TVSquad

Following in the tradition of Knight Rider and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, among others, ABC has given a back-nine order to the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice. While I admit I'm not a big fan of this type of show, I did manage to watch an episode or two of Grey's Anatomy and I wonder if the doctors on this show are as insane as the ones on its originator.

The networks are showing a lot of faith in their scripted shows given the declined ratings for this season, which could be attributed to the WGA Strike (and damn those people for finding something else to do and sticking to it). Obviously, it takes time for shows to build up an audience again after such an event and the networks know this.

It would be very easy for the networks to inundate us with reality television at this point, which is cheaper to produce. I applaud the networks for recognizing the type of programming that has true longevity.

Last month we told you about a contest being held by The New York Television Festival and The People's Choice Awards. They wanted you to come up with spinoffs for your favorite shows. Well, they've narrowed it down to three finalists, and it's time for you to vote at the PCA site.

Contestants had one minute to give a video pitch for their spinoff. The first finalist is The Halftime Show, a spinoff of Friday Night Lights that focuses on the people who play in the school bands that perform at football halftime shows. Married...with Children, 10 Years Later (I think that's the name of it anyway) has Al no longer married but becoming rich and starting to date again. The East Wing is a spinoff of The West Wing, and centers on the goings-on with The First Lady (estranged from her husband) and her staff.

Lots of spinoffs sputter and die (Joanie Loves Chachi, anyone?) while some actually go on to long, healthy careers (Frasier).

Now The People's Choice Awards and the New York Television Festival want to hear your ideas for spinoff shows. You could win an all-expenses paid trip to New York City and be the official "People's Choice Ambassador" at the 2008 NYTF. The winner will also get to pitch his spinoff idea to a New York talent agency -- so make it good.

The contest (you have to send a video pitch to the site above) starts on July 21 and ends on August 8.

Earlier today, we reported on NBC's fall lineup. The most intriguing nugget: the long rumored Office spinoff is, indeed, happening this year. Kristin over at E! clarified things a bit (kinda) by reporting that though The Office spinoff exists semi-officially, it still does not exist creatively. Apparently, they're still trying to find the right premise for such a spinoff (and if you're not scared about the show existing before the premise does, then you haven't been watching TV for very long).

That said, it was around this time four years ago that fans of the UK Office were worrying whether or not the NBC version would go the way of Coupling, so I think it's worth giving NBC the benefit of the doubt on this one. I'd like to open the floor to our enlightened commenters on just what the premise of an Office spinoff might be...

When one of our favorite TV shows goes off the air, it can be devastating. However, many times, the cancellation is the birth of a spinoff. Sometimes it can be a great thing (Frasier) and sometimes not so much (AfterM*A*S*H). Here are some this month's spinoff ideas that I would love to see.

McCormack & Van Lowe: At Your Service
When Keith Mars becomes sheriff of Neptune and his daughter Veronica joins the FBI, Vinnie Van Lowe emerges as the county's number one private detective. His new caseload is so overwhelming and his moral compass is so out of whack that he's forced to employ attorney Cliff McCormack on a permanent basis. Together with the help of their excitable intern (Alia Shawkat), they bring their distinctive style of crime-solving to the citizens of Neptune.

Well last weeks trivia question wasn't as hard as I thought. It would appear that the readers here at TV Squad are a bit more knowledgeable about TV, if not more web savvy, than I am used to.

Along with all the answers I got for last week, I also received a request for some information. A reader by the handle of Jefferson wrote, "There was a really crappy show on Fox in the '90s - and yes, I am aware that does not narrow down the field. It was a 1/2 hour sitcom that centered on a group of individuals that survived a nuclear blast and was now living together in some stranded hut together where they have to rebuild civilization and all that stuff. "

Well, as I'm sure many of you know that series was called Woops! starring Evan Handler and Cleavant Derricks among others. It ran on FOX for one season in 1992.

On to this week's question ...

Here's a cool idea: TVSeriesFinale.com, a site devoted to the last episodes of TV shows.

They cover the series finale of all types of shows (sitcoms, dramas, reality shows, etc), whether they are canceled after several seasons on the air or pulled immediately by the networks (*cough* Day Break *cough*). It's not just breaking news (though there is plenty of that too), it's actualy in-depth summaries of final episodes, what happened to the characters and what they went on to do after the show went off the air.

I'm glad the site explains that episode of The Golden Girls I saw last year. It seemed to be a pilot for a spinoff series that never happened, but it included David Leisure as an annoying neighbor. They reworked the show and turned it into Empty Nest. Also, I had no idea that Nurses was a spinoff of Empty Nest.

[via TV Barn]