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 โ 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.
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). 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, 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.
NBCโs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-), which is the spin-off of NBCโs 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.
#
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
7 vidas (1999โ2006) | Aรญda (2005โ2014) |
9-1-1 (TV series) (2018) | 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) |
19 Kids and Counting (2008โ2015) (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 (2009โ2014) | Teen Mom (2009โ2012; 2015) |
Teen Mom 2 (2011โ2022) | |
Teen Mom 3 (2013) | |
The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955โ1957) | Broken Arrow (1956โ1958) |
21 Jump Street (1987โ1991) | Booker (1989โ1990) |
24 (2001โ2010, 2014) | 24: Legacy (2017) |
60 Minutes (1968โ) | 60 Minutes II (1999โ2005) |
No. 73 (1982โ1988) | 7T3 (1988) |
77 Sunset Strip (1958โ1964) | Bourbon Street Beat (1959โ1960) |
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
Jackass (2000โ2002) |
|
The Jackie Gleason Show (1949โ1957) | The Honeymooners (1955โ1956) |
JAG (1995โ2005) | NCIS (2003โpresent) |
The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (2006โ2008) | Christmas with the Dickinsons (2006) Janice & Abbey (2007) |
The Jeffersons (1975โ1985) | Checking In (1981) |
The Jerry Springer Show (1991-2018) | The Steve Wilkos Show (2007-) |
Jersey Shore (2009โ2012) |
|
Jessie (2011โ2015) | Bunk'd (2015โ) |
The Jim Henson Hour (1989โ1993) | Dog City (1992โ1994) |
Jon & Kate Plus 8 (2007โ2009) | Kate Plus 8 (2010โ2017) |
Jonny Quest (1964โ1965) | The New Adventures of Jonny Quest (1986โ1987) |
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996โ1997) | |
Judge Judy (1996โ2021) | Judy Justice (2021โpresent) |
Justice League (2001โ2004) | Justice League Unlimited (2004โ2006) |
K
L
M
N
O
P
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
Pakdam Pakdai (2013-present) | Sammy Squirrel Show |
Party of Five (1994โ2000) | Time of Your Life (1999โ2000) |
Pardon the Interruption (2001โ) | Around the Horn (2002-) Cold Pizza (2003โ2007) |
The Partridge Family (1970โ1974) | Getting Together (1971โ1972) |
Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974) | |
Password (1961โ1967, 1971โ1975) |
|
Pawn Stars (2009โ) |
|
Pebble Mill at One (1973โ1986) |
|
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971โ1972) | The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1972โ1973) |
The People's Court (1981โ93, 1997โpresent) | Judge Wapner's Animal Court (1998โ2000) |
Perfect Strangers (1986โ1993) | Family Matters (1989โ1998) |
Perry Mason (1957โ1966) | The New Perry Mason (1973โ1974) |
Petticoat Junction (1963โ1970) | Green Acres (1965โ1971) |
That Peter Kay Thing (2000) | Phoenix Nights (2001โ2002) |
Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere (2004) | |
Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015) | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb (2010โ2011) |
Pingu (1990-2000, 2003-2006) | The Pingu Show (2006โ2007) |
Pingu in the City (2017-) | |
The Pink Panther Show (1969โ1980) | Pink Panther and Sons (1984โ1985) |
The Pink Panther (1993โ1995) | |
Pink Panther and Pals (2010) | |
Play for Today (1970โ1984) | Rumpole of the Bailey (1975โ1992) |
Boys from the Blackstuff (1980โ1982) | |
Please Sir! (1968โ1972) | The Fenn Street Gang (1971โ1973) |
Bowler (1973) | |
Pokรฉmon (1997โ) | Pokรฉmon Chronicles (2001-2005) |
Police Story (1973โ1978) | Police Woman (1974โ1978) |
Joe Forrester (1975โ1976) | |
David Cassidy: Man Under Cover (1978โ1979) | |
Popeye the Sailor (1960โ1962) | The All-New Popeye Hour (1978โ1982) |
Popeye and Son (1987) | |
Popstars (1999) (Original series and resulting franchise) |
|
Porridge (1974โ1977) | Going Straight (1978) |
Postman Pat (1981) | Guess with Jess (2009โ2012) |
Pound Puppies (1985) |
|
The Practice (1997โ2004) | Boston Legal (2004โ2008) |
Pretty Little Liars (2010โ2017) |
|
Primeval (2007โ2011) | Primeval: New World (2012โ2013) |
The Professionals (1977โ1983) | CI5: The New Professionals (1999) |
Project Greenlight (2001โ2005) |
|
Property Brothers (2011โpresent) |
|
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) | Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record (2020) |
The Pupil (2010โ2011) | Code of Law (2012โ2020) |
Derek (2019) | |
Forensik (2020) |
Q
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003โ2007) | Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (2005) |
Queer Eye (2018-present) |
R
S
T
U
V
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
The Vampire Diaries (2009โ2017) | The Originals (2013โ2018) |
Legacies (2018โ2022) | |
VeggieTales (1993) |
|
Vic Reeves Big Night Out (1990โ1991) | Les Lives (1993) |
Victorious (2010โ2013) | Sam & Cat (2013โ2014) |
The Virginian (1962โ1971) | Laredo (1965โ1967) |
Vision On (1964โ1976) | Take Hart (1977โ1983) |
Viva La Bam (2003โ2005) | Bam's Unholy Union (2007) |
Bam's World Domination (2010 special) | |
Voltron (1984โ1985) | Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998โ2000) |
Voltron Force (2011โ2012) |
W
X
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
The X Factor (2004โpresent) | The Xtra Factor (2004) |
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars (2006) | |
The X-Files (1993โ2002) | Millennium (1996โ1999) |
The Lone Gunmen (2001) | |
The XYY Man (1976โ1977) | Strangers (1978โ1982) |
Bulman (1985โ1987) | |
Xiaolin Showdown (2003โ2006) | Xiaolin Chronicles (2013โ2015) |
Y
Z
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
Z-Cars (1962โ1978) | Softly, Softly (1966โ1969) |
Zoom (1972โ1978) | Zoom (1999โ2005) |
Notes
- ^ Japanese-exclusive series.
- Later retitled Kate Columbo, then Kate the Detective and Kate Loves a Mystery from its second season.
- ^ 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 (1958โ1961) and The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959โ1961), The Yogi Bear Show (1961โ1962), The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series (1962โ1963), Jeannie (1973), Speed Buggy (1973), Hong Kong Phooey (1974),The Great Grape Ape Show (1975), The Mumbly Cartoon Show (1976โ1977) and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976โ1977) respectively.
- Featuring the first seasons of The Scooby-Doo Show (1976โ1978) and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976โ1977) respectively.
- Crossover with Pinky and the Brain (1995โ1998).
- 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
- List of American television series based on British television series
- Television shows that spun off from anthology series
- List of animated spin-offs from prime time shows
- List of television series revivals
References
- 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 1978โ79 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.
- 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 โ which was created by Russell T. Davies (Torchwood) specifically for her โ 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.