These great shows haven't had spinoffs... so far.
Some of the most popular shows of all time have certainly had the marketability for spinoffs, but luckily never got them. Though they often feel like vain attempts to recapture the magic of an original series, spinoffs aren't always a bad thing.
House of the Dragon is off to a fine job of repairing Game of Thrones' reputation, and Better Call Saul won over Breaking Bad fans, with some even finding it more appealing than the original. However, these successes are far and few between. SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT It's often the case that a spinoff is a cheap knock-off, using a well known brand name in an effort to keep cashing in on a previous, more successful product. For many, the risk of a spinoff damaging a favorite show's reputation is far worse than the upside. In an age where audiences groan at the announcement of a new prequel or sequel, some series have managed to avoid them. 11 The Office In a sense, The Office is technically already a reboot of the BBC sitcom of the same name. However, in terms of the American version of The Office, it's shocking that the beloved series hasn't had any sort of reboot. The mockumentary sitcom is one of the most re-watched shows ever, with millions of fans having seen it multiple times. With such a wide ensemble of characters, a number of them could've been used as a series lead of their own. However, the reason for the show's success was the characters' dynamics with each other. It's hard to imagine Jim without Dwight, and vice-versa. 10 The Simpsons With it being the longest running show of all time, it's shocking that there hasn't even been one spinoff for The Simpsons, though they did joke about the possibility in the season 8 episode "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase." At the core of The Simpsons is a show about family. The series is known for its comedy, but many of its best episodes offer an emotionally driven narrative about the core Simpsons team. Taking one member away from that dynamic, or following one of the many famous side characters, wouldn't have the same effect. 9 Lost Like Game of Thrones, Lost had a highly controversial ending, meaning that there could be some merit to it having a spinoff. In this case, a successful spinoff could actually help repair the public image for the show. However, it would have to be done very carefully. The world has changed drastically since Lost premiered in 2004, primarily with the normalcy of the internet and cellphones. The lack of technological equipment was one of the main reasons that the disaster element of Lost was so effective, initially pulling viewers in. Making a show with the same premise just wouldn't work. 8 Twin Peaks While Twin Peaks had a third season in 2017, 26 years after season 2 aired in 1991, the show is not a reboot or a spinoff. It is a continuation of the series with narrative reasoning for the gap in time. Twin Peaks season 3 can actually be interpreted as a commentary on the idea of a reboot, and the concept of selling nostalgia as a product. While many Twin Peaks fans crave more of the iconic mystery show, the only proper way to do it would be to have creators David Lynch and Mark Frost involved, as their unique vision is responsible for the distinct quality of the show. 7 The Sopranos Like The Simpsons, one of the core aspects of The Sopranos is its candid look at family life, a dynamic that's very challenging to create. The show is also timely for Mafia stories, as it follows a generation of Mafia members who grew up watching films like The Godfather that mythologized organized crime in America. However, due to technological advancements, the power of the Mafia begins to fade away in the series and in real life. Because of this sensationalized curiosity the public had with organized crime in the 20th century has also diminished, making a spinoff challenging to sell. 6 Friday Night Lights While Friday Night Lights might seem like a classic sports story at first glance, the core of the show was in its characters and its commentary on family life and high school education. The series has some of the most authentic family dynamics in all television, with football often being a device to tell its stories. Though, even for non-football fans, it's easy to find oneself rooting for the Dillon Panthers. It isn't too difficult to imagine a reboot, with one of the original series' high school players taking on the Dillon head coaching position, but capturing the same authenticity of the original series would be a hurdle. 5 Downton Abbey Downton Abbey was a massive show during its six season run, even spawning two films following the events of the series. The series was an excellently constructed period drama, offering commentary on social issues that are still relevant today. Period dramas will always offer a classical yet timeless feeling, making them a consistent option to remake. Since the recent films were well received, Downton Abbey lovers may not be so pessimistic about seeing more, though a reboot with a new cast is a greater risk. 4 Mad Men Following the work and family life of Don Draper, Mad Men would be a difficult show to directly reboot. While the series had many great supporting characters, Jon Hamm's role as the star character was the piece that tied it all together. The series doesn't have a Saul Goodman-like character that would work for a reboot. Don Draper goes through a massive transformation throughout the series, with season 7 perfectly resolving his storyline. Trying to add more to it would be a disgrace to a great ending. 3 New Girl New Girl was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 2010s, and still has a large audience five years after its finale. Zooey Deschanel has said she's not entirely opposed to reprising her role as Jessica Day. If more of the cast could return, it wouldn't be too hard to see a continuation of the show working. However, an attempt to re-create a similar premise with a new cast, like How I Met Your Father, would be way harder to pull off. 2 Seinfeld Seinfeld is one of the most popular shows ever, and it's amazing that there hasn't been any attempt to reboot the show. This could likely be because Jerry Seinfeld himself has no interest in returning for more. The original series was lightning in a bottle and such an important time capsule of the '90s, but returning with the same cast and trying to create similar storylines about their love lives just wouldn't work, given how drastically the dating world has changed. For fans craving more of the same, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the best bet. 1 The Wire The Wire is a massively important piece of modern American artwork and is considered one of the greatest shows ever. While there should be more shows like it that explore similar themes, The Wire itself would be difficult to make a spinoff for. The series has great characters, many of whom would be interesting to see more of, but The Wire is more about the bigger picture of the urban American system, rather than the arcs of its characters. Making more series that explore similar ideas like David Simon has done with We Own This City, while not infringing on the already existing series, is the best option.
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