Spin-offs are big risks on TV—but can bring big wins too. For each classic that stands alone, many fail to hit the mark. Yet, when a spin-off lands just right, it builds a new world that’s worth a watch. These 10 shows made it big.
10. Torchwood
It came from Doctor Who. Torchwood took the fun and time twists of its base show and gave it a dark, big kid spin. Based in Cardiff, it followed Captain Jack and his team as they tackled alien threats and tough calls. It’s not just another sci-fi show—it had heart, guts, and looked at the tough side of being a hero. It’s a cult hit that lasts.
9. Young Sheldon
It’s tough to take a loved TV guy and turn back time, but Young Sheldon does it well. Set in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, this show looks back at Sheldon Cooper’s childhood in East Texas. The strong team, especially Iain Armitage as young Sheldon and Jim Parsons telling the tale, mixes fun with heart. It shows us more about a guy we thought we knew.
8. Daria
Before she was the face of teen gloom and snark, Daria was just in the back of Beavis and Butt-Head. Her show found its voice fast and pulled in fans. It gave us sharp, fun looks at life in the ‘burbs, school mess, and pop trends, all while keeping its real feel. Even now, her blunt words and tone feel right for anyone who’s ever felt a bit off.
7. The Good Fight
From The Good Wife, this court drama took off with Diane Lockhart and kept strong. It’s got bold text, up-to-date plots, and a sharp wit. The Good Fight wasn’t just more of the same—it changed the game. It met big news head-on and was not scared to get odd, smart, or mad. And Christine Baranski? Always strong.
6. Angel
From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we saw the pained vampire with a soul move to Los Angeles. What emerged was Angel—a brooding, stylish run that mixed ghost scares with dark tale-telling. It looked at guilt, trying to fix wrongs, and tough choices. It started as a spin-off, but by the end, Angel had made its mark.
5. The Jeffersons
From rare visits on All in the Family, The Jeffersons broke new ground by showing a rich Black family moving up. It was fun, but I met big show issues head-on—race, class, and self. With lines we won’t forget and top guys, it left a big mark on US TV.
4. Better Call Saul
Coming from Breaking Bad was tough. How do you top a top show? Better Call Saul’s trick was to craft something new. It dived into the past of slick Saul Goodman, showing the deep, sad guy behind the name. It’s slower, more thoughtful, and maybe even sadder than its start. A key spin-off.
3. Frasier
Post Cheers, not all thought Frasier Crane could lead his show. But with a new city, a top team, and spot-on text, Frasier did just that. Smart, fine, and full of dry wit, it mixed high laughs with classic TV fun. Over eleven times, lots of wins, and so many talks over coffee, it stands as a how-to on spin-offs.
2. The Simpsons
From just small bits on The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons grew fast. Over three times, it’s more than a show—it’s a look at now, a joke mill, and full of guys we can’t forget. They guess the next day or make us laugh at us—The Simpsons is a big spin-off that’s bigger and key than its start.
1. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
When Law & Order: SVU began, no one saw it outliving its start or becoming a TV must-see. But it did. With strong work from Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, SVU looks at real tough news with raw truth. For over two times, it’s been a voice for those without, showing that screen justice can mean real stuff. It’s more than a spin-off. It’s a big move.
Spin-offs may start in the shade of something big, but the top ones grow into something we won’t forget. These shows rode the hit of the base ones, changed them, and in some ways, beat them. They showed that act two can grip us just as much—if not more—than the first.
