Why Do you Think Some Spinoffs Last Like The Jeffersons,Laverne & Shirley,Maude,Good Times,The Fact Of Life,Benson,Frasier And Why Some Spinoffs Fail Like Joey,Checking In,The Ropers After M*A*S*h?

Some spinoffs are just more entertaining to watch than others. Plus, shows like The Jeffersons, Maude, and Frasier were securely placed in good timeslots, between 2 very popular shows. Then, the shows like AfterMASH and Checking in are nowhere near the original show, and viewers just do not want to see their favorite characters in a totally different show.

Phyllis failed. It had the potential of being a hit but they changed the character Phyllis too radically and the workplace they put her in during the second season was not good.

Joanie Loves Chachi was a failure.

Flo failed and knowing that Linda Lavin enjoyed it not wanting her to succeed.

Proposed spinoffs did not go through:
Eight Is Enough was going to spinoff David Bradford's character but that did not go through

Who's the Boss was going to spinoff Mona Robinson but that would had worked. She belonged on Who's the Boss.

One Day At A Time was going to spinoff Schneider's character and that would had bombed.

Phyllis failed. It had the potential of being a hit but they changed the character Phyllis too radically and the workplace they put her in during the second season was not good.

Joanie Loves Chachi was a failure.

Flo failed and knowing that Linda Lavin enjoyed it not wanting her to succeed.

Proposed spinoffs did not go through:
Eight Is Enough was going to spinoff David Bradford's character but that did not go through

Who's the Boss was going to spinoff Mona Robinson but that would had worked. She belonged on Who's the Boss.

One Day At A Time was going to spinoff Schneider's character and that would had bombed.

So, the point is, in most cases, when it comes to spinoffs, the writers change the character too much, where as viewers would rather see that chracter left alone.

My opinion is that the difference between the spinoffs that were successful and those that were not is simply that the successful ones were ones that had more substance--there wasn't any relying just on the name or the character for success. A name alone isn't enough--if you don't really put 100% into it, the people can see that and they lose interest.

Rhoda was good. But I liked her better on MTM.

Why Do you Think Some Spinoffs Last Like The Jeffersons,Laverne & Shirley,Maude,Good Times,The Fact Of Life,Benson,Frasier And Why Some Spinoffs Fail Like Joey,Checking In,The Ropers After M*A*S*h?


I think Checking In failed because it premeired too early. It should have been after the Jeffersons ended and would have generated more of a audience since the Jeffersons no longer on the air. The same thing with Joanie Loves Chachi, the two characters were just too minor on the Parent show and couldn';t really grab an audience.


Now on the flip side, the Jeffersons was a hit because it involved two strong characters

Rhoda was good. But I liked her better on MTM.


I don't think Rhoda should be in the faled spinoff category since it lasted 4 years and was a instant hit in it' first season. I think it was more of a bad scheduling move that killed the show

I think Checking In failed because it premeired too early. It should have been after the Jeffersons ended and would have generated more of a audience since the Jeffersons no longer on the air. The same thing with Joanie Loves Chachi, the two characters were just too minor on the Parent show and couldn';t really grab an audience.


Now on the flip side, the Jeffersons was a hit because it involved two strong characters

I agree with you on Checking In. They were really moving the character of Florence too fast. She had just become a regular cast member of The Jeffersons a few years back, and it was way too soon to evolve her character. People loved seeing her wisecracking George Jefferson, not as a housekeeper in a swanky hotel.

I agree with you on Checking In. They were really moving the character of Florence too fast. She had just become a regular cast member of The Jeffersons a few years back, and it was way too soon to evolve her character. People loved seeing her wisecracking George Jefferson, not as a housekeeper in a swanky hotel.


The real dumb move was ending season 7 of the Jeffersons, and then premeiring Checking In, thinking it would do well since all the Jeffersons eps were repeats-lol

The real dumb move was ending season 7 of the Jeffersons, and then premeiring Checking In, thinking it would do well since all the Jeffersons eps were repeats-lol

Yeah. The least they could have done was air the pilot for Checking In either after an all new episode of The Jeffersons, or in the fall, after The Jeffersons with heavy promotion. They literally gave the show almost no chance to do well.

Yeah. The least they could have done was air the pilot for Checking In either after an all new episode of The Jeffersons, or in the fall, after The Jeffersons with heavy promotion. They literally gave the show almost no chance to do well.


Fun Fact for you

Checking In was a Top Ten Show in the Summer of 1981, ranked #6-lol

Fun Fact for you

Checking In was a Top Ten Show in the Summer of 1981, ranked #6-lol

You're kidding me! :lol: I wonder how bad the ratings were for it in the spring when it first debuted, then. Now I wonder what would have happened if CBS kept it going for another season or 2.

Phyllis failed. It had the potential of being a hit but they changed the character Phyllis too radically and the workplace they put her in during the second season was not good.

Joanie Loves Chachi was a failure.

Flo failed and knowing that Linda Lavin enjoyed it not wanting her to succeed.

Proposed spinoffs did not go through:
Eight Is Enough was going to spinoff David Bradford's character but that did not go through

Who's the Boss was going to spinoff Mona Robinson but that would had worked. She belonged on Who's the Boss.

