Spin-offs That Rival or Surpass Their Predecessors

There are two golden rules of television: when it’s not broken, don’t fix it, and when it’s performing well in the ratings, make a spin-off. With the upcoming spin-offs of Gossip Girl and The Office, we’ve been reflecting on some of the spin-offs that we loved just as much—if not more—than their predecessors.

90210
America finds itself enrolled in West Beverly High once again with the CW’s 90210, the newest show in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. The original was a classic specializing in teen melodrama, and although its spin-off will probably never reach the original’s level of perfection, it is fast-paced and still highly entertaining. The plot moves quickly, with a new story line introduced practically every week, and its soundtrack is way more fun than the sappy original score. Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) brought three seasons worth of drama to the show’s first season with her drug overdose, her dysfunctional home-life, and her recent pregnancy. Moreover, Jennie Garth has reprised her role as Kelly, serving as a guidance counselor at the school, Shannen Doherty is back to play the backstabbing Brenda, and soon we’ll get to see Tori Spelling as Donna again. It may not live up to the original, but it almost never disappoints.
-Liz Lucero

The Brady Brides
Unequivocally one of the most well-known sitcoms in the world of television is the 1970s classic The Brady Brunch. However, lesser known to the free world—but equally as entertaining—is the Brady Bunch spin-off: The Brady Brides. Airing on NBC in 1981, Marsha and Jan have both married, yet due to financial trouble the two newlywed couples are forced to share one house. Contrary to what you would expect from the sisters, Marsha ends up with a goofball husband and Jan marries an uptight scientist. What ensues is the Brady Bunch version of The Odd Couple. The crazy antics of the two newly married couples living under one roof, mixed with the many jokes that are directed towards an older audience (if you know what I mean), make this series an overlooked gem in the world of classic TV. Plus there are many memorable appearances by legends like Florence Henderson. Sadly, the series did not live to see more than ten episodes, proving that sometimes the story of two lovely ladies is not enough to make a series that lasts.
-Ruthy Sher

Angel
Before Robert Pattinson, there was David Boreanaz. Not to say that David has any less sex appeal on his hit show Bones, but it was nothing compared to his role as the vampire hunk of love, Angel, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the late ’90s. After three years of dutifully loving, hating, and biting Buffy, Angel left for Los Angeles to fight his own personal demons as well as the physical ones. He ran a supernatural detective/eradication agency that helped those in need and occasionally saved the world. The spin-off took a while to find its footing—it rotated and added to its cast for a while, but by the end of the second season, the show had found its undead groove. Although Angel took on a darker and arguably less comical tone, it befitted the show because its more adult themes embraced the gray areas embodied by its lead character—a vampire with a soul.
-Caitlyn McGinn