# Mary Tyler Moore show had three spin-offs - is that a record? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061 "2017-02-05T14:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/21 "2017-02-05T18:37:12Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think you got your wires a little crossed, there. _All in the Family_ was a remake of the British _Till Death Us Do Part_. _Man About the House_ was remade in America as _Three’s Company_. And in a similar way, _Robin’s Nest_ was a spin-off of _Man About the House_ and in America _Three’s A Crowd_ was a spin-off of _Three’s Company_. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/22 "2017-02-05T22:02:34Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Should _Blanksy’s Beauties_ and _Out of the Blue_ be counted as _Happy Days_ spinoffs? The only reason those shows’ main characters appeared on HD was to promote them for their own shows. It’s like claiming that _Hello Larry_ was a spinoff of _Diff’rent Strokes_. So, we get to mention the Detective John Munch multi-verse already. Cool. _L&O_ for the win! ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/23 "2017-02-06T00:59:57Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > In the wake of the original STAR TREK and STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES, we got STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION as well as STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE as well as STAR TREK: VOYAGER as well as STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, with the latest spinoff apparently on its way in a matter of months. Doctor Who has them all beat. There have been 12 (13?) separate incarnations of the Doctor. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/24 "2017-02-06T01:19:00Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE begat HAPPY DAYS, which in turn begat MORK AND MINDY and LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY and JOANIE LOVES CHACHI and BLANSKY’S BEAUTIES. Also at least a couple of animated shows. - Laverne & Shirley in the Army - Fonz & the Happy Days Gang. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/25 "2017-02-06T01:22:16Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > In that case _Love American Style_ cannot count in the _Happy Days_ bloodline Well, the richie cunningham character did first appear in love american style Episode 70, Feb 1972 “Love and the Happy Days”: An American family of the 1950s gets their first television; teenage son Richie and his friend Potsie assume it can be used as a chick magnet. And Richie and Potsie went to “Happy Days” intact, so thats kind of a spin off? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/26 "2017-02-06T01:32:41Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Doctor Who has them all beat. There have been 12 (13?) separate incarnations of the Doctor. 😛 But all of them have been within one TV series, which has carried the same name throughout. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/27 "2017-02-06T01:40:39Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Also at least a couple of animated shows. > > - Laverne & Shirley in the Army > - Fonz & the Happy Days Gang. The Archie Show (1968) spun off 10. Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies (1970) Groovie Goolies (1971) Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1971–1974) Archie’s TV Funnies (1971) The U.S. of Archie (1974–1976) The New Archie and Sabrina Hour (1977) Sabrina, Superwitch (1977) Groovie Goolies and Friends (1978) The New Archies (1987–1988) Archie’s Weird Mysteries (1999–2000) ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/28 "2017-02-06T05:00:50Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > But all of them have been within one TV series, which has carried the same name throughout. Yeah, I didn’t think that would fly. How about: [ol] [li]K-9 and Company[/li][li]Doctor Who Confidential (documentary series)[/li][li]Torchwood[/li][li]Torchwood: Children of Earth (miniseries of the above)[/li][li]Sarah Jane Adventures[/li][li]Dreamland[/li][li]Class (being developed)[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/29 "2017-02-06T11:09:30Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > And in a similar way, _Robin’s Nest_ was a spin-off of _Man About the House_ and in America _Three’s A Crowd_ was a spin-off of _Three’s Company_. They both also spun-off shows about the landlords - George and Mildred for Man About the House, The Ropers for Three’s Company. Which is actually another interesting question - is there another time this has happened? A foreign remake spinning off remakes of the spinoffs of the original series, I mean. (And has the reverse ever happened? That is Domestic show A gets a foreign remake B. B gets a spinoff C, and the makers of A remake C as A-spinoff D.) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/30 "2017-02-06T13:25:33Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Yeah, I didn’t think that would fly. How about: > > [ol] > [li]K-9 and Company[/li][li]Doctor Who Confidential (documentary series)[/li][li]Torchwood[/li][li]Torchwood: Children of Earth (miniseries of the above)[/li][li]Sarah Jane Adventures[/li][li]Dreamland[/li][li]Class (being developed)[/li][/ol] Actually, Class has already broadcast 8 episodes (just not in the States yet). ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/31 "2017-02-06T13:56:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > There were three spin-offs from the Mary Tyler Moore Show: Rhoda; Phyllis and Lou Grant (two comedies, one drama). > > Is that a record for number of spin-offs from one show? A lot of people have chimed in, and so I guess MTM doesn’t have the “spinoff record.” But one thing I was amazed about when I recently saw the original MTM episode is how many of the cast went on to be the main star of a subsequent successful show within a few years of being on MTM–basically the whole cast: Harper, Leachman, Asner, Knight, White and Stevenson. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/32 "2017-02-06T14:48:00Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > A lot of people have chimed in, and so I guess MTM doesn’t have the “spinoff record.” But one thing I was amazed about when I recently saw the original MTM episode is how many of the cast went on to be the main star of a subsequent successful show within a few years of being on MTM–basically the whole cast: Harper, Leachman, Asner, Knight, White and **Stevenson**. As in “McLean”? 😕 Maybe you’re thinking of Gavin MacLeod? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/33 "2017-02-06T18:16:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > As in “McLean”? 😕 > > Maybe you’re thinking of Gavin MacLeod? :dubious: Yes, Macleod. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/34 "2017-02-06T22:01:56Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > A lot of people have chimed in, and so I guess MTM doesn’t have the “spinoff record.” But one thing I was amazed about when I recently saw the original MTM episode is how many of the cast went on to be the main star of a subsequent successful show within a few years of being on MTM–basically the whole cast: Harper, Leachman, Asner, Knight, White and Stevenson. While he wasn’t a regular, you might also add John Amos, who had a recurring role as Gordy the weatherman, to that list. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/35 "2017-02-06T22:35:47Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > A lot of people have chimed in, and so I guess MTM doesn’t have the “spinoff record.” But one thing I was amazed about when I recently saw the original MTM episode is how many of the cast went on to be the main star of a subsequent successful show within a few years of being on MTM–basically the whole cast: Harper, Leachman, Asner, Knight, White and Stevenson. _The Betty White Show_ lasted a whopping 14 episodes. She appeared more times as a guest star on _Mama’s Family_. She’s been successful, but not right after _MTM_. It wasn’t until _Golden Girls_ 8 years later that she was a regular in a successful series but then as part of ensemble, not the lead. (If any GG was the lead it would have been Bea Arthur.) Her other successful show was _Hot in Cleveland_ but again in an ensemble. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/36 "2017-02-06T23:10:59Z")
Happy Days had three spin offs. Laverne and Shirley Mork and Mindy Joanie Loves Chachi ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/37 "2017-02-06T23:26:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > _The Betty White Show_ lasted a whopping 14 episodes. She appeared more times as a guest star on _Mama’s Family_. She’s been successful, but not right after _MTM_. It wasn’t until _Golden Girls_ 8 years later that she was a regular in a successful series but then as part of ensemble, not the lead. (If any GG was the lead it would have been Bea Arthur.) > > Her other successful show was _Hot in Cleveland_ but again in an ensemble. One of the aspects of _The Golden Girls_ that I liked was how Betty White and Rue McClanahan played against type. Prior to TGG Rue McClanahan was best known as Vivian Harmon, Maude’s best friend on _Maude_. Vivian was naive and soft spoken, but on TGG she played Blanche Devereaux a highly sexual and risqué woman. Prior to TGG Betty White’s best known character was Sue Ann Nivens from _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_. Sue Ann was highly sexual and risqué, but on TGG she played Rose Nylund a naive and soft spoken woman. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/38 "2017-02-06T23:31:19Z")
Mary Tyler Moore spun off very established characters. Laverne & Shirley and Mork only appeared on Happy Days one time. But they both got their own shows. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/39 "2017-02-06T23:40:46Z")
The Australian comedy _We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year_ had Ja’ime King, the horrific schoolgirl, as one of its feature characters. She became on of the leads on _Summer Heights High_, which also introduced Jonah Takaleua as another lead, and continued in _Ja’mie: Private School Girl_. Jonah got his own show - _Jonah from Tonga_. Only three spin-offs, but a lot for an Australian show, ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061/40 "2017-02-07T01:04:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Laverne & Shirley … only appeared on Happy Days one time. [Five times](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026363/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_38), apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-tyler-moore-show-had-three-spin-offs-is-that-a-record/779061.md?page=3)