# most generations of spin-offs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919 "2016-06-09T14:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 10, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/41 "2016-06-10T00:58:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > 1962 was in the '50s. The 60s didn’t start until the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan. I beg to differ. The '50s ended as soon as Eisenhower left office, and (as was noted in _ **American Graffiti** _) the '60s started with surfing music. Hell, I was seven years old in 1962, and I could tell the times had \*\*definitely \*\*changed! ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/42 "2016-06-10T01:09:51Z")
Laverne & Shirley is a spin off of Happy Days ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/43 "2016-06-10T01:26:10Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Hang on to your hat: Marco, of the “Emergency” firemen, is watching himself on that “Adam-12” episode! I’d forgot that detail! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/44 "2016-06-10T01:51:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I beg to differ. The '50s ended as soon as Eisenhower left office, and (as was noted in _ **American Graffiti** _) the '60s started with surfing music. Hell, I was seven years old in 1962, and I could tell the times had \*\*definitely \*\*changed! That’s a fair point of view. There was a change as Kennedy took office. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/45 "2016-06-10T02:08:03Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > “the Simpsons” \> “the Critic” (OK, this was a backdoor pilot, but I think that counts.) Nope. _The Critic_ was originally aired on ABC; it was cancelled and picked up by Fox. There was a crossover episode when the show switched networks. It was created by two ex-Simpsons writers, but they set out to make it as different from the Simpsons as they could. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/46 "2016-06-10T03:02:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Nope. _The Critic_ was originally aired on ABC; it was cancelled and picked up by Fox. There was a crossover episode when the show switched networks. > > It was created by two ex-Simpsons writers, but they set out to make it as different from the Simpsons as they could. _Simpsons_ creator Matt Groening was so furious that FOX did this that he had his name removed from the credits of that episode. Kind of ironic now, being that the episode (_[A Star is Burns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Star_Is_Burns)_) was actually pretty good (and contains [one of my favorite lines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO0JaecRWy0)). And besides that, _The Simpsons_ itself hasn’t been good _ **at all** _ in over 15 years\*!\* ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/47 "2016-06-10T05:05:06Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Make Room for Daddy —\> The Danny Thomas Show —\> The Andy Griffith Show —\> Gomer Pyle, USMC > Four Generations You can stretch it to six. Make Room for Daddy The Danny Thomas Show The Andy Griffith Show Mayberry RFD Hee Haw (George Lindsey brought his Goober character over from Mayberry RFD to Hee Haw) Hee Haw Honeys ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/48 "2016-06-10T05:13:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You can stretch it to six. > > Make Room for Daddy > The Danny Thomas Show > The Andy Griffith Show > Mayberry RFD > Hee Haw (George Lindsey brought his Goober character over from Mayberry RFD to Hee Haw) > Hee Haw Honeys I wouldn’t be so sure that Hee Haw Honeys didn’t morph into Playboy Channels “Electric Blue”. Hey what about all the shows Richard Belzer has been on as “Munch”? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/49 "2016-06-10T05:45:54Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I think the only episode I ever watched of _ **LAS** _ was the one where Connie Kreski (_ **Playboy** _’s Playmate of the Year, 1969) was a topless waitress :o (and of course, they only showed her from the back and the shoulders up :mad: ). > > **WARNING: NSFW!** > > [spoiler][https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8pRkDVpXNm8A6lmJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTIzYW4zdWVrBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMxOGQ0ODc2YWE3OWVlYjIzNGI2ZTE5ZTQ5ZDMzM2ExMgRncG9zAzk4BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DConnie%2BKreski%26fr%3Dmcafee%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D98&w=294&h=640&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-IDVmGpEKIcw%2FUECmM5Q9M3I%2FAAAAAAAAS8s%2FSv-TqDcGycM%2Fs640%2Fjanuary.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fchelseagirl-m.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F09%2Fconnie-kreski.html&size=203.5KB&name=Chelsea+Girl%3A+\Connie+Kreski\<%2Fb\>&p=Connie+Kreski&oid=18d4876aa79eeb234b6e19e49d333a12&fr2=&fr=mcafee&tt=Chelsea+Girl%3A+\Connie+Kreski\<%2Fb\>&b=61&ni=108&no=98&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11sm9e07u&sigb=130b6qh76&sigi=12j7c7ubn&sigt=112n70rhj&sign=112n70rhj&.crumb=47r87rv33Lt&fr=mcafee](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8pRkDVpXNm8A6lmJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIzYW4zdWVrBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMxOGQ0ODc2YWE3OWVlYjIzNGI2ZTE5ZTQ5ZDMzM2ExMgRncG9zAzk4BGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DConnie%2BKreski%26fr%3Dmcafee%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D98&w=294&h=640&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-IDVmGpEKIcw%2FUECmM5Q9M3I%2FAAAAAAAAS8s%2FSv-TqDcGycM%2Fs640%2Fjanuary.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fchelseagirl-m.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F09%2Fconnie-kreski.html&size=203.5KB&name=Chelsea+Girl%3A+%3Cb%3EConnie+Kreski%3C%2Fb%3E&p=Connie+Kreski&oid=18d4876aa79eeb234b6e19e49d333a12&fr2=&fr=mcafee&tt=Chelsea+Girl%3A+%3Cb%3EConnie+Kreski%3C%2Fb%3E&b=61&ni=108&no=98&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11sm9e07u&sigb=130b6qh76&sigi=12j7c7ubn&sigt=112n70rhj&sign=112n70rhj&.crumb=47r87rv33Lt&fr=mcafee) > > Here’s her segment: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h7o\_XvxmWU[/spoiler]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h7o_XvxmWU%5B/spoiler%5D) I’ve added a spoiler tag so it stays in tune with the two click rule. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/50 "2016-06-10T06:48:55Z")
