When a show becomes successful, or a certain character is beloved by fans but they've served their purpose, the idea of a spinoff is usually born and some are true greats. For example, fans of Grey's Anatomy loved Addison Montgomery's (Kate Walsh) character so much that she went on to star in her own spinoff series, Private Practice, which lasted for six seasons.
Not every spinoff is a hit, and many end up being duds that die off before they even get past the pilot episode. Others have gone on to be even more successful than their predecessor (Happy Days) or create their own iconic legacy (Frasier). Ranker's users have determined the best spinoff television shows, ranging from ones starring Cheers alumni to Buffy's (arguably) best boyfriend.
Angel (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
Stream On Hulu, Amazon Prime & The Roku Channel
Two years into Buffy The Vampire Slayer, David Boreanaz landed his own spinoff as vampire Angel. Boreanaz was joined by Charisma Carpenter (who starred as Cordelia) from the original Buffy series.
Angel ran for five seasons, following the life of Angel as he battled his own inner demons whilst being an angel, and balanced relationships as he fought evil. Though the two shows ran at the same time, both are known for their individual success and exist on their own despite being in the same canonical universe. Angel aired from 1999 until 2004.
The Flash (Arrow)
Stream On Netflix
The CW's The Flash stars Grant Gustin as the titular superhero, a role he is reprising from a brief appearance on the other popular superhero drama, Arrow.
The Flash follows Barry Allen, a character created in DC comics, who has super-human speed. He balances his life as a CSI agent with superpowers and his relationships with those around him, both powerful and powerless. The pilot of The Flash was actually part of Arrow, serving as a backdoor pilot to gauge audience interest. The story arc was successful, and The Flash ended up being one of The CW's most-watched series.
Laverne & Shirley (Happy Days)
Not Available To Stream
Laverne & Shirley premiered in 1976 and ran for a whopping eight seasons, finishing in 1983. The show followed best friends Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) as they worked at a brewery in Wisconsin. The series was known for its hilarity and physical comedy, making it one of the most referenced shows in pop culture.
Laverne & Shirley was a spinoff from another hugely popular series, Happy Days. In the latter show, the two girls were friends of Fonzie (Henry Winkler). Their characters were interesting enough that they were able to lead their own show that aired in the time slot directly after their predecessor.
Mork & Mindy (Happy Days)
Not Available To Stream
Robin Williams' breakout role was as Mork on the popular television series, Mork & Mindy. But what many people don't know is that the series was actually another Happy Days spinoff.
The show was about extraterrestrial Mork (Williams) and his human companion Mindy (Pam Dawber) as he acclimates himself to human culture after arriving from another planet. Mork originally appeared on Happy Days as a martian in a dream of Richie's, but was so well-received that his own series was developed. The show ran for four seasons and the pilot episode featured both Fonzie and Laverne from the Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley universe.
NCIS (JAG)
Stream On Paramount+
NCIS has born several spinoff series' of its own but was also originally developed from the military-inspired television show, JAG.
NCIS (which stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is still airing today after first premiering in 2003, and stars Mark Harmon as special agent Gibbs. The spinoff has now outlived its predecessor JAG, where the characters originally appeared in two episodes of season eight. NCIS follows Gibbs, a Marines veteran, as he works to investigate crimes in the DC area.
The Jeffersons (All In The Family)
Stream On Amazon Prime
The first show to have an interracial couple at its forefront was The Jeffersons, a show that ran from 1975 until 1985. The Jeffersons was known for breaking boundaries, featuring the first cast of predominately Black actors and running for a decade, making it one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time.
While The Jeffersons stands the test of time on its own, it was originally developed as a spinoff to another popular sitcom, All In The Family. The Jefferson family were the next-door neighbors on All In The Family, later moving into a luxury apartment building on their own television show.
The Andy Griffith Show (The Danny Thomas Show)
Stream On DIRECTV
The Andy Griffith Show aired in both black & white and in color during the course of its run, spanning eight seasons as a sitcom on CBS. The series was about Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his life as a widow and a sheriff in a small town.
Originally a storyline featured on The Danny Thomas Show, the episode served as a backdoor pilot of sorts for Andy Griffith's own series. His character arrested the titular character of Danny, and fans got to see more of Andy Taylor and his life in North Carolina on his own show.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (Star Trek: Original Series)
Stream On Paramount+
It comes as no surprise that Star Trek: The Next Generation was a spinoff of the highly successful Star Trek. Though it was labeled and branded as a spinoff, The Next Generation also serves as a continuation of the lives and foundations originally created on Star Trek.
While the original series wrapped up in 1969, The Next Generation aired in 1987, and went on to last for seven seasons. It has become more successful than its predecessor, and more of a staple in pop culture. The series retains the original plot of Star Trek, as the misadventures of the Starfleet starship occur in space.
Happy Days (Love, American Style)
Stream On Paramount+ (One Season)
For the most part, Happy Days is well known for its cast, comedy, and iconic characters. It is one of the most popular sitcoms in television history, originally airing from 1974 until 1984. But something many fans may not know is that while it produced many spinoffs, the series was actually one in itself.
Happy Days followed a group of school-aged friends in a small Wisconsin town and later showed them grow up while introducing new characters. The pilot started as a segment on Love, American Style which was an anthology series that featured standalone episodes with actors playing different characters in separate shows.
Frasier (Cheers)
Stream On Hulu, Paramount+, & Peacock
First introduced in season 3 of the sitcom Cheers, Kelsey Grammar's Frasier Crane was such a hit that he got his own spinoff that ran for 11 successful seasons.
Frasier focused exclusively on Grammar's character post-Cheers, as he dealt with his relationships with his brother, father, and romantic interests. On the spinoff, Frasier worked as a radio broadcaster in New York City as his life changed due to becoming a caregiver for his father. Frasier has a revival slated to be released sometime in 2022.