spinoffs that never happened! - Page 4 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Du Mont · 01-04-2009, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Do you have any proof that Burgess Meredith was originally targeted for the the "Mr. Bevis" role? This is the first I've heard about it.

It's pretty widely known that Mr. Meredith was supposed to be Mr. Bevis.

Here's a source:

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:198314

Zoneboy · 01-04-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuMont Demo

It's pretty widely known that Mr. Meredith was supposed to be Mr. Bevis.

Here's a source:

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:198314

Thanks, Still can't believe I wasn't aware of this or at least I don't recall ever hearing about it. I'm glad you gave a somewhat credible source rather that IMDb or Wikipedia.

Dr. Thong · 01-04-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karaokedude

They tried to spinoff "Horshack" from "Welcome Back Kotter" (don't think that was the title though). ABC did air the pilot. Ironically, the show co-starred John Travolta's sister, Ellen.

The Horshack spinoff aired as a Welcome Back, Kotter episode. During the second season, I think. It showed him at home with his brothers and sisters. After seeing it, I'm glad they didn't go forward with it, because the characters were pretty annoying and I don't think it would have lasted.

The Lenny and Squiggy spinoff was titled Lenny And Squiggy Join The Army or something like that. They were the only good thing about Laverne & Shirley, so I'm glad they didn't go forward with it. I'm not sure if they shot an actual pilot show for that or not.

They wanted to give Fonzie his own spinoff from Happy Days, but Henry Winkler wisely vetoed that. He knew he had a good thing with a great cast and already was on a hit show, so why would he want to mess with that?

Dr. Thong · 01-04-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuMont Demo

‘Batgirl’ was originally filmed as a short pilot presentation for a ‘Batman’ spinoff that was not picked up, and the Batgirl character was then folded into the ‘Batman’ series for its final season.

The reason for the short Batgirl pilot film was not to give the character her own series, but rather, for the show's producers to sell the concept of bringing Batgirl onto the show to the ABC programming executives.

The show's ratings had dropped precipitously in the second season and the producers thought bringing Batgirl into the mix would be a surefire gimmick that would help restore the show's falling ratings. It wasn't.

Dr. Thong · 01-04-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baronzzz

The spin-off that upsets me the most is "The Ropers". I liked the show but when it ended after its brief run, I dont think the Ropers were never invited back to Three's Company.

From what I've read, Norman Fell didn't want to do the spinoff, but was pressured into it by the Three's Company producers. There was a clause in Fell's Ropers contract that said if the show was cancelled within the first year, he and Audra Lindley's characters would be allowed back on Company.

The show's producers and the network knew the show was to be cancelled, but they waited until after the year ran out. Shortly after the year anniversary, the show was officially cancelled.

Fell tried to get back on Three's Company but was told that it was over a year, too bad.

I think he and Audra Lindley were screwed. I never liked the Ralph Furley character and the Ropers' return would have been most welcome to me.

Jude The Obscure · 01-04-2009, 11:44 PM

just wanted to add to Brian Damage's original post re: FOL spinoffs--he left off two. 1) Brian and Sylvia starring a then unknown Richard Dean Anderson and Lynne Moody as Tootie's aunt who marries a white guy (the pilot is boring as all get out) 2) Two episodes focused on Stone Military Academy, and would have starred Jimmy Baio as the Jo type male character, while the others were the counterparts to Blair, Natalie and Tootie.

JamesG · 01-22-2009, 01:59 PM

I know of a couple:

There was a spin-off to the NICKELODEON 90s sitcom Clarissa Explains It All in the works after the show ended.
It was called Clarissa Now and it was set to be picked up by CBS. The premise of this one was showing "Clarissa" (Melissa Joan Hart) working as an intern for a New York City newspaper.
For whatever reason CBS choose not to do the series and only the pilot was filmed. I am not sure if CBS ever released the pilot but NICKELODEON did show it a few times.
One year later, Melissa Joan Hart went on to star in Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.

