Worst TV spin-offs

Sometimes, television networks and producers simply can’t leave a good thing alone. If a show is a hit, it’s almost inevitable that it will give birth to a spin-off or two. If a series is still popular when it leaves the air, a few of the characters are likely to turn up in the same roles on a different show.

Now and then, the spin-off is a good thing. More often, it becomes an embarrassment to all concerned.

Time sifted through the wreckage of the history of the spin-off and come up with the 10 worst of all time. Here’s the list:

1. AfterMASH (1983-84): Moved several MASH characters to jobs in a veterans’ hospital. Canceled after two seasons.

2. The Ropers (1979-80): Three’s Company without the Three didn’t find much of an audience.

3. A Man Called Hawk (1989): Spun from Spenser For Hire, the Avery Brooks series lasted a little more than six months.

4. Joey (2004-06): Matt LeBlanc missed his Friends. Badly.

5. Booker (1989-90): Richard Grieco’s character didn’t transition well from 21 Jump Street.

6. Baywatch Nights (1995-97): David Hasselhoff moonlights as a private detective. Then things get REALLY weird.

7. Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-83): Happy Days spinoff focusing on, well, Joanie and Chachi.

8. The Law and Harry McGraw (1987-88): Jerry Orbach in a Murder She Wrote spinner.

9. The Lone Gunmen (2001): Support players from The X-Files had a short life of their own.

10. Saved By the Bell: The College Years (1993-94): Kind of speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

To read more about these, and to see a slideshow, visit Time.

Advertisement