Successful shows WITHOUT Spinoffs

[Mozenrath]

Most shows that are big hits get spinoffs, some of which do well, many of which die off. All in the Family had a ton of spinoffs, for instance, with Archie's Place, The Jeffersons, Gloria, and then, there was Maude. Some of them outlive their parent show, like Family Matters eclipsing Perfect Strangers.

I imagine this may be a less common occurrence with UK television, though I know it certainly happens from time to time. (Man About the House had Robin's Nest. In the US, this was adapted to Three's Company, which got Three's A Crowd/Three's Company, Too, which was cancelled in favor of picking up Diff'rent Strokes, which had been cancelled by a rival network)

It got me thinking, what are some successful shows that haven't seen spinoffs occur? The Simpsons is probably one of the bigger examples, given its lifespan, success, and pop culture presence. I don't count The Critic or other shows that have had crossover episodes, as they were not spinoffs initially. That's arguably a shared universe, sure, but it's different from something like Buffy to Angel, etc.

Some shows like Married with Children had backdoor pilots, which is to say, episodes that heavily featured characters who were intended to get their own show, but it didn't follow through. If you want to count filmed pilots, be my guest, but if all it got was the backdoor pilot in the form of an episode of the parent show, and not even a dedicated pilot, I don't think that really ought to count.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

As terrible as it was, 2 and a Half Men was a pretty successful show and there's no hint of a spin off to that.

[DSR]

The Office (US) had a backdoor pilot for a Dwight spinoff made, but it aired as a regular Office episode. Parks and Rec had the same producers and faux-documentary format, but none of the characters from one carried over to the other. Though David Brent from the British version showed up eventually, so would the US version count as a spinoff of the British?

[Mozenrath]

Jan 22, 2018 5:15:01 GMT -5 DSR said:

The Office (US) had a backdoor pilot for a Dwight spinoff made, but it aired as a regular Office episode. Parks and Rec had the same producers and faux-documentary format, but none of the characters from one carried over to the other. Though David Brent from the British version showed up eventually, so would the US version count as a spinoff of the British?

I'd call that like, a shared universe after the fact, though hey, that's just my judgment call. Like the people who decide what is or isn't in the "Tommy Westphall Universe", some of that's up to the eye of the beholder. Count it if you like.

[Glitch]

One of the most successful shows, Seinfeld.
The chemistry of the main four wouldn't work any other way. The other cast members got their own shows after Seinfeld went off the air, but not as their respected characters.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

I also came in to say Seinfeld.

[The Unconquered Sun]

While it was a spinoff, the Simpsons never had one.
NO THAT EPISODE DOES NOT COUNT DAMMIT!!!

[Mozenrath]

Jan 22, 2018 8:23:33 GMT -5 The Unconquered Sun said:

While it was a spinoff, the Simpsons never had one.
NO THAT EPISODE DOES NOT COUNT DAMMIT!!!

Oh, duh, I completely forgot that Simpsons itself was a spinoff.

Yeah, Seinfeld may be the biggest show to not have one or been one, then.

[Stu]

Friends ..... nope, that had Joey.

Walking Dea ..... Dammit, that had one, too.

Supernatur ...... Cripes, they had one failed attempt and another one just happened last week.



Um, Gilligan's Island?

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Jan 22, 2018 10:01:07 GMT -5 Stu said:

Friends ..... nope, that had Joey.

Walking Dea ..... Dammit, that had one, too.

Supernatur ...... Cripes, they had one failed attempt and another effort just happened last week.



Um, Gilligan's Island? Did that get one?

[Stu]

^^^

Well gawd damn. Animated versions count?


What about How I Met Your Mother? It almost got a spinoff, but it didn't happen!

[CMWaters]

South Park hasn't had a spin-off yet (video games don't count).

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

Modern Family is yet to have one.

Did Roseanne ever have one? Or do revivals count or that will take it out very soon (similar to Will & Grace)

Also ER never had one (I do recall it crossing over with Third Watch though), which is surprising considering they could have done different cities etc.

[Mozenrath]

Jan 22, 2018 10:18:44 GMT -5 I'm Team Bayley and Indi said:

Modern Family is yet to have one.

Did Roseanne ever have one? Or do revivals count or that will take it out very soon (similar to Will & Grace)

Also ER never had one (I do recall it crossing over with Third Watch though), which is surprising considering they could have done different cities etc.

I count those as being the same series if it's like Twin Peaks and dubbed another season. Only time I count it as a spinoff is if it gets a new name like Fuller House.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Did Night Court have one?

[Shy Guy]

The Sopranos

[Gravedigger's Biscuits]

Scrubs technically never had one, even though that's what they wanted Season 9 to be.

[Bang Bang Bart]

I was gonna say Power Rangers, but they did have a spinoff in the form of Masked Rider (the failed Americanization of Kamen Rider). Said show ended up pretty much ignoring the existence of the Power Rangers anyway after the initial crossover from MMPR S3.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Jan 22, 2018 10:18:44 GMT -5 I'm Team Bayley and Indi said:

Modern Family is yet to have one.

They considered one a couple of years back and talk of one has kinda resurfaced in the last few weeks cause they just had some milestone episode.

That 70s Show didn't have a spinoff right? Was that 80s show in any way connected to it?

[Bang Bang Bart]

Jan 22, 2018 5:08:25 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Most shows that are big hits get spinoffs, some of which do well, many of which die off. All in the Family had a ton of spinoffs, for instance, with Archie's Place, The Jeffersons, Gloria, and then, there was Maude. Some of them outlive their parent show, like Family Matters eclipsing Perfect Strangers.

I imagine this may be a less common occurrence with UK television, though I know it certainly happens from time to time. (Man About the House had Robin's Nest. In the US, this was adapted to Three's Company, which got Three's A Crowd/Three's Company, Too, which was cancelled in favor of picking up Diff'rent Strokes, which had been cancelled by a rival network)

It got me thinking, what are some successful shows that haven't seen spinoffs occur? The Simpsons is probably one of the bigger examples, given its lifespan, success, and pop culture presence. I don't count The Critic or other shows that have had crossover episodes, as they were not spinoffs initially. That's arguably a shared universe, sure, but it's different from something like Buffy to Angel, etc.

Some shows like Married with Children had backdoor pilots, which is to say, episodes that heavily featured characters who were intended to get their own show, but it didn't follow through. If you want to count filmed pilots, be my guest, but if all it got was the backdoor pilot in the form of an episode of the parent show, and not even a dedicated pilot, I don't think that really ought to count.

Ironically, The Simpsons spoofed spinoffs with the hilarious "Simpson Spinoff Showcase" episode.