Does anyone feel like The Facts of Life is perhaps one of the few spinoffs that quickly grew out of the shadow of the other show, which was Diff'rent Strokes?.
By the 4th or so season of Facts, people remembered Charlotte from the spin off instead of DS. When people said Mrs. Garrett, they usually meant on Facts.
I also think it is one of the very few spinoffs that equaled or topped the original. Episodes filmed 40 years ago are still excellent.

I'd say "Green Acres" is more famous/remembered than its parent show, "Petticoat tJunction". In fact, until Googling this topoic, I'd thought PJ was a spin-off of GA! lol

I think the Jefferson's grew out of it's parent series, All in the Family.

^---Yeah, I thought about that too, but AitF became so huge. But TJ did become really big too.

And of course there's "The Simpsons" way outperforming its parent series "The Tracy Ullman Show", lol.

"Mama's Family" and its parent show "The Carol Burnett Show" (though one's a sitcom and one's a variety show) have both enjoyed immense popularity through television over the decades, and now DVDs.

I didn't mean the only one, it's one of the few shows that quickly grew out of the shadows of the parent show. Nice examples, The Jeffersons and The Simpsons!

I think FOL definitely eclipsed DS. DS today is now mainly known for the "Diff'rent Strokes Curse".

I think FOL definitely eclipsed DS. DS today is now mainly known for the "Diff'rent Strokes Curse".

Followed by the "Very Special Episode"s.

I think FOL definitely eclipsed DS. DS today is now mainly known for the "Diff'rent Strokes Curse".

Sad but true

Facts wasn't a hit from the beginning like DS but all episodes are great and still good. DS was successfull from the pilot but after the first seasons it went down. While I like, more or less, all nine seasons of Facts, DS became unwatchable and boring after season 4.

The backdoor episodes aren’t the only premises that would have made good spinoffs. How about one about the community center in Season 9. I would have tuned in every week to watch Annie and Mrs. Beets. The actress who played Mrs. Beets also played Myrtle, one of my favorite side characters in Golden Girls. “Sophia, yawh sahpohtsabee dead!!!”

Does anyone feel like The Facts of Life is perhaps one of the few spinoffs that quickly grew out of the shadow of the other show, which was Diff'rent Strokes?.
By the 4th or so season of Facts, people remembered Charlotte from the spin off instead of DS. When people said Mrs. Garrett, they usually meant on Facts.
I also think it is one of the very few spinoffs that equaled or topped the original. Episodes filmed 40 years ago are still excellent.


I would agree with you, if it wasn't the fact that i had never heard of FOL until much later in my adult life (in fact, i discovered FOL through DS, after watching the episode 'The girl's school').
On the other hand, i knew CHARLOTTE RAE through DS lol!:p

I'd say "Green Acres" is more famous/remembered than its parent show, "Petticoat tJunction". In fact, until Googling this topoic, I'd thought PJ was a spin-off of GA! lol

Green Acres isn't a spin-off of anything. The series resided in the same community as the Petticoat Junction series, shared a character (Sam Drucker), and had occasional interaction between characters of both series, but Green Acres did not originate from Petticoat Junction. It's like Law and Order and Law and Order SVU.

The backdoor episodes aren’t the only premises that would have made good spinoffs. How about one about the community center in Season 9. I would have tuned in every week to watch Annie and Mrs. Beets. The actress who played Mrs. Beets also played Myrtle, one of my favorite side characters in Golden Girls. “Sophia, yawh sahpohtsabee dead!!!”

I don't remember either one of these characters. I only vaguely remember the community center, and Jo working there with her boyfriend. What episode was this?

They’re in “On the Edge” when Jo’s mentor climbs out on the ledge of the building. Before that, she and Jo are leading a discussion with people from the community. Annie’s a girl with a bad attitude, Mrs. Beets is a cranky old lady who needs help walking her dog.

They’re in “On the Edge” when Jo’s mentor climbs out on the ledge of the building. Before that, she and Jo are leading a discussion with people from the community. Annie’s a girl with a bad attitude, Mrs. Beets is a cranky old lady who needs help walking her dog.

Thanks, Sitcommania!

Family Matters did for Perfect Strangers

Ironic that Mrs. Garrett is the character who spent the shortest time on Diff'rent Strokes (one season and a half, 1978-1979, 33 episodes) but was, among them all, the character with longer life. I mean, in season 8, when DS was cancelled, she was still there, the only character of that show still alive

Ironic that Mrs. Garrett is the character who spent the shortest time on Diff'rent Strokes (one season and a half, 1978-1979, 33 episodes) but was, among them all, the character with longer life. I mean, in season 8, when DS was cancelled, she was still there, the only character of that show still alive

Also sad that CR ultimately outlived two of the child actors on DS.

Green Acres isn't a spin-off of anything. The series resided in the same community as the Petticoat Junction series, shared a character (Sam Drucker), and had occasional interaction between characters of both series, but Green Acres did not originate from Petticoat Junction. It's like Law and Order and Law and Order SVU.

Hmm, interesting as considered a spin-off by some:

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