15 TV Show Spinoffs You Probably Forgot Existed
15. Katy Keene (2020) - Riverdale spinoff
In an effort to expand the ‘Riverdale’ universe, ‘Katy Keene’ danced into the spotlight with musical numbers, vintage fashion, and big-city dreams. Starring Lucy Hale, it swapped moody mystery for feel-good optimism, tackling love, art, and ambition in New York. Critics praised its warmth, but audiences failed to follow. Canceled after just one season, the spinoff remains a stylish but forgotten gem of the Archieverse.
14. That '80s Show (2002) - That '70s Show spinoff
Riding the success of ‘That '70s Show,’ Fox dared to fast-forward a decade, only to land squarely in mediocrity. ‘That '80s Show’ featured Glenn Howerton as Corey Howard (Eric Forman’s cousin), but that was where the family resemblance ended. Lacking nostalgia, chemistry, or any of the original's magic, this spinoff fizzled out in just three months.
13. The Blacklist: Redemption (2017) - The Blacklist spinoff
‘The Blacklist’ was a huge hit for NBC, so they tried to double down on the success by giving Tom Keen, played by Ryan Eggold, his own series alongside the icy and enigmatic Scottie Hargrave (Famke Janssen). But instead of feeling like a fresh perspective, ‘The Blacklist: Redemption’ felt like a diluted copy. It lacked the gravitas of James Spader’s Raymond Reddington and stumbled into procedural purgatory. Eight episodes later, it vanished from the schedule, nearly as covertly as the spies it featured.
12. Slippin' Jimmy (2022) - Breaking Bad spinoff
While ‘Better Call Saul’ was spinning its masterpiece, ‘Slippin’ Jimmy’ tried to pull off an animated side hustle. With a tone wildly different from ‘Breaking Bad’ and its prequel, the series leaned into absurd cartoon antics, with episodes styled like spaghetti westerns and noir thrillers. No hard feelings, but fans weren’t amused. Replacing Bob Odenkirk with Sean Giambrone didn’t help, and audiences, still breathless from Saul Goodman’s dramatic arc, largely ignored this light-hearted misfire.
11. 24: Legacy (2017) - 24 spinoff
Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer was impossible to replace and ’24: Legacy’ found that out the hard way. Corey Hawkins brought intensity and charisma as Eric Carter, a war hero thrust into a national conspiracy, but without Sutherland’s gravitas, fans struggled to connect with the story. The real-time format was intact, but lightning simply didn’t strike twice. One explosive season, then silence.
10. Young Americans (2000) - Dawson’s Creek spinoff
Will Krudski left ‘Dawson’s Creek’ for an elite boarding school and headlined ‘Young Americans.’ This was a drama drenched in secrets, scandal, and soap-level melodrama. It bravely tackled gender identity and class division, but its summer-run slot and relentless product placement doomed it. Despite its progressive themes, the show vanished like a whisper in the wind.
9. Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists (2019) - Pretty Little Liars spinoff
Despite high praise, ‘Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists’ got no second chance. Centered on academic pressure, murder, and dark secrets at Beacon Heights University, it was more grounded than its predecessor. Sasha Pieterse and Janel Parrish returned, but the buzz didn’t. Buried by streaming algorithms and overshadowed by the original show’s three other spinoffs, this teen thriller met a premature end.
8. The Golden Palace (1992–1993) - The Golden Girls spinoff
‘The Golden Girls’ was absolutely iconic, but its follow-up titled ‘The Golden Palace’ was a mere footnote. After Bea Arthur’s departure, the remaining trio bought and ran a Miami hotel, joined by a young Don Cheadle and a pre-fame Cheech Marin. Despite familiar charm and decent ratings, the spinoff never quite found its rhythm. Even Blanche's flirtations and Sophia's sass couldn't save the show from cancelation after one season.
7. Grey's Anatomy: B-Team (2018) - Grey's Anatomy spinoff
An attempt to spotlight the surgical interns of Grey Sloan Memorial, ‘B-Team’ played like a webseries footnote. While the original ‘Grey's Anatomy’ continued delivering tears and trauma, the spinoff offered short bursts of character backstory with little lasting impact. It served superfans well, but for everyone else, it was simply another forgotten artery in the ‘Grey's Anatomy’ universe.
6. Pearson (2019) - Suits spinoff
Jessica Pearson, the powerhouse lawyer from ‘Suits,’ swapped courtrooms for politics in Chicago. ‘Pearson’ was a bold, gritty pivot to corruption, ambition, and social justice, but one too many degrees away from the witty charm of its parent show. Though Gina Torres delivered a tour-de-force performance, poor ratings and limited network faith doomed this serious contender after just one season.
5. Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006) - Law & Order spinoff
Stripped of its cops and clad only in courtrooms, this ‘Law & Order’ spinoff aimed to spotlight the drama of justice. But by abandoning the formula that made its predecessors iconic, ‘Trial by Jury’ lost the plot and the viewers. Despite Jerry Orbach’s final performance, it was swiftly dismissed from the docket after just 13 episodes.
4. Class (2016) - Doctor Who spinoff
What happens when ‘Doctor Who’ meets ‘Skins?’ You get ‘Class’ - a bold, brooding look at teenagers battling aliens and hormones in equal measure. Set at Coal Hill School, the spinoff explored grief, identity, and trauma, but over-indexed on angst and underdelivered on adventure. Despite a Capaldi cameo, this BBC misfire couldn’t regenerate audience interest.
3. The Finder (2012) - Bones spinoff
‘Bones’ was a forensic hit, so its quirky cousin ‘The Finder’ took a swing at crime-solving with a psychic twist. Set in sun-drenched Key West, the show followed Walter Sherman, a brain-damaged vet with a knack for finding anything…especially trouble. The late, great Michael Clarke Duncan provided heart and humor, but even his charisma couldn't anchor the series for more than 13 episodes.
2. The Lone Gunmen (2001) - The X-Files spinoff
‘The X-Files’ gave us many mysteries, but none as unsettling as ‘The Lone Gunmen.’ Starring the fan-favorite trio of Mulder’s nerdy informants, the spinoff’s pilot eerily depicted a plot to fly a plane into the World Trade Center months before 9/11. Though steeped in thrilling conspiracies and cyber intrigue, the tone was too quirky, too niche. After just a dozen episodes, the truth was out there… but the viewers were not.
1. Joey (2004–2006) - Friends spinoff
The saddest failure on this list, ‘Joey’ had everything going for it—except ‘Friends.’ NBC bet big on Matt LeBlanc's lovable goofball but forgot that Joey’s charm worked best in contrast to his five other friends. L.A. life, a wacky sister, and bad writing conspired to strip Joey of all depth. Two years and a steep ratings dive later, the laugh track went silent forever.
