10 Sitcom Spinoffs That Failed To Match Their Predecessors

10 Most Failed Sitcom Spinoffs In TV History Joey and Gina Tribbiani standing next to a car on Joey.MovieStillsDB By  Cher Thompson Published 53 minutes ago

Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.

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Sitcom spinoffs have long been a tempting strategy for television networks hoping to extend the lifespan of beloved shows, but some aren't able to capitalize on the original. When they work, they create entirely new successes, sometimes even eclipsing their predecessors. Frasier, for example, became one of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms ever, despite originating from Cheers, a wildly successful sitcom in its own right.

Fraiser's independence demonstrated how a spinoff could maintain connective tissue to its original series while establishing a voice completely its own, but it's the exception rather than the rule. Achieving that balance is way more challenging than it appears on screen. Many sitcom spinoffs struggle because they cannot escape the shadow of the original series. While some rely too heavily on familiar jokes, others stray too far away.

With similar dynamics expected in a spinoff, the level of nostalgia needs to be pitch perfect, which can sometimes prevent the creative team from developing new identities. Audiences often expect the same magic they experienced from the original sitcom on a spinoff, even when circumstances, characters, or creative teams differ enough that a direct replication isn’t what the show is meant to be, and isn't possible.

Other spinoffs encounter the opposite problem in creating a show so different from the source material that viewers feel disconnected. When a sitcom abandons the tone, structure, or comedic style audiences loved, the results can confuse rather than excite. Even when characters are popular in ensemble settings, they don’t always translate into compelling leads capable of anchoring a new narrative with true staying power.

Networks also play a major role in whether sitcom spinoffs succeed. Shows created primarily to capitalize on a brand name tend to face rushed development, mismatched creative direction, or scheduling disadvantages. When a spinoff appears designed more for commercial reasons than genuine storytelling, viewers notice. The result is often a short-lived attempt that fails to resonate, despite the popularity of the original show.

Due to these challenges, TV history is filled with sitcom spinoffs that didn’t land the way their networks hoped. Some lasted a single season while others struggled over a few years before fading into obscurity. Regardless of length, all of the failed spinoffs make it clear that strong concepts can fail miserably when they're pulled away from the safety of their original ensemble.

10 The Ropers

Spun From Three's Company

The Ropers, which was a spinoff of ABC's hit series Three's Company, was one of two spinoffs for the series that didn't land. The Ropers, following the Three's Company trio's landlords Stanley (Norman Fell) and Helen Roper (Aurdra Lindley), saw the original characters move to a new suburban community away from the original series.

While the Ropers were fun to watch during their run on Three's Company, their relationship was a struggle as they moved to their own series. Starting strong, The Ropers had a tough time balancing its tone with traditional sitcom tropes, especially when it faced difficult competition from other networks.

The Ropers

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Comedy Release Date 1979 - 1980-00-00 Network ABC Directors Jack Shea Writers Johnnie Mortimer, Mark Fink, Wayne Kline

Cast

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• Audra Lindley Helen Roper
• James T. Callahan Uncredited
• Jeffrey Tambor Jeffrey P. Brookes III
• John Fiedler Stanley Roper

Genres Comedy Powered by Expand Collapse

9 Living Dolls

Spun From Who's The Boss?

Living Dolls still featuring Leah Remini and Halle Berry.

Living Dolls was a short-lived series on ABC that spun off from the success of Who's The Boss? Following Samantha Micelli's (Alyssa Milano) friend Charlie Briscoe (Leah Remini) as she became a teen model with an agency that included other teen models, the show had future stars on its roster.

Along with Remini, Halle Berry played Emily Franklin on the series, but the show itself had a hard time understanding what it was. Sometimes operating like a teen drama and in other moments leaning into its comedic elements, the show took too long to establish its tone and missed out on building an audience.

