A spin-off in television is a new series containing characters or settings that originated in a previous series, but with a different focus, tone, or theme. For example, the series Frasier was a spin-off of the earlier series Cheers : the character Frasier Crane was introduced as a secondary character on Cheers, and became the protagonist of his own series, set in a different city, in the spin-off. Spin-offs are particularly common in sitcom. A related phenomenon, not to be confused with the spin-off, is the crossover.
Some spin-offs are "engineered" to introduce a new character on the original television series, just so that that character can anchor the new spin-off – that episode of the original series is often known as a "backdoor pilot". For example, the character Avery Ryan appeared in two episodes of the Las Vegas-based CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before the premiere of CSI: Cyber . [1]
A revival, a later remake of a preexisting show, is not a spin-off. This is the case in Doctor Who, where the 2005 series which begins with a new Doctor but maintains the existing continuity. An exception to this rule can be made to series such as The Transformers where the lines of continuity are blurred. If a television pilot was written but never shot, it is not considered a spin-off. When a show undergoes a name change, it is not necessarily a spin-off.
Neither is a reboot series, a term recently invented for motion pictures, which can also occur in television (e.g. The Battlestar Galactica series of 2003 is a reboot, not a spin-off of the 1978 version [2] ). This is distinct from a revival in that there is little or no attempt to retain continuity, or casting, with the original. A recent example is the 1987 series Beauty and the Beast , rebooted as the 2012 CW television series Beauty & the Beast , [3] which keeps only the main premise of a female law enforcement official aided by a man-beast, the New York City locale, and the names of the two main characters. The CW's Beauty & the Beast was later rebooted again as a HBO Max series starting in 2023.
NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-), which is the spin-off of NBC’s Law & Order (1990-2010; 2022-), is the longest-running spin-off series in American TV history with its landmark 25th season set to premiere on January 18, 2024.
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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7 vidas (1999–2006) | Aída (2005–2014) |
9-1-1 (TV series) (2018) | 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) |
19 Kids and Counting (2008–2015) (17 Kids and Counting in 2008, 18 Kids and Counting in 2008–09) | United Bates of America (2012) |
Jill and Jessa: Counting On (2015) | |
16 and Pregnant (2009–2014) | Teen Mom (2009–2012; 2015) |
Teen Mom 2 (2011–2022) | |
Teen Mom 3 (2013) | |
The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955–1957) | Broken Arrow (1956–1958) |
21 Jump Street (1987–1991) | Booker (1989–1990) |
24 (2001–2010, 2014) | 24: Legacy (2017) |
60 Minutes (1968–) | 60 Minutes II (1999–2005) |
No. 73 (1982–1988) | 7T3 (1988) |
77 Sunset Strip (1958–1964) | Bourbon Street Beat (1959–1960) |
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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EastEnders (1985–present) |
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The Electric Company (1971–1977) | The Electric Company (2009–2011) |
The Electric Playground (1997) | Judgement Day (2002–2007) |
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) | Bethenny (2012; test run only) |
Emergency Vets (1998–2002) | E-Vet Interns (2007) |
Empty Nest (1988–1995) | Nurses (1991–1994) |
Encantadia (2005–2006) |
|
Essence of Emeril (1994–1996, 2000) | Emeril Live (1997–2007) |
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005) | King of Queens (1998-2007) |
Every Witch Way (2014–2015) | WITS Academy (2015) |
Extreme Makeover (2002–2007) |
|
Entertainment Tonight (1981) |
|
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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Naked Video (1986–91) | Rab C. Nesbitt (1988–99, 2008–2014) The Baldy Man (1995–98) |
Nancy Drew (2019–2023) | Tom Swift (2022) |
Naruto (2002–07) |
|
Narcos (2015-2017) | Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021) |
The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1956–57) | The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972) |
The New Fred and Barney Show (1979–1980) |
|
NCIS (2003–) |
|
The Next Step (2013–) | Lost & Found Music Studios (2016–2017) |
Nick Rocks (1982–1989) | Nick Jr. Rocks (1988–1993) |
Nickelodeon Guts (1993–1996) |
|
NOVA (1974) | Nova ScienceNow (2005) |
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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Pakdam Pakdai (2013-present) | Sammy Squirrel Show |
Party of Five (1994–2000) | Time of Your Life (1999–2000) |
Pardon the Interruption (2001–) | Around the Horn (2002-) Cold Pizza (2003–2007) |
The Partridge Family (1970–1974) | Getting Together (1971–1972) Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974) |
Password (1961–1967, 1971–1975) |
|
Pawn Stars (2009–) |
|
Pebble Mill at One (1973–1986) |
|
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971–1972) | The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1972–1973) |
The People's Court ( 1981–93, 1997–present) | Judge Wapner's Animal Court (1998–2000) |
Perfect Strangers (1986–1993) | Family Matters (1989–1998) |
Perry Mason (1957–1966) | The New Perry Mason (1973–1974) |
Petticoat Junction (1963–1970) | Green Acres (1965–1971) |
That Peter Kay Thing (2000) | Phoenix Nights (2001–2002) |
Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015) | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb (2010–2011) |
Pingu (1990-2000, 2003-2006) | The Pingu Show (2006-2007) Pingu in the City (2017-) |
