Spin-offs are great ways to create new TV shows with characters and situations audiences are already familiar with. Sometimes, they can be better than the show they’re spun from. Some of the most popular shows to ever hit television are spin-offs and have built their own legacy and fanbases.
Spin-offs keep lovable characters and universes alive, even if they don’t do as well as their predecessors, and a fair amount of the time, you don’t have to watch the original show to understand the spin-off. Here are five spin-offs that you absolutely cannot miss.
911: Lone Star
911: Lone Star is a spin-off to the popular Fox television show 911. Premiering in 2020, Lone Star follows the members of Firehouse 126 in Austin, Texas, as they save lives and deal with their own problems. Rob Lowe stars as Captain Owen Strand, a firefighter from New York, asked to build a new team in Austin after a terrible accident kills the previous members of the 126.
Like its predecessor, 911: Lone Star is full of high-stakes rescues and touching moments. The firefighters and paramedics face relatable issues in their daily lives, like navigating relationships, their health, and trauma. It’s an easy-to-watch, binge-able show that anyone will love.
Maude
The 1970s sensation centered on Maude Findlay, cousin to Edith Bunker from All in the Family. Maude, played by Bea Arthur, is a liberal housewife living in Tuckahoe, New York, who takes on everyday life with her feminist ideals. Her traditional husband, Walter Findlay, played by Bill Macy, and her anti-feminist neighbor, Dr. Arthur Harmon, push back against her progressive ideas.
Maude was ahead of its time. Its subjects included abortion, abuse, racism, and so much more. Bea Arthur portrayed a strong, independent woman many viewers could admire. The film was funny but, most importantly, thoughtful and socially conscious.
The Game
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The Game is a spin-off of the series Girlfriends, starring Tracee Ellis Ross as Joan Clayton. Airing from 2006 to 2015, Tia Mowry plays Joan’s cousin Melanie Barnett, a medical student juggling her schoolwork, and her boyfriend Derwin, who plays professional football. It was full of drama, laughs, and scandalous moments.
The Game was revived in 2021 but wasn’t as successful as the first version and was canceled in 2023.
Better Call Saul
Saul Goodman is really Jimmy McGill, Walter White’s lawyer from Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul takes place before the events of the successful show Breaking Bad, chronicling Saul’s journey as a criminal lawyer.
Critics applauded John Odenkirk’s performance as Saul and the show’s consistently good writing. Viewers thought the show ended perfectly and loved the legal drama elements.
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Serving as a sequel and a spin-off to the Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, The Next Generation follows a group of students at Degrassi Community School in Toronto, Canada. In Degrassi Junior High, Christine Nelson has a baby girl named Emma, a main character in the 2001 series.
The drama tackled every teen issue imaginable with a rotating cast of diverse characters. Just a few of the issues included pregnancy, abortion, mental illness, bullying, and even crime. It was highly rated and loved by both Canadian and American viewers until it came to an end in 2015.
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