The 1970s were a golden age of television, and with success came the inevitable spin-offs. Networks were eager to capitalize on hit shows, spinning off side characters or extending storylines in hopes of striking gold twice. However, not every attempt worked, and some spin-offs flopped so hard they barely made it past a season—or even a handful of episodes. Let’s take a look at 13 TV spin-offs from the ’70s that completely crashed and burned.
1. “AfterMASH” (1983-1985)
Yes, technically this aired in the early ’80s, but since it spun off from MASH, one of the biggest shows of the ’70s, it deserves a spot. The show followed Colonel Potter, Klinger, and Father Mulcahy as they transitioned to life at a veteran’s hospital after the Korean War. While MASH* was a cultural phenomenon, AfterMASH lacked the sharp writing and wartime tension that made the original so compelling. It limped along for two seasons before being unceremoniously canceled.
2. “The Brady Brides” (1981)
Again, this aired in the early ’80s, but its roots were purely ’70s. The Brady Brides followed Marcia and Jan as newlyweds navigating life and marriage in a sitcom format. The show abandoned the wholesome family charm of The Brady Bunch for a more generic sitcom approach, and it just didn’t click. It only lasted 10 episodes before audiences and networks alike lost interest.
3. “Tabitha” (1977-1978)
Hoping to recapture the magic of Bewitched, ABC launched Tabitha, a spin-off centered on Samantha and Darrin’s now-adult daughter. Instead of the charming whimsy of the original, Tabitha was a bland sitcom with forgettable plots. The show was plagued with continuity issues, even recasting Tabitha with Lisa Hartman and making her older than she should have been. It lasted only one season before fading into obscurity.
4. “Grady” (1975-1976)
Spun off from Sanford and Son, Grady followed Fred Sanford’s friend Grady Wilson as he moved in with his daughter and her family. Whitman Mayo was a beloved supporting character, but without Redd Foxx’s comedic energy, the show lacked spark. The humor that made Grady funny in small doses just didn’t hold up in a lead role. After only 10 episodes, NBC pulled the plug.
5. “Flo” (1980-1981)
Alice was a successful sitcom, but its spin-off Flo, which centered on Polly Holliday’s sassy waitress, wasn’t as lucky. Flo left Mel’s Diner behind and returned to Texas, where she bought a roadhouse, but the new setting didn’t have the same charm. While the character was a fan favorite on Alice, her one-liners lost their punch without the dynamic ensemble. It managed to squeeze out two seasons but was quickly forgotten.
6. “Me and the Chimp” (1972)
With a title like this, you already know it was doomed. Me and the Chimp was about a family who adopted a chimp named Buttons, and somehow, that was supposed to be enough for an entire sitcom. Even the great Garry Marshall, who co-created the show, admitted it was a terrible idea. It lasted only 13 episodes before being put out of its misery.
7. “The Girl with Something Extra” (1973-1974)
Sally Field was fresh off The Flying Nun when she starred in this supernatural sitcom about a woman with ESP. While the premise had potential, it never found its footing, and audiences weren’t hooked. The show never made it past its first season, and Field later admitted she struggled with roles like this before proving her dramatic acting chops. It was a forgettable attempt that fizzled quickly.
8. “Mr. T and Tina” (1976)
A spin-off from Welcome Back, Kotter, this short-lived sitcom starred Pat Morita as Mr. Taro Takahashi, a Japanese inventor dealing with cultural clashes in America. The show tried to mix slapstick humor with heartwarming moments, but it never quite worked. It was also one of the first sitcoms centered on an Asian-American lead, but the execution was clunky at best. ABC canceled it after just five episodes.
9. “Blansky’s Beauties” (1977)
Hoping to squeeze more mileage out of Happy Days, this spin-off followed Nancy Walker as Nancy Blansky, a talent agent managing Las Vegas showgirls. While the show had some overlapping characters with Happy Days, it didn’t make much sense in the timeline. The concept was odd, the humor didn’t land, and it only lasted 13 episodes before disappearing. Few people remember it today, and for good reason.
10. “The Tony Randall Show” (1976-1978)
After The Odd Couple, Tony Randall was given his own sitcom, where he played a widowed judge balancing his career and personal life. Randall was as charming as ever, but the show lacked the comedic spark that made The Odd Couple great. Despite two seasons, it failed to capture a strong audience and was ultimately canceled. It’s largely forgotten today, overshadowed by Randall’s more successful projects.
11. “A.E.S. Hudson Street” (1978)
ABC tried to replicate the magic of MASH with this medical comedy set in a chaotic urban hospital. The show had some talented actors, including Gregory Sierra, but the humor felt forced, and the premise never quite clicked. It didn’t have the character depth or sharp writing that made MASH* work. After only five episodes, it was gone.
12. “The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine” (1974)
Yes, the Harlem Globetrotters had their own live-action variety show. The basketball legends attempted to entertain audiences with sketches, musical performances, and comedic bits, but it was as awkward as it sounds. While they were beloved on the court and even in animated form, the transition to a full-blown TV show didn’t work. It barely made it through one season before getting benched for good.
13. “Co-Ed Fever” (1979)
Hoping to cash in on the Animal House craze, CBS launched Co-Ed Fever, a raunchy college comedy set in an all-female dorm. The show was so poorly received that it was canceled after just one episode—one of the fastest TV failures of all time. It was part of a wave of unsuccessful Animal House knockoffs, proving that not every hit movie translates well to TV. To this day, it remains a prime example of a disastrous network decision.
Spin-offs are always a gamble, and for every Frasier or Laverne & Shirley, there are countless others that never take off. These shows serve as reminders that just because a character or concept worked in one setting doesn’t mean it will translate into its own series. Whether it was bad timing, poor writing, or just a lack of audience interest, these spin-offs never stood a chance.
