20 Spin-off shows that were just not up to the mark

Spinoffs are great as long as they are done the right way. Whenever a television show gets popular, spinoffs often take place due to the craving for a character's journey or giving them a new backdrop. We have had some great spinoffs, including The Simpsons (a spinoff of The Tracey Ullman Show) and Better Call Saul (a spinoff of Breaking Bad). However, sometimes spinoffs lose the essence of the main show, resulting in poor viewership and even sudden cancellation by the network. Here's a list of 20 spinoff shows that did not match up to their originals.

1. Joey (2004-2005)

Led by Matt LeBlanc, who plays the character Joey Tribbani in the popular sitcom Friends, the spin-off Joey focuses on his journey of chasing his dreams in Hollywood. The spin-off was released in 2005, just a few months after the finale episode of Friends. However, the spin-off lacked a stable storyline. Joey failed to explore the roles of the supporting cast. NBC canceled the show in 2006 after two seasons due to low ratings.

2. That 80's show (2002)

That 80's Show is an American television sitcom that aired on Fox in 2002 and was a spin-off of That 70's Show. Set in 1984, the series focused on the life of young adults living in San Diego. The prominent cast included Tinsley Grimes as Katie Howard, Glenn Howard as Corey Howard, and Eddie Shin as Roger Park. However, this Fox show couldn't attract viewership due to a poor link with That 70s show, a boring plot, repetitive comedy, and unsteady writing. Thus, the show was canceled after 13 episodes due to poor ratings.

3. The Winchesters (2022-2023)

The Winchesters is a dark fantasy drama that is a spin-off of the superhit show Supernatural (2005-2020) set in the past. The plot explores the lives of the parents of Supernatural's Sam and Dean. The Winchesters is the story of how John Winchester, played by Drake Rodger, met Mary Campbell, the demon hunter played by Meg Donnelly. This show was canceled after the first season due to low ratings.

4. AfterMASH (1983-1985)

AfterMASH is the spinoff of the 1972 popular sitcom M*A*S*H franchise. Even though the story of the show was quite compelling, it failed to gain good ratings. The series' main plot involved the post-Korean war exploits of Sergeant Maxwell Klinger, played by Jamie Farr, Colonel Sherman Potter, and Harry Morgan, and Father John Mulcahy, played by William Christopher). This CBS show failed to entertain the viewers.

5. So Random! (2011-2012)

The spin-off to Sonny with a Chance, So Random! is a sketch comedy series of Disney. After Sonny with a Chance ended after two seasons due to Demi Lovato's health reasons, Disney removed her character and introduced the spin-off. The spin-off cast included Doug Brochu, Tiffany Thornton, Sterling Knight and others. However, the spin-off did not explore the characters well and was canceled by the channel after its first season in 2012.

6. Ravenswood ( 2013)

A spin-off of the popular teen drama Pretty Little Liars, Ravenswood explored Caleb's plot as he tried to help a girl called Miranda. However, as a result, he finds himself amid a deadly cursed town with supernatural powers. With just ten episodes, this spin-off, which could have been promising, was canceled due to low ratings.

7. Heroes Reborn (2015-2016)

This 13-episode mini-series is a spin-off of the original superhero show Hero. The series was released with the plot of expanding the previous successful installment. The spin-off failed to get good ratings and viewership and was canceled after one season. Too many plotlines and characters and unnecessary drama spoiled the show. Despite cast like Jack Coleman and Zachary Levi, the series went off the air too quickly.

8. The Twilight Zone ( 2019-2020)

The series was based on an American anthology television series in 1959 by the same title. The updated version of the classic, which featured Jordan Peele, David Epstein, and Kelly Ann, failed to entertain the viewers with their stories of fiction and occult. CBS All Access (rebranded as Paramount+) announced in 2021 that the series would end after two seasons.

9. Joanie Loves Chachi (1982)

This American sitcom was the spin-off of Happy Days that aired on ABC in 1982-83. The plot revolved around the lives of Joanie Cunningham, played by Erin Moran, and Chachi Arcola, played by Scott Baio, in Chicago. The spin-off showed how Chachi Arcola pursued his musical career while dealing with his relationship and nosy neighbors. Due to poor script writing, the show was canceled after two seasons.

10. The Golden Palace (1992-1993)

The Golden Palace is the spin-off of the popular series The Golden Girls. The Golden Palace starts at the events when Dorothy Zbornak remarries, her mother Sophia and Blanche open up a hotel. However, the spin-off failed to entertain the audience due to poor script and Bea Arthur's busy schedule (played by Dorothy Hollingsworth). The final episode aired on May 7, 1993.

11. The Ropers (1979-1980)

Starring Norman Fell, Audra Lindley, and Jeffrey Tambor, The Ropers was a spin-off of Three Company and was also inspired by the British sitcom George and Milfred. The drop in the ratings and failure to attract a young audience led to its cancellation in just a year.

12. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024)

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is a six-episode miniseries spin-off of the popular show The Walking Dead. Even though the series has good cinematography, it fails to explore the plot and storylines. The sudden death of a fan-favorite character led many viewers to criticize the show. Prominent cast members include Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira.

13. Acolyte (2024)

Acolyte is a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise. This science fiction television series was set on the backdrop of the High-Republican era. The cast contains noteworthy stars, including Lee Jung Jee, Amandla Stenberg, and more. However, due to its lost plot, poorly written characters, and failure to achieve the Star Wars essence, it was canceled after the first season.

14. Katy Keene (2020)

Starring Lucy Hale as Katy Keena, this Riverdale spin-off did not strike the right chord with the viewers. The network canceled the spin-off after the first season that aired during the pandemic year. The plot is based on the Archie Comics Character, Katy Keene, and her passion for fashion design.

15. The Blacklist: Redemption (2017)

This American thriller is a spin-off of the critically acclaimed NBC series The Blacklist. In spite of a good cast, which includes names like Ryan Eggold, Edi Gathegi, and Tawny Cypress, this garnered a rating of just 1.2. The lack of charisma of the main character of the series and the poor script led to the cancellation of the series.

16. How I Met Your Father (2022)

A spin-off of the popular show How I Met Your Mother, this show was released on Hulu in 2023. The cast includes stars like Hilary Duff, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Christopher Lowell, and Tom Ainsley. The sitcom was finally canceled after two seasons after it failed to capture the chemistry of the original.

17. The Finder (2012)

A spin-off of the Fox television series Bones, this series revolved around the plot of an Iraq war veteran who suffered a brain injury. Geoff Stults plays the role of Major Walter Sherman. The audience seemed disinterested in the plot from the first season, which led to low ratings.

18. Law and Order: Trial by Jury Season (2006)

Law and Order: Trial by Jury Season is an American legal drama based on Dick Wolf's series Law & Order. Starring Baba Neuwirth, Amy Carlson, and Kirk Acevedo, among others, this show was a short spin-off that was canceled. It failed to live up to the potential of the original series, even though the first few episodes looked promising.

19. The Bionic Women (2007)

The Bionic Women is an American sci-fi drama series that was the spin-off of a 1976 series with the same title. The 1976 series was inspired by the 1970s television show Six Million Dollars Man. The modern remake of the show starring Michelle Ryan failed due to low ratings, lack of character build, and production issues.

20. The Patrick Star Show (2021)

The spin-off series of the Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants was not appreciated by the fans. Even though the show was based on Patrick, a lovable character, it did not sit quite well with the fans. Repetitive jokes and a lack of creativity made the show quite boring.