Actually, the ELM STREET movies spawned a series called FREDDY’S NIGHTMARES. NIGHTMARE CAFE was a completely different series, which starred Englund as the mysterious proprietor of a cafe. It was created by Wes Craven (who wrote and directed the first ELM STREET film), so there were some similarities in the use of dreams and nightmares, but that’s about it.
As for other TV series based on films, let’s not forget THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR.
There was a British TV series called “Doctor in the House” based on a British film of the same name. I used to watch it long ago on our local PBS channel. A silly comedy, and I loved it.
D’oh. Y’all are correct. I resign my comission.
Starman (starring Jeff Bridges & Karen Allen) begat Starman (starring Robert Hayes and C.B. Barnes as his son).
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
Storm of the Century is a case of a book and miniseries spawning each other. It was started as a book until Mr. King realized his vision was losing something when put on paper so he wrote the miniseries instead; when it was finished he returned to the book.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 1964 tv series based on the 1961 film Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
The Dr. Kildare movies spawned the memorable TV series “Dr. Kildare” and the forgettable (at least, I’ve forgotten it) TV series “Young Dr. Kildare.”
The book “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (or whatever the French title was) spawned three theatrical movies, three made-for-TV movies, and one animated TV series.
The movie “Fantastic Voyage” (based on a short story) led to a novelization by Issac Asimov and an animated TV series.
Are you sure Insomnia is based on the Stephen King novel? Normally they’d plaster his name all over the previews if so. I don’t read King so I don’t know what his Insomnia was about so please correct me if I’m wrong.
Are you sure Insomnia is based on the Stephen King novel? Normally they’d plaster his name all over the previews if so. I don’t read King so I don’t know what his Insomnia was about so please correct me if I’m wrong.
According to http://www.stephenking.com/rumors.html, it’s not. A summary of the book found at http://www.horrorking.com/insomnia.html doesn’t seem to be the same as the plot outline of the movie, either.
Alien Nation, IMHO one of the best sci-fi series of the early 90’s, came from the movie of the same name, and did it much better.
Jeff Olsen: Sherwood Schwartz, creator of the BB, says that he came up with the original premise (which he titled, ironically enough) “Yours and Mine” several years before the movie you mention came out. He admits it probably was the success of the movie that enabled him to sell the series, by then titled “The Bradley Brood.”
Later of course, the producers of Yours Mine & Ours threatened to sue Schwartz when the BB became a hit. He responded by telling them to check the WGA archives, where it would show that his original treatment, which of course he submitted, antedated YM&O by several years. Needless to say, they didn’t sue.
Disney animated series from Disney features:
The Little Mermaid
Aladdin
I’m not really qualified to connect or disconnect The Walton’s and Spencer’s Mountain, but the series was spun off from a Christmastime made-for-TV-movie called The Homecoming. If Spencer’s Mountain has a connection to Earl Hamner, Jr., then there should be a connection.
Similarly, I can’t speak to a connection between American Grafitti and Happy Days, but the TV series was spun off from an episode of Love, American Style (interesting aside – so was Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home, an animated series that featured the voice of Tom “Mr. Cunningham” Bosley. Or maybe, not so interesting).
Lastly, even though the OP asks us to leave Buffy out of it, I’m going to take this opportunity to say that the change undergone by this concept in the journey from movie to television that I object to, is the departure of the comedy. I only saw a few of the TV episodes, which I didn’t thiink were particularly amusing, and they had made me doubt my assumption that the movie actually was a comedy. So, when I had an opportunity to rent the film a few weeks ago, and see it for the first time, I hardly recognized them as being the same entities.
There were actually two short-lived television series based on Casablanca. One in in 1955 and the other in 1983.
Just remembered another one…Robocop spawned a TV series.
Kaylasdad:
When I was a kid, I saw the “Love American Style” episode that featured Ron Howard as typical 1950s teen Richie Cunningham (in that episode, Richie becomes the most popular kid in town because his parents are the first to buy a television).
Years later, when "Happy Days" was a popular series, I helped spread the factoid that the series was based on a "Love American Style" skit. But it turned out I wasn't QUITE right about that, and neither are you.
According to Garry Marshall, "Love American Style" was "where failed pilots went to die." Many of the "skits" and "sketches" on "Love American Style" were sitcom pilots that producers had shopped around to networks without any luck. Rather than call the whole project a total loss, producers often sold unsuccessful pilots to "Love American Style," which would chop up the pilot, and use it as a loooong sketch.
Garry Marshall had come up with an idea for a sitcom about growing up in the 50s, and taped a pilot starring Ron Howard. He had no luck finding a network to buy it, so he gave the pilot to "Love American Style." But not long afterward, Ron Howard appeared in "American Graffiti," "Grease" became a huge hit on Broadway, and suddenly, 50s nostalgia was huge. ABC execs remembered the sitcom that Marshall had tried to pitch them, called him up, and asked him to revive the idea.At one point, all three networks had sitcoms that were based on “Animal House.” NBC had “Brothers and Sisters.” CBS did “Coed Fever.” And ABC had “Delta House,” actually produced by people who had connections to the movie.
That same season (78-79) also saw many other sitcoms based on movies, including “The Bad News Bears,” “Grandpa Goes to Washington,” (based very loosely on Mr Smith Goes…), and “Makin’ It,” a sitcom version of “Saturday Night Fever.”
Imagine how many others I could find by searching in gap-jawed amazement through Rick Mitz’ The Great TV Sitcom Book.
And remember, those were the good ole days of television.
Man, I loved that show! Had a character who was obsessed with Thing. His name was Harry Palmer. 
The Rounders with Glen Ford became a pretty good (if short-lived) TV show starring Will Hutchins.
Bridget Loves Birney was obviously based on Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.
The Odd Couple was another Simon play/movie to TV.
Hondo was a movie with John Wayne, I don’t remember who was in the TV show of the same name.
Tarzan about a 1,000 movies and a couple of TV shows.
Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, Sherlock Holmes, The Cisco Kid, Zorro and their ilk.
Buck Rogers quite a few serials and the TV shows in the 1970s.
The one that started it all: the first movie to TV program, however, was Naked City (no it had nothing to do with nudity!) it was the first real cop drama to take place in New York City and it was based on the classic movie of the same name.
OK, now movies inspired by TV shows:[ul][li]Scooby Doo[]The Flintstones[]The Beverly Hillbillies[]The Fugitive[]The Brady Bunch[]Charlie’s Angels[]South Park[]Beavis and Butthead[]Dudley Dooright[]The Addams Family[]Wild Wild WestStar Trek(s)[/ul][/li]
And I’m sure there are many others I’m missing…