And Just Like That… it’s all over. The Sex and the City follow-up is no more, after three years of critical pastings. But was it as bad as the all-time worst spin-offs?
After three seasons, Sex and the City’s shocking sister show And Just Like That has been cancelled. But the question remains: how on earth did it last that long?
Putting the ‘no’ in Manolo Blahnik, the cheek-gnawingly cringey escapades of Carrie and co became an addictive hate-watch that risked damaging the legacy of the show’s ground-breaking predecessor. Or at least, that’s what I think.
I couldn’t help but wonder about other spin-offs that were declared dead, or dud, on arrival…
JOEY (2004-6)
How you doin’? Erm, not great, actually. Friends fave Matt Le Blanc bagged his own solo show after the seminal sitcom wrapped.
Shenanigans switch to LA as loveable Joey tries to become a movie star – but it was shelved after two seasons when viewers decided they wouldn’t be there. You could say he really did need his other friends. That said, I’m still pining for a spin-off where Phoebe opens a shelter for smelly cats!
AFTERMASH (1983-5)
It is sod’s – or spud’s – law that this M*A*S*H sequel failed to capture the masterclass magic of the original. The chips were down from the get-go as we followed the post-Korean War exploits of Col. Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan), Sgt. Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Father John Malcahy (William Christopher) at a Missouri hospital.
Canned after 31 episodes, co-creator Larry Gelbart pointed to the absence of Alan Alda’s Hawkeye and Wayne Rogers’ Trapper, conceding: “The series needed a top banana, and we didn’t have one.”
BAYWATCH NIGHTS (1995-7)
Baywatch sure did jump the shark with its after-dark exploits, which made a splash for all the wrong reasons. Inexplicably, lifeguard Mitch Buchananan, played by the legendary David Hasselhoff, starts moonlighting as a detective, alongside a forensics expert – Angie ‘Law & Order’ Harmon in her debut telly role – and a psychic called, yes, Destiny Desimone.
In the swansong second season the action dives into the supernatural, with Mitch and co wrestling with sea monsters and demonic possession. The makers should’ve stuck to slo-mo bouncing boobies…
THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. (1966-7)
This carry-on from classic spy caper The Man from U.N.C.L.E. wildly missed the mark. American Stefanie Powers was caught in the crosshairs for her turn as Agent April Dancer making all the wrong moves in her fight against THRUSH – the villainous organisation, not the common yeast infection.
Critics took aim at “ill-suited” Powers, describing her acting abilities as a “trifle limited,” and barking plots, including one episode involving a dog whose fleas could cure a deadly drug. The Man… starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, was axed the following year.
JOANIE LOVES CHACHI (1982-3)
Ironically, un-Happy Days were ahead for this treacly, tone-deaf offshoot of the cockles-warming comedy. Creator Garry Marshall struck a rare bum note when he decided to chart the excruciating efforts of Joanie and Chachi – played by Erin Moran and Scott Baio, respectively – to become rock’n’roll stars, with each episode featuring an eardrum-insulting music performance.
Even the occasional pitch-perfect guest appearance from the Fonz, aka Henry Winkler, couldn’t prevent the series from getting the chop.
THE GOLDEN PALACE (1992-3)
All that glitters isn’t gold – as the Golden Girls follow-up sadly proved. After the original series retired in ‘92, beloved biddies Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Bea Arthur (well, kinda) staged a brief reunion. When Dorothy (Arthur) remarries and moves away, pals Rose (White) and Blanche (McClanahan) open a hotel with Dot’s tart-tongued mum Sophia, played by Estelle Gerry.
Diehard devotees had their reservations, unable to overlook the void left by veteran Arthur, who only popped up in two episodes.
THE TORTELLIS (1987)
Don’t bother raising your glass to this half-baked side order from crowd-pleaser Cheers. Thirsts were far from quenched as we tagged along with Nick Tortelli, played by Dan Hedaya, ex-hubby of witty waitress Carla (Rhea Perlman). The series regular moves to Las Vegas in a bid to win back blonde bimbo Loretta (Jean Kasem) and, less thrillingly, open a TV repair business.
Last orders were called after a measly 13 episodes. Of course, the bar was considerably raised with Kelsey Grammar’s scene-stealer shrink Frasier, whose show ran from 1997 to 2004, before a revival in ’23.
THE BRADY BRIDES (1981)
Long-running sitcom The Brady Bunch spread a borderline criminal amount of cheddar-y cheer from 1969 to ’74. However, no amount of goodwill was able to save this mighty misfire that you really had to (rictus) grin and bear.
Producer Sherwood Schwartz and his son Lloyd unveil their plan to marry off grown sisters Marcia (Maureen McCormick) and Jan (Eve Plumb) – to a slobbish salesman and neat-freak professor, respectively – and stick them in the same house together.
It was initially intended as a film before being expanded. Viewers weren’t wed-dy, and the sorry saga lasted just six episodes.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