In 1995, a television sitcom based off of the Kevin Smith film Clerks. was in the works. Kevin Smith and nobody from "his world" were part of it, as they were filming his 2nd film Mallrats during this time.
The sitcom was supposed to be about the daily lives of Dante and Randall (the characters from the film Clerks.) working in the grocery store. However, it was set to be toned down greatly for the television audience and was set to feature "Saved By The Bell-ish" problems rather than the more adult tones used in the film
The filming of the pilot stopped mid-way and footage from this has never been seen in public. Keri Russell was said to have been involved with it.
*Clerks. did come to tv once more. A short-lived animated series aired on ABC twice in 1999 before being pulled.

JamesG · 01-23-2009, 05:32 PM

Here's another one that I remembered, though it is not a sitcom.

A spin-off to Buffy the Vampire Slayer was being considered by creator Joss Whedon. It was to focus on the character "Faith" (played by Eliza Dushku).

This premise never got past the planning stages and nothing ever materialized. Eliza Dushku was more interested in the show Tru Calling at the time, which turned out not being very successful and only lasted 2 seasons.

ANGEL was the spin-off that came from Buffy and had a good run of 5 seasons.

treky · 01-28-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

From what I've read, Norman Fell didn't want to do the spinoff, but was pressured into it by the Three's Company producers. There was a clause in Fell's Ropers contract that said if the show was cancelled within the first year, he and Audra Lindley's characters would be allowed back on Company.

The show's producers and the network knew the show was to be cancelled, but they waited until after the year ran out. Shortly after the year anniversary, the show was officially cancelled.

Fell tried to get back on Three's Company but was told that it was over a year, too bad.

I think he and Audra Lindley were screwed. I never liked the Ralph Furley character and the Ropers' return would have been most welcome to me.

oh; sothat's what the real story about that is! I remember, about 10 years ago, "THE E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY" did an episode about "THREE'S COMPANY" and in an interview with Norman Fell where he was talking about "THE ROPERS" he said that he left "TC" with the understanding that he could return if "TR" failed, like you said. But when it did "I said to them 'Allright, now I can go back to THREE'S COMPANY, right? And they said 'Oh no, you can't go back. We've recast your part'. So I was screwed".

And I've been thinking all these years that theres got to be more to that story.

Dr. Thong · 01-28-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

oh; sothat's what the real story about that is! I remember, about 10 years ago, "THE E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY" did an episode about "THREE'S COMPANY" and in an interview with Norman Fell where he was talking about "THE ROPERS" he said that he left "TC" with the understanding that he could return if "TR" failed, like you said. But when it did "I said to them 'Allright, now I can go back to THREE'S COMPANY, right? And they said 'Oh no, you can't go back. We've recast your part'. So I was screwed".

And I've been thinking all these years that theres got to be more to that story.

I think I read it in the book, Come And Knock On Our Door. It seemed like after the third season, Three's Company started to fall apart. It got its bearings back in the sixth season, but it was never the same.

MickeyMac · 01-28-2009, 06:03 PM

I dont know if this show ever got past the idea stage, but I read an interview once with Steve Kanaly and he was talking about the creators of Dallas doing a Ray and Donna spinoff(kinda like what they did with Gary and Val for Knots Landing). I'm glad they didnt because Ray was an important part of the show.

Dr. Thong · 01-29-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I dont know if this show ever got past the idea stage, but I read an interview once with Steve Kanaly and he was talking about the creators of Dallas doing a Ray and Donna spinoff(kinda like what they did with Gary and Val for Knots Landing). I'm glad they didnt because Ray was an important part of the show.

I don't think Ray was a strong enough character to have his own show. He was better as a supporting character, IMO.

spreckenzeedeu · 01-29-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Happy Days: Ralph and Potsie - living together in apartment

Even tho I love the Guys ... I don't think, that would have worked for a long Run. Shrugs.

Dr. Thong · 01-30-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iris*happydays

Even tho I love the Guys ... I don't think, that would have worked for a long Run. Shrugs.

Some characters are better in supporting roles.

OOliver · 02-01-2009, 07:08 PM

I remember a couple that never got off the ground on CBS:

In the summer of 1978, I remember reading in a magazine (I think it was US which ran bi-weekly) that the upcoming season of "Rhoda" was going to marry off 'Rhoda's' sister 'Brenda' to 'Benny' and eventually 'spin off' "Brenda" to Connecticuit in early 1979.