Living Dolls

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Comedy Release Date 1989 - 1988 Network ABC

Cast

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• Leah Remini Charlie Briscoe
• Michael Learned Trish Carlin
• Alison Elliott Uncredited
• Halle Berry Emily Franklin

Genres Comedy Powered by Expand Collapse

8 How I Met Your Father

Spun From How I Met Your Mother

Sophie and Jessie with Drinks Looking Surprised in How I Met Your Father

A long-awaited spinoff of How I Met Your Mother, How I Met Your Father was a Hulu original that tried to reimagine the series in a more modern era, bringing a female point of view to the series. Starring Hilary Duff as Sophie, the series had a fun first season that established its identity, but struggled to pull in viewers for a second.

While the twist of who the father was continued to be a compelling thread carried over from the first iteration of the series, the show's adaptation to a modern sitcom was a struggle for viewers to feel connected to the story. Cancelled after a brand refresh, How I Met Your Father struggled to find its tone.

10/10 6/10

How I Met Your Father

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Comedy Drama Sitcom Release Date 2022 - 2023-00-00 Showrunner Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger Writers Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger Franchise(s) How I Met Your Mother

Cast

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• Daniel Augustin
• Chris Lowell

Genres Comedy, Drama, Sitcom Powered by Expand Collapse

7 Tabitha

Spun From Bewitched

Airing on ABC, Tabitha was a spinoff of the beloved sitcom Bewitched that followed Tabitha Stephens (Lisa Hartman), the daughter of Samantha and Darrin Stephens from the original series. The concept offered potential as Tabitha moved into her own independent life with an air of magical realism on the side, but failed to capture viewers' interest.

While the promise of something similar to Bewitched was there on Tabitha, the show struggled to understand what it was outside the larger franchise. Without Elizabeth Montgomery's presence as Samantha, the series felt too much like an off-brand version of its predecessor to succeed.

Tabitha

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Sci-Fi Fantasy Comedy Release Date 1977 - 1977

Cast

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• Lisa Hartman Tabitha Stephens
• Robert Urich Paul Thurston
• Mel Stewart Marvin Decker
• David Ankrum Adam Stephens

Genres Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy Creator(s) Jerry Mayer Powered by Expand Collapse

6 The Tortellis

Spun From Cheers

The cast of The Tortellis in black and white.

Spun off from Cheers, The Tortellis was the one Cheers spinoff that didn't find its way to success. Following the ex-husband of Cheers' Carla (Rhea Pearlman), The Tortellis starred Dan Hedaya as Nick Tortelli, who moved his new wife and family to Las Vegas for a business opportunity.

While some viewers had enjoyed watching Nick on Cheers as Carla's bumbling ex-husband, the small doses of him as a guest star were very different than seeing him lead a series. The setting shift and the cast struggled to connect with viewers, leaving The Tortellis an unfortunate failure.

The Tortellis

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Comedy Release Date 1987 - 1987-00-00 Network NBC Directors Michael Zinberg, Jack Shea, Greg Antonacci

Cast

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• Dan Hedaya Nick Tortelli
• Jean Kasem Loretta Tortelli
• Timothy Williams Anthony Tortelli
• Mandy Ingber Annie Tortelli

Genres Comedy Creator(s) James Burrows, Ken Estin Powered by Expand Collapse

5 Saved By The Bell: The College Years

Spun From Saved By The Bell

saved by the bell college years

Despite Saved By The Bell itself being a spinoff of Good Morning, Miss Bliss, the show's own spinoff didn't have long-term success. Saved By The Bell: The College Years followed Zack Morris (Mark Paul Gosselaar), AC Slater (Mario Lopez), and Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiesen) as they went to college, but failed to connect with fans of the high school years.

While Zack and Kelly's relationship was still on display, the show moved into a multi-camera format and changed up the way that its storytelling landed with viewers, which wasn't what Saved By The Bell fans were looking for from the franchise. The show struggled for a season before being cancelled.

