I just saw the episode Nell and the kid where Nell crosses paths with a little girl who shop lifts at Max's Delicatessen. The little girl is an orphan so Max drops the charges if she will work off the money she stole by doing odd jobs at his deli. He also lets her live with him at his apartment. I thought this was a pretty cute episode. I also think it could have made a good spin-off.

I remember that second-season episode. It is my understanding that there was talk of making it into a spin-off, but it never materialized.

I remember that second-season episode. It is my understanding that there was talk of making it into a spin-off, but it never materialized.
I think a spinoff called Max's Delicatessen could have had a lot of potential. There was a cute dynamic between grouchy old Max (who was really a softie) and the troubled orphan girl. I think it could have been a lot better than some of the other spinoffs like Three's A Crowd, The Ropers or Empty Nest.

I think a spinoff called Max's Delicatessen could have had a lot of potential. There was a cute dynamic between grouchy old Max (who was really a softie) and the troubled orphan girl. I think it could have been a lot better than some of the other spinoffs like Three's A Crowd, The Ropers or Empty Nest.


I will agree that Three's a Crowd and The Ropers were pretty bad. I have no problem understanding why neither of them lasted. But I thought that Empty Nest was pretty decent. In my opinion, it deserved to be on for the seven seasons that it was on. Even Nurses lasted three season and I thought that it was pretty good too.

I will agree that Three's a Crowd and The Ropers were pretty bad. I have no problem understanding why neither of them lasted. But I thought that Empty Nest was pretty decent. In my opinion, it deserved to be on for the seven seasons that it was on. Even Nurses lasted three season and I thought that it was pretty good too.
I just remember an episode of The Golden Girls that featured The Empty Nest before it was a spinoff. And I was so pissed that The Golden Girls wasn't about The Golden Girls. That was the one and only episode of the Golden Girls that completely bored me. The Gimme A Break with Max's Delicatessen entertained me.

I just remember an episode of The Golden Girls that featured The Empty Nest before it was a spinoff. And I was so pissed that The Golden Girls wasn't about The Golden Girls. That was the one and only episode of the Golden Girls that completely bored me. The Gimme A Break with Max's Delicatessen entertained me.


I think there were 3 spin-off attempts, well, 4...


1. Nell And The Kid

A year later, we got Punky Brewster. An Orphan girl living in a widowed guys apartment. I wonder if this episode was worked on/watched by those who thought up Punky Brewster? Unlike Max, Henry wasn't as wise-cracking but he was dull and gloomy living alone.


2. The Center

I have no idea how this would have become a spinoff. Would it have been about the Center itself? Would it have been about the love-birds who bickered and their dating life? I couldn't see it just taking place at the Center.

3. The Purse Snatcher

Let's face it, this HAD to have been a spinoff attempt. Not much is noted on it being one, but the bulk of the episode takes place in that Two Guys From Greece place, and there's an ongoing scene involving just the 3 characters who work at the restaurant with NO GAB cast around.

4. Parents Week

This would have led to a new series with just Sam and Nell and all characters we saw in the episode or new ones at the college like Professor Dudley, his son, Sam's roommate, et. OR would have included more scenes at the college in season 7, had the show been renewed.




Not sure if there were any other spinoff attempts. Nell And The Kid and The Center are the only 2 really talked about, but I'm sure The Purse Snatcher is also one as it steers away from anyone on GAB a few times and is not really about anyone on the show, more these 3 new characters introduced in the episode.


Other episodes throughout the series, who knows? They might have been spinoff attempts or had potential to be such as Mama Maybelle in Alabama at her new condo, Katie moving to San Fransisco, Julie and Jonathan moving to San Jose, Sam moving to college.

I think there were 3 spin-off attempts, well, 4...

A year later, we got Punky Brewster
Punky Brewster was a spinoff from Gimme A Break?

Punky Brewster was a spinoff from Gimme A Break?


No, the episode "Nell and the Kid" looked like what Punky Brewster became.


Danny was an Orphan who shoplifted and moved in with Max after being caught by him, who was widowed and living in a dull apartment.


When Punky began, it was about Punky who's Mom abandoned her, and who went to live with Henry, a widower in a dull apartment after he caught her in an empty apartment across the hall. Max had the Deli. Henry had the Photography Studio.


So almost the same thing. A little girl, alone, adopted by an older cranky guy in a gloomy apartment. Unlike Punky, Danny was about 11/12 and not 8/9 years old.


I think if that spin-off happened, it would have been a lot like Punky Brewster, but cooler, and hipper, as Danny was older than Punky.

No, the episode "Nell and the Kid" looked like what Punky Brewster became.
Okay, I wasn't sure if it was a spinoff. If the episode Nell and the kid came before Punky Brewster, Max's Delicatessen should have become a spinoff. I've only seen a few episodes of Punky Brewster and I was not too impressed. I think Max's Delicatessen could have been more successful.