# Horrible spin offs of successful sitcoms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524 "2018-06-21T17:49:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/41 "2018-06-22T23:56:25Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > I liked this one initially but it started to feel like “let’s debate a new social issue this week”. Exactly, and as someone else pointed out, it was a waste of talent. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/42 "2018-06-23T00:14:44Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > Exactly, and as someone else pointed out, it was a waste of talent. Same as Mom. I hate that show. I suppose it is alright for a sitcom, but to waste Allison Janney on it? sad. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/43 "2018-06-23T12:37:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not really a spin-off but another imitation of a BBC series was the US version of[Coupling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_(U.S._TV_series)). Simply horrid. The original [Coupling on BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_(UK_TV_series)) was an excellent show. The first episode of the US version had large chunks that were taken word-for-word from the British version. When the series failed the blame was firmly put on the writing. Riiiiiight. The great Showtime series _Episodes_ shows how this stuff happens. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/44 "2018-06-23T13:37:32Z")
[Sanford](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080269/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_5), [Mama’s Family](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085050/?ref_=nv_sr_1) and [Mayberry, RFD](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062587/?ref_=nv_sr_1) all left me pretty cold. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/45 "2018-06-23T13:41:23Z")
Oh! [Getting Together](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066661/?ref_=nv_sr_1) was a really forgettable spinoff of _The Partridge Family_. What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/46 "2018-06-23T14:20:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The first episode of the US version had large chunks that were taken word-for-word from the British version. > > When the series failed the blame was firmly put on the writing. Riiiiiight. British humor does not necessarily translate well where American actors and settings are involved. Anyone who saw _ **Amanda’s by the Sea** _, a horrible ripoff of _ **Fawlty Towers** _ starring Bea Arthur, knows this. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/47 "2018-06-23T21:41:37Z")
I suppose you could include continuations. Freddie Prinze Sr died near the end of the third season of “Chico and the Man”. They decided to come back for a 4th season with a 12 year old boy Gabriel Melgar as a replacement. George Burns in 1958 decided to continue after Gracie Allen retired (mild heart atack, tired of the workload of memorizing illogical dialogue and costume changes). He dropped Gracie’s name from the show and slightly retooled it as he was in an office as a producer, the Mortons worked for him, Harry von Zell and Ronnie Burns appeared. Gracie was referred to but not seen. Didn’t work as a stcom or a sketch/variety show and lasted one year. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/48 "2018-06-24T15:37:15Z")
The Cleveland Show is a pretty bad spinoff of Family Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/49 "2018-06-25T02:16:02Z")
It never got a single pilot, but [K-9 and Company](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uSDD-YiGaE&t=310s). For a long time, it was the only spin-off of “Doctor Who”. (BTW, “Torchwood” was pretty bad for most of its run too.) Now what did I win? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/50 "2018-06-25T13:37:59Z")
One word: [Fish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_(U.S._TV_series)) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524/51 "2018-06-26T03:15:30Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > The Cleveland Show is a pretty bad spinoff of Family Guy. I did a thread about how much I hated it when it first came out. I warmed a bit to it later on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-spin-offs-of-successful-sitcoms/816524.md?page=2)