Rare Successes
Spinoffs are nothing new. The first TV spinoff, The Adventures of Champion, aired in 1955 and starred a horse from The Gene Autry Show. Yet despite their long history, it’s hard to nail the spinoff formula and most end up being far less successful than their original shows. However, every now and then, a spinoff wins the hearts of fans. Here are 12 spinoff shows that even die-hard fans admit are better than the original—and we've got the IMDB user ratings to prove it.
NCIS
IMDB Rating: 7.8
Years On-Air: 2003-Present
It's rare for a spinoff series to outlast the show it originated from, but NCIS has achieved just that. With 21 seasons under its belt and a 22nd season hitting the air soon, NCIS has far surpassed the original JAG, which lasted 10 years. While NCIS is a straightforward police procedural, it stands out for its exceptional production quality, with Mark Harmon leading the show for 19 seasons—or an incredible 435 episodes. The show has become as familiar and reliable as your favorite old hoody, pulling in a significantly higher rating (7.8) than Jag (6.7).
Star Trek: The Next Generation
IMDB Rating: 8.7
Years On-Air: 1987–1994
Nearly 20 years after the finale of Star Trek: The Original Series, Gene Roddenberry extended his groundbreaking vision with the launch of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the franchise's first television spinoff. This new chapter follows a fresh crew aboard the USS Enterprise.
The decision to cast a new ensemble instead of reuniting the original stars was largely driven by budgetary concerns—the show just couldn’t afford William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Despite this, the new characters, including Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Data (Brent Spiner), quickly captured the audience's hearts. Star Trek: The Next Generation ran for seven acclaimed seasons, featuring twice as many episodes and earning a higher IMDB rating (8.7) than its predecessor (8.4).
Paramount, Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
Frasier
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Years On-Air: 1993–2004
When Cheers finished its run after 11 seasons, one of its beloved characters, Frasier Crane (played by Kelsey Grammer), got his own spinoff. Frasier centers on Crane, a psychiatrist who relocates to Seattle to host a talk radio show and care for his father (John Mahoney).
The spinoff combined elements from the original series with fresh content to bring in new audiences, ultimately surpassing Cheers in popularity. Frasier won 37 Emmy Awards—which was a record at the time—and has a higher IMDB rating (8.2) than Cheers (7.9).
The Simpsons
IMDB Rating: 8.7
Years On-Air: 1989-Present
The Simpsons first appeared as a segment on The Tracey Ullman Show, which was known for its sketch comedy, music, and dance. When the show became its own animated adult series in 1989, few people thought it could be so successful—it’s now spanned 35 seasons.
The Simpson family—Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), and Lisa (Yeardley Smith)—offers a weekly dose of satire and commentary on American family life while staying up-to-date with pop culture trends. Renowned for its various guest stars, The Simpsons has not only achieved incredible longevity but also scores an IMDB rating of 8.7, significantly higher than the 7.1 rating for The Tracey Ullman Show.
Xena: Warrior Princess
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Years On-Air: 1995–2001
Xena (played by Lucy Lawless), a warrior on a quest for redemption, originally appeared on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which starred Kevin Sorbo as a demi-god fighting mythical creatures. The popularity of the character quickly led to the launch of her own spinoff, Xena: Warrior Princess, which premiered just four months after Hercules wrapped up its first season.
The close connection between the two shows led to several crossover episodes and overlapping storylines. But eventually, Xena surpassed Hercules in popularity, achieving a higher IMDB rating of 6.7 compared to Hercules' 6.4.
Universal, Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
Boston Legal
IMDB Rating: 8.5
Years On-Air: 2004–2008
David E. Kelley, the creator behind the successful legal drama The Practice, looked to make another hit series with the spinoff Boston Legal. This show saw James Spader reprising his role as attorney Alan Shore. Set in the prestigious Boston law firm Crane, Poole, and Schmidt, Boston Legal also starred William Shatner as Denny Crane and Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt.
Initially, network executives were reluctant to cast Spader as the lead since most of his experience was in movies, not on television. Despite this, Spader's performance earned him three Emmy Awards. The IMDB user rating for Boston Legal is significantly higher (8.5) than The Practice (7.7).
