While there have been some truly awful TV spin-offs over the years, some acclaimed examples have proven it's possible for lightning to strike twice and for a follow-up show to become equally beloved. This can be done in the form of a prequel series that answers questions about what characters were doing before the original show or follow-up stories focusing on side characters that deserved more time in the spotlight. This can work across genres, as there have been some amazing animated, drama, and sitcom spin-offs that have truly stood the test of time.
10 The Jeffersons (1975 - 1985)
All in the Family (1971 - 1979)
The Jeffersons is a comedy family series that follows George and Louise Jefferson, a couple who move to a luxury apartment in Manhattan after George’s dry-cleaning business becomes a big success. The Jeffersons wrestle with maintaining their traditional values while trying to adapt to their new financial status and way of life.
Release Date January 18, 1975
Franchise(s) All In The Family
Cast Isabel Sanford , Sherman Hemsley , Roxie Roker , Franklin Cover , Marla Gibbs
Creator(s) Norman Lear , Don Nicholls , Michael Ross , Bernard West
Seasons 11
Writers Don Nicholl , Michael Ross , Bernie West
Directors Jack Shea , Bob Lally
Showrunner Norman Lear
The Jeffersons was the second of two spin-offs from the popular sitcom All in the Family, with the other being Maude, and focused on the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker, who moved from Queens to Manhattan. As a well-to-do Black couple, George and Louise Jefferson were a prime example of positive representation on television at the time, although the show did not shy away from addressing issues of alcoholism, race, gun control, the KKK, and being transgender. These were trailblazing topics for their time, as series developer Norman Lear spearheaded addressing important social issues through comedy.
As a nuanced portrayal of a successful Black family, The Jeffersons normalized this depiction in a way few programs before it had, as it broke down stereotypes and paved the way for future sitcoms with predominantly Black casts. The Jeffersons even had another show, Checking In, spun off from it that focused on the Jeffersons’ maid, although this was not successful and only ran for four episodes. With 253 episodes, The Jeffersons was one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time.
9 The Legend of Korra (2012 - 2014)
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 - 2008)
This spinoff of Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the titular Korra, the new generation's Avatar and reincarnation of Aang. As an Avatar, Korra can bend all four elements, and the show follows her adventure through the difficulties in a rapidly growing world.
Release Date April 14, 2012
Cast Janet Varney , P.J. Byrne , David Faustino , J.K. Simmons , Jeff Bennett , Dee Bradley Baker , Seychelle Gabriel , Mindy Sterling Creator(s) michael dante dimartino , bryan konietzko
Seasons 4
Writers michael dante dimartino , bryan konietzko
Directors Joaquim Dos Santos
Showrunner bryan konietzko
The richly imagined and complex world of Avatar: The Last Airbender was expanded upon in the stand-alone sequel series, The Legend of Korra. This fascinating follow-up told the story of Korra, the successor and reincarnation of Aang from the previous show, as she faced new challenges in a rapidly modernized world. While both shows had themes of personal growth and societal conflict, The Legend of Korra was more outrightly political than Avatar, as issues of gender, ideology, and sexuality came to the forefront.
By delving into themes of social unrest and terrorism, The Legend of Korra opted to dig deeper into the ethical questions and political complexity of a world where people are separated in their different nations. As those from the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads struggle to live in harmony, Korra faces the daunting challenge of representing all four while also coming to terms with her own coming-of-age story. While it was hard to live up to the animated masterpiece that was Avatar, The Legend of Korra was a worthy follow-up.
8 Daria (1997 - 2002)
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993 - 2011, 2022 - 2023)
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Daria is an animated television series that follows Daria Morgendorffer, a smart, sarcastic, and socially awkward teenager, as she navigates high school life in the fictional suburb of Lawndale. The show explores themes of societal expectations, intellectualism, and adolescence, all while highlighting Daria's unique perspective and dry humor.
