A spin-off in television is a new series containing characters or settings that originated in a previous series, but with a different focus, tone, or theme. For example, the series Frasier was a spin-off of the earlier series Cheers: the character Frasier Crane was introduced as a secondary character on Cheers, and became the protagonist of his own series, set in a different city, in the spin-off. Spin-offs are particularly common in sitcom. A related phenomenon, not to be confused with the spin-off, is the crossover.
Some spin-offs are "engineered" to introduce a new character on the original television series, just so that that character can anchor the new spin-off – that episode of the original series is often known as a "backdoor pilot". For example, the character Avery Ryan appeared in two episodes of the Las Vegas-based CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before the premiere of CSI: Cyber.[1]
A revival, a later remake of a preexisting show, is not a spin-off. This is the case in Doctor Who, where the 2005 series which begins with a new Doctor but maintains the existing continuity. An exception to this rule can be made to series such as The Transformers where the lines of continuity are blurred. If a television pilot was written but never shot, it is not considered a spin-off. When a show undergoes a name change, it is not necessarily a spin-off.
Neither is a reboot series, a term recently invented for motion pictures, which can also occur in television (e.g. The Battlestar Galactica series of 2003 is a reboot, not a spin-off of the 1978 version[2]). This is distinct from a revival in that there is little or no attempt to retain continuity, or casting, with the original. A recent example is the 1987 series Beauty and the Beast, rebooted as the 2012 CW television series Beauty & the Beast,[3] which keeps only the main premise of a female law enforcement official aided by a man-beast, the New York City locale, and the names of the two main characters. The CW's Beauty & the Beast was later rebooted again as a HBO Max series starting in 2023.
NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-), which is the spin-off of NBC’s Law & Order (1990-2010; 2022-), is the longest-running spin-off series in American TV history with its landmark 25th season set to premiere on January 18, 2024.
The following is an alphabetical list of television spin-offs by their respective parent series.
#
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 7 vidas (1999–2006) | Aída (2005–2014) | |
| 9-1-1 (TV series) (2018) | 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) | |
| 19 Kids and Counting (2008–2015) (17 Kids and Counting in 2008, 18 Kids and Counting in 2008–09) | United Bates of America (2012) | |
| Jill and Jessa: Counting On (2015) | ||
| 16 and Pregnant (2009–2014) | Teen Mom (2009–2012; 2015) | |
| Teen Mom 2 (2011–2022) | ||
| Teen Mom 3 (2013) | ||
| The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955–1957) | Broken Arrow (1956–1958) | |
| 21 Jump Street (1987–1991) | Booker (1989–1990) | |
| 24 (2001–2010, 2014) | 24: Legacy (2017) | |
| 60 Minutes (1968–) | 60 Minutes II (1999–2005) | [4] |
| 60 Minutes+ (2022) | [5] | |
| No. 73 (1982–1988) | 7T3 (1988) | |
| 77 Sunset Strip (1958–1964) | Bourbon Street Beat (1959–1960) |
A
editB
editC
editD
editE
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| EastEnders (1985–present) | Civvy Street (1988) |
| EastEnders: E20 (2010–11) | |
| Redwater (2017) | |
| The Electric Company (1971–1977) | The Electric Company (2009–2011) |
| The Electric Playground (1997) | Judgement Day (2002–2007) |
| The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) | Bethenny (2012; test run only) |
| Emergency Vets (1998–2002) | E-Vet Interns (2007) |
| Empty Nest (1988–1995) | Nurses (1991–1994) |
| Encantadia (2005–2006) | Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia (2005–2006) |
| Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas (2006) | |
| Encantadia (2016 TV series) (2016) | |
| Essence of Emeril (1994–1996, 2000) | Emeril Live (1997–2007) |
| Every Witch Way (2014–2015) | WITS Academy (2015) |
| Extreme Makeover (2002–2007) | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2003–2012) |
| Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (2011) | |
| Entertainment Tonight (1981–present) | Hard Copy (1989–1999) |
| Real TV (1996–2001) | |
| Maximum Exposure (2000–2002) | |
| The Insider (2004–2017) |
F
editG
editH
editI
editJ
editK
editL
editM
editN
editO
editP
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| Pakdam Pakdai (2013-present) | Sammy Squirrel Show |
| Party of Five (1994–2000) | Time of Your Life (1999–2000) |
| Pardon the Interruption (2001–) | Around the Horn (2002-) Cold Pizza (2003–2007) |
| The Partridge Family (1970–1974) | Getting Together (1971–1972) |
| Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974) | |
| Password (1961–1967, 1971–1975) |
|
| Pawn Stars (2009–) |
|
| Pebble Mill at One (1973–1986) |
|
| The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971–1972) | The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1972–1973) |
| The People's Court (1981–93, 1997–present) | Judge Wapner's Animal Court (1998–2000) |
| Perfect Strangers (1986–1993) | Family Matters (1989–1998) |
| Perry Mason (1957–1966) | The New Perry Mason (1973–1974) |
| Petticoat Junction (1963–1970) | Green Acres (1965–1971) |
| That Peter Kay Thing (2000) | Phoenix Nights (2001–2002) |
| Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere (2004) | |
| Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015) | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb (2010–2011) |
| Pingu (1990-2000, 2003-2006) | The Pingu Show (2006–2007) |
| Pingu in the City (2017-) | |
| The Pink Panther Show (1969–1980) | Pink Panther and Sons (1984–1985) |
| The Pink Panther (1993–1995) | |
| Pink Panther and Pals (2010) | |
| Play for Today (1970–1984) | Rumpole of the Bailey (1975–1992) |
