Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-05-2017, 12:38 PM

Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series

The Andy Griffith Show begat Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. The Mary Tyler Moore Show spun-off Rhoda and Phyllis. An episode of All in the Family became Maude and another episode became The Jeffersons. You remember the successful spin-offs, but you may now know about the spin-offs that never were.

Why did the characters of Fred and Ethel Mertz from I Love Lucy never star in their own spin-off? What animated spin-off pilot could be considered a forerunner of The Simpsons? Which situation comedy has had the greatest number of attempted spin-offs? Why did the idea of a Krusty the Krown spin-off from The Simpsons never become a series? What could have been the first gay family comedy? What was the live-action Monsignor Martinez pilot from King of the Hill series all about?

Discover rare summaries of treatments, scripts, and pilots along with comments from fifty writers, directors, producers, and actors involved with proposed spin-offs and sequels; actress Elinor Donahue remarks about the Father Knows Best reunion movies; actor Patrick Cassidy talks about his audition for The Nanny spin-off; former actress Sheila James describes why her character, Zelda from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, never got her own series; Eddie Mekka from Laverne & Shirley comments on the Lenny & Squiggy in the Army spin-off.

Read our book review here:
http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2016/0...-spinning.html

opus · 03-05-2017, 12:40 PM

I've already bought and read it

Alan Brady's Hair · 03-05-2017, 12:57 PM

Is there any difference between a backdoor pilot and a planted spinoff?

opus · 03-05-2017, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Is there any difference between a backdoor pilot and a planted spinoff?

According to the author, they're synonymous.

Edward216 · 03-25-2017, 01:06 AM

I must get my hands on a copy of this book! It sounds fascinating.

Ed.

king of comedy · 03-25-2017, 08:54 AM

I got to get this book.

D-Dey · 04-02-2017, 09:09 AM

I just added this to my Amazon Wish List.

03-05-2017, 12:38 PM	#1
TJ Administrator Administrator Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 7,667	Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels Spinning Laughter: Profiles of 111 Proposed Comedy Spin-offs and Sequels That Never Became a Series The Andy Griffith Show begat Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. The Mary Tyler Moore Show spun-off Rhoda and Phyllis. An episode of All in the Family became Maude and another episode became The Jeffersons. You remember the successful spin-offs, but you may now know about the spin-offs that never were. Why did the characters of Fred and Ethel Mertz from I Love Lucy never star in their own spin-off? What animated spin-off pilot could be considered a forerunner of The Simpsons? Which situation comedy has had the greatest number of attempted spin-offs? Why did the idea of a Krusty the Krown spin-off from The Simpsons never become a series? What could have been the first gay family comedy? What was the live-action Monsignor Martinez pilot from King of the Hill series all about? Discover rare summaries of treatments, scripts, and pilots along with comments from fifty writers, directors, producers, and actors involved with proposed spin-offs and sequels; actress Elinor Donahue remarks about the Father Knows Best reunion movies; actor Patrick Cassidy talks about his audition for The Nanny spin-off; former actress Sheila James describes why her character, Zelda from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, never got her own series; Eddie Mekka from Laverne & Shirley comments on the Lenny & Squiggy in the Army spin-off. Read our book review here: http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2016/0...-spinning.html

04-02-2017, 09:09 AM	#7
D-Dey Win The War! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2000 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 4,153	I just added this to my Amazon Wish List.
	__________________ Funny song parodies here: http://www.amiright.com/parody/60s/thebeatles11.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s...nstoner0.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/weezer56.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/thedonnas4.shtml Petition the United States Postal Service for a stamp honoring Minoru Yamasaki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoru_Yamasaki http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/lea...-committee.htm

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03-05-2017, 12:40 PM	#2
opus VB Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 31, 2003 Location: New York; but ideally Apt. 402 in Indy (for 8 years) Posts: 11,771	I've already bought and read it

03-05-2017, 12:57 PM	#3
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 3,099	Is there any difference between a backdoor pilot and a planted spinoff?

03-25-2017, 01:06 AM	#5
Edward216 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 2,737	I must get my hands on a copy of this book! It sounds fascinating. Ed.

03-25-2017, 08:54 AM	#6
king of comedy Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,907	I got to get this book.