Release Date March 3, 1997
Finale Year November 30, 2001
Network MTV
Cast Tracy Grandstaff , Wendy Hoopes , Julian Rebolledo , John Lynn , Lisa Collins , Marc Thompson , Ashley Paige Albert , Jessica Cydnee Jackson
Character(s) Trent Lane (voice) , Jodie Landon (voice) , Sick, Sad World's Announcer (voice) , Brittany Taylor / Sandi Griffin (voice) , Kevin Thompson (voice) , Daria Morgendorffer (voice) , Jane Lane / Quinn Morgendorffer / Helen Morgendorffer (voice) , Dog (voice) , Charles "Upchuck" Ruttheimer III (voice) , Stacy Rowe (voice) , Tiffany Blum-Deckler (voice) , Uncredited , Eric Schrecter (voice) , Michael Jordan 'Mack' Mackenzie (voice) , Ms. Angela Li (voice) , Marianne (voice) , Theresa (voice)
Creator(s) Glenn Eichler , Susie Lewis
Producers Glenn Eichler , Abby Terkuhle , Susie Lewis , John Andrews
Seasons 5
Writers Jonathan Greenberg , Neena Beber , Rachel Lipman , Rachelle Romberg , Jill Cargerman , Peggy Nicoll , Dan Vebber , Anne D. Bernstein , Chris Marcil , Peter Gaffney
Directors Chris Prynoski , Karen Hyden , Tony Kluck , Ken Kimmelman , Aaron Augenblick , Patrick Smith , Anthony Davis , Joey Ahlbum , Ray Kosarin , Karen Disher , Eric Fogel
While both Daria and Beavis and Butt-Head satirized American pop culture during the 1990s, they each did so in vastly different ways. Daria Morgendorffer started off as a recurring character in Beavis and Butt-Head, who acted as an intelligent female foil to the two main characters and whose sardonic and quick-witted responses made her a fan favorite. While Beavis and Butt-Head was categorized by its crude and lowbrow humor as the boys were unaware of their own sheer stupidity, in Daria, things were more deadpan and intellectual as she scoffed at the absurdities of suburban life.
Daria was a celebration of misfits and those who stood against the status quo of modern life and was the perfect encapsulation of the low-energy, anti-corporate stance of Generation X teenagers. While Daria started life as a spin-off, it was not overseen by Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge and instead carved out its legacy and identity through Daria’s unapologetic intelligence and independence, making her a feminist icon. As one of the best female cartoon characters of all time, Daria deserves its spot among the greatest spin-offs ever.
7 Torchwood (2006 - 2011)
Doctor Who (1963 - Present)
This Doctor Who spinoff follows the adventures of beloved character Captain Jack Harkness as he works for the Torchwood Institute, a small team in Cardiff dedicated to investigating extraterrestrial phenomena.
Release Date October 22, 2006
Franchise(s) Doctor Who
Seasons 4
Writers Russell T. Davies
Directors Andy Goddard
Showrunner Andy Goddard
As the longest-running sci-fi show of all time, it’s no surprise that Doctor Who has had plenty of spin-offs, with Torchwood being the very best. Although series like The Sarah Jane Adventures and Tales of the TARDIS have expanded the Whoniverse, the way that Torchwood took the kid-friendly aesthetic of Doctor Who and tackled darker, more mature themes of existentialism, corruption, and LGBTQ+ issues was admirable. Torchwood followed a team of alien hunters and was led by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), an immortal man who first appeared in season 1 of the 2005 Doctor Who revival.
While Torchwood took some time to find its feet, the mixed reception to its first season was due to its growing pains, as a higher budget and more consistent tone led to it receiving widespread acclaim in later seasons. Torchwood helped expand the mythos of Doctor Who away from the Doctor’s legacy, as its more dramatic elements and exploitation of adolescent themes were a welcome development.
6 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 - Present)
Law & Order (1990 - 2010, 2022 - Present)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit centers on the NYPD's Special Victims Unit, a specialized team of detectives who investigate and solve cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Under the leadership of Captain Olivia Benson, the unit deals with complex and sensitive crimes, balancing empathy for victims with the pursuit of justice.
Release Date September 20, 1999
Cast Christopher Meloni , Mariska Hargitay , Richard Belzer , Dann Florek , Michelle Hurd , Stephanie March , Ice-T , BD Wong , Diane Neal , Tamara Tunie , Adam Beach , Michaela McManus , Danny Pino , Kelli Giddish , Raúl Esparza , Peter Scanavino Creator(s) Dick Wolf
Seasons 24
Writers Dick Wolf
Directors David Platt , Jean de Segonzac , Peter Leto , Alex Chapple
Showrunner Robert Palm , David J. Bruke , Neal Baer , Warren Leight , Rick Eid , Michael S. Chernuchin , David Graziano
The Law & Order franchise consists of various spin-offs, films, and crossovers, all dealing with some aspect of the criminal justice system and amounting to over 1,000 hours of programming. While this all began with the original Law & Order series, the spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is arguably even better and has now run for more seasons than the show it was based on. While Law & Order was often more grounded in the everyday complexities of the legal system, SVU took things a step further as it tackled darker themes of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
By focusing on the psychological impact of crimes on victims, Law & Order: SVU often had higher stakes as the elite Special Victims Unit of the NYPD handled the cases. With an ensemble cast of detectives and lawyers, SVU was led by Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) for its first 12 seasons. In line with the ever-expanding world of Law & Order, SVU even had its own spin-off show titled Law & Order: Organized Crime, which saw Meloni return to his role as Detective Stabler.