Sure enough, Brenda's engagement was written into the storyline of Rhoda's 5th season, but "Rhoda" was cancelled in early December, 1978 - without Brenda's wedding taking place. (Didn't CBS realize 'married' women in MTM productions were not that funny?)

In May, 1986 CBS wanted to spin-off "Julia", a character introduced in one episode of their hit sitcom "Kate and Allie" (which served as the 'pilot').

'Julia' was played by actress Lindsay Wagner; the character was a recently divorced woman who moves back to NYC from LA. She was a full-time drama teacher, and taught cooking classes on the side - which is how she meets her new friends. I remember it was not a funny episode and luckily CBS never followed through with it.

01-22-2009, 01:59 PM	#52
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 42,268	I know of a couple: There was a spin-off to the NICKELODEON 90s sitcom Clarissa Explains It All in the works after the show ended. It was called Clarissa Now and it was set to be picked up by CBS. The premise of this one was showing "Clarissa" (Melissa Joan Hart) working as an intern for a New York City newspaper. For whatever reason CBS choose not to do the series and only the pilot was filmed. I am not sure if CBS ever released the pilot but NICKELODEON did show it a few times. One year later, Melissa Joan Hart went on to star in Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. In 1995, a television sitcom based off of the Kevin Smith film Clerks. was in the works. Kevin Smith and nobody from "his world" were part of it, as they were filming his 2nd film Mallrats during this time. The sitcom was supposed to be about the daily lives of Dante and Randall (the characters from the film Clerks.) working in the grocery store. However, it was set to be toned down greatly for the television audience and was set to feature "Saved By The Bell-ish" problems rather than the more adult tones used in the film The filming of the pilot stopped mid-way and footage from this has never been seen in public. Keri Russell was said to have been involved with it. *Clerks. did come to tv once more. A short-lived animated series aired on ABC twice in 1999 before being pulled.
	Last edited by JamesG; 01-22-2009 at 02:23 PM.

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01-04-2009, 11:44 PM	#51
Jude The Obscure Retired Senior Member Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,421	just wanted to add to Brian Damage's original post re: FOL spinoffs--he left off two. 1) Brian and Sylvia starring a then unknown Richard Dean Anderson and Lynne Moody as Tootie's aunt who marries a white guy (the pilot is boring as all get out) 2) Two episodes focused on Stone Military Academy, and would have starred Jimmy Baio as the Jo type male character, while the others were the counterparts to Blair, Natalie and Tootie.

01-23-2009, 05:32 PM	#53
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 42,268	Here's another one that I remembered, though it is not a sitcom. A spin-off to Buffy the Vampire Slayer was being considered by creator Joss Whedon. It was to focus on the character "Faith" (played by Eliza Dushku). This premise never got past the planning stages and nothing ever materialized. Eliza Dushku was more interested in the show Tru Calling at the time, which turned out not being very successful and only lasted 2 seasons. ANGEL was the spin-off that came from Buffy and had a good run of 5 seasons.

01-28-2009, 06:03 PM	#56
MickeyMac Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 18,882	I dont know if this show ever got past the idea stage, but I read an interview once with Steve Kanaly and he was talking about the creators of Dallas doing a Ray and Donna spinoff(kinda like what they did with Gary and Val for Knots Landing). I'm glad they didnt because Ray was an important part of the show.

02-01-2009, 07:08 PM	#60
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 535	I remember a couple that never got off the ground on CBS: In the summer of 1978, I remember reading in a magazine (I think it was US which ran bi-weekly) that the upcoming season of *"Rhoda"* was going to marry off 'Rhoda's' sister 'Brenda' to 'Benny' and eventually 'spin off' "Brenda" to Connecticuit in early 1979. Sure enough, Brenda's engagement was written into the storyline of Rhoda's 5th season, but "Rhoda" was cancelled in early December, 1978 - without Brenda's wedding taking place. (Didn't CBS realize 'married' women in MTM productions were not that funny?) In May, 1986 CBS wanted to spin-off "Julia", a character introduced in one episode of their hit sitcom *"Kate and Allie"* (which served as the 'pilot'). 'Julia' was played by actress Lindsay Wagner; the character was a recently divorced woman who moves back to NYC from LA. She was a full-time drama teacher, and taught cooking classes on the side - which is how she meets her new friends. I remember it was not a funny episode and luckily CBS never followed through with it.