still on the air. The spinoff, which lasted for 7 seasons compared to its predecessor's four, was developed after butler Benson Dubois left the Tate family to work as Governor Eugene X's head of household.
Changes do wonders in making a spinoff more successful and that's the case with Benson. Instead of continuing his role as a butler, the titular character experiences tremendous character growth and becomes more of the governor's right-hand man. The genre change works well too. Given how funny Benson is in the original show, turning the spinoff into a sitcom ends up being a wise choice.
Family Matters (1989 - 1997)
Stream On Vudu
Family Matters, a sitcom about the hilarious Winslow family, stemmed from Perfect Strangers, which was about two cousins that couldn't stand each other. The spinoff was on air for 9 seasons, one more than the original.
There has never been any doubt about who made Family Matters push Perfect Strangers into obscurity. Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) was only meant to appear in one episode as the nerdy neighbor of the Winslows but he literally took over the show, becoming arguably one of the best sitcom characters ever.