Original TV Programming Vs Spinoff Shows - You Spin My Head Right Round!

No one really likes change. And that’s why everyone loves television spinoff shows, right? It encapsulates what made that original television programme you’ve come to know and love while carrying on the legacy of that show in to a new setting and postponing the TV show’s equivalent of a judgement day; cancellation.

But when does that really happen successfully? Since the turn of the century, the creators of such great shows along the likes of ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ ‘Family Guy’ or even ‘Supernatural’ have had the trouble of letting them run their course and consequently, helped to create and overstretch a plethora of episodic mayhem that differs from what made the original seasons (or episodes) stand out in the first place, just to keep making money and to satisfy the fat cats at the top!

The cast of Torchwood

Their answer: to make spinoff shows. In some cases however, spinoff shows can prove to be beneficial to a brand and expand a particular universe in a strong and independent way without taking anything away from the original. Take ‘Torchwood’ for example; the spinoff from the world famous ‘Dr Who’ series that took the quirky and loveable John Barrowman and co on a four series adventure which proved to be a hit among critics and fans alike. In its short history, Torchwood covered fragments of a huge universe already established by ‘Dr Who’ in a much more mature light with compelling and more coarse storylines (as it was aimed at an older audience), building upon its predecessor and helping to distinguish itself from its parent programme yet remaining within the same universe.

And what about ‘Ashes to Ashes’? If you don’t know about this show, it was another series that came from the depths of the BBC’s creative department and, was arguably more successful than its parent programme ‘Life on Mars’ as it spanned two seasons more. The police procedural sci-fi drama television series set in the 1980’s and Philip Glenister proves just how successful a spinoff can be and – like ‘Torchwood’ – are easily accessible to a viewer who might not have watched the parent programmes.

Yet in my opinion, these are just a few of the gems in the spinoff game that have worked well and were really justifiable in their attempts to expand a certain televisual universe. There’s always a sense of trepidation for a fan when the creators try to take a programme that doesn’t really need a spinoff and then almost jeopardise the entire franchise they’ve built. Without going in to too much detail, one of the most unnecessary, misguided and a poor excuse of a spinoff show of the last decade would be ‘Joey,’ the spinoff from the much loved ‘Friends.’ It’s understandable why NBC wanted to continue ‘Friends’ in some shape or form after it had run its course, but Joey’s lovable, womanizing and dim-witted ways only worked on ‘Friends’ because he was able to play off the rest of the gang. Not to mention, he only came in small doses making his character on ‘Friends’ that all more successful. Take them away and you’re left with a show that was cancelled halfway into its second season with its last eight episodes never being aired.

Dial back the clock a few years before this to ‘Saved by the Bell.’ If you ever had the chance to watch this show (or if you HAVE the time to watch it, then I highly recommend you do) then you would know that this show arguably planted the seeds for today’s sitcoms that are centred on a group of friends, getting into hijinks and shenanigans week after week as well as highlighting a number of social aspects. However, there was not just one, but two spinoffs that were ridiculously ill-conceived and unnecessary. ‘Saved by the Bell: The College Years’ and ‘The New Class’ struggled to adapt its parent series’ enduring corny humour to the serious social issues that it created throughout the series, which resulted in it being shunned by fans and tainted the original.

While spinoffs continue to be a touchy subject within the world of television, there are just some shows that do not require one and should just stay as a standalone brand. However, some networks, especially in today’s market do not see it like that; they see another potential revenue stream. They know that fans of the original shows would still tune in to give their verdict as well as it acting as another opportunity to draw in new viewers.

