1. “Flo” (1975)
If you remember Alice, the diner sitcom that ran for nearly a decade, then you might recall the wisecracking waitress Flo. Polly Holliday was so popular as the sassy, Southern “Kiss my grits!” catchphrase queen that she got her own spin-off, Flo. This show followed her moving back to her hometown in Texas to run a roadhouse called “Cowtown.” While it had a promising start, the show only lasted two seasons before fading into TV history. Still, Flo’s larger-than-life personality deserved more time in the spotlight.
2. “The Brady Brides” (1981)
The Brady Bunch had its fair share of spin-offs, but The Brady Brides remains the quirkiest. This short-lived sitcom followed the newly married Marcia and Jan, who—due to financial struggles—decide to move in together with their husbands. It was basically an odd-couple setup with a Brady twist. Despite the nostalgia factor, it only lasted 10 episodes. Fans still debate whether the charm of the original series was lost without the full Brady gang.
3. “Enos” (1980)
The Dukes of Hazzard was a cultural phenomenon in the ’80s, so naturally, its bumbling yet lovable deputy, Enos Strate, got a spin-off. In Enos, he leaves Hazzard County and heads to Los Angeles to work for the LAPD. The show mixed fish-out-of-water humor with standard cop-show action, but it couldn’t capture the magic of its parent series. Enos was canceled after one season but remains a quirky piece of Dukes trivia.
4. “Joanie Loves Chachi” (1982)
This Happy Days spin-off seemed like a sure hit. Joanie Cunningham and her boyfriend Chachi Arcola were fan favorites, so ABC gave them their own show. The premise? The young couple moves to Chicago to pursue their music careers. While it started strong in ratings, the charm of Milwaukee’s diner days didn’t translate to big city life. The show lasted just two seasons, but it gave us some catchy musical numbers and a healthy dose of early-’80s style.
5. “Grady” (1975)
Sanford and Son was a classic, but did you know Fred Sanford’s friend Grady had his own show? Whitman Mayo starred in Grady, where his character moves in with his daughter and her family in Los Angeles. The sitcom explored generational clashes, with Grady’s old-school ways often at odds with his modern family. Unfortunately, without the comedic foil of Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford, the show failed to gain traction and ended after just 10 episodes.
6. “The Jeffersons: Checking In” (1981)
Florence Johnston, the quick-witted maid from The Jeffersons, earned her own spin-off in Checking In. The show followed Florence as she left the Jeffersons to take a job as an executive housekeeper at a fancy hotel. The idea sounded promising, but the show struggled to differentiate itself and was canceled after only four episodes. Florence quickly returned to The Jeffersons, where her character remained a fan favorite for years.
7. “Three’s a Crowd” (1984)
After Three’s Company ended, Jack Tripper (played by John Ritter) moved on in Three’s a Crowd. The spin-off followed Jack as he cohabitates with his girlfriend Vicky, much to the dismay of her overprotective father. While Ritter’s charm carried over, the show lacked the wacky roommate chemistry that made Three’s Company so beloved. It was canceled after one season, marking the end of Jack Tripper’s on-screen journey.
8. “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” (1966-1967)
Okay, this one sneaks into the tail end of the ’60s but was still a forgotten offshoot of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. The show starred Stefanie Powers as April Dancer, a female spy with plenty of style and charm. While it was ahead of its time in promoting a female lead in an action-packed series, it failed to replicate the popularity of its predecessor. Today, it remains an interesting footnote in TV history.
9. “The New Gidget” (1986)
Surf’s up…again! The Gidget franchise was revived in the ’80s with The New Gidget, following the original Gidget’s niece, Danni, as she carries on the family’s beach-loving lifestyle. While the original Gidget series from the ’60s had its charm, this updated version never really caught the same wave. It quietly aired for two seasons and has been largely forgotten in the sands of time.
10. “The Lone Gunmen” (2001)
If you were an X-Files fan, you might remember the tech-savvy trio known as The Lone Gunmen. These fan-favorite characters got their own spin-off, which leaned more into comedy than supernatural conspiracy. While the show had promise, it failed to find a broad audience and ended after just 13 episodes. Still, it’s a fun watch for die-hard X-Files enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic side adventure.
11. “The Tortellis” (1987)
Cheers remains one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, but not every character spin-off found success. The Tortellis followed Carla’s ex-husband, Nick Tortelli, as he moved to Las Vegas with his new wife. While Nick and his antics were funny in small doses, they didn’t carry enough weight to sustain a series. The show fizzled out after just 13 episodes, proving that not all Cheers spin-offs could be as successful as Frasier.
12. “Lou Grant” (1977-1982)
Here’s a rare genre shift! After The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the gruff but lovable Lou Grant (Ed Asner) got his own series—but this time as the lead in a drama. Lou Grant explored Lou’s work as a newspaper editor, tackling serious issues like corruption, ethics, and human-interest stories. The show was critically acclaimed and lasted five seasons, but because it was so different from its sitcom roots, it often gets overlooked.
13. “AfterMASH” (1983-1985)
Following the massive success of MASH*, the spin-off *AfterMASH* brought back Colonel Potter, Klinger, and Father Mulcahy as they adjusted to postwar life working at a veterans’ hospital. Despite initial excitement, the show couldn’t live up to the high expectations set by MASH*. Ratings declined rapidly, and the show was canceled after two seasons. It remains a fascinating attempt to extend the life of one of TV’s most beloved series.
14. “Baywatch Nights” (1995-1997)
Yes, Baywatch had a spin-off, and it was just as wild as you’d imagine. Baywatch Nights initially followed Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) as a private detective solving crimes on the beach. When ratings sagged, the show took a bizarre turn into the paranormal, with aliens and supernatural creatures showing up. It’s hard to believe this ever existed, but it’s worth a rewatch just for its camp factor.
15. “Gloria” (1982-1983)
All in the Family had numerous spin-offs, but Gloria often gets overlooked. This sitcom followed Archie Bunker’s daughter, Gloria, as she navigates single motherhood and a new job as a veterinarian’s assistant. While Sally Struthers was charming in the lead role, the show struggled to capture the same groundbreaking energy as All in the Family. It only lasted one season, but Gloria remains a beloved character for fans of the original series.
