What are the worst TV spin-offs in history? This list includes some truly terrible TV spin-off shows created when studio execs tried to capitalize on the glory and popularity of other popular shows. In theory, spinoffs allow faithful viewers of the original shows the chance to learn more about some of the beloved original characters. In practice, however, many of these bad spinoff shows were not only poorly executed, but also centered around characters that nobody really cared about in the first place. I mean, did anyone really care what happened when "Cheers" waitress Carla's ex-husband remarried? No one did. No one - and that's why "The Tortellis" only ran for half a season.
Be sure to add any memorable spin-off series that I missed - and check on this list of the best tv spin-offs to vote on the ones that actually did work. Also, feel free to rerank this list any way you like.
Why mess with a good thing? If a specific TV show ran for a long time and was extremely popular, why spin it off? You run the risk of winding up with a sucky show, one that's so bad it threatens to ruin the fond memories of the original program. Need proof? Let's discuss 'Joey': After 'Friends' ended, NBC decided that it just had to give Matt LeBlanc a spin-off sitcom. Sure, he's a talented guy, and everyone loved Joey on 'Friends,' (one of the greatest TV shows of all time) but could he carry a show solo? No. No, he could not. 'Joey' was, in a word, forgettable. NBC yanked it off the air midway through its second season. Bad, bad idea.
Other terrible TV spin-offs include the absolutely horrific hot mess 'Joanie Loves Chachi,' a spin-off of Garry Marshall's wildly successful sitcom 'Happy Days.' Look, it's cool that Joanie did, in fact, love Chachi, but a whole show surrounding just them? Ugh. Somehow, 'Joanie Loves Chachi' did last for 17 episodes before it was canceled.
Look, it's hard not to want more when you love a particular TV show that goes off the air, for whatever reason. Good things do end, however, and that does not mean you have to try and milk the popularity of a particular show for all it's worth. Sometimes, it is truly best to leave things alone. That's what this list is all about. Now, go vote!1
438227Joey
Matt LeBlanc, Paulo CostanzoPremiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Joey is an American sitcom, a spin-off from Friends, which stars Matt LeBlanc reprising his... more2
315188Joanie Loves Chachi
Scott Baio, Erin MoranPremiered: 1982
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Joanie Loves Chachi is an American television spin-off of the American sitcom Happy Days that... more3
311151That '80s Show
Glenn Howerton, Tinsley GrimesPremiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
That '80s Show is an American sitcom that aired from January through May 2002. Despite having... more4
284162Three's a Crowd
John Ritter, Jessica WalterPremiered: 1984
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Three's a Crowd is an American television sitcom sequel to Three's Company. It is loosely... more5
254154AfterMASH
Rosalind Chao, Jamie FarrPremiered: 1983
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
AfterMASH is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS from September 26, 1983, to May... more6
293211Saved by the Bell: The College Years
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani ThiessenPremiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Saved by the Bell: The College Years is a sequel to the Saved by the Bell series which ran... more7
216130The Brady Brides
Maureen McCormick, Florence HendersonPremiered: 1981
Genres (Tv): Comedy
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225149Baywatch Nights
Angie Harmon, David HasselhoffPremiered: 1995
Genres (Tv): Drama, Science Fiction
Baywatch Nights is an American police and science fiction drama series that aired in... more9
214134The Tortellis
Dan Hedaya, Mandy IngberPremiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Tortellis is an American sitcom that aired from January to May 1987 on NBC. The first... more10
299260The Cleveland Show
Mike Henry, Sanaa LathanPremiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Animation, Sitcom, Satire, Comedy
The Cleveland Show is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Richard... more11
174138The Bradys
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Florence HendersonPremiered: 1990
Genres (Tv): Drama
The Bradys is a six-episode American drama series that aired on CBS in 1990. It was a revival... more12
166109Megan Wants a Millionaire
Megan Hauserman, Rob LockePremiered: 2009
Megan Wants a Millionaire is an American reality television show on VH1 in which former Rock... more13
200152The Ropers
Norman Fell, Audra LindleyPremiered: 1979
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Ropers is an American sitcom that ran from March 13, 1979 to May 22, 1980 on ABC. The... more14
138117Enos
John Dehner, Sonny ShroyerPremiered: 1980
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Action
Enos is an American television series from the 1980–1981 season that aired on the CBS network.... more15
150132The Golden Palace
Betty White, Don CheadlePremiered: 1992
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
The Golden Palace is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 18, 1992,... more16
13196The Brady Bunch Hour
Maureen McCormick, Florence HendersonPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Variety show, Comedy
The Brady Bunch Hour was an American variety television series featuring skits and songs... more17
167149Law & Order: LA
Corey Stoll, Rachel TicotinPremiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Police procedural, Drama, Live action, Legal drama
Law & Order: LA, originally titled Law & Order: Los Angeles, is an American police procedural... more18
156135Time of Your Life
Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jennifer GarnerPremiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Drama
Time of Your Life is an American drama series starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. The series is a... more19
114100I Love Money
Craig Jackson, Saaphyri WindsorPremiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Reality television
I Love Money is an American reality television series airing on VH1 and produced by 51 Minds... more20
133132Models Inc.
Carrie-Anne Moss, Garcelle BeauvaisPremiered: 1994
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Drama
Models Inc. is an American prime time soap opera that aired on the Fox television network... more21
135125The Hills
Heidi Montag, Audrina PatridgePremiered: 2006
Genres (Tv): Reality
The Hills (MTV, 2006) is an American reality television series created by Adam DiVello, and a... more22
8579Real Chance of Love
Kamal Givens, Ahmad GivensPremiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Reality television
Real Chance of Love is an American reality television dating game show featuring two brothers,... more23
8687Beverly Hills Buntz
Dennis Franz, Dana Wheeler-NicholsonPremiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Comedy
Beverly Hills Buntz is an American comedy-drama series, a spinoff from Hill Street Blues. It... more24
10096Tabitha
Lisa Hartman, Robert UrichPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy, Fantasy
Tabitha is an American fantasy sitcom that aired during the 1977-1978 season on ABC. It is a... more25
9391The City
Whitney Port, Kelly CutronePremiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Reality television
The City (MTV, 2008) is an American reality television series created by Adam DiVello and a... more
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