5 Angel (1999 - 2004)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)
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A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is a drama series with supernatural elements that stars David Boreanaz, reprising his role as the titular vampire. An immortal cursed with his human soul returning to his body, which makes him susceptible to human emotions such as remorse. Angel lives in Los Angeles as a private detective, seeking redemption for his murderous past as a vicious warlord. Angel will face threats such as humans and demons that rival his own cruel potential as he ventures to help those in need.
Release Date October 5, 1999
Finale Year November 30, 2003
Seasons 5
Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Dis Showrunner David Greenwalt
The supernatural world of vampires and demons seen in Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer was an essential show for understanding the 1990s. With Sarah Michelle Gellar as the feminist icon vampire-slaying teenager Buffy Summers, it was ironic that she first found love with someone who represented the exact thing she was chosen to destroy, the vampire with a soul named Angel (David Boreanaz.) As one of Buffy’s breakout characters, it made sense that after leaving Sunnydale for Los Angeles, Angel’s story was continued in the spin-off series that bore his name.
While the stories in Buffy often acted as allegories for growing up and trials of adolescence, Angel had a grittier, noir tone and explored his attempts at redemption and making up for the evil deeds of his ruthless past. While both shows complemented one another and featured plenty of crossover episodes, Angel’s work as a private detective saving lost souls along the way made for a more complex and brooding antihero story, as opposed to the Chosen One narrative of Buffy’s role as the Slayer.
4 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994)
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 - 1969)
Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.
Release Date September 28, 1987
Seasons 7
Writers Gene Roddenberry
Directors David Carson
Showrunner Gene Roddenberry
Star Trek: The Original Series was a trailblazing series born out of the social upheaval and progressive aspirations of the 1960s, which, although not a massive hit at the time, grew in popularity due to syndication in the following years. This delayed appreciation led to the development of Star Trek movies with the original cast and eventually a new reboot titled Star Trek: The Next Generation in the 1980s. The Next Generation once again was informed by the political circumstances of its time as the end of the Cold War led to an optimistic outlook on the potential for diplomacy.
Led by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), the new crew of The Next Generation represented a true ensemble as characters such as Data addressed technology and artificial intelligence while the cultural diversity of the original series was maintained. Through clever explorations of philosophical quandaries, The Next Generation delved into moral dilemmas and ethical debates with a thoughtful, introspective approach. As the first Star Trek spin-off with a new cast, The Next Generation showcased this franchise’s potential to flourish away from the adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.
3 Frasier (1993 - 2004)
Cheers (1982 - 1993)
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Fraiser is a comedy-drama sitcom that stars Kelsey Grammer as a psychiatrist who takes up the role of a radio show host in Seattle after his life in Boston is upheaved. A spin-off of the series Cheers, Fraiser follows the titular character adjusting to the single life while caring for his father (a retired police officer,) his brother, and other eccentric co-workers.
Release Date September 16, 1993
Seasons 11
Writers David Angell , Peter Casey , David Lee
The character of Frasier Crane was created for the third season of Cheers and was intended to only appear in a handful of episodes, although Kelsey Grammer’s performance was impactful that he’s still playing him to this day. The intellectualism of Frasier represented Sam Malone’s (Ted Danson) total opposite, although this one-note character was imbued with complexity and a rich backstory as he was further expanded upon. Frasier’s story continued well past Cheers as his spin-off show followed his life in Seattle when he returned to his hometown to host a psychology radio show.
The astounding success of Frasier represented the definitive example of a spin-off done right, as an underdeveloped but engaging character gets their time in the spotlight. Grammer won four Emmy Awards out of eleven nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which was a testament to his impeccable talent for playing the character. The popularity of Frasier meant the show was even revived in 2022 by Paramount+, which focuses on Frasier moving back to Boston.
2 The Simpsons (1989 - Present)
The Tracey Ullman Show (1987 - 1990)
The Simpsons is a long-running animated TV series created by Matt Groening that satirically follows a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. Homer, a bit of a schmoe who works at a nuclear power plant, is the provider for his family, while his wife, Marge, tries to keep sanity and reason in the house to the best of her ability. Bart is a born troublemaker, and Lisa is his super-intelligent sister who finds herself surrounded by people who can't understand her. Finally, Maggie is the mysterious baby who acts as a deus ex machina when the series calls for it. The show puts the family in several wild situations while constantly tackling socio-political and pop-culture topics set within their world, providing an often sharp critique of the subjects covered in each episode. This series first premiered in 1989 and has been a staple of Fox's programming schedule ever since!
