So here's Rabbit Ears' list of the Top 10 television spinoffs on over-the-air television:
10. "A Different World": This spin-off from "The Cosby Show" ran on NBC from 1987-93. Originally meant as a vehicle for Lisa Bonet, who played Denise Huxtable on both shows, it evolved after Bonet's adult starring role in the film "Angel Heart" took away from her All-American teen image, and she left the show after one season. Jasmine Guy's snobbish Whitley Gilbert and Kadeem Hardison's Dwayne Wayne took the spotlight. The show also proved a boost to the comic Sinbad. Look also in the first season for two-time Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei as one of Denise's roommates.
9. "Trapper John, M.D.": The only sequel to "M*A*S*H" that really counts (We'll ignore the terrible "AfterM*A*S*H."), this program, which ran on CBS from 1979-85, starred Pernell Roberts as a middle-aged and far more urbane Trapper John McIntyre than Wayne Rogers played on "M*A*S*H." And Gregory Harrison played younger, hunkier surgeon G. Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates. Look also for current Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell as a young resident.
8. "Rhoda": The first of three spinoffs from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," it featured Rhoda's (Valerie Harper's) memorable run through New York to get married to Joe Gerard (David Groh). On an "MTM" episode, Rhoda had an older sister; here, she got a younger one, Brenda (Julie Kavner). Nancy Walker and Harold Gould were back, in great form, as Rhoda's parents. And, of course, there was the unseen Carlton Your Doorman (Lorenzo Music). Ran on CBS from 1975-78.
7. "Mork & Mindy": A star was born when Robin Williams first played the bizarre alien from planet Ork on an episode of ABC's "Happy Days." This 1978-82 comedy sweetened the lead character (He had a mean streak in that "Happy Days" episode.) and gave him a grounded human friend in Pam Dawber's Mindy. The show was funny until the lead characters were married; even Jonathan Winters as their son (!) couldn't help after that.
6. "NCIS": Begun as part of an episode of "JAG" in 2003, this one has become the top-rated series in its seventh season. Mark Harmon (who, incidentally, is married to Pam Dawber) stars as Navy Criminal Investigative Service team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The cast includes David McCallum ("The Man From U.N.C.L.E.") and what makes the quality is the humor mixed with drama. Right now, this show is Must-See TV.
5. "Good Times": Especially good during the first two-and-a-half seasons, with John Amos and Esther Rolle heading this spinoff from "Maude" (CBS, 1973-79) that also made Jimmy Walker a star. Ignore what came after Amos left in 1976.
4. "The Jeffersons": "We're movin' on up." Did they ever, with Sherman Hemsley as the insufferable, bigoted George Jefferson and Isabel Sanford as his noble wife, Louise ("Wee-zee," as George called her). The cast of the show, another "All In the Family" spinoff that ran on CBS from 1975-85, also included Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover as Helen and Tom Willis, the Jefferson's neighbors and in-laws, Paul Benedict ("Sesame Street") as the elegant Mr. Bentley and Marla Gibbs as the Jefferson's maid, Florence.
3. "Lou Grant": The best of the three MTM spinoffs took Mary's boss, Lou Grant (Edward Asner) from the funny WJM newsroom to the very serious Los Angeles Chronicle. The stellar cast included Nancy Marchand, Mason Adams, Jack Bannon, Robert Walden and Linda Kelsey. A great look at journalism with a capital J. Ran from 1977-81 on CBS.
2. "Frasier": For once, agreement with Television Without Pity. This NBC comedy (1993-2004) was better and had more heart than "Cheers," with winning performances from Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce and John Mohoney in particular as the Crane family. Took more from British comedies than American, as Grammer said when the show gracefully retired in 2004.
1. "Maude": We've talked about this program before; just a terrific spin-off (One of a couple of genuine successes) from "All In the Family." Bea Arthur, Bill Macy, Rue McClanahan, Conrad Bain and Adrienne Barbeau. Enough said. (Actually, just with Bea Arthur, enough said.)
Honorable mentions include:
*"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (Law & Order)
*Benson (Soap)
*Gomer Pyle (Andy Griffith Show)
*Green Acres (Petticoat Junction)
*Boston Legal (The Practice)
*Knots Landing (Dallas)
*The Facts of Life (Diff'rent Strokes)
*Empty Nest (The Golden Girls)
*Laverne and Shirley (Happy Days)
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
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