Last updated: January 1, 2005. This version: 8.00
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.
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) |
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