One Day At A Time was going to spinoff Schneider's character and that would had bombed.
Wow, I never knew about the potential "Eight is Enough" spin-off. And it was to be focused on David, my favorite character? I would have definitely been all over that one. Probably wouldn't have lasted too long, though. Two seasons tops.

I think the problem with most spin-offs is that they take a character who, because on the parent show he or she is a supporting character, is more off-the-wall and all-around lighter than the lead character and they try to turn them into a lead character. In doing that, they lose many of the essential parts of why that character is so popular in the first place and why they thought giving him or her their own show would work in the first place. Look at what they did to "Rhoda." They married her off to Joe and she became so un-Rhoda. They tried to make Brenda into what Rhoda was when she was on MTM, but it wasn't the same. The show was still good to watch, but I think you had to adjust to Rhoda being more level-headed.

I think the problem with most spin-offs is that they take a character who, because on the parent show he or she is a supporting character, is more off-the-wall and all-around lighter than the lead character and they try to turn them into a lead character. In doing that, they lose many of the essential parts of why that character is so popular in the first place and why they thought giving him or her their own show would work in the first place.

I think you hit the nail on the head, JT. Everyone has made some good points here, but some characters are meant to be supporting characters. You also have to have a good supporting cast that has great chemistry if these spinoffs have any hope of succeeding.

Ultimately, the success of any show is due to connecting with the audience, whether it's a spinoff or not. If enough people get to see it and they like what they see, they'll stick with it.

Ironically, there are some spinoff actors who didn't want their characters spun off but had no choice. Many of them felt their character worked just fine on the parent show and had no desire to be on board with a potential failure.

At least Scott Baio and Erin Moran were allowed to come home to Happy Days after Joanie Does Chachi tanked, but other spinoff actors weren't so lucky.

I think you hit the nail on the head, JT. Everyone has made some good points here, but some characters are meant to be supporting characters. You also have to have a good supporting cast that has great chemistry if these spinoffs have any hope of succeeding.

Ultimately, the success of any show is due to connecting with the audience, whether it's a spinoff or not. If enough people get to see it and they like what they see, they'll stick with it.

Ironically, there are some spinoff actors who didn't want their characters spun off but had no choice. Many of them felt their character worked just fine on the parent show and had no desire to be on board with a potential failure.

At least Scott Baio and Erin Moran were allowed to come home to Happy Days after Joanie Does Chachi tanked, but other spinoff actors weren't so lucky.
I think you might be talking about Norman Fell in that last bit. For anybody who doesn't know the story, the producers of "Three's Company" approached him and Audra Lindley for "The Ropers," but Norman didn't want to do it. He was perfectly fine on TC and didn't think that the formula should have been messed with. The producers figured that they could duplicate the success of the original British version of "The Ropers" (called "George and Mildred"), so they went ahead with it. They told Norman and Audra that they would be welcomed back to TC, though, if their show didn't last a full season. "The Ropers" debuted in mid-season of 1979 and ran for a year, after a season and a half. Unfortunately, that half was enough to make their deal null. The Ropers did show up in a 1981 episode of TC, though.

But like people are discussing in another thread, the failure of "The Ropers" had more to do with scheduling than anything else. I thought it was a great show.

I think you might be talking about Norman Fell in that last bit. For anybody who doesn't know the story, the producers of "Three's Company" approached him and Audra Lindley for "The Ropers," but Norman didn't want to do it. He was perfectly fine on TC and didn't think that the formula should have been messed with. The producers figured that they could duplicate the success of the original British version of "The Ropers" (called "George and Mildred"), so they went ahead with it. They told Norman and Audra that they would be welcomed back to TC, though, if their show didn't last a full season. "The Ropers" debuted in mid-season of 1979 and ran for a year, after a season and a half. Unfortunately, that half was enough to make their deal null. The Ropers did show up in a 1981 episode of TC, though.

But like people are discussing in another thread, the failure of "The Ropers" had more to do with scheduling than anything else. I thought it was a great show.

You're exactly right. Norman and Audra definitely got the short end of the deal, but what more could the rpdocuers do? They had already brought in Don Knotts, and people had already gotten used to his antics. Plus, if The Ropers had stayed on for all 8 seasons, I would have got bored really fast, because all we'd be hearing is the same sex jokes over and over and over, whereas Don brought more physical humor to the show.

I was referring to The Ropers, JT - you are correct, sir!!

I was referring to The Ropers, JT - you are correct, sir!!
LMAO, please don't call me sir. I'm just an everyday fan, just like you.

You're kidding me! :lol: I wonder how bad the ratings were for it in the spring when it first debuted, then. Now I wonder what would have happened if CBS kept it going for another season or 2.


I guess Network executives are not impressed with good ratings during the summer season if the show already failed show during the TV season-lol And that's because the competition in the summer is weak-lol

You're exactly right. Norman and Audra definitely got the short end of the deal, but what more could the rpdocuers do? They had already brought in Don Knotts, and people had already gotten used to his antics. Plus, if The Ropers had stayed on for all 8 seasons, I would have got bored really fast, because all we'd be hearing is the same sex jokes over and over and over, whereas Don brought more physical humor to the show.