_All in the Family_ was an American copy of [Till Death Us Do Part](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Death_Us_Do_Part). _Three’s Company_ was an American copy of [Man About the House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_About_the_House). So, arguably you can add another generation to the US versions of those shows, depending on how you define “spin-off”. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/51 "2016-06-10T06:55:54Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I wouldn’t be so sure that Hee Haw Honeys didn’t morph into Playboy Channels “Electric Blue”. > > Hey what about all the shows Richard Belzer has been on as “Munch”? Post #24. ---
**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 10, 2016, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/52 "2016-06-10T08:38:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That’s a fair point of view. There was a change as Kennedy took office. Or maybe even with the Kennedy/Nixon debates. Politics were never the same again! ---
**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 10, 2016, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/53 "2016-06-10T08:48:29Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The '60s started with surfing music. Almost forgot this little honey: 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/embed/UH7pIQc6vuQ?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLblQQAmnnpTf20EX-Ispdpo072Ec-ky5x Another sign the '60s had begun: Barbara Eden, mmmmmmmmmmmmm! :o ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/54 "2016-06-10T12:40:44Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Do any of the _NCIS_ shows qualify under your premise? All of them were introduced as backdoor pilots on _NCIS_, and _NCIS_ was, itself, introduced as a backdoor pilot on _JAG_. Not sure. I’m not familiar enough with them. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/55 "2016-06-10T12:42:17Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > All in the Family spun off Maude, which in turn spun off Good Times. I did not know about Good Times. Good one! ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/56 "2016-06-10T12:44:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The Kids of Degrassi Street spun off Degrassi Jr High, which in turn spun off Degrassi High, and which in turn spun off Degrassi Next Generation. That’s four. Thanks. I don’t know these but a quick look at their wikipedia page suggests they are more continuation/sequels. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/57 "2016-06-10T12:49:29Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > I think calling Happy Days a “spin-off” (as used in this context) of Love, American Style is a stretch. The latter was a series of unconnected one act plays, with the show’s title as the underlying theme. It’s not like the Happy Days characters appeared in more than one of these. I count it as one by the OP’s definition. Characters introduced in one show get their own show = spin off. It’s similar to how Mork only appeared in one episode of Happy Days but then got his own show. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/58 "2016-06-10T12:50:37Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Does Detective John Munch count as his own spinoff? Richard Belzer played him on Homicide: Life on the Street, then he moved to Law & Order:SVU, and he popped up in the regular Law & Order, Arrested Development, The X-Files, The Beat, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, The Wire, 30 Rock, and as a Muppet on Sesame Street. Not really but that is pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/59 "2016-06-10T12:56:37Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > I think calling Happy Days a “spin-off” (as used in this context) of Love, American Style is a stretch. The latter was a series of unconnected one act plays, with the show’s title as the underlying theme. It’s not like the Happy Days characters appeared in more than one of these. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > That had me confused, too. I always thought “Happy Days” was kind of a TV version of “American Graffiti”. > > What do I know? I never watched it. > > How many spin-offs are there from “Family Guy”? Aren’t there about six versions of that rehashed crap? “Love, American Style” was a graveyard for passed over pilots after a bit of editing, and they broadcast “Love and the Television Set”. Sometime after that, Ron Howard got cast in “American Graffiti”, which did pretty well. Between the success of AG and the Broadway musical “Grease”, a network decided to take another look at that pilot that Garry Marshall made with Ron Howard that nobody was interested in the first time around. How about Wallace & Gromit’s “A Close Shave”\>“Shaun the Sheep”\>“Timmy Time”? FTR, I don’t consider a program that started out as a “backdoor pilot” to be a spin off. Or a sequel either. ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919/60 "2016-06-10T12:58:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Garry Marshall’s “Love and the Happy Days” (that was the name of the episode) aired on 25 February 1972 as part of _ **Love, American Style** _. George Lucas’s _ **American Graffiti** _ (one of my favorite movies) was released on 1 August 1973. > > I think the only thing they had in common was the casting of Ron Howard and (later) Cindy Williams. Unrelated to the OP but I always thought that Summer of '42 was a likely inspiration for Happy Days. The three boys in the pic left-to-right would correspond to Ritchie, Potsie and Ralph. In the first season of Happy Days the characters of Ritchie and Potsie were especially much more like their supposed counterparts in Summer of '42. [![](http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/67/6723/T7NA100Z/posters/summer-of-42-gary-grimes-jerry-houser-oliver-conant-1971.jpg) ](http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/67/6723/T7NA100Z/posters/summer-of-42-gary-grimes-jerry-houser-oliver-conant-1971.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-generations-of-spin-offs/756919.md?page=4)