Specials

Spin Cycle: Memorable TV Spinoffs

'The Hills'

Spun Off From: 'Laguna Beach' in 2006
Connecting Thread: After 'Laguna' narrator Lauren Conrad graduated from high school, 'The Hills' followed her move to glitzy Los Angeles, where she interned at Vogue, partied with new BFF Heidi and got walked over by bad-boy flame Jason.

Sound Off: Fave Spinoff?

'Melrose Place'

Spun Off From: 'Beverly Hills, 90210' in 1992
Connecting Thread: '90210' princess Kelly Taylor fell for carpenter Jake Hanson (Grant Show) from 'Melrose,' though they broke up later. We stuck around to watch him and his fellow apartment dwellers, including scheming seductress Amanda (Heather Locklear).

'A Different World'

Spun Off From: 'The Cosby Show' in 1987
Connecting Thread: 'A Different World' followed 'Cosby' daughter Denise Huxtable ( Lisa Bonet) to Hillman College; then, she dropped out after a year. So, the show focused on her classmates and addressed modern social issues.

'Frasier'

Spun Off From: 'Cheers' in 1993
Connecting Thread: Being "where everybody knows your name" apparently was not enough to keep Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) in Boston. He moved to Seattle to host a radio show and rediscover a bachelor's life (well, as much of one you can have while living with Dad).

'Angel'

Spun Off From: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' in 1999
Connecting Thread: Whereas 'Buffy' focused on the lead slayer herself, 'Angel' followed her vampire lover with a soul (David Boreanaz) to Los Angeles (the City of Angels, get it?). Creator Joss Whedon thought Angel's pursuit of good required a grittier show.

'Knots Landing'

Spun Off From: 'Dallas' in 1979
Connecting Thread: Ironically, CBS first passed on 'Knots,' which followed black sheep Gary Ewing, but asked creators to rework the story after the success of 'Dallas.' It became the second longest-running show in primetime history.

'Xena'

Spun Off From: 'Hercules' in 1995
Connecting Thread: Back in the day, Xena (Lucy Lawless) was an evil and seductive warlord who wanted to best Hercules in battle. But after undergoing a reformation, she got her own show and engaged in a sexually-ambiguous relationship with BFF Gabrielle.

'The Facts of Life'

Spun Off From: 'Diff'rent Strokes' in 1979
Connecting Thread: Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae), went from 'Diff'rent' housekeeper to housemother at Eastland Academy. This spin-off watched the trials and troubles of seven girls coming of age (and a young George Clooney as a handyman).

'The King of Queens'

Spun Off From: 'Everybody Loves Raymond' in 1998
Connecting Thread: Is it a spin-off or what? Sure, Kevin James appeared several times as Raymond's friend "Kevin." After getting his own show, Kevin suddenly turned into delivery guy Doug.' Let's just say he got a name change and call it a spinoff.

'Boston Legal'

Spun Off From: 'The Practice' in fall 2004
Connecting Thread: When 'The Practice' firm fired unethical, moneymaking lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader), he hired wacky Denny Crane (William Shatner) to fight back. Shore got millions, but not his old job, so he joined forces with Crane.

'The Lone Gunmen'

Spun Off From: 'The X-Files' in 2001
Connecting Thread: The 'Gunmen' made appearances in every season of 'X-Files' as Mulder's beloved techno-geek conspiracy theorists. But their own series focused on lame physical comedy and mundane cases (cheating spouses, gun runners) and lasted only 12 episodes.

'NCIS'

Spun Off From: 'JAG' in 2003
Connecting Thread: The series about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service got a nice assist from its parent, 'JAG,' which established the characters in a two-part episode that aired during the eighth season of the long-running military drama.

'Young Americans'

Spun Off From: 'Dawson's Creek' in 2000
Connecting Thread: Will Krudski (Rodney Scott), was introduced on 'Dawson's' as Pacey's childhood friend. In the semi-spinoff, Will attended a posh boarding school, but couldn't quite escape his "townie" past, which included the pretty Bella Banks (Kate Bosworth).

'Joey'

Spun Off From: 'Friends' in 2004
Connecting Thread: Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) best 'Friends' grew up, so he moved to Hollywood, reuniting with his sister (Drea de Matteo) and her genius son (Paulo Costanzo). But Joey wasn't as endearing without Chandler, and the show was canceled during season two.

'The Game'

Spun Off From: 'Girlfriends' in fall 2006
Connecting Thread: Melanie (Tia Mowry), a talented med student, gives up admission to Johns Hopkins and instead follows her pro-football-playing boyfriend across the country. But her parents and cousin, Joan Clayton of 'Girlfriends,' don't approve.

'Port Charles'

Spun Off From: 'General Hospital' in 1997
Connecting Thread: 'Port Charles' is both the name of the show and the fictional city in which 'General Hospital' is located. The show focused more on the 'Hospital' interns and featured edgier storylines, like the one with vampires.

'Time of Your Life'

Spun Off From: 'Party of Five' in 1999
Connecting Thread: Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt) left 'Party' boy Bailey to search for her birth father in NYC and make new friends (including a pre-'Alias' Jennifer Garner). Hewitt won a People's Choice Award, but the show was canceled before the end of season one.