| Boys from the Blackstuff (1980–1982) | |
| Please Sir! (1968–1972) | The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973) |
| Bowler (1973) | |
| Pokémon (1997–) | Pokémon Chronicles (2001-2005) |
| Police Story (1973–1978) | Police Woman (1974–1978) |
| Joe Forrester (1975–1976) | |
| David Cassidy: Man Under Cover (1978–1979) | |
| Popeye the Sailor (1960–1962) | The All-New Popeye Hour (1978–1982) |
| Popeye and Son (1987) | |
| Popstars (1999) (Original series and resulting franchise) |
|
| Porridge (1974–1977) | Going Straight (1978) |
| Postman Pat (1981) | Guess with Jess (2009–2012) |
| Pound Puppies (1985) |
|
| The Practice (1997–2004) | Boston Legal (2004–2008) |
| Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017) |
|
| Primeval (2007–2011) | Primeval: New World (2012–2013) |
| The Professionals (1977–1983) | CI5: The New Professionals (1999) |
| Project Greenlight (2001–2005) |
|
| Property Brothers (2011–present) |
|
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) | Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record (2020) |
| The Pupil (2010–2011) | Code of Law (2012–2020) |
| Derek (2019) | |
| Forensik (2020) |
Q
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003–2007) | Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (2005) |
| Queer Eye (2018-present) |
R
editS
editT
editU
editV
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017) | The Originals (2013–2018) |
| Legacies (2018–2022) | |
| VeggieTales (1993) |
|
| Vic Reeves Big Night Out (1990–1991) | Les Lives (1993) |
| Victorious (2010–2013) | Sam & Cat (2013–2014) |
| The Virginian (1962–1971) | Laredo (1965–1967) |
| Vision On (1964–1976) | Take Hart (1977–1983) |
| Viva La Bam (2003–2005) | Bam's Unholy Union (2007) |
| Bam's World Domination (2010 special) | |
| Voltron (1984–1985) | Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998–2000) |
| Voltron Force (2011–2012) |
W
editX
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| The X Factor (2004–present) | The Xtra Factor (2004) |
| The X Factor: Battle of the Stars (2006) | |
| The X-Files (1993–2002) | Millennium (1996–1999) |
| The Lone Gunmen (2001) | |
| The XYY Man (1976–1977) | Strangers (1978–1982) |
| Bulman (1985–1987) | |
| Xiaolin Showdown (2003–2006) | Xiaolin Chronicles (2013–2015) |
Y
editZ
edit| Parent series | Spin-off series |
|---|---|
| Z-Cars (1962–1978) | Softly, Softly (1966–1969) |
| Zoom (1972–1978) | Zoom (1999–2005) |
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d e Japanese-exclusive series.
- ^ a.k.a. Behind the Music II: Road to Fame or Behind the Music 2.
- ^ Later retitled Kate Columbo, then Kate the Detective and Kate Loves a Mystery from its second season.
- ^ a b a. k. a. The Dick Powell Theater.
- ^ Retitled Gadget Boy's Adventures in History from its second season.
- ^ Legally a spin-off from the M*A*S*H feature film.
- ^ Shared with The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958–1961) and The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959–1961), The Yogi Bear Show (1961–1962), The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series (1962–1963), Jeannie (1973), Speed Buggy (1973), Hong Kong Phooey (1974),The Great Grape Ape Show (1975), The Mumbly Cartoon Show (1976–1977) and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976–1977) respectively.
- ^ Featuring the first seasons of The Scooby-Doo Show (1976–1978) and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976–1977) respectively.
- ^ Crossover with Pinky and the Brain (1995–1998).
- ^ Retitled The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape/Mumbly Show from its second season.
- ^ a.k.a. The Steve Allen Plymouth Show.
- ^ a.k.a. The Jack Paar Tonight Show.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Natalie Abrams (August 14, 2014). "Patricia Arquette returning to 'CSI' before 'CSI: Cyber' kicks off". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
Arquette previously appeared on CSI in a backdoor pilot episode for Cyber last spring.
- ^ Jeff Jensen (September 22, 2006). ""Battlestar Galactica": Inside TV's next great cult hit". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
...Sci Fi Channel's critically exalted reboot of the 1978–79 TV series about space-faring humans fleeing genocidal robots known as Cylons...
- ^ Nellie Andreeva (September 15, 2011). "CW To Reboot 1980s 'Beauty and the Beast'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ Tribune, Chicago (1999-01-20). ""60 Minutes II": The spin-off of CBS's…". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Petski, Denise (2022-01-13). "'60 Minutes+' Streaming Spinoff Canceled After One Season By Paramount Plus". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Alex Farber (March 9, 2011). "BBC3 to air Being Human spin-off". Broadcast. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
Becoming Human, the online extension to BBC3 drama Being Human, is to reach its finale via a simulcast aired online and on the digital channel.
- ^ C. Molly Smith (March 10, 2017). "David Boreanaz reflects on Buffy: 'I was in the right spot at the right time'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, the spin-off.
- ^ James Hibberd (July 15, 2014). "ABC: Here's why 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' didn't work out". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee has a theory about why Once Upon a Time in Wonderland didn't work out. The network executive suggests the Once Upon a Time spin-off was undermined by its time slot.
- ^ Mathew Wace Peck (October 18, 2011). "BBC brings The Sarah Jane Adventures to a close". Digital Journal. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
The Sarah Jane Adventures – which was created by Russell T. Davies (Torchwood) specifically for her – and its spin-off, Sarah Jane's Alien Files.
- ^ "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo! Premieres August 8 @ 10|9c". TLC. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2012.