The spinoff is a time-honored TV tradition that’s met with mixed results through the years.
Every success — “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” — has been matched by a dismal failure. Anyone else remember the “Friends” spinoff “Joey,” starring Matt LeBlanc or “Beverly Hills Buntz,” spun off from “Hill Street Blues” and starring Dennis Franz? Didn’t think so.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the more memorable spinoffs with differing track records.
Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors)
Original show: “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960-68)
Spinoff: “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” (1964-69)
How it went: Lights out. It’s one of the most-watched spinoffs in TV history, finishing in the Top 10 in each of its five seasons.
Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper)
Original show: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77)
Spinoff: “Rhoda” (1974-78)
How it went: Good, at first, but petered out after Mary’s former neighbor Rhoda — who moved back to New York City — married, then divorced, Joe (David Groh). No one wanted to see Rhoda single (again).
Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer)
Original show: “Cheers” (1982-93)
Spinoff: “Frasier” (1993-2004)
How it went: Great. “Frasier” ran for 11 seasons, turned Grammer into a huge star and is being revived on Paramount+ with Grammer returning to the role.
Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)
Original show: “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-present)
Spinoff: “Private Practice” (2007-13)
How it went: OK, but was never an out-of-the-box hit and averaged just over 6 million viewers in its final season — a far cry from the 14 million-plus who watched Season 1.
Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk)
Original show: “Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
Spinoff: “Better Call Saul” (2015-present)
How it went: More of a critical darling than a ratings-grabber, earning nearly 40 Emmy nominations (but no victories). By the time Season 6 premieres in 2022, it will have been two years since the last new episode. Not good.
