The Most Successful Spin-Off Shows

By Elana Goodwin on October 10, 2014

You know a TV series is doing exceedingly well when they launch a successful spin-off show. Creating a spin-off show isn’t necessarily hard but creating a spin-off show that resonates with audiences, attracts viewers and is ultimately successful is much easier said than done.

Here are some of the most successful spin-off shows of our time.

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Private Practice” (2007-2013). Shonda Rhimes created and executive produced the “Grey’s Anatomy” medical drama spin-off which aired on ABC from 2007-2013.

During the fourth season of “Grey’s” a two-hour telecast of the show served as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off.

“Private Practice” followed the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery, a neonatal surgeon introduced in the first season finale of “Grey’s.” Throughout its six seasons, “Private Practice” did a number of crossovers with “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The series starred Kate Walsh, Paul Adelstein, KaDee Strickland, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Brian Benben, Audra McDonald, Benjamin Bratt and Caterina Scorsone.

Photo Credit: showspoilers.info

Chicago P.D.” (2014-present). The police drama originated as a backdoor pilot during the first season finale of also Dick Wolf-executive produced show “Chicago Fire.”

“Chicago P.D.” first premiered on NBC as a mid-season replacement show in early January 2014. According to Deadline, CPD’s 15-episode first season averaged 8.03 million viewers per episode.

In March 2014, NBC renewed the show for a second season which started on September 24. The series stars Jason Beghe, Jon Seda, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer, Patrick John Flueger, Marina Squerciati, LaRoyce Hawkins and Elias Koteas.

Wolf is also the producer of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and in September, announced “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Law & Order: SVU” would be doing a three-part crossover event on November 11-12.

Photo Credit: NBC Universal

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1999-present). The crime drama was created and produced by Dick Wolf as a spin-off to his show “Law & Order” which was on the air from 1990-2010 and aired twenty seasons.

Currently, “SVU” is the longest running scripted non-animated U.S. primetime TV series. The show follows detectives in the Special Victims Unit in the New York City Police Department as they investigate sexually-based crimes.

“SVU” premiered on NBC in September 1999 and just began its 16th season on September 24. This season stars Mariska Hargitay (who won the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Detective Olivia Benson), Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Ice T and Raul Esparza.

Besides “SVU,” Wolf also created and produced “Law & Order” spin-off show “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” which premiered in 2001 and aired its tenth and last season in 2011.

Photo Credit: The CW

The Originals (2013-present). The CW supernatural drama was created by Julie Plec and premiered in 2013 as a spin-off show to the supernatural fan favorite “The Vampire Diaries.” Both series are executive produced by Plec and she oversaw the “Originals” backdoor pilot in April 2013.

“The Originals” follows the Mikaelson vampire siblings who were introduced in “TVD” and is set in New Orleans. The series stars Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin, Charles Michael Davis, Leah Pipes and Danielle Campbell. The second season of “The Originals” premiered on October 6.

Photo Credit: CBS

NCIS” (2003-present). The police procedural was first introduced to viewers in the eighth season of CBS series “JAG” (which stands for Judge Advocate General and is a U.S. Navy term).

“NCIS,” the spin-off show, then premiered in September 2003 on CBS, and stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service; it has been nominated for three Emmys.

“NCIS” follows a team of special agents who investigate crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The show stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll and Emily Wickersham. The 12th season of “NCIS” premiered on September 23.

“NCIS” also launched two successful CBS spin-off shows: “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which kicked off its sixth season on September 29, and newcomer “NCIS: New Orleans” which premiered on September 23 following its parent series.

Photo Credit: The CW

The Flash” (2014-present). The CW “Arrow” spin-off show is based on the DC Comics character, Flash, who appeared as a recurring character in the second season of “Arrow.” “The Flash” was one of the most highly anticipated and promising new fall shows of 2014.

The spin-off follows forensic investigator Barry Allen who becomes the fastest man alive (aka “The Flash”) when he’s left with superhuman speed courtesy of an explosion at a lab’s particle accelerator.

The show stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Rick Cosnett, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, and Jesse L. Martin. ”The Flash” premiered on the CW on October 7.

Other very successful spin-off shows include “The Practice” spin-off “Boston Legal;” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spin-off “Buffy;” “Crime Scene Investigation” spin-offs “CSI: New York” and “CSI: Miami;” and “Cheers” spin-off “Frasier.”

And while it’s not yet on the air, after “Breaking Bad” aired their series finale in 2013, fans were overjoyed when AMC announced their plans for a spin-off show of the hit drama called “Better Call Saul” which is set to premiere in February 2015.

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