Spinoffs that should've been

[Loren]

The last couple of nights I've been watching my rented "The Lone Gunmen" DVD. I liked the characters on "The X-Files" and I liked their show, even though it didn't last very long. I'm glad it at least got the chance.

We regularly suggest comic characters who should get their own spinoff series, but what TV or movie characters do you think should have gotten a chance to go solo?

[Ontir]

Photographer Melissa Steadman was to have gotten her own spin-off from Thirty~something but that sadly never came to be.

Currently, I'd take Ingo Raddemacher and his character "Jax" off of "General Hospital," and make them a prime-time globe-trotting, adventure series somewhere between Hart to Hart and 007.

Ray Barrone's parents should've been spun out of Everybody Loves Raymond, and into their own series. I'd move them to a retirement trailer park in Florida for an update on the Golden Girls.

I love Conchatta Farrel. Her character from Two and a Half Men would make for an interesting show, given her description of her family life.

If they don't do another X-Film, it might be interesting to see a series about Bobby Drake, graduating from Xaviers, and then going off to college - with mostly normal students, and the weird situations/adventures he finds himself in, while trying to put his relationship with his family back together.

I always thought the character of "Okana," played by Billy Campbell in Star Trek: the Next Generation would make an interesting spin-off. I'd like to see a "Trek" series set outside of Starfleet.

A follow-up to Oz that deals with Lee Tergesen's "Beecher" being released from prison, and trying - after all the bizarre things he's survivied - to fit back into society, having become what he's become, would be really interesting!

I know it'll never happen, but I want more Six Feet Under in whatever form that might take. It might be interesting to pick up Claire's life in 20 years, within the continuity established in the final ep. Also, Patricia Clarkson's character from that show would be an interesting spin-off.

[Legato]

The Flash tv series from Smallville. I could see Bart traveling the globe saving people while encountering different superpowered individuals that could join him on his journey. Since the Aquaman series became a dud I wouldn't mind Aquaman becoming a supporting character on the Flash tv show.

A Bobba Fett tv show made by the same guy who did Clone wars. A prequal series that focus on the adventures of a young Bobba Fett's first days as a bounty hunter and rise to becoming one of the most famous bounty hunters in the galaxy.

[Lord of Denial]

Methos should have spun-off of Highlander.

There is an endless amount of stories they could have told with a character with 5000+ years of history. And his time as Death of the 4 hourseman would have been a great driving force for his character in the show.

[Gaz]

Ray Barrone's parents should've been spun out of Everybody Loves Raymond, and into their own series. I'd move them to a retirement trailer park in Florida for an update on the Golden Girls.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!:eek:

Why would you want to subject the airwaves to those obnoxious caricatures for 30 minutes a week?

[Ontir]

You don't like them, but the actors are great, and they were well-loved by the American public. Taking them out of their "natural habitat," and moving them into a new situation would shake them up, and force them to be something other than exactly what they'd been on "Everybody Loves Raymond," and would also bring in a new bunch of supporting characters. I think it would have been a hit!

I think Boba Fett would be intersting as a TV Show, but I'd prefer to see it live-action or CGI, as opposed to the animation style of "Clone Wars." Just no my cup of hemlock.

[Legato]

Methos should have spun-off of Highlander.

There is an endless amount of stories they could have told with a character with 5000+ years of history. And his time as Death of the 4 hourseman would have been a great driving force for his character in the show.

Yet some genius though that an Amanda spin-off was a good idea. :rolleyes:

[Lord of Denial]

Yet some genius though that an Amanda spin-off was a good idea. :rolleyes:


God that was a terrible show. Though I don't see the new movie being much better.

[GRANT!]

I think it'd be funny if they did a spinoff with some of the major dead characters from Buffy and Angel. Like Johnathan, Wesley and Tara.

[Legato]

I think it'd be funny if they did a spinoff with some of the major dead characters from Buffy and Angel. Like Johnathan, Wesley and Tara.

It could work if they go the alternate universe scenario. Like that one alternate universe whare Buffy never went to Sunnydale but she went thare anyway and died while fighting The Master. That universe could be the setting for that series.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I actually think that CBS really lost thier marbles in letting Brad Garrett jump. The entire cast except for Romano should have been kept for a spin-off. Only this time Ray could be written out as moved away to a better job and instead of Everyboy Loves Raymond , it could be " Everybody Loves Robert " .

You could add a couple charactors to make up for Ray's loss ( and he could show up for special episodes ect ect). Plus have Robert becoming a dad for the 1st time.


Also I think NBC dropped a ball with Friends thier final season. Not only did Joey's spin-off kill any intrique but they should have wrote Joey and Rachel off togethor. Of course this means giving Aniston a sh-tload of money to do it. And odds are it would have worked seeing sensitive Rachel next to Joey's sister and nephew.

