It’s common for successful shows to have spin-offs that begin either in the middle or at the end of the original’s run. What’s uncommon is to see spin-offs actually be successful, with a majority failing to reach the mark. Frasier is one of the few ones to not only match the parent series’ success but overtake it in many ways.

There have actually been several shows that have managed to attain this feat. The benchmark for success in this context has to do with anything from having a longer count of seasons, ratings superiority, winning more awards, or aging better in the long-run.

10 Frasier (1993-2004)

After suffering the pain of divorce, Frasier Crane returns to his hometown of Seattle where he takes up a job at the radio station as an on-air psychiatrist. While he frequently clashes with his father and brother, Frasier ultimately finds his true happiness back home.

There have always been comparisons between Frasier and Cheers. What’s impossible to argue against is the award-winning pedigree that Frasier brought, with the series having a record-breaking run at the Emmys. It also managed to pull in around the same number of viewers as Cheers had.

9 Boston Legal (2004-2008)

After ending his adventures in The Practice, Alan Shore arrives at Crane, Poole & Schmidt to continue his legal career. Along with his best friend Denny Crane, Shore navigates through his own issues to pull out all the stops in his cases.

The Practice might have run for more seasons, but Boston Legal won better reviews. Not to mention that the final season of The Practice had basically been a backdoor pilot for Boston Legal. The winning formula for this spin-off was the heavy emphasis on comedy, which garnered its leading actors the Emmy awards in their respective categories. It’s no wonder the cast has continued to appear in successful material. 

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8 Family Matters (1989-1998)

The Winslows are a middle-class family living in Chicago, whose seemingly mundane lives are frequently injected with unique situations. As the years go on, the family’s knack for sticking together becomes all the more important.

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A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters lasted way longer than the original series with more seasons to show for. While neither were award-season darlings, Family Matters boasted the breakout character of Steve Urkel, who still remains popular in mainstream media and allowed the spin-off to remain fresh in memory.

7 The Flash (2014-Present)

After an explosion in S.T.A.R. labs, Barry Allen gains the power of speed through the speed force. Taking inspiration from Arrow, he becomes a superhero in his own right to take down other metahumans in Central City by becoming the Flash.

Arrow began the Arrowverse, of which The Flash is the most successful spin-off. It’s overtaken its parent series due to pulling in larger numbers in ratings, along with retaining better reviews as the series has aged. The show also boasts an expanded view of its universe than Arrow, and constantly surprises fans with new information and twists.

6 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-Present)

The New York City Police Department encounters a series of special cases that vary from one crime to another. Led by Olivia Benson, the team strives through all these investigations with the hope of making the city a better place to live.

The longest-running primetime series in U.S. history, and a truckload of episodes to boot, Law & Order: SVU achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing its predecessor’s twenty-year run. It has also achieved more award recognition for its cast and has been a mainstay in ratings.

5 The Jeffersons (1975-1985)

The Jeffersons are a wealthy couple who have moved to Manhattan after further success. However, George Jefferson’s eccentric mannerisms frequently clash with his wife, with their bickering spilling over to their friends and family’s lives.

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The spin-off to All in the Family, The Jeffersons might not seem as acclaimed as its parent series on paper, but there’s no doubt that this series has aged far better. Over the years, The Jeffersons has grown in popularity, while already featuring more seasons that All in the Family, the ties to which were generally provided on an inconsistent basis.

4 The Facts Of Life (1979-1988)

Edna Garrett, the former housekeeper of the Drummonds family, becomes the housemother at an all-girls school. With the girls in her care possessing different personalities and traits, this living situation becomes a new way of life for the characters.

Diff’rent Strokes does possess a staying power to this day, but the series was canceled in its eighth season. Its spin-off, The Facts of Life, held strong throughout its run and was on its way to a renewal for a tenth season had the stars not bowed out themselves. The series comprised nine seasons and even three television films that followed up.

3 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

Almost a century after the adventures of Captain Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard leads his Enterprise in the exploration of the Milky Way galaxy. With the universe much larger now, the team arrives in destinations no one has gone before.

Featuring imminently likable characters and a solid backdrop, The Next Generation eclipsed the original Star Trek in longevity, ratings success, and critical acclaim. The series has spin-offs of its own to go with four films dedicated to its premise. The Next Generation is usually seen as the benchmark for success where spin-offs are concerned.

2 The Simpsons (1989-Present)

The Simpsons are a wacky family in the equally crazy town of Springfield where each family member has adventures with and without the others. Due to the floating timeline, the Simpsons have been enjoying their time on-screen for decades and beyond.

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Barely anyone is aware of the fact that The Simpsons is a spin-off of The Tracy Ullman show, which ran for only three seasons and featured the Simpsons in animated shorts. While the parent series had critical success, it pales in comparison to its own spin-off which has a long list of awards and has been immune to the dangers of cancellation.

1 NCIS (2003-Present)

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service oversees all the crimes within the Department of the Navy. Led by Jethro Gibbs, this team encounters missions well outside their field in what regularly puts their lives at risk against dangerous criminals.

The spin-off of JAG, NCIS has far outpaced its parent series in length and status. The series shows no signs of stopping and has unbelievably remained at the top of ratings even after almost two whole decades. What’s more, it’s spawned two spin-offs in NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans which have also overtaken JAG in prominence.

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About The Author


Saim Cheeda
(1347 Articles Published)

Saim Cheeda is an entertainment writer covering all of Film, TV, Gaming and Books. He’s been a writer for Valnet since 2017, contributing 500+ articles for The Gamer, The Things, Game Rant, Comic Book Resources and Screen Rant. Apart from freelance writing, Saim is a lifestyle blogger, co-owning the blog 3 States Apart.

http://3statesapart.com

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