How many sitcoms, that were spin-offs of another show, stayed on the air longer than the show they came from?

For example, "The Facts of Life" stayed on the air for more seasons than "Different Strokes".

How many other shows fall into this category?

Here are some:

Spin-off: The Jeffersons (1975-85)
Parent Show: All In the Family (1971-79)

Spin-off: Family Matters (1989-1998)
Parent Show: Perfect Strangers (1986-93)

Spin-off: The Simpsons (1989-Present)
Parent Show: The Tracy Allum Show (1987-1990?)

Spinoff: Benson (7 seasons)
Parent: Soap (4 seasons)

Originally posted by LucyFan:
Here are some:

Spin-off: The Jeffersons (1975-85)
Parent Show: All In the Family (1971-79)



Technically you would have to package Archie Bunker's Place in there. When reading old magazine covers, articles refered to Archie coping without Edith in the 11th season opener of the show. (1971-1983) The Tracey Ullman show did run till 1990. As far as years go:

Knots Landing(1979-1993)
Dallas (1978-1991)

It is a possible chance that Frasier will out live Cheers. It was reported that Kelsey Grammar signed a 3 year contract to continue production for Frasier. When the 3 years are up, the show will have been on as long as Cheers. Then maybe anothe contract will be signed for the show to go longer.

I've seen articles referring to "All in the Family" and "Archie Bunker's Place" as separate, and Norman Lear, the creator of AITF, considers them separate as well. They're certainly rerun separately.

"Knots Landing" ran four months longer than "Dallas", but "Dallas" produced more episodes, so go figure.

I knew that KL produced 344 eps while Dallas produced 361. It was cool how KL beat it precedor by four months.

Originally posted by ThomasE:
It is a possible chance that Frasier will out live Cheers. It was reported that Kelsey Grammar signed a 3 year contract to continue production for Frasier. When the 3 years are up, the show will have been on as long as Cheers. Then maybe anothe contract will be signed for the show to go longer.

Is the character Frasier Crane the longest running character in sitcom history? He first appeared on Cheers in 1984, and it's likely Kelsey Grammer will be around for a 20th season as Frasier. Can anyone think of any other characters that have been around that long, sitcoms or otherwise?

Originally posted by DaveM72:
Is the character Frasier Crane the longest running character in sitcom history? He first appeared on Cheers in 1984, and it's likely Kelsey Grammer will be around for a 20th season as Frasier. Can anyone think of any other characters that have been around that long, sitcoms or otherwise?

Well, Gunsmoke was on for 20 years, so I'd say Marshall Dillon. Right?

Originally posted by DaveM72:
Is the character Frasier Crane the longest running character in sitcom history? He first appeared on Cheers in 1984, and it's likely Kelsey Grammer will be around for a 20th season as Frasier. Can anyone think of any other characters that have been around that long, sitcoms or otherwise?

Well the Lucy character (through name changes, format changes, ect) played by Miss Lucille Ball lasted over 20 seasons which began in 1951 and lasted until 1986. The Lucy character was in approx. 500 episodes.
I think the Lucy character qualifies as the longest-running character in TV History.

While they all shared the same first name, they most certainly can not be grouped as the same character, and therefore can not be considered the longest running character.

Yeah, the different Lucy series really can't be grouped together in terms of longevity -- they are distinct series with different premises and different characters.

As far as "Gunsmoke" goes, I think the original question was longest running sitcom character, and "Gunsmoke" was a drama. I bet Matt Dillon is the longest-running nighttime drama character, though.

Here Are Some of the Longest Running Sitcom Characters (Some Series Go together Where They Play The Same Person):

Fraiser Crane (1984-, 17+ Years)
Ozzie & Harriet Nelson (1952-1966, 14 Years)
Archie Bunker (1971-1983, 12 Years)
Steven Douglas (1960-1972, 12 Years)
Jack Tripper (1977-1985, 8 Years)

A tiny nitpick: Archie Bunker was more like 12 1/2 years. "All in the Family" was a midseason replacement during the 1970-71 season, and debuted in January of 1971. Jack Tripper was on a little more than 8 years, too, since "Three's Company" had a six-episode tryout in the spring of 1977.

Ozzie and Harriet returned for another year in 1973-74 with the "Ozzie's Girls" series. Not consecutive though. Danny and Rusty Williams were on "Make Room for Daddy"/"The Danny Thomas Show" for 11 years (1953-64), played the roles again in several specials in the late 60s, then returned for a full season in "Make Room for Granddaddy" (1970-71).

Lionel Jefferson was around for 14 1/2 seasons (1971-85). Granted, this was on two different shows ("All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons") and with two different actors (Mike Evans and Damon Evans). And Lionel only appeared very occasionally in the later years of "The Jeffersons".

Originally posted by Sean Snow:
Here Are Some of the Longest Running Sitcom Characters (Some Series Go together Where They Play The Same Person):

Fraiser Crane (1984-, 17+ Years)
Ozzie & Harriet Nelson (1952-1966, 14 Years)
Archie Bunker (1971-1983, 12 Years)
Steven Douglas (1960-1972, 12 Years)
Jack Tripper (1977-1985, 8 Years)



Estelle Getty had a pretty long run too. She portrayed Sophia Petrillo for 10 years (1985-1995) 7 years on Golden Girls, 1 year on Golden Palace, and 2 years on Empty Nest


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Eric Matthews

Tonight's "Carol Burnett Show" reunion brings up another contender for either spinoff outliving parent or long running character honors--Vicki Lawrence as "Mama." I don't know when the "Ed, Eunice and Mama" sketches began, but "Carol Burnett" ran 1967-1979 and "Mama's Family" was on 1983-1985 on NBC and 1986-1990 in syndication. If these sketches were part of the Burnett show from the beginning, than Mama could rank right up there with Frasier Crane as a long running character. If those sketches only ran during later seasons, then "Mama's Family" outlived what in this sense would be its parent.

I think the "Family" sketches started in 1974, because the Christmas skit where Alan Alda played one of Mama's sons is from that year