14 TV Spin-Offs That Flopped Before You Knew They Existed
Some spin-offs quietly vanish, proving that lightning rarely strikes twice, especially in the same universe.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Spin-offs bank on built-in audiences, but nostalgia alone doesn’t guarantee success. Many of these series misunderstood what made their originals resonate, or worse, tried to coast on name recognition. They serve as cautionary tales that not every beloved character needs their own show.
1. “Joey” (2004)
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After Friends ended, NBC tried to keep the magic alive by following Matt LeBlanc’s character to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Joey never found its footing, lacking the ensemble chemistry that made Friends a hit. It limped through two seasons before quietly getting canceled.
2. “The Golden Palace” (1992)
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This sequel to The Golden Girls saw Rose, Blanche, and Sophia running a hotel, minus Bea Arthur’s Dorothy. Without the original dynamic, the humor felt off-kilter, and the series struggled to capture the same charm. It lasted just one season before checking out.
3. “AfterMASH” (1983)
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Trying to follow MASH*’s massive legacy was a tall order, and AfterMASH never came close. The story shifted to a veterans hospital, with a few familiar faces but none of the wit or poignancy. Audiences bailed, and the show was cut short after two seasons.
4. “The Brady Brides” (1981)
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Two of the Brady daughters get married and move in together — hilarity was supposed to ensue. However, the show felt dated even in the early ’80s, and the laugh track couldn’t save it. It only lasted 10 episodes before being shelved.
5. “Baywatch Nights” (1995)
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David Hasselhoff moonlighting as a detective? That’s what this Baywatch spin-off tried, and in its second season, it went full sci-fi. It was weird, tonally jarring, and audiences abandoned it faster than Mitch ran down a beach.
6. “Model Behavior” (1982)
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A Dallas spin-off, this one focused on a character few viewers even remembered. It attempted to mix glitz with social commentary but lacked the grit or appeal of its parent show. Barely lasting half a season, it vanished without much notice.
7. “Beverly Hills Buntz” (1987)
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Detective Norman Buntz from Hill Street Blues gets his own show where he trades big-city policing for quirky private investigating in L.A. It tried to blend comedy with drama, but the tone never landed right. Canceled after just nine episodes.
8. “Gloria” (1982)
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Sally Struthers reprised her role as Gloria Stivic from All in the Family, now a single mom working at a vet clinic. It missed the original’s edge and replaced it with soft, generic sitcom fare. Despite decent ratings early on, CBS pulled the plug after one season.
9. “Living Dolls” (1989)
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A spin-off from Who’s the Boss?, this one centered around a teen model agency and introduced a young Halle Berry. However, the scripts were stiff, the premise was shallow, and it never managed to surpass its first season. Few remember it even existed.
10. “The Tortellis” (1987)
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Coming from Cheers, this spin-off followed Carla’s ex-husband and his new family in Vegas. Lacking the Boston bar magic and filled with one-note characters, it never found an audience. It closed after just 13 episodes.
11. “Top of the Heap” (1991)
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Starring Matt LeBlanc before his Friends fame, this Married… with Children spin-off tried to give two side characters their own series. It was more annoying than edgy, and viewers didn’t stick around. Canceled after just a few weeks.
12. “Booker” (1989)
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This 21 Jump Street spin-off focused on Dennis Booker (Richard Grieco), but without the undercover school drama, it lost what made the original compelling. It leaned into noir-lite vibes but didn’t offer much substance. The show only lasted one season.
13. “Daria & Jane” (Unaired Pilot)
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A planned follow-up to Daria, this would have followed Daria and Jane post-high school, navigating young adulthood. MTV passed on the pilot, feeling the characters had run their course. Though never aired, it’s a footnote in Gen X nostalgia.
14. “Time of Your Life” (1999)
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A Party of Five spin-off starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as Sarah in New York seemed like a sure thing. But despite its pedigree and prime slot, it meandered and failed to hook viewers. Fox canceled it midway through its first season.
- Tags:
- TV shows
- Nostalgia
- spin-offs
- flop shows