The Pink Panther Show (1969–1980) |
|
Play for Today (1970–1984) | Rumpole of the Bailey (1975–1992) Boys from the Blackstuff (1980–1982) |
Please Sir! (1968–1972) | The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973) Bowler (1973) |
Pokémon (1997–) |
|
Police Story (1973–1978) |
|
Popeye the Sailor (1960–1962) |
|
Popstars (1999) (Original series and resulting franchise) |
|
Porridge (1974–1977) | Going Straight (1978) Porridge (2016-2017) |
Postman Pat (1981) | Guess with Jess (2009–2012) |
Pound Puppies (1985) |
|
The Practice (1997–2004) | Boston Legal (2004–2008) |
Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017) |
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Primeval (2007–2011) | Primeval: New World (2012–2013) |
The Professionals (1977–1983) | CI5: The New Professionals (1999) |
Project Greenlight (2001–2005) |
|
Property Brothers (2011–present) |
|
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) | Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record (2020) |
Punky Brewster (1984–1988) |
|
The Pupil (2010–2011) |
|
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003–2007) |
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Parent series | Spin-off series |
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The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017) |
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VeggieTales (1993) |
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Vic Reeves Big Night Out (1990–1991) | Les Lives (1993) |
Victorious (2010–2013) | Sam & Cat (2013–2014) |
The Virginian (1962–1971) |
|
Vision On (1964–1976) | Take Hart (1977–1983) |
Viva La Bam (2003–2005) |
|
Voltron (1984–1985) |
|
Parent series | Spin-off series |
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The X Factor (2004–present) |
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The X-Files (1993–2002) | Millennium (1996–1999) The Lone Gunmen (2001) |
The XYY Man (1976–1977) | Strangers (1978–1982) Bulman (1985–1987) |
Xiaolin Showdown (2003–2006) | Xiaolin Chronicles (2013–2015) |
Parent series | Spin-off series |
---|---|
Z-Cars (1962–1978) | Softly, Softly (1966–1969) |
Zoom (1972–1978) | Zoom (1999–2005) |
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. It began with the original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel series, Galactica 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games. A reimagined version aired as a two-part, three-hour miniseries developed by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick in 2003, followed by a 2004 television series, which aired until 2009. A prequel series, Caprica, aired in 2010.
Mary Eileen McDonnell is an American film, stage, and television actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles as Stands with a Fist in Dances with Wolves and May-Alice Culhane in Passion Fish. McDonnell is well known for her performances as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica, First Lady Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day, and Rose in Donnie Darko. She was featured as Captain Sharon Raydor during seasons 5–7 of the TNT series The Closer and starred as Commander Sharon Raydor in the spin-off series Major Crimes on the same network. In 2023, she had a main role as Madeleine Usher in the horror limited series The Fall of the House of Usher by Netflix.
Sister shows, also known as companion series, are two or more television series which exist in the same fictional universe and which may have crossovers. They differ to a degree from spin-offs, in that they are established independently from one another. The popularity of most series is limited to a few seasons, and sister shows allow expanding the immediate audience and ratings share. This is accomplished by using mostly different actors and production facilities. Sister shows often shift styles or target audience slightly, for a larger overall market. Thus The Beverly Hillbillies emphasizes slapstick, while Green Acres emphasizes surreal humor.
Galactica 1980 is an American science fiction television series and a spin-off from the original Battlestar Galactica television series. It was first broadcast on ABC in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting for 10 episodes.
Ronald Dowl Moore is an American screenwriter and television producer. He is best known for his work on Star Trek, as well as on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica television series, for which he won a Peabody Award, and on Outlander, based on the novels of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. In 2019, he created and wrote the series For All Mankind for Apple TV+.
Grace Park is an American-born Canadian actress and model, known for her roles in the science-fiction series Battlestar Galactica, as Shannon Ng in the Canadian teen soap opera series Edgemont, as Officer Kono Kalakaua in the police procedural Hawaii Five-0, and as Katherine Kim in A Million Little Things.
Katee Sackhoff is an American actress. She is known for playing Lieutenant Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on the Sci Fi Channel's television program Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), Niko Breckenridge on the Netflix series Another Life (2019–2021), Victoria "Vic" Moretti on the A&E / Netflix series Longmire and Bo-Katan Kryze on the Disney+ series The Mandalorian (2020–present). She also provided the voice for Kryze in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2012–2020), Star Wars Rebels (2017) and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024), as well as the voice of Bitch Pudding on Robot Chicken (2005–present). She was nominated for four Saturn Awards for her work on Battlestar Galactica and won the award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2005.