I never understood why did Norman Fell thought he and Audra would be able to come back if the producers already put someone in their place?-lol I mean how would they be written back in the TC script?

I never understood why did Norman Fell thought he and Audra would be able to come back if the producers already put someone in their place?-lol I mean how would they be written back in the TC script?
He should have asked them before he left. lol

He should have asked them before he left. lol

I think they both should have been old enough to know that their spinoff had to succeed or they had to go in another direction. It was no way they could come back if the producers of TC added a new landlord-lol

I never understood why did Norman Fell thought he and Audra would be able to come back if the producers already put someone in their place?-lol I mean how would they be written back in the TC script?

I remember reading somewhere that Don Knotts didn't appear in the show until the third or fourth episode of season 4 was to see how The Ropers wazs holding up. If the beginning of the second season that fall wasn't doing so hot, they could come back to the show right away. But, I guess they obviosuly saw decent numbers, or Don Knotts never would have come on.

I remember reading somewhere that Don Knotts didn't appear in the show until the third or fourth episode of season 4 was to see how The Ropers wazs holding up. If the beginning of the second season that fall wasn't doing so hot, they could come back to the show right away. But, I guess they obviosuly saw decent numbers, or Don Knotts never would have come on.


And I guess that wasn't going to happen since the Trio guest starred on the First episode of the Ropers in season 2-lol Those TC producers was so full of sh*T

And I guess that wasn't going to happen since the Trio guest starred on the First episode of the Ropers in season 2-lol Those TC producers was so full of sh*T

It was probably there little way to get a younger landlord on the show-LOL

I liked most of the spinoffs, the ones that didn't work was due to a poor supporting cast. You can't just throw characters in their own shows without proper developement. Checking In was okay, but Florence didn't have the right supporing cast, same with the Ropers. Grady was good. I liked Fish it was my favorite show at the time and it didn't make it past two seasons.

i'd like to know how many/which spinoffs managed to last longer than the original shows they spun off of...

all i can think of off the top of my head are Benson, the Simpsons and Happy Days.

My favorite spin-offs are Frasier and Benson.

My favorite spin-offs are Frasier and Benson.

So are mine! :D

i'd like to know how many/which spinoffs managed to last longer than the original shows they spun off of...

all i can think of off the top of my head are Benson, the Simpsons and Happy Days.


Facts of Life, and the Jeffersons

What about the Beverly Hillbillies spin-offs - Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, these shows were great. PJ lasted 7 seasons, GA lasted 6 seasons while the original BH lasted 9 seasons.

Does anyone remember another Who's The Boss spinoff called Living Dolls. I remember watching it on Saturday night in 1989, it didn't last too long. It starred Leah Remini, Halle Berry, and Michael Learned.

All in the Family should get the award for the most spinoffs - The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Gloria, Checking In, and Archie Bunker's Place.

What about the Beverly Hillbillies spin-offs - Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, these shows were great. PJ lasted 7 seasons, GA lasted 6 seasons while the original BH lasted 9 seasons.

Does anyone remember another Who's The Boss spinoff called Living Dolls. I remember watching it on Saturday night in 1989, it didn't last too long. It starred Leah Remini, Halle Berry, and Michael Learned.

All in the Family should get the award for the most spinoffs - The Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Gloria, Checking In, and Archie Bunker's Place.

I watched the WTB? spinoff too. It was the only the Pilot episode that aired, though, I believe. Too bad it didn't last longer than it did. At the time of it's debuted, the show really wasn't advertised or talked about much anyways, so that could be a big reason why it didn't catch on.

And technically, Good Times and Checking In weren't spinoffs of All in the Family. Good Times spun off from Maude, and Checking In spun off from The Jeffersons. So, they were spinoffs of spinoffs-LOL

i'd like to know how many/which spinoffs managed to last longer than the original shows they spun off of...

all i can think of off the top of my head are Benson, the Simpsons and Happy Days.

Which show is Happy Days a spinoff of...??

Which show is Happy Days a spinoff of...??
Love American Style, from the episode called Love And The Happy Days. The episode had the same mom and Richie, but a different Dad.

And technically, Good Times and Checking In weren't spinoffs of All in the Family. Good Times spun off from Maude, and Checking In spun off from The Jeffersons. So, they were spinoffs of spinoffs-LOL

That's right, they were spin-offs of spin-offs, but their parent shows - Maude & The Jeffersons were both spun-off AITF.

Family Matters lasted 9 seasons, compared to Perfect Strangers 8 seasons (the first season and last season were only 6 episodes each).

Some spin-offs work, others fail. It has to do with good actors, good directing, good writing, and good time slot to make it work.

Love American Style, from the episode called Love And The Happy Days. The episode had the same mom and Richie, but a different Dad.

I'm gonna say this falls into the category of "not a spinoff." The show was a rejected pilot that the network decided to use as a filler episode of Love, American Style.

When American Graffiti (with Ron Howard in the lead role) was a hit at the movies the following year, the network (ABC) commissioned a second pilot (with Tom Bosley stepping into the role of Mr. C) and the show was picked up.