The rec.arts.tv FAQL:

Last updated:  January 1, 2005.
This version:  8.00
Note: The date of the last update is the date of the last change to this section; lack of an update since then means that the contents of this particular section are still true or valid to the present day. This page will be updated with every new major update (i.e. version x.00) of this FAQL, however.

Section 4.2: "What Primetime TV shows have had the most spin-offs?"

Note: This question has been asked, on and off, over the years in rec.arts.tv. This answer is reconstructed from a thread started by Tony Zamora (azamora@hexagon.cs.indiana.edu) in rec.arts.tv on Jan. 24, 1992. This question has been reasked many times since then.

See also, the following webpage: http://www.poobala.com/crossoverlist.html
(esp. http://www.poobala.com/crossoverlistb.html#byreality)

Answer: Here are the Primetime TV shows that have spawned the most (Primetime) spinoffs (successful, and otherwise) - "spinoffs of spinoffs" are shown in italics, and shows are listed hierarchically by spinoff; important spinoffs are bolded (and, note that I am skipping animated spinoffs) - only shows with 3 or more (Primetime, non-animated) spinoffs are listed (* = currently airing as a first-run series):

Original Series # of Spinoffs Spinoffs
All in the Family
(1971-1979)
7(8) Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983, sequel)
Maude (1972-1978)
   Good Times (1974-1979)
The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
   Checking In (1981),
   [E/R (1984-1985; not a Jeffersons spinoff in the truest sense - more of a crossover...)];
Gloria (1982-1983)
704 Hauser (1994, a sequel of sorts...)
Love, American Style
(1969-1974)
6 Happy Days (1974-1984)
   Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
   Blanski's Beauties (1977)
   Mork and Mindy (1978-1982)
   Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-1983)
   Out of the Blue (1979)
†Star Trek
(1966-1969)
4 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
   Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
      Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)
*Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-pres)
Make Room for Daddy
(1953-1957) /
The Danny Thomas Show
(1957-1965)
4 The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
   Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1970)
   Mayberry, R.F.D. (1968-1971)
Make Room for Granddaddy (1970-1971)
*Law & Order
(1990-present)
4 *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
*Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-present)
Law & Order: Crime & Punishment ('reality': summers 2002, 2003, 2004)
Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005 (prospective))
Burke's Law
(1963-1965)
3 Amos Burke: Secret Agent (1965-1966, a sequel of sorts)
Honey West (1965-1966)
Burke's Law (1994-1995, sequel)
The Brady Bunch
(1969-1974)
3 The Brady Bunch Hour (1977)
The Brady Brides (1981, a.k.a. The Brady Girls Get Married)
The Bradys (1990)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
(1970-1977)
3 Rhoda (1974-1978)
Phyllis (1975-1977)
Lou Grant (1977-1982)
Sanford & Son
(1972-1977)
3 Grady (1975-1976)
The Sanford Arms (1977)
Sanford (1980-1981)
The Golden Girls
(1985-1992)
3 Empty Nest (1988-1995)
   Nurses (1991-1994)
The Golden Palace (1992-1993, sequel)
Good Morning, Miss Bliss
(1987-1989)
3 Saved by the Bell (1989-1993, a sequel of sorts...)
   Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993-1994, sequel of sequel)
   Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993-2000)
Star Trek is rather a special case, as it doesn't fit the traditional definition of a "spin-off" (i.e. which is an existing character from an original TV series spun-off into a separate series) - in the case of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the order was reversed (i.e. with TOS characters appearing on The Next Generation).


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