Star Trek TOS actually almost had a spin-off in it's first run.

The episode ASSIGNMENT EARTH with Robert Lansing as Gary Seven and Terri Garr as Roberta Lincoln was a pilot of sorts for a new series..

The episode didn't fare well in the ratings, so the idea was canned..

Michale

Here's a full list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_spin-offs#A

NEver heard of half of them, but you're right, "Gloria" is one of them. I think Good Times was actually spun off from The Jeffersons, but I could be wrong about that.

-CW

Really? I'm impressed. I always find it a bit odd that the networks allow stuff on in the afternoon that they'd never allow on in primetime. I also find your description of "frank and equitable" -- so they actually talked about it in an adult manner? That's more than Parenthood managed...

Just curious, do the soaps ever mention birth control? In any case, thanks for commenting, as I never would have guessed the soaps had progressed so much.

-CW

Heheh. I'd be up for that.

I do remember the Maude episode, but I thought there was an AITF one as well with Gloria and Meathead.. :D

I seem to recall an abortion episode w/ Gloria & Meathead as well (possibly the best nickname in the history of TV, btw). I never realized Maude was a spinoff of AITF. Didn't Gloria have her own spinoff at one point?

-David

Can we boycott Washington DC??? :D

Michale

I do remember the Maude episode, but I thought there was an AITF one as well with Gloria and Meathead.. :D

(Maude was a spinoff of AITF, wasn't it?).

Yes it was.. I seem to recall that, at one point, AITF had the most spin-offs for a series..

I know there was Maude and The Jeffersons, but I can't think of any others..

Michale

You do know that boycotting England was a big movement from the patriots during the American Revolution, right?

Heh.

AS for teevee, don't remember if AITF dealt with it or not. Someone on HuffPost mentioned that "Maude" did an episode on it, that may be what you're thinking of (Maude was a spinoff of AITF, wasn't it?).

I've learned that AITF was originally a British show, which was much rawer and funnier than Archie Bunker ever was. Never tracked it down, but it sounds interesting.

Also, factoid: I remember seeing Archie Bunker's chair in the Smithsonian after the show went off the air...

-CW

That's why boycotts suck...

They are nothing but intimidation, extortion and bullying..

(Yea, I know... "economic terrorism"... Can't ever live that one down. :D But there is precedence. Read STORMING HEAVEN)

But what is ironic is that boycotts are fine and dandy if they produce a desirable outcome.

But the downside to boycotts is exactly what you outline here.. People being so afraid of offending SOMEONE that they never really go outside the box..

Good commentary...

Although I can't remember specifics, I think that ALL IN THE FAMILY had several episodes that dealt frankly with abortion as well...

But, to be fair, AITF was ground-breaking in a lot of ways. Most of which, unfortunately, did not stand the test of time...

Michale