[Jmacq1]

I think a second "Stargate" spinoff could work. Give it more of a "Star Trek" vibe and make the premise the continuing adventures of one of the "Earth Battleships" (Daedalus, Prometheus, etc...assuming they could keep them from getting blown up every other episode). It'd be a slightly different "feel" from Atlantis and SG-1, but provide plenty of opportunity for guest-stars, etc...

Heck, just make it the "Daedalus" and let Mitch Pileggi stay on as the Captain/Colonel.

[meethraa]

I think it'd be funny if they did a spinoff with some of the major dead characters from Buffy and Angel. Like Johnathan, Wesley and Tara.
I'm still watching season 3 of Angel and didn't know Wesley was dead.
Thanks, I hate you now.

As for my spin-off, I'd love to see NINA MEYERS from 24 having her own show. She was by far the most interesting character on the three seasons I've seen so far and I still think that killing her off was an incredibly dumb move (although I remember at the time thinking that they could figure a way to bring her back, though I can't remember if anyone but Jack saw her getting shot and where on her body did he shoot her).

[marshal99]

The one character that might have been a fine spinoff from buffy was Faith but Eliza Duskhu rejected the proposed project for Tru Calling.

Nina the werewolf chick would have been interesting as well. :)

The clone of William Riker , Tom Riker could have been a spinoff ,last seen he was captured by the cardassians in DS9. It could chronicles his struggles within the cardassian borders.

[Spike-X]

I imagine an Adventures Of Jayne series would have been very popular with Firefly fans.

[Ontir]

I actually think that CBS really lost thier marbles in letting Brad Garrett jump. The entire cast except for Romano should have been kept for a spin-off. Only this time Ray could be written out as moved away to a better job and instead of Everyboy Loves Raymond , it could be " Everybody Loves Robert " .

You could add a couple charactors to make up for Ray's loss ( and he could show up for special episodes ect ect). Plus have Robert becoming a dad for the 1st time.


Also I think NBC dropped a ball with Friends thier final season. Not only did Joey's spin-off kill any intrique but they should have wrote Joey and Rachel off togethor. Of course this means giving Aniston a sh-tload of money to do it. And odds are it would have worked seeing sensitive Rachel next to Joey's sister and nephew.

I thought CBS should've signed everybody else up, and in the last ep with Romano, said that he'd gotten a new job, and was going to be on the road more, and then just gone on as if he'd been home, or would be coming home, but never show him.

I totally agree that they should've put Rachel and Joey together. Joey should have been Emma's father. What this would have allowed them to do, is have the two of them move toward the wedding in the final season, but in the last ep, Rachel gets a great job in Italy (I suggested this to friends YEARS before anything like it was mentioned in the show), and like the very first ep, she leaves her groom at the altar, but this time, instead of running away from something, she's running to something.

This, of course, doesn't make things easy for Joey, who's been dumped AND has to deal with his daughter living in Italy. As a result, he decides to re-locate to LA with his new roommate, the equally stunned by Rachel's departure Gunther.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I thought CBS should've signed everybody else up, and in the last ep with Romano, said that he'd gotten a new job, and was going to be on the road more, and then just gone on as if he'd been home, or would be coming home, but never show him.

I would have done it like this.

The final episode hits and the paper Ray works for offers him a lucrative offer of being on ESPN and doing his column in Ct. This is too far to relocate much to his parents anger of wanting him to stay and its a very heart warming episode as they have to cut some strings to allow him to leave.

In the sub-plot Robert finds out his wife is pregnet with twins. So now he's scared sh-tless because he has no where to go and he's gonna be a dad. So in one scene I'd write it that Ray gives Robert advice and flips him the keys to the house. " Hopefully you can handle living next door to them and have a family. "

Ray and his family leave as Robert and his family gets the house.

This puts Brad Garret as the star and keeps the 80% of the cast that had really became known to fans. They could also add a cousin of Robert's who is forced to move in with the parents.

I totally agree that they should've put Rachel and Joey together. Joey should have been Emma's father. What this would have allowed them to do, is have the two of them move toward the wedding in the final season, but in the last ep, Rachel gets a great job in Italy (I suggested this to friends YEARS before anything like it was mentioned in the show), and like the very first ep, she leaves her groom at the altar, but this time, instead of running away from something, she's running to something.

This, of course, doesn't make things easy for Joey, who's been dumped AND has to deal with his daughter living in Italy. As a result, he decides to re-locate to LA with his new roommate, the equally stunned by Rachel's departure Gunther.

The only differance is I would have kept Joey and Rachel as a couple. I would have paid Aniston whatever she wanted and had it that in the final episode she hears Joey talk to her kid and realizes he could be a good father.

