Spinoffs on TV are a gamble. For each smash hit, there’s an extensive list of canceled flops. But when they succeed, they don’t simply prolong a franchise—they become instant classics themselves. Some have even overshadowed the programs that spawned them. Here’s a rundown of some of television’s greatest and most influential spinoffs—shows that demonstrated lightning really can strike twice (or thrice) if the proper story meets the proper audience.
1. Better Call Saul
Whereas Breaking Bad was a breakneck character study in reinvention, Better Call Saul proceeded at a more deliberate, contemplative pace—and produced one of the greatest character studies in television history. From its outset as an offbeat legal dramedy, it became a tragic, suspenseful study in morality, identity, and loss. Bob Odenkirk’s portrayal of Jimmy McGill, the man behind Saul Goodman, added depth and pathos to the character. Thoughtful, careful, and superbly written, this spin-off richly deserved its place in the TV pantheon.
2. Frasier
As Cheers came to a close, few could have foreseen that one of its supporting actors would front one of the most award-winning sitcoms of all time. Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane relocated to Seattle, presented us with a new group of lovable misfits, and presented sharp, urbane comedy into our living rooms. With its blend of wit, warmth, and highbrow humor, Frasier became a defining series of the 1990s and a rare spinoff that felt entirely fresh.
3. The Simpsons
It’s simple to overlook the fact that The Simpsons began life as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show. What ensued was a pop culture transformation. More than three decades on, it’s the longest-running TV sitcom ever and a staple of American television. With satire, heart, and social commentary, The Simpsons remade what animated comedy could achieve—and influenced countless others that came afterwards.
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation
Resurrecting a popular franchise is no easy task, but The Next Generation accomplished it with aplomb and sensitivity. Decades in the future from the original Star Trek, this show presented us with new faces, new challenges, and a new captain in Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard. Intelligent, enlightened, and willing to explore big concepts, TNG was an instant phenomenon that spawned yet more spin-offs and solidified Star Trek as an intergenerational franchise.
5. The Jeffersons
Spin-off of All in the Family, The Jeffersons introduced a new type of sitcom storytelling by placing a prosperous Black family at the center of life in a high-rise Manhattan luxury building. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford starred in a show that confronted racial and class themes with humor and feeling. One of the best theme songs in television history and a pioneering legacy make The Jeffersons a cultural landmark.
6. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
When SVU first debuted in 1999, few suspected it would set a record as the longest-running primetime drama in the history of American television. Committed to telling stories of particularly sensitive crimes, the series carved out its unique voice in the Law & Order franchise. Mariska Hargitay’s performance as Olivia Benson turned the character into an icon of compassion and tenacity, grounding a show that continues to be both relevant and powerful more than twenty years on.
7. NCIS
Introduced initially through a backdoor pilot on JAG, NCIS soon took on a life of its own—and then some. With its blend of procedural suspense, workplace buddy shows, and character-based tales, it was a worldwide phenomenon. Mark Harmon’s Gibbs headed up a team that people fell in love with, and the series has since spawned several successful spinoffs in its own right, making NCIS its franchise overhang.
8. The Legend of Korra
In the shadow of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s critical acclaim, its follow-up, The Legend of Korra, was no small feat, but it stepped up to the challenge. Taking place in a more mechanized world and working through issues such as inequality, identity, and trauma, Korra’s adventure felt ambitious and current. Stylistically different from Avatar, the show forged its path with beautiful animation, well-rounded characters, and compelling storytelling.
9. Angel
While Buffy the Vampire Slayer embraced high school horror and empowerment, Angel went darker and more adult. David Boreanaz’s dark antihero found atonement in the streets of Los Angeles, battling supernatural evils and moral ambiguity. With a changing cast and shifting storylines, Angel delved into themes of sacrifice, justice, and identity that spoke powerfully to audiences.
10. Laverne & Shirley
From the wholesome universe of Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley added a blue-collar voice and slapstick appeal to the small screen. Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams formed a dynamic duo whose relationship grounded the show’s success. It was one of the top-rated sitcoms of its time and demonstrated that spinoffs could provide both laughter and heart in abundance.
11. Maude
One of All in the Family’s most successful spinoffs, Maude pushed Norman Lear’s social commentary to its most daring extremes. Starring Bea Arthur, the show was not hesitant to take on incendiary issues such as mental illness, feminism, and abortion. Maude Findlay was loud, smart, and unrepentantly liberal—a character beyond her time in a show that expanded the parameters of what a sitcom could do.
TV Spinoffs: More Than Just Side Stories
Spinoffs are usually a roll of the dice—but these shows demonstrate that, with vision and proper execution, they can outdo their beginnings and stand on their own proudly. Whether to expand a universe, to explore further a character’s arc, or to bring something new, the greatest spinoffs aren’t follow-ups. They’re reinventions, reflections, and in some instances, revolutions in storytelling.