The title of the forthcoming 'Breaking Bad' spinoff

One network that seems to be taking this approach is AMC; by giving the green-light to spinoffs of ‘Breaking Bad’ with ‘Better Call Saul’ and an untitled ‘The Walking Dead’ spinoff respectively. The reason that ‘The Walking Dead’ is such an engaging show is because it tells a psychologically compelling story that is unique in the current TV landscape. Trying to duplicate that formula will just dilute the brand’s impact and could perhaps overkill it (excuse the pun). And while everyone loves Bob Odenkirk’s sleazy lawyer in ‘Breaking Bad,’ it’s personally hard to get excited for this prequel series. Saul worked best as a much-needed comic relief in the show’s tensest moments and, without knowing exactly what the show will offer yet, it’s hard to imagine shifting him into the protagonist role and building the same kind of drama. But most of all, I fear that this show will become an ugly footnote forever attached to an otherwise great and original series.

Speaking of original programming, it’s clear to see why they always do so well… Because they’re ORIGINAL! The most successful and original shows start from the ground up, perhaps borrowing a format from another show, like ‘Community’, or from another source entirely, like the Starz network’s ‘Black Sails’ but they ultimately distinguish themselves with unique attributes within an era of countless games and competition shows and reality TV tripe. 

‘Community’ is an American sitcom that follows a group of mature students at a community college in the fictional and dysfunctional locale of Greendale. The difference between this sitcom that follows a group of friends over others is that the series heavily uses meta-humour and popular culture references, often parodying other films and television clichés and tropes as well as creating outrageously ridiculous storylines like a school-wide game of paintball. Perhaps an acquired taste of humour, this show does however break the barriers of other sitcoms with at times, breaking the fourth wall, an almost fully animated episode, another where they are portrayed as puppets, a stop-motion Christmas special and many other aspects that have kept the show fresh and up-to-date after five seasons (expecting to be renewed for a sixth… and a movie #SixSeasonsAndAMovie – only fans of the show will get that, so let’s move on…). 

Taking your basis of a show from a book, done so well in ‘Game of Thrones’ can be seen as successful and perhaps even original – it’s not really – another show, in the form of ‘Black Sails’ does it better. The detailed and somewhat grounded pirate series presents an opportunity for the viewer to immerse themselves into the West Indies of the 1700s and connect with the characters. Written as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel ‘Treasure Island’ and produced by the experienced Michael Bay (producer of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters such as the ‘Transformers’ franchise, ‘Pearl Harbour’ and the upcoming ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’), the show takes the characters as well as fictionalized versions of real life pirates – including Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, Benjamin Hornigold and the infamous Blackbeard – and places them into a raunchy version of New Providence, vividly showcasing the daily life of pirates as well as constructing a new and darker interpretation of the characters. ‘Black Sails’ first season follows the story of the fearless (and fearful!) Captain Flint and his crew’s hunt of the Spanish treasure galleon, the Urca de Lima. This form of original programming proves that these shows are slicker, different and in particular for ‘Black Sails’, provide a different take on familiar characters established in another medium and not a spinoff!

Yes, some shows can habit an acceptable spinoff if executed correctly and fight this concept of change and being buried into the depths of television archives, but 99% of the time they are unnecessary, poorly created and lack the soul of what made their parent show so likeable and successful.

'HIMYM' made it to an impressive nine seasons

And let’s not forget the planned spinoff for the sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’ with ‘How I Met Your Dad.’ After its much debated ninth season and series finale back in April (no spoilers here, don’t worry), the show had progressively gone downhill after season seven and had been painstakingly dragged out for a couple more seasons to a dried up season nine. As a major fan of this show since the beginning, it pained me to see the decline in quality… Although I was pleased (yet shocked) with the series finale however, which the showrunners had in place from season one, if you were interested! This was also a show that no one was really asking for a direct spinoff for in the first place. The planned spinoff is set to centre on a new group of friends with a lead female character, searching for her future husband. Personally, this is lazy as well as insulting to HIMYM’s once imaginative concept. Not to mention, unlike HIMYM’s cliché-subverting lead in Ted (Josh Radnor), a girl looking for love is as rom-com trite as they come. 

In the words of Barney Stinson… Wait for it? No thanks.