To support his career they move out to LA. Its there she meets his wacko family. His sister is very protective and eyes Rachel very wary. Because this is her baby brother and now he's with a woman who had a kid by another man ?

Then theres Joey's mom ( and she and his dad should have been cast) who treat Joey like he's the 2nd coming of Elvis.

The biggest loss in " Joey " ? The fact we never got to meet this family that could have been very funny. NBC dropped a ball that they could have saved. Had they decided to grow the charactor up instead of settling him as the same goofball Joey he could have worked.

[GRANT!]

I imagine an Adventures Of Jayne series would have been very popular with Firefly fans.

I'd call it Chronicles of Jayne. Every episode would feature a brothel fight and at least one grenade going off. Two grenades during sweeps.

[GRANT!]

I'm still watching season 3 of Angel and didn't know Wesley was dead.
Thanks, I hate you now.

Not my fault you didn't catch it the first go around. I'm not going to do spoiler tags for a show that aired two years ago.

BTW Bruce Willis is a ghost, that chick from the Crying Game is a dude and Kevin Spacey isn't really a cripple (and he stuffed Gwyenth Paltrows head in a box).

[Ontir]

How difficult is it to put spoiler tags on really? :p There IS a thread on this page called "I'm finally watching Buffy & Angel," that's kind of a clue. Even when discussing an old film, it's rude to spoil, not everyone has seen it. I didn't know Wesley was dead either. For me, it wasn't as critical, but still, a little consideration is always appreciated. ;)

In terms of Joey, when I first heard he was being spun-off, I said to some friends, they should give him a part on a law show, and call the spin-off Trials & Tribiani.

I dont' think you would've gotten Aniston to go anywhere near a spin-off in the first season or two. She was waaaay done, and eager to be out, which given the number of films she'd been offered, is understandable. She'd paid her dues for years, and the dues were now paying her back. Strike while the iron's hot.

The biggest problem with the last few years of the show, was that Ross' paternity was so forced. They'd broken Ross & Rachel up - REALLY GOOD! Even the few times that they seemed close, it was clear to everyone, including the writers, that relationship was over. In order to put the two of them together in the final episode, they had to betray every bit of development in Rachel from day one. Instead of growing up, she reverted to the girl who needed to be taken care of, instead of the able, confident woman she'd become.

Had Joey been the father of Emma, it would've allowed greater development in Joey, and taking Rachel full-circle in the final ep would have given him the motivation to make a change. It would've been cool to meet more of Joey's family (we did meet his parents and several sisters over the course of the series), but he had to leave NY, like Frasier had to leave Boston. Those characters weren't going to be around - in any way, so the character had to have a fresh start. Bringing Gunther in, would've been rewarding another actor who gave quite a bit to the show for its entire run, plus he'd always been in love with Rachel too. He and Joey could commisserete (he'd have to define commisserate to Joey), about what they'd gone through. It would also continue the dynamic he had with Chandler, where everyone thought they were a gay couple. Also, if Joey had a part on a hit show, and Gunther (who'd been on a soap years earlier) was pounding the pavement, it would continue the dynamic of hapless winner, and overly aware, long-sufferer.

In terms of Everybody Loves Raymond, the only one who wanted to leave, was Romano. i think it'd be funny to write him out of his own show, but continue like he was still there. Debra leans out the door in the beginning of the show, waving him off. Someone's on the phone with him. The character's still alive, just not present. meanwhile, everyone else continues, but now, Ray's parents have decided that Debra needs their help since she's "all alone." It also means that Debra and Robert's wife have to be teammates dealing with Marie.

[Callie]

I'm still watching season 3 of Angel and didn't know Wesley was dead.
Thanks, I hate you now.

No worries. He's alive all the way up to the last show.

I would have liked to see that Faith spinoff, especially since Tru Calling tanked. Andrew could be her watcher.

[Greg Hatcher]

I imagine an Adventures Of Jayne series would have been very popular with Firefly fans.

I love Jayne, I love Firefly, but what makes it work is Jayne playing off the others. Jayne by himself isn't as much fun.

[Spike-X]

I didn't say it'd be good, I said it would be popular!

And I really haven't had much time for Jayne, ever since what happened on Ariel. I would have like to have seen Mal just blow him out the airlock at the end of...damn, can't remember which episode. You know the one. This is how it should have gone:

Jayne: "Don't tell them what I did."

Mal: "Fuck you." *pushes hatch release, walks away*

[Jared]

I thought CBS should've signed everybody else up, and in the last ep with Romano, said that he'd gotten a new job, and was going to be on the road more, and then just gone on as if he'd been home, or would be coming home, but never show him.

