Making a list of the best spin-offs of all time seemed like a daunting task because there have been some really great ones. Who knows what makes a successful spin-off? Maybe sometimes it’s just purely luck. All I know is that there are some really amazing ones out there! Here are seven of the best spin-offs of all time!
“The Simpsons” is not only one of the most successful and best spin-offs on this list, but it also surprised me the most. Much like “AbFab,” this show started out on a sketch show. This is a spin-off of “The Tracey Ullman Show” and has been on for 24 seasons. “The Simpsons” shows no sign of slowing down! This may not be my favorite show on TV, but it really deserves a lot of credit for lasting this long – especially since it’s a spin-off!
I love “Laverne and Shirley"! This isn’t one of the shows that came as a surprise to belong on this list. I’ve seen almost every episode of this fantastic eight season spin-off of “Happy Days.” Sometimes I can’t decide whether I like “Laverne and Shirley” or “Happy Days” better! It’s quite the dilemma. Laverne, Shirley, and the rest of the characters are all so lovable, I don’t know how anyone could dislike the show. They also do some really great crossover episodes!
"Absolutely Fabulous," or “AbFab,” is another one of the shows that I didn’t know was a spin-off. I also didn’t realize that there were only five seasons since they spanned over 20 years (1992-2012). “AbFab” started on “French and Saunders,” which was a comedy sketch show that featured a sketch called Modern Mother and Daughter. This sketch is where “AbFab” was born. They took the sketch and turned it into a hilarious show. I think this is my favorite show on the list!
“The Jeffersons” has one of the most recognizable theme songs I’ve ever heard. This is one show that I knew was an “All in the Family” spin-off. The Jeffersons lived next door to the Bunkers in “All in the Family” and in their spin-off it shows them moving away, which disconnects them from their life on the original show. This was a really successful spin-off that lasted 11 seasons before it went off the air. I haven’t seen too many episodes, but what I have seen is really enjoyable.
This is another show I had no idea was a spin-off! “The Facts of Life” was a spin-off of the show “Diff’rent Strokes.” I’ve watched some of both of these shows and still never realized that “The Facts of Life” was a spin-off. I also never realized that it lasted nine seasons! I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy this show. Sometimes spin-offs just don’t work, but this is one that definitely did.
“Frasier” was a spin-off of “Cheers” that lasted for 11 seasons! I had no idea that it was on for that long, but I’m not surprised. I love this show. I don’t know what it is about this show that made it so successful, but it was a huge hit. There were a lot of great characters, smart comedy, and really great writing, so that probably had to do with its success. No matter what the reasoning is, this show definitely deserves a spot on a list of the best spin-offs of all time.
There are a few shows on this list I didn’t know were spin-offs and this is one of them! “Daria” was a spin-off of “Beavis and Butthead.” I never really got into “Beavis and Butthead,” but I love love love “Daria”! I mean who wouldn’t?! Filled with sarcasm, a great theme song, and hilarious characters, it’s a great show to watch when you’re looking for a good laugh. There were only five seasons, but sometimes it’s about quality over quantity.
Spin-offs aren’t always good, but these are some really great ones! I know that there are a lot more that I wasn’t able to put on this list. Which would you have put on a list? Are there any on here you disagree with?
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