The Andy Griffith Show
IMDB Rating: 8.4
Years On-Air: 1960-1968
It all started with a single episode of The Danny Thomas Show, which paved the way for a beloved piece of Americana: The Andy Griffith Show. This series is brimming with charm and quirky characters, led by Andy Griffith as the steady, central figure. It also has lots of nostalgic appeal and continues to charm viewers with its genuine, wholesome nature. Deputy Barney Fife, portrayed with unforgettable comedic flair by Don Knotts, is a standout character, earning Knotts Emmys for all five of his nominations.
In all, The Andy Griffith Show outshined its predecessor, bringing in an 8.4 rating compared to a 7.1 rating for The Danny Thomas Show.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Good Times
IMDB Rating: 7.4
Years On-Air: 1974–1979
Good Times is actually a spinoff of a spinoff. The hit 1970s sitcom All in the Family led to seven spinoffs, including Maude, which centered on Maude Findlay (Bea Arthur), the outspoken, liberal cousin of Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) from the original series. Maude's housekeeper, Florida Evans (Esther Rolle), then starred in her own show, Good Times, which ran for six seasons.
The series followed her life in Chicago with her husband James (John Amos) and their three children, JJ (Jimmie Walker), Michael (Ralph Carter), and Thelma (BernNadette Stanis). Good Times was praised for effectively pairing comedy with serious issues such as discrimination, gang violence, and poverty. Its IMDB user rating is just a little bit higher than Maude’s (7.3).
Daria
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Years On-Air: 1997–2002
The character Daria Morgendorffer (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff) first appeared on MTV's hit animated series Beavis and Butt-Head, but she was far different than her dopey male counterparts. Daria provides a sharp, witty perspective on teenage life through the eyes of a self-proclaimed outsider navigating the absurdities of her surroundings.
Daria has a higher IMDB user rating (8.1) compared to Beavis and Butt-Head (7.5), reflecting the show's success as a spinoff. It’s a good thing it was such a hit, too—the show was also more costly and time-consuming to produce than its predecessor, with each 30-minute episode taking 10 months to complete.
The Colbert Report
IMDB Rating: 8.4
Years On-Air: 2005–2014
The Colbert Report emerged as a spinoff of The Daily Show in 2005, marking a new chapter in comedy news. Comedian Stephen Colbert, originally a news correspondent for Good Morning America, joined The Daily Show as a series regular in 1997 and eventually used his expertise in political commentary to launch his own show.
Colbert described The Colbert Report as a satirical take on personality-driven cable news shows, like those hosted by Bill O'Reilly and Chris Matthews. The show tackled major American stories with a comedic angle for 11 seasons, ultimately achieving a slightly higher IMDB user rating than The Daily Show (8.3).
Comedy Central, The Colbert Report (2005-2014)
The Originals
IMDB Rating: 8.3
Years On-Air: 2013–2018
In 2009, The Vampire Diaries, based on LJ Smith's young adult book series, sparked a bloodlust for other vampire shows on TV. Four years later, the spinoff The Originals debuted on TV screens, focusing on a new storyline with some of Vampire Diaries' characters.
The Originals centers on the Mikaelson siblings—Elijah (Daniel Gillies), Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and Rebekah (Claire Holt)—the first vampires ever created. Now over 1,000 years old, they return to New Orleans to reclaim control of a city they once helped establish. The spinoff was well-received, boasting a significantly higher IMDB user rating (8.3) than The Vampire Diaries (7.7).
Warner Bros., The Originals (2013-2018)
Happy Days
IMDB Rating: 7.4
Years On-Air: 1974–1984
In 1971, Garry Marshall's pilot about a 1950s Midwest family failed to secure a network deal. Instead, it was featured as an episode titled "Love and the Happy Days" on the anthology series Love, American Style. However, after the film American Graffiti achieved box office success, ABC reconsidered Marshall's project and gave Happy Days the green light.
This decision led to the creation of the iconic 1950s sitcom about the Cunningham family and the cool greaser, The Fonz. Happy Days propelled actors like Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Scott Baio to stardom. The show remains a classic, boasting a 7.4 IMDB user rating, which is higher than Love, American Style (6.8).
Better Call Saul
IMDB Rating: 9.0
Years On-Air: 2015-2022
Ok, we’ll admit it: This one is an honorable mention. Breaking Bad is one of the best shows in television history, pulling in an IMDB score of 9.5. Any spinoff from a show that great was bound to face intense scrutiny, and most wouldn’t have been able to live up to the acclaim of such an excellent original show—but Better Call Saul was the exception. Though it doesn’t quite stand up to Breaking Bad, it still holds a 9.0 rating on IMDB, higher than any other spinoff on this list.