I totally agree that they should've put Rachel and Joey together. Joey should have been Emma's father. What this would have allowed them to do, is have the two of them move toward the wedding in the final season, but in the last ep, Rachel gets a great job in Italy (I suggested this to friends YEARS before anything like it was mentioned in the show), and like the very first ep, she leaves her groom at the altar, but this time, instead of running away from something, she's running to something.



I think that would make Rachel way too much of a selfish bitch, running off to Italy with Joey's kid for a job offer. And they couldn't exactly make Joey a deadbeat dad, either.

For a Buffy/Angel spinoff, assuming Eliza is out of the question, I'd like to see Gwen Raiden, and two other chicks with powers from the show.. Maybe a Slayer and the werewolf girlfriend. Maybe the invisible girl and the telekinetic. Doesn't really matter.

Think Charmed, but not crappy, or a darker, supernatural Charlie's Angels.

[darkwolf]

Methos should have spun-off of Highlander.

There is an endless amount of stories they could have told with a character with 5000+ years of history. And his time as Death of the 4 hourseman would have been a great driving force for his character in the show.


I totally agree. He was my favourite highlander character. Adrian Paul sucked.

a Faith spinof would have been great.

[Ontir]

I think that would make Rachel way too much of a selfish bitch, running off to Italy with Joey's kid for a job offer. And they couldn't exactly make Joey a deadbeat dad, either.

For a Buffy/Angel spinoff, assuming Eliza is out of the question, I'd like to see Gwen Raiden, and two other chicks with powers from the show.. Maybe a Slayer and the werewolf girlfriend. Maybe the invisible girl and the telekinetic. Doesn't really matter.

Think Charmed, but not crappy, or a darker, supernatural Charlie's Angels.

She'd be written out, the same way Diane was written out of "Cheers," not intending to end things, but not being able to refuse the opportunity of her dreams. Joey wouldn't be a dead-beat dad, just a guy who's been dumped, and is trying to move on with his own life. Maybe even voicing hopes that if he's a greater success as an actor, that it will lead to their reunion, but ultimately coming to accept that she's not coming back, and they aren't going to be together. That would've been an excellent time for Ross to visit. Ross, Joey, and Gunther, sitting around, complaining about Rachel. :p

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I really hate the Diane situation. It really makes a charactor look bad in a way and Rachel would look bad. They should have thought it over and maybe brought in a sister of Monica's or a charactor to set Joey off with if they couldn't get Aniston to do a spin-off.

[DonC]

I didn't say it'd be good, I said it would be popular!

And I really haven't had much time for Jayne, ever since what happened on Ariel. I would have like to have seen Mal just blow him out the airlock at the end of...damn, can't remember which episode. You know the one. This is how it should have gone:

Jayne: "Don't tell them what I did."

Mal: "Fuck you." *pushes hatch release, walks away*


I agree. I always thought that was out of character for Mal to keep Jayne around after that. One the plus side, thought, River and Simon did find out what Jayne did in the next episode. Not that you would have seen it on Fox, though. That was one of the episodes they never aired.

[90'sCartoonMan]

Jayne isn't a nice person, though. The only reason he's working with Serenity's crew is because they paid him more than the last crew he was with. Still, Whedon and co. could've made it work.

For a Buffy/Angel spinoff, assuming Eliza is out of the question, I'd like to see Gwen Raiden, and two other chicks with powers from the show.. Maybe a Slayer and the werewolf girlfriend. Maybe the invisible girl and the telekinetic. Doesn't really matter.

I was always upset they never returned to the invisible assassin school. There are dozens of opportunities for Buffy and Angel spin-offs.

[Spike-X]

One the plus side, thought, River and Simon did find out what Jayne did in the next episode.

Heh. "I can kill you with my brain."

[Spike-X]

Jayne isn't a nice person, though.

True, but there's a difference between being a nice person and being a treacherous asshole.

I understand why he did it. I understand that him doing something like that was foreshadowed in previous episodes, etc. I just think it was, as Don said, out of character for Mal to let him off the hook in the end.

[DonC]

Heh. "I can kill you with my brain."


Best line in the series and it never aired.

[Ontir]

I really hate the Diane situation. It really makes a charactor look bad in a way and Rachel would look bad. They should have thought it over and maybe brought in a sister of Monica's or a charactor to set Joey off with if they couldn't get Aniston to do a spin-off.


Aniston was the deal-breaker. NBC asked for more, and she said, "No." she felt she'd done everything with Rachel that she could, and that it was time to move on. IIRC, she's the only one un-willing to consider going on. With that in mind, the thing becomes about serving the character you're going to continue - Joey. You have to serve his character, and let the one that's going away, look not so good, if it helps the new direction.