Saved by The Bell: The College Years

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-G Family Comedy Release Date 1993 - 1994-00-00 Network NBC Directors Jeff Melman Writers Mark Fink, Steve Kreinberg, Andy Guerdat, Brett Dewey, Ronald B. Solomon, Elaine Aronson

Cast

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• Mark-Paul Gosselaar Zack Morris
• Mario Lopez A.C. Slater
• Dustin Diamond Samuel 'Screech' Powers
• Anne Tremko Leslie Burke

Genres Family, Comedy Creator(s) Sam Bobrick Powered by Expand Collapse

4 The Brady Brides

Spun From The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch thrived on chaos, but one of its spinoffs, The Brady Brides, didn't find itself able to sustain an audience with a similar formula. Continuing the story of Marcia Brady (Marueen McCormick) and her sister Jan Brady (Eve Plumb) as they left their family and got married.

The spinoff was hoping to be able to capture a new dynamic between the sisters and their spouses, but the story struggled to feel resonant without the charm of the original series pushing it forward. Without the full ensemble, The Brady Brides lacked the same level of appeal.

The Brady Brides

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Not Rated Comedy Release Date 1981 - 1981-00-00 Network NBC Directors Peter Baldwin, Alan Myerson, Herbert Kenwith

Cast

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• Maureen McCormick Marcia Brady Logan
• Eve Plumb Jan Brady Covington
• Jerry Houser Wally Logan
• Ron Kuhlman Philip Covington III

Genres Comedy Creator(s) Sherwood Schwartz Powered by Expand Collapse

3 That '80s Show

Spun From That '70's Show

That 80s Show cast

Hoping to capitalize on the same level of nostalgia as its predecessor, That '80's Show wasn't a direct spinoff of That '70's Show, but a spiritual successor. Sharing no real overlap, the team behind That '80's Show were hopeful that they would be able to mine off the concept while creating an entirely new story for a new cast.

While the original had a laid-back charm that lived within its nostalgia-fueled plot, That '80's Show felt forced more often than not. The humor relied on references in a way the original hadn't, which made it too tough to resonate with a modern audience.

That '80s Show

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Comedy Release Date 2002 - 2002-00-00 Network FOX Directors Terry Hughes Writers Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Cindy Caponera

Cast

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• Glenn Howerton Corey Howard
• Tinsley Grimes Katie Howard
• Chyler Leigh June Tuesday
• Eddie Shin Roger

Genres Comedy Creator(s) Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Linda Wallem, Mark Brazill Powered by Expand Collapse

2 The Golden Palace

Spun From The Golden Girls

Rose and Blanche together at the table in The Golden Girls

Hoping to continue the popular world of The Golden Girls without Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), The Golden Palace followed Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), Rose Nylund (Betty White), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) as they purchased a hotel in Miami. The series worked with the remaining Golden Girls' chemistry well, but the new series lacked its predecessor's charm.

Despite notable guest stars appearing on the show throughout its short run and wonderfully funny performances by the main trio, the show didn't connect with viewers in the same way the original had. The Golden Palace was canceled after just a season.

The Golden Palace

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Comedy Release Date 1992 - 1993-00-00 Network CBS Directors Terry Hughes

Cast

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• Anne Haney Vivian
• Barry Bostwick Nick DeCarlo
• Bea Arthur Dorothy Hollingsworth
• Betty White Rose Nylund

Writers Marc Sotkin, Marco Pennette, Jonathan Schmock, Julie Thacker, Kevin Rooney Genres Comedy Creator(s) Susan Harris Powered by Expand Collapse

1 Joey

Spun From Friends

Matt LeBlanc and Drea de Matteo in Joey TV series

Hoping to recapture the magic of one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, Joey spun off from Friends after its end in 2003. Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) left New York City as the only member of the group who was unattached, moving to Los Angeles to further his acting career. While the premise worked, the show didn't.

Joey, which somehow made its way through two seasons on NBC, felt like a difficult off-shoot that didn't have much happening. While there were great performances, especially from Drea de Matteo as Joey's sister Gina Tribbiani, Joey ultimately struggled to find itself without the larger ensemble.

5.5/10

Joey

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Comedy Release Date 2004 - 2006-00-00 Network NBC

Cast

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• Matt LeBlanc
• Andrea Anders

Genres Comedy Powered by Expand Collapse

Source: Bewitched/YouTube, Random Rocketship Vintage/YouTube

• joey
• The Golden Palace
• That '80s Show

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