TOP 10: TV Spin-Offs

Through the history of TV, spin-off series have been around. Most spin-ff series don't make it past the first year, let alone the five years to make syndication. Below are my All-Time TOP 10 spin-ff TV series.

10. DIAGNOSIS MURDER (1993 - 2001):
This MATLOCK spin-off is really an under appreciated series. During the height of "Must See TV," DIAGNOSIS MURDER was one of the few Thursday series that draw a strong amount of viewers. Many times, its was a weekly to 20 in the ratings and for one season, was a top 30 hit.

9. LAW & ORDER: SVU (1999 - ):
This series has been on NBC for -- seasons and has been one of its strongest dramas for the network. Many years, it was the shiniest star of the franchise, which has produced five series beyond the original.

8. LAVERNE & SHIRLEY:
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY is the only series on this list to be a spin-off of a spin-off. When it launched it quickly became the #1 TV series in 1977-78 season. For a stretch, L&S was more popular than its parent series, HAPPY DAYS.

7. HAPPY DAYS:
Not many people know, or remember, that HAPPY DAYS started as a stand alone episode in the comedy anthology series LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE. From that start, HAPPY DAYS lead the surge by ABC to over take CBS and become the #1 network, in the mid 70's. Plus, let us not forget that this IS the series that established the term "Jump The Shark.

6. KNOTS LANDING (1979 - 93):
The series lasted 14 seasons and grew to be the #9 show during the 1984-85 season. In its 10th season, it became more popular than its its parent series DALLAS.

5. FRAISER (1993 - 2004):
FRAISER ran for 11 years on NBC and kept the spirit of CHEERS, while introducing us to a completely new world and characters. It was a main part of the "Must See TV" block and help lead a similar block on Tuesday nights. The series finished in the top 10 three times and an additional six times to finish in the top 20.

4. THE JEFFERSONS (1974 - 85):
ALL IN THE FAMILY had many spin-off series in it run, but THE JEFFERSONS was easily the most popular and most successful of the group. It was the #4 program of the year, during its first year. It would finish in the top 10 three more times, including its best finish at #3, during the 1981-82 season. Its drawing power lasted well beyond its network run. It had a long syndication run and still a favorite on networks like TV Land and Antenna TV.

3. NCIS (2003 - ):
NCIS fell just shy of being the #1 series on TV in 2012-13, its 10th season. It has surpassed its parent series, JAG, in both rating and popularity and shows no signs of slowing down.

2. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (1987 - 94):
When the STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION two hour pilot debutes, 27 million viewers tuned in to watch. It was quickly the class of syndicated series in the late 80s an early 90s. Its network sized budget, class actors and the best writing staff, lead TNG as not only the Trek successor on TV, but in the theatrical movie franchise.

1. THE SIMPSONS (1989 - ):
Starting out as a series of shorts on the FOX variety series THE TRACY ULMAN SHOW, The Simpsons were spun off as the first animated primetime series on network TV in nearly 15 years. The series was an instant hit and 25 years later it is still a strong performer for FOX and is about to create a billion dollar cable syndication deal in 2013.