Katherine Elizabeth Vernon is a Canadian-born American actress. She is known for her roles as Lorraine Prescott on the CBS primetime soap opera Falcon Crest (1984–1985), the stuck-up and popular Benny Hanson in the comedy film Pretty in Pink (1986), Sophia in the 1992 film Malcolm X, and Ellen Tigh in the 2004 Syfy series Battlestar Galactica.
Jamie St John Bamber Griffith, known professionally as Jamie Bamber, is a British actor, known for his roles as Lee Adama in Battlestar Galactica and Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin in the ITV series Law & Order: UK. He also had a supporting role as 2nd Lt. Jack Foley in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, as Lieutenant Archie Kennedy in the Hornblower series and was a regular on the British series Ultimate Force and Peak Practice. In 2013, Bamber starred in the TNT medical drama Monday Mornings, and in 2014, in the Sky 1 drama The Smoke.
Battlestar Galactica has been adapted to the comic book format since its inception, with six publishers to date taking on the project of relating the story of the Colonial Fleet and their adversaries, the Cylons, at different points.
Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries is a three-hour television miniseries starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, written and produced by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Michael Rymer. It was the first part of the Battlestar Galactica remake based on the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, and served as a backdoor pilot for the 2004 television series. The miniseries aired originally on Sci Fi in the United States starting on December 8, 2003. The two parts of the miniseries attracted 3.9 and 4.5 million viewers, making the miniseries the third-most-watched program on Syfy.
Battlestar Galactica (BSG) is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore and executive produced by Moore and David Eick as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson. The pilot for the series first aired as a three-hour miniseries in December 2003 on the Sci-Fi Channel, which was then followed by four regular seasons, ending its run on March 20, 2009. The cast includes Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, and Grace Park.
Caprica is a 2010 American science fiction drama television series, which is a prequel spin-off of the 2004–2009 series Battlestar Galactica. Caprica is set 58 years before the main series, and shows how humanity first created the Cylon androids who would later turn against their human masters. Among Caprica's main characters are the father and uncle of William Adama, the man who becomes the senior surviving military leader of the fleet which represents the remnants of the Twelve Colonies in Battlestar Galactica.
Mark Andreas Sheppard is an English actor and musician. Sheppard is known for playing the demon/King of Hell Crowley on Supernatural and for his recurring roles as lawyer Romo Lampkin on the Battlestar Galactica reboot, Interpol investigator James Sterling on Leverage, and small-time crime lord Badger on Joss Whedon's Firefly. He also plays the character Willoughby Kipling on Doom Patrol.
CSI is a media franchise of American television series created by Anthony E. Zuiker. The first three CSI series follow the work of forensic scientists as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious deaths, while the fourth series, CSI: Cyber, emphasizes behavioral psychology and how it can be applied to cyber forensics.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise comprises the ongoing timeline and shared characters that link the American television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990); Melrose Place (1992); Models Inc. (1994); 90210 (2008); Melrose Place (2009); and the 2019 revival BH90210, which takes place outside of the franchise continuity.
Sasha Roiz is a Canadian actor known for his portrayals of Sam Adama in the science-fiction TV series Caprica and Captain Sean Renard in the American fantasy TV series Grimm.
Colin Lawrence is an English-Canadian actor known for his roles in film and television. He is best known for playing John 'Preacher' Middleton in Netflix series Virgin River.
Supernatural: Bloodlines was a proposed American television series, before being decided against by The CW for the 2014–15 season. It was set to be a spin-off of Supernatural, with the twentieth episode of the show's ninth season serving as the backdoor pilot. The backdoor pilot was written by Andrew Dabb and directed by Robert Singer. The series was set to explore the "clashing hunter and monster cultures in Chicago".
CSI: Cyber is an American police procedural drama television series that premiered on March 4, 2015, on CBS. The series, starring Patricia Arquette and Ted Danson, is the third spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and the fourth series in the CSI franchise. On May 12, 2016, CBS cancelled the series after two seasons.
Arquette previously appeared on CSI in a backdoor pilot episode for Cyber last spring.
...Sci Fi Channel's critically exalted reboot of the 1978–79 TV series about space-faring humans fleeing genocidal robots known as Cylons...
Becoming Human, the online extension to BBC3 drama Being Human, is to reach its finale via a simulcast aired online and on the digital channel.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, the spin-off.
ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee has a theory about why Once Upon a Time in Wonderland didn't work out. The network executive suggests the Once Upon a Time spin-off was undermined by its time slot.
The Sarah Jane Adventures – which was created by Russell T. Davies (Torchwood) specifically for her – and its spin-off, Sarah Jane's Alien Files.