Release Date December 17, 1989
Franchise(s) The Simpsons
Network FOX
Seasons 36
Writers Matt Groening , James L. Brooks , Sam Simon
Directors David Silverman , Jim Reardon , Mark Kirkland
Showrunner Al Jean
Not everyone will be aware that The Simpsons was actually a spin-off and began life as a series of short sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show. The Simpsons were just a minor part of this variety show, which makes it all the more astounding that it went on to become the longest-running American scripted primetime television series of all time, animated or otherwise. While the legacy of Springfield’s most famous family has certainly outpaced The Tracey Ullman Show, it’s interesting to note where it all started.
The haphazard history of how The Simpsons came to be makes it all the more impressive that it became such a worldwide phenomenon. The Simpsons creator Matt Groening only pitched the show to The Tracey Ullman Show producer James L. Brooks because Brooks wanted to adapt his Life in Hell comic series. However, Groening reportedly feared losing the rights and hastily sketched out an idea for The Simpsons (via Slash Film.) With the characters named after his own family members, the only reason The Simpsons existed in the first place was because Groening panicked in Brooks’ lobby before their meeting.
1 Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022)
Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy's evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
Release Date February 8, 2015
Franchise(s) Breaking Bad
Finale Year November 30, 2021
Cast Adam Dorn , Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Peter Gould , Rhea Seehorn , Stacy Keach , Thomas Golubić , Thomas Schnauz , Vince Gilligan , Dave Porter , Junior Brown , Rob Estrada , Gordon Smith , Michael McKean , Patrick Fabian , Michael Mando , Tony Dalton , Giancarlo Esposito , Stoney Westmoreland , Alex Désert , Elisha Yaffe , Chris Mulkey , Jim Beaver , Raymond Cruz , Teddy Eggleston Character(s) Self - Songwriter , Jimmy McGill , Self - Mike , Self - Showrunner , Self - Kim , Narrator (voice) , Self - Music Supervisor , Self - Co-Executive Producer , Self - Showrunner / Songwriter , Self - Composer , Self - Musician , Police Officer , Self - Writer , Chuck McGill , Howard Hamlin , Nacho Varga , Lalo Salamanca , Gus Fring , Officer Saxton , Officer Baker , Lance , Billy Gatwood , Lawson , Tuco Salamanca , Mrs. Siemasko
Producers Bob Odenkirk , Mark Johnson , Robin Sweet , Diane Mercer , James Powers , Alison Tatlock , Princess O'Mahoney , Stewart Lyons , Gennifer Hutchison , Nina Jack Seasons 6
Writers Ann Cherkis , Marion Dayre , Ariel Levine , Jonathan Glatzer
Directors Vince Gilligan , Thomas Schnauz , Peter Gould , Michael Morris , Adam Bernstein , Colin Bucksey , John Shiban , Michelle MacLaren , Melissa Bernstein , Larysa Kondracki , Terry McDonough , Gordon Smith , Minkie Spiro , Jim McKay , Daniel Sackheim , Andrew Stanton , Norberto Barba , Rhea Seehorn , Scott Winant , Michael Slovis , Keith Gordon , Deborah Chow , Giancarlo Esposito , Bronwen Hughes Showrunner Peter Gould
When Breaking Bad concluded with one of the best finales ever, the idea of a spin-off focusing on the shady lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) was intriguing but also worrying. There was a fear that a badly executed spin-off could tarnish the legacy of one of the best shows of all time, yet Better Call Saul managed to live up to these lofty expectations. There’s an argument to be made that Better Call Saul was even better than Breaking Bad, as its exploration of how Jimmy McGill turned into the corrupt accomplice of Walter White made for truly compelling viewing.
Better Call Saul was a complex character study that carried forward the strong writing and deep symbolism of Breaking Bad with an equally impressive style. Although audiences knew where Saul’s story would end up, the journey of how he got there made for compelling viewing, and the introduction of new characters like Kim Wexler and Lalo Salamanca gave the show its unique identity. While making a spin-off to one of the all-time great television shows was never going to be easy, Better Call Saul showed it was possible to do this in a creatively fulfilling and crowd-pleasing manner.
Source: Slash Film
Custom image by Yeider Chacon.
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