You’d be surprised at how many iconic television shows are spin-offs of already popular sitcoms.
The Jeffersons, for example, is a spin-off of All in the Family. Xena: Warrior Princess is a spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. So on and so forth.
While not every spin-off is as good as the original (looking at you, Joey), there are some examples where the spin-off is arguably better than the original show.
The Honeymooners
One of the most acclaimed and successful sitcoms of all time, The Honeymooners was actually a spin-off of The Jackie Gleason Show.
Ralph Kramden was a character from The Jackie Gleason Show whose popularity grew so large that Gleason developed the sketch into its own sitcom.
Beavis and Butt-Head
Mike Judge’s classic characters made their debut in the early 1990s on the MTV series Liquid Television.
Beavis and Butt-Head were the breakout shorts from the show, resulting in the development of their own series.
The Simpsons
A far more famous example of an animated spin-off is The Simpsons, which debuted in 1989 and, over 800 episodes later, is still running today.
The characters first appeared on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987.
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Lamb Chop’s Play-Along
Growing up in the ’90s meant I was the perfect age for Lamb Chop’s Play-Along. I have fond memories of growing up with host Shari Lewis, whom I saw live in person, Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy.
You better believe I still know all the lyrics to “The Song That Doesn’t End.”
Law and Order: SVU
Law and Order is one of the best police dramas in television history, but SVU is on another level. Like many millennials, I spent plenty of weekends in college watching marathons on USA.
Not necessarily because nothing else was on, but because the show is fantastic.
Better Call Saul
I remember people scoffing at the idea of a Breaking Bad spin-off that focused on the eccentric lawyer. Then again, people scoffed at the idea of Bryan Cranstoun playing Walter White, but I digress.
Better Call Saul is a perfect series from start to finish, filled with brilliant writing, perfect cinematography, and unforgettable characters. There’s nothing else quite like it on television.
Frasier
Another example of an arguably perfect show becoming even better, though the idea of a show revolving around Frasier Crane was certainly an easier pitch to audiences.
Fraiser remains as intelligent and witty today as it did in the ’90s. Let’s just forget the revival exists.
Saved By The Bell
Debuting in 1987, Good Morning, Miss Bliss focuses on a junior high school teacher.
However, the show failed to find an audience, so it was retooled and spun off to instead feature the kids: Zack Morris, Kelly Kapowski, Screech, and several other familiar names.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Look, Star Trek is iconic, and there’s no denying that. However, even the biggest Trekkie will admit that the original series is uneven at times.
The Next Generation fires on all cylinders, delivering the same Star Trek magic we all know and love along with some of the franchise’s most iconic characters.
Family Matters
Originally, Family Matters was designed as a spin-off of Perfect Strangers centered around the Winslow family.
Of course, Steve Urkel stole the show and the rest of history. Ironically, I’m not sure if the sitcom would have been as successful if it hadn’t for the breakout of Urkel.
Happy Days
The original pilot of Happy Days was featured in the anthology series Love, American Style in 1972.
However, the show wasn’t picked up until after the 1973 George Lucas film American Graffiti, thanks to Ron Howard’s performance. It generated renewed interest in Happy Days, which Howard starred in, and led to an eleven-season run.
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