Don't you hate it when one of your favorite sitcoms tries to spinoff a show and uses an episode of the parent sitcom for an unoffical pilot? The main characters of the parent sitcom appear breifly maybe only in the first and last sences.

Examples, pilot for the Facts of Life was an episode of Diff'rent Strokes, pilot episode of the Jeffersons was an episode of All in the Family. And I am a fan of the Jeffersons but I still find it annoying.

Even worse, are the spinoffs that are either shotlived or never even gets off the ground. I remember Married with Children tried to spinoff a show staring Matt LeBronc and they did a whole episode where Al barely appears and all the other regulars do not appear at all. I find it annoying.

I don't mind them if I like the spinoff, although I hate it when some of the main characters of the parent show barely appear in the unofficial pilot. But sometimes they are so terrible lol. Like the "Brian & Sylvia" episode of FOL that could've been a spinoff. That episode was horrible, imo.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
I don't mind them if I like the spinoff, although I hate it when some of the main characters of the parent show barely appear in the unofficial pilot. But sometimes they are so terrible lol. Like the "Brian & Sylvia" episode of FOL that could've been a spinoff. That episode was horrible, imo.

That is one of my least favorite FOL episodes as well.

This also happened in Punky Brewster - they tried to spin off something like Fenster Hall or something and there were only moments of the show that involved Punky or anyone else in the main part of the show.

I didn't like the Sanford and Son episode that was the pilot episode of the show about Grady. Overall, I find show eps that focus on other characters besides the main ones really annoying.

I don't mind it.I did that when I spun "Ally goes to Harvard" off from "Cold Turkey" with the "Cold Turkey" episode "Ally packs her bags".Only Ally,Chrissy and Dante appear in the episode.

I plan to do it again when The Carlsons leave "Gabaldi Bound" to get their own show.

Three's Company did the same thing for the Ropers. The episode showed Stanley and Helen moving into their new home and meeting that guy (I forget his name) who was a cast member for "The Ropers".

I recall that Here's Lucy tried to spin-off a show entitled The Lucie Arnaz Show. The pilot of the spin-off show was an episode of HL where Lucy and Gale are only seen in the beginning, and the remainder of the episode focuses around the character of Kim.

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
I don't mind it.I did that when I spun "Ally goes to Harvard" off from "Cold Turkey" with the "Cold Turkey" episode "Ally packs her bags".Only Ally,Chrissy and Dante appear in the episode.

I plan to do it again when The Carlsons leave "Gabaldi Bound" to get their own show.

I think that people are talking about actual television shows not fan fictions.

I remember "Small Wonder" attempted to do this. During an episode of a show, they mainly focused on that evil robot, Vanessa. According to some sources, the spin-off would of happened if "Small Wonder" went on to a fifth season. But after the 4th, FOX cancelled it as the network grew.

Originally posted by dlemond


I think that people are talking about actual television shows not fan fictions.

I know.I'm just saying that.

I don't know if this is what tvje is talking about, but there was a Married With Children episode--it was a parody of friends. The show was to be called "enemies." It starred Alan Thicke, Alyssa Milano & a blonde girl.

I remember reading in hollywood reporter that, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" has done a couple "back-door" pilots as well one w/ a spoiled brat witch & another about a talking dog or something like that. Also I believe "The Nanny" did an unsuccessful BDP about a beauty salon.

BLT I know what are you are talking about. However that is not the episode I am refering to. The episode I am refering to is from 1991.