Given that he just said spin-off and not "tv-show spinoff" wouldn't all the trek movies count aswell? Meaning it would win anyway....especially if you decided to count all the books, games, comics, languages....

I love trek...a lot....but i think paul is off on his definition of spinoff....in the future, maybe he could define things before he asks the questions.

ah yes! thats where i went i wrong with my math. missing the great Trek animated series. You win! At least until we get L&O: Scooby Gang.

In my opinion, the only spinoffs of Law & Order are L&O Criminal Intent, L&O SVU, L&O Trial By Jury and Conviction because they all live in the same universe and share cast members.
By that same reasoning, Star Trek is my choice for the correct answer.
Thanks for indulging me.

It all depends on what your definition of spin-off is. Britain's "Pop Idol" must have spawned more than a dozen versions around the globe.

If it takes place in the same "universe" than to me it should be a spinoff.

And like I said all the Star Treks had someone from the previous show on them. Just because there isn't a set main charater from another show doesn't mean it's not a spinoff.

Google...
"A spin-off in television is a new series which contains either characters or theme elements from an old series."

Or in a company....
"A company can create an independent company from an existing part of the company by selling or distributing new shares in the so-called spinoff."

So Star Trek and L&O would have a lot of spinoffs. Spinoff is easy, you people are just over thinknig it.

Agreed Bill. A definite diff b/w crossover and spinoffs. The semi-spinoffs are definitely week aspects. Although we could say that L&O still takes the cake as that show in addition to CI, SVU, Trial By Jury, Arrest & Trial, and even Dragnet all had the same actor Steven Zirkildon playing the same role......Mr. A. Nnouncer.

gonna pay for that one......

I'm not sure Bill, I know I picked it just because of the whole " LAS begat Happy Days begat Laverne and Shirley begat...etc" deal.

I am thinking Dallas

The definition of spinoff is very vague. A true spinoff would be like Frasier or Joey, where a character from an existing show gets his or her own show. Then there are semi-spinoffs, where a character is introduced to a popular show specifically to be spun off (Top of the Heap, the disastrous Married with Children spinoff, and Empty Nest are the only two that come to mind).

Then there are shows that exist in the same universe because of crossovers. But even in this area the waters are murky... Law & Order CI features Chris Noth and carries the L&O brand name, though the original cast had no former L&O characters... and on the other end of the spectrum, a show like Wings had 5 or so appearances by characters from Cheers, but was never marketed as a Cheers spinoff and I don't think anyone would consider it so.

As for the question, I have no idea. Love American Style is an interesting idea, but didn't technically only spin off one show, which was then spun off into a half dozen shows? Do those call count for LAS?

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