Your favourite show has ended…now what? Watch the spin-off, of course. These days a show hardly gets to the middle of its run before there are whispers of a spin-off show.
This does not always bode well, and many spin-offs don’t last beyond their first season. But in this, the golden age of television, spin-offs are not as ill-fated as they may have been in the past. And even the past has its success stories – just look at Frasier. A spin-off of Cheers, it won acclaim from fans and critics alike, and holds third place for the most primetime Emmy wins in history.
You also get spin-offs that form part of a larger franchise, like your CSIs and NCISs, which follow similar concepts but take place in different cities. Conversely, there are the citywide franchises that follow different groups of people – we’re looking at you Chicago.
We’ve got plenty of spin-off action right here on M-Net. Take a look!
Chicago Med
This show needs no introduction, and not just because we mentioned the Chicago franchise above! The second spin-off of the wildly popular Chicago Fire, it’s now in its fourth season. As the title tells you, and as fans will already know, it follows a group of doctors and nurses at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center (not a real hospital, in case you were wondering).
Fun Fact: The former mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, played himself in an episode of Chicago Fire.
Watch Chicago Med season 4 Tuesdays at 21:00 on M-Net.
MORE HERE: Eight top shows set in Chicago.
Chicago P.D.
Its gritty, streetwise counterpart, and Fire’s first spin-off, follows the action of (you guessed it!) the Chicago Police Department.
Fun Fact: LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Police Detective Kevin Atwater, initially auditioned for a role in Chicago Fire.
Watch Chicago P.D. season 6 Tuesdays at 20:00 on M-Net.
MORE HERE: Ten things you didn't know about the Chicago shows.
The Conners
If you watched The Big Bang Theory and thought Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Leslie (Sara Gilbert), and Sheldon’s mom (Laurie Metcalf) all looked a little familiar, it may be because you recognise them from Roseanne. The sitcom ran for nine seasons in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and was revived for one season last year. Now it’s got its own spin-off, The Conners, which features many of the original characters, including those played by Metcalf, Gilbert, and John Goodman. You’ll also spot Galecki as a guest star.
Fun Fact: George Clooney appeared in eleven episodes of Roseanne.
Watch The Conners season 1 Wednesdays at 19:00 on M-Net.
MORE HERE: Top 5 episodes - The Big Bang Theory.
The Good Fight
Fans of The Good Wife will have followed Diane Lockhart into spin-off show, The Good Fight. But non-Good-Wifers can follow along too, as the show works well as a stand-alone too.
Fun Fact: South African actress Phumzile Sitole has appeared in four episodes. Look out for her this season in episode 5 titled, The One Where a Nazi Gets Punched.
Watch The Good Fight season 3 Mondays at 21:00, starting 29 July on M-Net.
MORE HERE: All the Good shows on M-Net.
NCIS: Los Angeles
Let’s start at the very beginning: with JAG. This naval drama ran for ten seasons, birthing its spin-off show NCIS towards the end of its run. NCIS has been renewed for a seventeenth season and already has two spin-offs of its own: NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans. LA has been renewed for an eleventh season, which means we can except more action from series stars Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J.
Fun Fact: The spin-off’s original title was NCIS: Legend.
Watch NCIS: Los Angeles season 10 Thursdays at 20:10 on M-Net.
MORE HERE: Fast facts about the cast of NCIS: Los Angeles.
NCIS: New Orleans
The second spin-off, set in the Big Easy, is also going from strength to strength having been renewed for a sixth season.
Fun Fact: Daryll Mitchell, who plays Patton Plame, used to be a hip hop artist.
Watch NCIS: New Orleans season 5 Thursdays at 19:10, starting 25 July on M-Net City.
Which spin-off show is your favourite? Share yours on social media.